Oakland Raiders: Tom Cable Answers Questions After the First Round

There are still a lot of questions regarding the direction that the Oakland Raiders are headed on defense and offense following Thursday night's first round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

First, let's take a look at their defense.

There has been speculation that the Raiders are planning to run a 3-4 defense next season.

After Trevor Scott finished last season at outside linebacker, the Raiders traded for Kamerion Wimbley, who played outside backer in a 3-4 set. Next, they traded for Quentin Groves, another 3-4 outside linebacker, and the Raiders' website has him listed as a linebacker, as well.

And now, in the first round of the draft, the Raiders selected a linebacker from a 3-4 defense in Alabama's Rolando McClain.

So, is it possible the Raiders could be switching to the 3-4 defense? The short answer is, well, no.

The Raiders are still running the the 4-3—just ask head coach Tom Cable.

Cable addressed the issue at a press conference after his team selected McClain.

"There are some things that I think will be new for us as a football team. But we're a 4-3 team in terms of our base structure," he said.

Cable went on to say that McClain would be able to play middle linebacker, and that he is similar to a small guard considering his 6'3", 254-pound build.

As a result, the Raiders will run the same old 4-3, albeit with some exciting and promising new parts.

Now for the offense.

Cable shot down rumors of Raiders running back Darren McFadden being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers for embattled QB Ben Roethlisberger.

"No, there's been no truth to that," Cable said. "How that Darren McFadden thing came up, that's ridiculous. People, there's no way. I don't know how it came out, and I don't get it, I don't understand it. There is no way Darren McFadden is ever going to be traded from this football team."

That's a solid vote of confidence for the former first-round draft pick.

Besides, it would appear that the Raiders need help at left tackle.

Even still, Cable indicated that the Raiders are happy with Mario Henderson and Khalif Barnes. So, could the Raiders pass on offensive tackles in this year's draft?

When asked if the Raiders would address the tackle problem on the offensive line Cable said this:

"Whether it's tackles or whatever, right now that's not the point," Cable said. "We just need to improve in that area."

Where exactly, Cable wasn't about to be specific

"You know, I don't want to go specifically that way, I think I pretty much told you already. We need to address the line of scrimmage, and at the same time we need another defensive back," Cable said. "We need to do some work in the backfield. So you know, that pretty much sums it up."

For more on Cables' full press conference click here .