Bleacher Report - Articles by David Galvez

Oakland Raiders' Top Three Reasons They Will Not Draft Crabtree or Maclin

David Galvez — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 02:04:50 -0400

Twenty days, Raider Nation. Twenty more days of prophesy and prediction.

According to the myriad supply of mock drafts posted on-line, fortune tellers across the nation seem to have Davis and Co. picking anyone from Michael Johnson to Darrius Heyward-Bey with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2009 draft. Needless to say, there's a large breadth in opinion when considering an Al Davis draft pick.

Yet, when guessing at who will be the next wunderkind to don the silver and black, no names materialize as much as those of Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin.

Now, granted, anyone who followed the Raiders last year knows how badly the team is in need of a bona fide No. 1 wide-receiver. It doesn't take a draft guru to figure that one out (I'm talking to you, Kiper and McShay).

However, when surmising what Mr. Davis might do, most draft pundits seem to lack knowledge in one important area—the Raiders. So, to help inject some sense into an otherwise hyperbolic discussion, here are three reasons as to why the Raiders will not be selecting either Michael Crabtree or Jeremy Maclin.

1. A Plan

In case you haven't noticed, the Raiders finally seem to have a plan heading into next season. And make no mistake, that plan starts with JaMarcus Russell.

Some contend that what Russell needs most is a viable option at WR. But according to recent comments by Coach Tom Cable, offensive tackle still remains the priority. "For us right now, we've got to get someplace better on that football team. For us, it means something like protecting JaMarcus Russell. That's were we have to start."

Although some argue that the Raiders have addressed their needs on the offensive front, I beg to differ.

The acquisition of Erik Pears, Samson Satele, and Khalif Barnes no doubt signal improvement, but too many questions remain to pass on top tackle prospects like Andre Smith and Michael Oher, either of whom would instantly add depth and credibility to a tenuous offensive line.

Consequently, by strengthening the OT position, the Raiders will ensure the development of other emerging talent, e.g. Darren McFadden, Michael Bush, Zack Miller, Oren O'Neal, Chaz Schilens, and Johnnie Lee Higgins.

In the end, selecting an offensive tackle would not only benefit Russell, but pledge a commitment to the Raiders youth movement as well.

2. Measurables

Let's admit it, Al Davis loves freakish athletes. Stories of Russell's arm strength at the 2007 combine took on the air of urban legend, McFadden's 4.33 40-yard dash magically extinguished any concerns about his character, and Sebastian Janikowski's bionic leg in 2000 was tempting enough for Mr. Davis to spend a first-round daft pick on.

Yet, When looking at Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin, the measurables just don't equate to a prototypical first-round Al Davis draft pick. Furthermore, neither one is much different (physically, at least) from receivers currently on the Raiders roster.

First, let's compare Maclin with Raiders speedster Johnnie Lee Higgins.

Higgins: 6'0", 190 lbs, 4.43 40-yd dash, 36-1/2-inch vertical. Maclin: 6'0", 199 lbs, 4.45 40-yd dash, 35-1/2-inch vertical

Draft experts hail Maclin's versatility in the kicking game but since they obviously don't watch Raider games they must have overlooked the fact that Higgins emerged as a star punt returner last year, returning three punts for touchdowns.

Maclin may have more meat to him, but questions have risen about his toughness. Seems he has a bad habit of taking his eyes off the ball when going down the middle. Hence, he's primarily a straight-line receiver who needs improvement on route running but can return punts. Sound familiar?

Second, let's look at Michael Crabtree's measurables against those of Chaz Schilens.

Michael Crabtree: 6'1", 214 lbs, unknown 40-yd dash (guessed at mid 4.5's), 34-inch vertical. Chaz Schilens: 6'4", 225 lbs, 4.38 40-yd dash, 43-inch vertical

Now, for all you Crabtree sycophants out there, settle down, by no means am I implying that Schilens is a better prospect than Crabtree. I'm merely pointing out that Crabtree lacks both the speed and physical traits of an archetypical Al Davis deep-threat or possession receiver.

Athletically, Schilens is the faster, taller, and stronger of the two. If there's an X-factor, it resides in Crabtree's competitive nature and more developed football IQ. Yet, there's lingering questions about his off-field behavior.

At the combine, word was that Crabtree came off as immature, showing a promo video of himself hanging out with ex NFL stars while other prospects presented videos illuminating their work ethic and community accolades.

Hence, if Crabtree lacks the physical traits that Al Davis so highly covets and the team-first character traits that Coach Cable celebrates, what makes one believe that the Raiders will invest a guaranteed $15-20 million on him?

Now, if there was only a receiver that possessed both the physical features and moral fiber that Davis and Cable covet.

Well, looky here...

3. Ramses Barden

Ladies and Gentleman, say hello to your Oakland Raiders 2009 2nd Round Draft pick. Raider brass has been drooling over this kid since the combine and sent a contingent of scouts to evaluate his pro-day at Cal Poly as well as his appearance at USC's pro-day where he caught passes from Mark Sanchez.

Barden seems to posses the best combination of measurables and character of any receiver entering this year's draft. Physically, this kid's a monster.

Ramses Barden (WR Cal Poly): 6'6", 229 lbs, 4.48 40-yd dash, 33-1/2-inch vertical

Can you say red-zone threat?

Barden's height and long arms had scouts tripping over themselves at the combine. Additionally, the kid's tough and doesn't mind going down the middle. In his senior year at Cal Poly, Barden had at least 131 yards receiving and one touchdown in every game.

Character wise, Barden has a reputation as a work-out warrior and although confident, possess enough humility to keep him grounded. His stock has soared since the combine and word is he impressed with his interviews as well as his workout.

The biggest knock on Barden is the level of competition he went up against at the division I-AA level. Many scouts consider him a legit third-round prospect, but don't expect the Raiders to take a chance on losing him.

Oakland Raiders Finally Nail Down Barnes

David Galvez — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 21:21:03 -0400

Great news from Alameda. John Clayton has reported that the Oakland Raiders and former Jacksonville left tackle Khalif Barnes have agreed on a one-year contract. Exact terms of the deal weren't available.

It was about a week ago that the National Football Post reported a similar story, with negotiations falling apart in the final hours. Yet, after a week of flirting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Barnes has decided to come to Oakland for a chance at a fresh start.

At 6-foot-5, 325 pounds, Barnes was a four-year starter at Jacksonville, starting in 57 of a possible 64 games, including all 16 last season.

A sticking point in the deal was that Barnes wanted a chance to compete for the starting left tackle position currently held by Mario Henderson. If he's unable to unseat Henderson, Barnes would then take over at right tackle where he also has experience.

Whether it be Henderson or Barnes on the right side, most Raider fans would agree that either would be an improvement over Cornell Green's erratic performances week after week. In the end, the Raiders have taken a big step towards better protecting JaMarcus Russell next year.

What does this move mean for the upcoming draft? Although Barnes isn't considered a dominant left tackle, I think his athleticism will allow him to thrive in Coach Cable's ZBS, helping to solidify the offensive line for the upcoming season. Hence, this places the Raiders need for a tackle a little farther down the board. The major needs now become defensive tackle, wide receiver, and center.

What really matters for today is that the Raiders finally made a big splash, and more importantly, seem to have a plan to go with it.

Oakland Raiders: The Sound Of Silence

David Galvez — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 23:51:15 -0400

Cue Crickets.

For the first time in many moons, all is quiet in Alameda.

After two weeks of free agency, the Oakland Raiders have yet to make any major moves. Consequently, one can argue that the Raiders are a worse team on paper today than they were all of last year.

Yes, I know it's early, and yes, I know they re-signed Nnamdi Asomugha and Shane Lechler (who clearly would've been the best players at their respected positions in free agency), but let's not forget that the Raiders were a 5-11 team last year with those two players and have done nothing to ensure improvement for next year.

Contrasted with the successful re-signings of Asomugha and Lechler, the Raiders found a way to lose two solid starters from last years squad - starting center, Jake Grove, and their second leading tackler, Gibril Wilson.

Word is that Raider brass (Lord Al Davis) was reluctant to pay Grove the big dollars for an oft-injured player, while Wilson was either a cap casualty or had worn out his welcome by defying Coach Tom Cable's team-first philosophy in a series of attacks through the media last season. As a result, Bill Parcells made a couple nice pickups and seems to believe he's two players closer to another Super Bowl.

Although it's nice to see Uncle Al being more prudent with his allowance, one has to wonder how much the embarrassment of last year's dreadful signings weigh on the doctrines of the current offseason. I mean, really, who's football knowledge would you rather count on right now — Parcells or Davis?

After watching the first and second tier of free agents slowly fade away, the Raiders seem content in waiting, hoping to catch a bargain at the bottom of the barrel. This would be well and good if the Raiders had only one or two positions of need, but with the loss of Grove and Wilson, you can now add center and strong safety to a grocery list that already included DT, WR, T, G, FS, and MLB.

Unless the Raiders pull off the greatest draft in....well, history, it looks like Raider Nation could be in for another long year.

There in lies the importance of free agency. In order to be competitive next year, the Raiders will have to pick up three or four starters by the time the draft rolls around. Thus far, all they have to show for it is Erik Pears.

I hope I'm wrong in questioning Lord Al's judgement. I hope he's sitting on his throne putting together that mega-deal to acquire Anquan Boldin or Jason Peters, supplying starving Raider fans with a little more hope on offense while providing flexibility in the upcoming draft.

But so far, all that's been proven in free agency is how reluctant Davis has been to take any chances this offseason — waiting until the last minute to nix deals for both Grove and former Jacksonville left tackle Khalif Barnes.

So, could it be that the 'ole gunslinger has finally lost his nerve? Have the ghosts of free agency past finally caught up to Mr. Davis? Maybe the next couple days will give us a clue to the direction this team is going in. I just hope the Raiders aren't waiting until the end of April to be told they're on the clock.