Bleacher Report - Articles by David Wilson

How Far Can Bruce Gradkowski Take the Raiders?

David Wilson — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:27:54 -0500

When the Oakland Raiders were discussed at the beginning of this season, the question, "How far can they go?" was generally answered with, "As far as JaMarcus Russell can take them." Based on his play over the first nine games, that wasn’t very far at all.

Now, Russell is on the bench (and some might argue that this is long overdue), and there is a new man under center: Bruce Gradkowski.

What we saw from him on Sunday against the Bengals was some real passion. He made good decisions, was generally accurate, and didn’t hurt the Raiders with bad plays. On the one interception he did throw, he had Louis Murphy open deep over the middle, and was in the act of releasing the ball when he was hit. Not a bad throw, just a good defensive play.

His statistics weren’t that great, but he delivered when it mattered and got the win.

Even though he led the Raiders from 14 points down to beat Cincinnati, who have played extremely well on both sides of the ball this year, one good game doesn’t make a successful starting quarterback in the National Football League.

Gradkowski has a career quarterback rating of 59.9, a completion percentage of 52.9, and a record of 4-9 as a starter. These figures are hardly inspirational.

On a more positive note, there are many quarterbacks in the league that take time to develop into quality signal callers: Jim Plunkett and Rich Gannon, to name but two. Gannon was a backup through most of his 17-year career before starring in Oakland and becoming a league MVP.

When Gradkowski came out of Toledo, some of the phrases scouts used to describe him were: "Plays with intensity and elevates the level of his teammates," and "Has the toughness and intangibles teams seek at the quarterback position." He was also compared to Jeff Garcia, which was high praise indeed.

Quarterback is the one position in football where athletic ability is not the prime requisite. Mental toughness, decision-making, and a strong work ethic are more important. It remains to be seen over the coming weeks whether Gradkowski can become the man in Oakland, but for now he is the starter, he is 1-0, and the fans love him for it.

Cliff Branch: Another Raider Denied Entry To the Hall of Fame

David Wilson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:33:43 -0500

Of the many Raiders who seem to have been excluded from the hall of fame for some reason (Ken Stabler, Ray Guy, Jack Tatum), Cliff Branch has as much reason to feel aggrieved as any of them. It was my privilege to meet Branch in 2008, at the Raider Image store in Oakland. He still has that energy, and a real buzz about him, even after all these years.

He looks like he could still play—he has aged that well.

But as with any theory or opinion, you have to back it up with evidence, and to do that I am going to compare Cliff Branch’s career with that of two receivers from the same era who are already in the hall of fame, Lynn Swann and Bob Hayes.

Years Rec Yards Average TD Long SB Rings

Bob Hayes 11 371 7414 20.0 68 95 2

Lynn Swann 9 336 5462 16.3 51 68 4

Cliff Branch 13 501 8685 17.3 67 99 3

Now any reasonably objective person looking at these statistics could only conclude that these three players are clearly in very much the same group, and if you had to pick one player to be excluded, it would be Hayes, not Branch. Cliff played longer, had considerably more receptions than either, more yards than either, better yards per reception than Swann, and had just one touchdown less than Hayes.

Cliff Branch also had three super bowl rings to go with those stats, which is more than Hayes won in his career. So it’s not like he had the catches and the yardage but not the rings to go with it.

I also know that statistics aren’t the full measure of a man’s career.

Anyone who has seen Cliff Branch play, will immediately see that he was one of the smartest, toughest receivers ever to play the game. Although he weighed only 170 pounds, he would routinely jump up and take the ball away from a much bigger, or even two much bigger defensive backs.

Branch rarely missed a game, even after taking savage hits or being driven head first into the turf by Steelers cornerback Mel Blount.

He had world class speed and is co-owner of the longest pass play in NFL history (99 yard TD pass from Jim Plunkett, Oct 2, 1983 vs Washington)

Cliff could also produce on the big stage, catching passes in each Super Bowl, including two TD receptions in Super Bowl XV, and six for 94 yds (including a 50 yard catch) and TD in Super Bowl XVIII.

There is also no flaw in Cliff’s character as a reason to exclude him from the hall. He has never been arrested or been investigated for substance abuse. He never did anything that would have brought him into conflict with the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

When I met him, he was as friendly and likeable as any player in or out of the league. He showed a genuine interest in the fans that spoke to him. A lot of players now could learn a lot from Cliff Branch, as a player and as a person.

So I ask, how is Cliff Branch not in the Hall of Fame?

It beats the hell out of me.

The Witch Hunt Against Tom Cable

David Wilson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:08:18 -0500

Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable has been very much under fire lately.

One for the team’s Jekyll and Hyde performances, and another for allegations made against him of physical violence towards partners and employees.

Many commentators, columnists, and sportswriters have called for him to be sacked or suspended as a result of these allegations. Many fans have called for his head after Oakland’s 2-6 record at midseason.

But are these calls and criticisms fair?

To deal with the coaching issue first.

While Tom Cable hasn't covered himself in glory this season, there is an argument to say that if the Raiders had even an average quarterback, they would be 4-4 right now, and still in the hunt for a playoff spot.

While the team's meltdown in some games (Denver, NY Giants, NY Jets) has been alarming, they have looked like a very competitive team in others (San Diego and Philadelphia).

Tom Cable would not be the first or the last coach to lose his job by standing by a quarterback who is struggling, and there is a strong argument to say that JaMarcus Russell is the problem, not Cable.

Russell is an overweight underachiever, with a poor work ethic, poor on-field vision, and a strangely positive slant on his own performances.

Of course, it may be Al Davis who is keeping Russell on the field, not Cable. But we will never know.

As for the allegations of violence and anger management issues against Cable, at this point in time, he stands innocent of any criminal offence. The NAPA D.A. declined to prosecute Cable in the Randy Hanson matter, and cleared him of assaulting the former Raider employee, citing that Hanson’s evidence was not consistent with that of other witnesses at the scene.

Hanson also declined to press charges until the Raiders told him that he would not be financially compensated, and was not found to be a credible witness.

In regard to Cable’s ex girlfriend, Marie Lutz, this alleged assault happened when she came around to his house and found out that there was another woman there. Neighbors stated that they heard Ms. Lutz shouting and screaming. Cable is alleged to have grabbed her by the elbow and thrown her out.

His actions in the circumstances do not appear unreasonable, and the police department certainly agreed. He cooperated fully with the investigation, and was cleared of any wrong doing.

Hell hath no fury?

This "Outside the Lines" interview was also put together by ESPN, the Raider haters, and Cable was not afforded the chance to respond. Who can forget their shameful treatment of Darrius Heyward Bey by Chris Carter and Tom Jackson? ESPN are disgracefully biased against Oakland.

One of his ex-wives wrote a letter in support of Cable, saying she had never experienced violence at his hands in 17 years.

Cable did however, make a clear admission to striking the other with an open hand after he found out she had committed adultery.

Violence against women can never be justified, and is repulsive in every way. But, this was an incident 20 years ago, and wrong or not, it should not be allowed to impact on Cable’s life and career now.

I say again, Tom Cable has never been charged or convicted of any criminal offence .

So let’s no start a witch hunt, or allow Terry O'Neill from NOW to do so.

Oakland Raiders Draft Scenario: Dreams, Nightmares, and Reality

David Wilson — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:36:55 -0400

There have been some great drafts in Raiders history, for example 1968 with Kenny Stabler, Art Shell, George Atkinson, and Marv Hubbard, and some very forgettable ones, like in 2001.

We all have our theories as to how it will pan out for us this year.

Some are dreaming big, some have nightmares, and some are in the middle hoping for a good draft. Personally, I think the Raiders will be lucky this year, in as much as there are many good players in the draft in the positions they need to fill.

Although the offensive line isn’t fully fixed yet (and no, I don’t see Samson Satele as the answer at center, just depth), I don’t see us taking a tackle, certainly not in the first three rounds. Guard and center are a different matter, though, and we could use an upgrade there.

Although Alex Mack is widely touted as the top interior lineman available, Eric Wood from Louisville is high on my board, and should be available in the second round. A four-year starter, he played extremely well in the senior bowl against B.J. Raji and also showed he could be effective at the second level sealing off linebackers. He could be a good fit for Coach Tom Cable's zone-blocking system.

Defensive line is also a huge issue, and although I think Raji will be overdrafted if he goes at seventh, there is strength in depth lower down.

Evander Hood and Robert Ayers may be there in the second round, and would both be a valuable addition to a front four that struggled badly last year.

Now to that all-important first round pick.

In my dreams; Michael Crabtree.

Arguably the best player on the board, and a wide receiver that is ready to contribute right now. We can’t wait two years for a guy to develop. Russell needs a go-to receiver this year, and I really think Crabtree could be that guy. He is a special talent.

Of course, a real dream would be to trade down for more picks and take advantage of the depth in this draft, but Al Davis isn’t big on trading, unless it's up.

In my nightmares; Jeremy Maclin.

Not that Maclin is a bad player, but he brings a very similar skill set to Johnnie Lee Higgins, and will take some time to develop. That's not what we need; we need someone to contribute this year.

Also, keep your eye on Darius Heyward-Bey. Al loves his speed, and where you find the fastest guy in the draft, you usually find Al Davis drafting them.

In reality; I really do think the pick is Crabtree, unless Detroit doesn’t take Matt Stafford with the overall top pick, which would shake things up a bit.

I can’t see any of the teams between Detroit (which definitely won’t take another receiver) and Cincinnati taking Crabtree, with the possible exception of the Browns.

The Rams have other needs, Seattle just signed T. J. Houshmandzadeh, the Bengals have added Laveranues Coles, and the Chiefs need defense.

If it falls out this way, I think Raiders fans across the globe can be happy and look forward to a bright 2009 season.

Al Davis-Tom Cable Partnership Making Good Decisions

David Wilson — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:35:31 -0400

Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself here, but things in Oaktown seem have become a lot more sensible since this guy Tom Cable arrived.

It just seems that after five years of making bad decisions, we seem to be making, well...good ones.

It started with addition by subtraction. That is getting rid of that over hyped pain in the ass DeAngelo Hall at mid season.

Cutting him from the team, not just putting him on the bench was a productive and necessary thing to do. He couldn’t cover, and he couldn’t tackle, but even on the bench his appalling attitude would have been a distraction and a bad example to the promising young players on the team.

No doubt people will, and indeed have said, that it was Al’s call, not Cable’s. Regardless, the decision was still made, and it was a good one.

Once we got into the off season, things started to get even more sensible. Firstly, we re-sign our own free agents. That is the ones who performed well for us. We placed a value on special teams with the way we did that, getting the players who got the job done last year to stay on board.

John Condo, Isaiah Ekejuiba, Jon Alston, Ricky Brown, and Justin Miller are all now under contract for this year (although for some reason the team have not formally announced some of these signings).

This shows that Cable knows the contribution they made to what we did last year, and knew that resigning them was more important than going after big name free agents. Its good to have that kind of continuity on the team, it really is something we have missed in recent years.

No one thought we could hang onto Nnamdi Asomugha and Shane Lechler, yet we did.

It would have been nice to keep Jake Grove, who was an adequate, if not outstanding center. But at the money Miami were prepared to send his way, they were welcome to him.

Once again, a good decision refusing to overpay and average player in order to keep him. Next came the signing of Erik Pear. Oakland needs some competition at tackle, and Pear was a two-year starter with the Broncos.

Pear isn’t an overpriced free agent, he is a reasonably priced player who is a system fit for Cable’s zone blocking scheme. A "system fit" is all important, if he can’t play in our system, he would be of little value.

Then comes a real winner, in that we sign Khalif Barnes to a one year contract.

Now I’m not going to tell you that Barnes should have made the pro bowl last year, that isn’t the case, but he is an upgrade over what we had last year, and once again, is a system fit having had previous experience in a zone blocking offense.

In addition, we didn’t pay him the big bucks he and his agent wanted, Al called his bluff and let him walk after the first round of talks. He refused to pay him more than he thought he was worth.

Sure enough, Barnes and his agent came back and settled for less, and with a one year deal we haven’t committed our future to him as a starter. Even more than that, he said in the press that this year is his opportunity to make fresh start and prove himself this year, and if he did, he knew Al would look after him.

Now this is just vintage Al, the league’s best personnel guy, not only to convince Barnes to sign for less, but to make him grateful, and more motivated for the coming year. A motivated player, who is a system fit, and at what will be (when terms are announced) a bargain price.

And they say Al Davis hasn’t got it anymore? Don’t believe it.

As I said of Tom Cable all along, he is the kind of guy who can work with Al Davis, not against him. He has the humility not to have to take all the credit for everything, just like other successful coaches did in Oakland.

John Madden and Tom Flores were very similar in this respect. They knew Davis knew football and football players, and they used that instead of fighting against it.

After a promising end to last season, and a productive and sensible free agent period, I am looking forward to a productive draft. Some sound decisions there, and the Raiders are back competing for the AFC West.

Roll on April 25.

The Best Reasons for Raiders Fans To Like Tom Cable

David Wilson — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:27:34 -0500

I like Tom Cable.

I admit it. I like him not just as a guy, but as a coach, and a head coach at that. Some people might not agree, and they might have good cause.

Early on it appeared to me that Cable probably wasn’t going to be the man for the Oakland Raiders' full-time head coaching job, and I said so at the time.

But there are a number of reasons why Cable might be the best fit for Oakland.

I’m not going to list the fact that there will be few applicants for the job. That would be giving the post to Cable by default, and that isn’t what this article is about.

But one reason in Cable's favor is that he's an Al Davis guy, just like John Madden was, and just like Tom Flores was.

This is Al’s team. It always has been and it always will be. While he is alive, nobody but Al is going to get total control of this franchise. But for those smarter and less ego-obsessed coaches, Al is a help, not a hindrance.

Al Davis has forgotten more about football than most of us will ever know. His vast store of knowledge can still be extremely useful to a coach who is willing to work with Al and not just want everything his own way. For a coach who is willing to work with Al, Mr. Davis will move heaven and Earth to get that coach what he needs to win.

Tom Cable is a guy who certainly fits the bill here.

Secondly, he is a team player.

How many people would want to take a job coaching the Oakland Raiders, halfway through the season, with a losing record? The answer is no one at all. Tom Cable took it because Al asked him to, and because the team needed him to.

He had no time to prepare in the preseason for how he wanted the team to play, to do the things that would put his stamp on the job. He was asked to step in, and he did. He didn’t even get a raise.

That takes some guts.

But the biggest reason to like Cable for the head coaching job, to me, is that this is a guy who isn’t afraid to do what is necessary to win. Not only is he prepared to make bold personnel moves such as cutting DeAngelo Hall, but he will take calculated risks to win games.

If you are never prepared to take those risks, and attempt the things that will win the game for you, then you just lose, albeit a little more slowly.

The play of the defense since Hall was cut has been excellent. Yes, the team is weak against the run at times, but you measure a defense by how many points, not yards, it concedes. This defense hasn’t conceded more than 20 points over the last four games. Considering the scoring drought the offense has had, that is a good performance.

As for taking risks to win games, it is easy to point to the fake field goal that cost Oakland the game against Kansas City, but conceding a touchdown on that play was something no one could predict.

With other plays, Cable has been a big winner.

The fake punt against the Jets and the 57-yard field goal in overtime to win the game are two examples. The safe bet would have been to punt, not to ask Seabass to make a career long kick to win the game.

But it paid off.

There was also the halfback pass from Michael Bush to Zach Miller on that third down against Denver, and the lateral from Ronald Curry to Darren McFadden against the Chiefs. Those show imagination, a willingness to do whatever is needed to get the job done, and to take those calculated risks necessary to win.

Tom Cable is working with Davis, with Rob Ryan, and with the players.

So let's give him some weapons on offense, some continuity, and a decent contract, and see where we end up at the end of next season.

We might be in for a pleasant surprise.

Quarterback: An American Sports Icon

David Wilson — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:46:18 -0400

Quarterback: An American Sports Icon

Tom Brady’s season-ending knee injury may have brought the quarterback position under the spotlight once again, but the truth is that no position in professional sports carries so much expectation and is so important to the success of a team. You hear quarterbacks judged in terms of their ability to win games and their won/lost record. No other position in football carries that statistic through their career.

The quarterback is indeed the American sports icon. I am English (though a 25-year NFL addict, and a Raider fan for my sins!), and that’s what it truly is from the outside.

Other nations play soccer, hockey, and basketball, but America is the home of the quarterback. It is a position with which the world identifies America.

So why is a quarterback the most important player on any team? And why are they such a magnet to the press and public alike?

The reason that sets Brady and many great quarterbacks apart from other positions in professional sport is the demanding mental aspect of the game.

In most sports, physical attributes, such as speed or strength, are usually enough to become a superstar. For quarterbacks, just the physical aspect is never enough. In many cases, it isn’t even a requirement. That is unique in any such high-speed, contact sport.

Can anyone imagine Joe Namath as an athlete on his shaky knees? Or Ken Stabler? How about Philip Rivers with torn knee ligaments in last year's playoffs? LaDanian Tomlinson couldn’t play with a knee injury as a running back, but Rivers was able to play with one far more serious.

Why?

Because it is the mental aspect, not the physical one, that is important under centre, and the ability to check down receivers and make good decisions is far more important than a good 40 time or arm strength.

It takes a great mental toughness to keep focused on a receiver and let that ball go within a split-second of being taken off your feet by a 300-lbs. lineman. Far more toughness in fact, than it does to do the hitting itself. To read a defense, call the audible, and make the play goes beyond the physical.

Michael Vick was the fastest quarterback ever, and by far the best runner. In his last season, the Falcons were 32nd in passing offense. Ryan Leaf had a much bigger arm than Joe Montana. It didn’t make a lot of difference to his career path.

Joe Montana, Tom Brady, and all the great quarterbacks were also leaders on the field. Cool under pressure, smart and composed, with the respect of their teammates and even the opposition. That is a quarterback. You don’t build a team around a linebacker, or a tackle, or even a receiver. You build it around the guy under centre, the quarterback.

Have you ever heard the term 'The look of Eagles?'

It means someone who is a leader of men, someone who inspires those around them; a man whom others believe will take them on the road to victory. Where he leads, others follow.

That is the quarterback.

That is what sets those players apart.

The mental aspect, and the look of eagles. The eagle is America’s symbol to the rest of the world; so is the quarterback.

Oakland Raiders: A Nutmeg of Consolation

David Wilson — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:12:08 -0400

Oakland Raiders: A Nutmeg of Consolation

The Monday night game against Denver was the worst possible start that the Oakland Raiders could have made to their season.

There was so much hope going into the game. The defense had been revamped, Darren McFadden was being lauded as the next Adrian Peterson, and expectations in the Raider Nation were high. An obscene amount of dollars had been thrown around in the free-agent market to get this team where Al Davis wants it to be.

As I watched the Raiders self-destruct on their own turf, I simply couldn’t believe the scale of the humiliation they were suffering at the hands of their bitterest foe. Make no mistake; this was a crushing blow to a Raider team that had looked like it was on the road back to respectability.

After a promising preseason, when the defense looked to using more blitzes and mixed up coverages, we saw a vanilla scheme that failed to adjust at all during a game. They were made to look as bad as a defense can look.

Probably most disappointing was DeAngelo Hall, who was taken to school all night by a rookie receiver. Hall looked truly dreadful and looked more like he was worth 70 cents than the $70 million Oakland paid him.

Tommy Kelly was a non-feature, and the Raiders failed to generate any pressure at all on a rampant Jay Cutler, who ripped them to pieces seemingly at will.

If nothing else, this game proved that you can have all the skill-position players you want, but if you can’t win the battle in the trenches, you won’t win games. Oakland got knocked about badly on both side of the line, where it showed both a lack of talent and depth.

Fred Wakefield was starting at left end by the fourth quarter, enough said there. That decision to start the season with only three defensive tackles (and two out of condition) was a truly dreadful one.

Adrian Peterson has Matt Birk, Steve Hutchinson, and a solid line blocking for him. Darren McFadden...doesn’t.

The only things worse than the players were the coaches. Kiffin and Ryan both called awful games, and both must know a quick turnaround is necessary to save their jobs.

But despite the total catastrophe that was the Raiders last night, there is a nutmeg of consolation.

His name is JaMarcus Russell.

Despite a mistake early on, he consistently made good decisions and threw accurate balls. The receivers were poor, the line couldn’t block, but the kid still put in a very positive performance. 17-of-26 for 190 yardds, two TD, and zero INT is a good day under the circumstances. A very good day.

There is a lot to like about Russell. He clearly always had the physical talents to play the game, now he looks like he has it mentally, too. Good decisions, poise under pressure, and never let his head drop. The mark of a winner.

There's some hope for the future at least.

Is Tommy Kelly More Important Than Darren McFadden For Raiders?

David Wilson — Thu, 01 May 2008 11:44:54 -0400

Kelly More Important Than McFadden for the Raiders?

After the frenzied activity of the draft and the free agency period, we can at last see the outline that the 2008 season roster will have for the Raiders.

There have been big name free agency signings on both sides of the ball, and the impression is that the Raiders are really rolling the dice this year in a bid to win NOW.

The choice of Darren McFadden in the draft also confirms that. Oakland had glaring needs on the defensive line that they had the opportunity to address that long term when Glenn Dorsey was still available at number 4 on Saturday. They chose not to do that and went with Darren McFadden, even though the running game was number 6 in the league last year, and they have a healthy Michael Bush to add to the mix in 2008.

That’s not a knock on McFadden, who is a tremendous player, and I don’t buy the questions about his character either. You look at the problems he had growing up, problems most of us never had, and he deserves credit for the way he has turned out not criticism.

Javon Walker, Drew Carter, John Wade, and Kwame Harris have all been signed on offense, and even without McFadden this unit was looking in pretty good shape for this year, so McFadden was a luxury pick, not a need.

The real glaring need on this team was the defensive line, and that has not been addressed, at least not in any effective way. Journeymen Kalimba Edwards and William Joseph have been signed, but they are simply depth and not the answer. The retirement of Warren Sapp left a big hole on the roster at defensive tackle which hasn’t been filled, and this area of weakness could really hurt the Raiders down the stretch.

Firstly to talk about the players we have at the position. Tommy Kelly signed a huge contract to play the 3 technique, and has a glowing endorsement by Rob Ryan and the outgoing Warren Sapp. Terdell Sands was a big disappointment last year, Gerard Warren has shown flashes, but has been unhealthy and inconsistent. We had all these guys on the team last year, and they couldn’t get the job done. Tommy Kelly has also played tackle before, and the experiment wasn’t a success.

The size of Kelly’s contract is mind boggling in respect that he has done nothing to command such a huge salary, and he is also still rehabbing from reconstructive knee surgery. We are putting a lot of faith in Tommy Kelly, and if he doesn’t produce it will put us in a big hole financially as well as on the field. But by not taking any defensive linemen until the 6^th round of the draft, Al Davis was making a statement that he is happy with the players already in place.

So what makes us believe that these players can get the job done in 2008? The answer is nothing. We got shredded against the run last year, and there isn’t anything to suggest that things will be different his year.

The consequences of this unit failing to produce are that the $100 million in contracts paid out to DeAngelo Hall and Gibril Wilson will be wasted, as you can’t get the best out of an elite secondary when opposing teams are running the ball down your throat for four quarters every week

Perhaps Rob Ryan feels that having two shutdown corners will allow him to stack the box against the running game, where Gibril Wilson should be useful?

So for me, the smart pick was Glenn Dorsey, who would have made for a much more balanced football team. As it is, we have to face him twice a year now as the Chiefs got him at number 5. As I said though, that is no criticism of McFadden, and I will be cheering him all the way in 2008.

Ironically though, even though he was selected at number 4, and was possibly the most talented player in the draft, the future of the Raiders franchise depends probably more on Kelly at this point that it does on McFadden. Because if Kelly, Sands, and Warren don’t provide some severely upgraded play, it will just be a matter of hoping that the offense can score more than the defense concedes, because it’s going to be a lot.

I know McFadden will be a success in this league, I just hope Kelly is.

Mario Manningham: This Year's Draft Leper?

David Wilson — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 11:26:31 -0400

Mario Manningham – This Year’s Draft Leper?

Every year there is at least one player who goes into free fall somewhere prior to draft day, due to questions raised about his ability to perform at the next level by scouts, health concerns, or his own behaviour.

No prizes for guessing who it is this year. When you look at Mario Manningham’s college career at Michigan, and the numbers he put up, he should be the number one receiver in this draft. Sadly for him though, his stock has plummeted due to some major character concerns generated by his own actions.

Not so long ago, Manningham was predicted to go in the first round, now he has people wondering just how far he will fall. Why? Because……..

· He has TWICE tested positive for marijuana use whilst at Michigan.

· He then lied about it at the combine.

· Ran a 4.68 40 yard dash at the combine.

· He has previously been arrested for possessing drugs prescribed to another player.

· Has been in the company of other players from Michigan when they were arrested for drug possession (and who were later dismissed from the team)

· He has been taken to court for non payment of rent.

Now all this has come to light, teams are noticing that….

· He drops his share of footballs.

· He is undersized, and not really a precise route runner.

As regards lying to NFL teams at the combine, does anyone actually think that Manningham had an attack of conscience and decided to admit all? More likely his new agent told him “Sign this quick! And try and look sincere if anyone asks you about it!”

Questions must also be asked why if he did test positive twice for drugs for the Wolverines, why did he stay on the team? Were exemptions and was he given special treatment made due to his on field performance? Will he expect the same treatment in the NFL?

Will he become yet another receiver to give the NFL a bad name with a ‘Me first! I want! I want! Its my ball!” spoiled child type attitude as per Chad Johnson, Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, & Jeremy Shockey (What is it with people who catch a football for a living?).

With Roger Goodell and his personal conduct policy ridding the league of embarrassments like Pacman Jones, the commissioner will no doubt have his eyes firmly fixed on Manningham from the day he arrives. Not only does he make bad choices himself, but he keeps dubious company, and that spells trouble.

With Goodell coming down hard on those who break the rules, you can bet there are many teams who have dropped Manningham waaaaaaay down their draft boards. However good a player is, you can’t make much use of him if he is suspended.

Manningham recently visited the Oakland Raiders, more than one journalist asked why the Raiders would bring him in? Clearly they weren’t going to take him at number 4, and their next pick will be in the 4^th round. The answer is that he could just fall that far, would you risk a first day pick on a guy like that?

But please Al, we got rid of Randy Moss and Philip Buchanon, we don’t need another problem child (fingers crossed on DeAngelo Hall!)

Which team other than Oakland is likely to take a look at him? How about the Dallas Cowboys? Doesn’t it seem recently that all the league’s malcontents seem to drift over that way? (Terrell Owens, Tank Johnson, maybe Pacman Jones….).

Funny, it used to be Oaklandt hat was the haven for felons (Warren Wells), rule breakers (Ted Hendricks), borderline psychopaths (Jon Matuszak, Lyle Alzado, Phil Villapiano), alcoholics (also Jon Matuszak), free spirits (Kenny Stabler), and players who were allegedly the ‘criminal element’ of the NFL (Jack Tatum, George Atkinson). Ah! Happier times..............

One thing is for certain, whenever and wherever Manningham goes in this draft, he has cost himself a lot of money with the way he conducts himself.

Oakland Raiders: Stop with the Darren McFadden Talk

David Wilson — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 03:52:22 -0400

Raiders: Stop all the DMC Talk

Every where I turn, and every mock draft I read, I can’t get away from people predicting that Arkansas running back Darren McFadden will go to the Oakland Raiders with the No. 4 pick.

These drafts are, of course, written by people who know little or nothing about the Raiders and the direction that the team has been going in the last 12 months. All they see is that McFadden is:

a) An explosive player

b) He has major character concerns

That, then, must make him and Al Davis guy straight away right? And Oakland will select him regardless of need? I’m sorry to disappoint all those draft guru’s out there, but there is no chance of Davis going for McFadden with the 4^th pick. It just won’t happen, and there are very good reasons that it won’t.

Al now has Lane Kiffin at the helm of the team. Kiffin may be young, but he is strong minded and has his own ideas. When he was hired, he was given a much higher degree of autonomy than any coach since John Gruden as evidenced by the exodus of Raider assistant coaches last year. Many had been there a long time, and Kiffin brought his own guys in.

Despite the dispute between Davis and Kiffin, Kiffin was always going to be Oakland’s coach for 2008, and even before he came out and spoke last week, I had written it in my first article for this site.

Installing the zone blocking scheme under offensive line coach Tom Cable has been a big success, raising the Raiders in running offense from next to last in the league to 6^th last year. What you don’t need in the zone blocking scheme is a superstar back like McFadden. Denver have proved that again and again.

Kiffin also has, even if you count out LaMont Jordan, three good Tailbacks under contract.

Michael Bush would probably have been a first round pick if not for his injury (he is now fully fit), and Justin Fargas is coming off a 1000 yard season. They will make a good tandem. Dominic Rhodes also has two 100 yd rushing games at the close of last season. Oakland does not need Darren McFadden to win.

What they do need is the ability to stop the run. They know that if they can’t do that, they won’t win games. They haven’t addressed the defensive line in free agency, with the only player retained being Tommy Kelly.

That means that there are only two players that Oakland will take with the No. 4 pick; Chris Long or Glenn Dorsey.

As I have already stated, I believe that Jake Long won’t get past St. Louis and No. 2, and Matt Ryan doesn’t get past Atlanta at No. 3. That means either Dorsey or Long will be available at No. 4, and both are worthy of that selection. That is where Al Davis goes this year, and I don’t see any reason to doubt that prediction.

If that doesn’t pan out for some reason and both are gone, the Raiders will look to trade down. Their most likely trade partners will be the Jets or the Patriots. Both, because of the defensive systems they play, will have a strong interest in Ohio State LB/DE Vernon Gholston. Al will look to play one off against the other to get maximum value for any trade, and get more picks in what is a very strong draft class.

The Raiders could safely trade down to No. 6 or 7 and still get the only other player who would be of use to them in stopping the run, Sedrick Ellis.

And no, Lane Kiffin hasn’t called a misdirection play in stating that Oakland doesn’t need Darren McFadden. He is just stating the obvious.

For those who are predicting DeSean Jackson, that prediction isn’t even worth addressing.

The Best Oakland Raiders Draft Ever?

David Wilson — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:39:07 -0400

Best Ever Raiders Draft?

The Oakland Raiders have had their share of success and Championships over the years (albeit not the last few), built with some excellent draft classes. But which was their best ever draft?

Here are my top three, in reverse order. To no one’s surprise it won’t include the year we took Todd Marinovich (1991)

3rd Place - 1971

Round 1. Jack Tatum – Safety – Ohio State. Tatum epitomised the Raiders as much as any player whoever wore the silver and black. Nobody ever hit harder than Tatum. 1971 – 1979. 3 Pro Bowls. One NFL Championship.

Round 2. Phil Villapiano – LB – Bowling Green. Villapiano was a character on a team of characters. His most famous play was tackling Randy Mclanahan and popping the ball loose in the first quarter Superbowl XI, causing him to fumble on the 3 yard line. The Raiders recovered the ball and the game’s momentum. 1971 –1979. 4 Pro Bowls. One NFL Chamionship.

Round 4. Clarence Davis – RB – USC. A gutsy little half back who punched above his weight and was a good blocker as well as a runner. 3,640 yards, and 26 TDs at 4.5 yards per carry. Had 139 yds rushing in Superbowl XI, and probably should have won MVP. 1971 – 1978. One NFL Championship.

2nd Place - 1977

Round 2. Mike Davies – S – Colorado. Davies was just a good starting player on a star studded defense, but he played 8 years as a solid, dependable safety. Best remembered for his interception in the end zone to save the 1980 AFC title game against Cleveland. 1978 – 1985. Two NFL Championships.

Round 4. Mickey Marvin – G – Cal-Davis. Another solid, dependable player who earned two super bowl rings with his rugged, consistent play. 1977 – 1987. Two NFL Championships.

Round 5. Lester Hayes – DB – Texas A&M. Converted from his college position of safety. Still leads the Raiders with 39 career interceptions. He had 13 in one season (plus 4 in the playoffs). 1977 – 1986. Five Pro Bowls. Two NFL Championships.

Round 5. Jeff Barnes – LB – California. As a pass defense specialist, stuck on the team for over a decade and was another solid, consistent player from this draft. 1977 – 1987. Two NFL Championships.

Round 12. Rod Martin – LB – USC. Probably the best ever 12th rounder. Played with the Raiders for 12 years, and made 3 interceptions in Superbowl XV against the Eagles, a record that still stands. Made 4 interception returns for TDs in his career. 1977 – 1987. Two Pro Bowls. Two NFL Championships.

1st Place - 1968

Round 2. Ken Stabler – QB – Alabama. Ken Stabler was the face of the Raiders in the 70’s, leading them to 7 AFC title games in 9 years and victory in Superbowl XI. Still holds raider career record with 19,078 yards and 150 TDs. . 1970 – 1979. Four Pro Bowls. NFL most valuable player 1974

Round 3. Art Shell – T – Maryland State. One of the great offensive tackles of all time. . 1968 – 1982. Eight Pro Bowls. Hall of fame player. Also head coach of the Raiders in two separate tenures.

Round 7. George Atkinson – S – Morris Brown. Hard hitting safety who devised the ‘hook’ method of tackling which was later outlawed. He was vilified by Steelers coach Chuck Noll as the ‘criminal element’ in the league. One NFL Championship.

Round 11. Marv Hubbard – RB – Colgate. A bruising fullback who totalled 4,399 yards on the ground and 22 TDs at a healthy 4.8 yards per carry. 1969 –1975. Three Pro Bowls.

There are other draft classes that no doubt many will think should belong here (such as 1983), but these three years to me are a cut above the rest.

1971 has three outstanding players, but in my opinion comes behind 1977. 1977 had only 2 first class players (Lester Hayes and Rod Martin), but provided 5 starters who averaged 10 years apiece with the team.

1968 stands alone with four players who made a massive contribution to the silver and black in every way. Stabler and Shell were as good as any who played those positions during their time in Oakland, Atkinson and Hubbard were high quality players in their own right.

Art Shell has been in the hall of fame for a while, and I truly believe that Kenny Stabler belongs there.

NFL Draft: Predicting the Top Four Picks

David Wilson — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:57:42 -0400

The draft is less than one month away. Glenn Dorsey has mostly dispelled rumors of his injury status with a good pro day. All the other pro days now completed, there is no more information to come in.

That means we have all we need to start the mock drafts in earnest, with a real chance that they might be in some way accurate.

My predictions and reasoning regarding drafts in the top four (barring any trades) is as follows:

Miami, Matt Ryan, QB

I know that conventional wisdom has the Dolphins going with Chris Long here, but I don’t buy it. You don’t rebuild a franchise with a defensive end, you do it with a QB.

Does anyone believe that John Beck is the answer? No, I thought not.

Bill Parcells will want a quality signal caller to take things forward in Miami, and Ryan is certainly that. What makes him even more attractive is that there is no one in the senior QB class from next year’s class that would be top prospects.

So if not Ryan, then who? If Parcells really wants a star linebacker for a three-four defense, then Vernon Gholston is a better fit than Long in any event.

St. Louis, Jake Long, T

There has been talk of the Rams taking Glenn Dorsey or Chris Long here, but after selecting Adam Carriker last year, I don’t believe they will go defensive line two years in a row.

They need offensive linemen. Marc Bulger looked like a bad QB last year. He isn’t. The problem was that they couldn’t keep him upright or healthy. Orlando Pace is just about done, and the Rams will take his replacement in Jake Long.

Atlanta, Glenn Dorsey, DT

With Ryan off the board, the Falcons take the best defensive tackle in the draft in Glenn Dorsey.

Dorsey has been compared to a young Warren Sapp, which is praise indeed. The Falcons had big problems against the run last year, and with Rod Coleman gone they have a hole to fill at defensive tackle.

Dorsey is well worth the No. 3 pick here and is capable of lifting a whole defense with his play.

Matt Ryan is the guy they want, but he is already off the board.

Oakland, Chris Long, DE

Whatever players the Raiders have brought in, whatever money they have spent in other areas, they still have to address the defensive line. If they can’t stop the run they won’t win games.

Tommy Kelly is only one piece in the puzzle and Kalimba Edwards and William Joseph are not the answer, only depth.

Al Davis loves his Raider heritage, and you can’t get much better than the son of perhaps the greatest Raider ever. If Chris Long is on the board here, he doesn’t get past Oakland.

If Long is gone, Vernon Gholston is the kind of athletic freak Davis loves. A wild card pick would be Darren McFadden, but I don’t see it as the Oakland backfield is already well stocked.

Other Thoughts

· Matt Ryan doesn’t get past Atlanta at No. 3.

· Darren McFadden will be the big slip in this year’s draft.

· Vernon Gholston is this year's wild card, he could go anywhere from the top slot down. But he doesn’t get past the Jets at No. 6.

It is going to be an interesting draft this year, and Oakland picks in a good spot at No. 4. Even in a worst case scenario, we end up with a very good player.

It certainly looks to be a better season for Oakland this year, and whatever you think of Al Davis, no one can say he doesn’t do everything in his power to make the Raiders a winning team.

Here is to a last hurrah for Al!