Opening Day Roster Wishlist

With plenty of downtime and the season inching closer, I figured I would write an article that is not the same repetitive notions about Jamarcus or Cable.  I thought I would write something that would catch everyones attention and make them think.  Here is my following wishlist and depth chart. 

QB- Jamarcus Russell, Jeff Garcia, Charlie Frye

RB- Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas, Michael Bush

FB-Lorenzo Neal, Oren O'Neal

WR-Chaz Schillens, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Louis Murphy

WR-Javon Walker, Darrius Heyward-Bey, William Franklin

TE- Zach Miller, Tony Stewart 

LT- Mario Henderson, Kalif Barnes 

LG- Robert Gallery, Chris Morris 

C- Sampson Satele, John Wade 

RG- Erik Pears, Cooper Carlisle 

RT- Kalif Barnes, Marcus Johnson/Paul McQuistan 

DE- Greg Ellis, Derrick Burgess, Matt Shaughnessy 

NT- Terdell Sands, Gerard Warren 

UT- Tommy Kelly, Ryan Boschetti 

DE- Jay Richardson, Trevor Scott, Matt Shaughnessy 

OLB- Jon Alston, Ricky Brown 

MLB- Kirk Morrison, Frantz Joseph, Isiah Ekejiuba 

OLB- Thomas Howard, Slade Norris, Jon Condo 

CB- Nnamdi Asomugha, Michael Huff, Justin Miller 

CB- Chris Johnson, Stanford Routt, Justin Miller 

FS- Tyvon Branch, Michael Huff 

SS- Hiram Eugene, Mike Mitchell 

K- Sebastian Janikowski 

P- Shane Lechler 

LS- Jon Condo 

KR Justin Miller, Heyward-Bey 

PR- Johnnie Lee Higgins, Justin Miller

Russell is our QB of the future.  There is no competition with Garcia he is just insurance from injury and a role model.  Frye will be our #2 next year.  McFadden will be the starter with Fargas as the back up.  Fargas has more versatility than Bush.  Lorenzo is the starter to provide a good role model and to ensure time for O'Neal to properly heal.  Schillens is clearly our best receiver and hopefully Walker can at least be a capable #2 so that Higgins can remain in the slot.  The rookies will be brought along slowly to prevent mistakes.  Franklin is simply best of whats left and another chance for Al to rub in the face of opponents he made their player better.  Zach Miller is clearly the starter, and Tony Stewart is an underappreciated player.  Henderson is our LT of the future he will not be a perennial probowler but he will be above average for the next decade.  Barnes will be the back up at and start at right tackle.  Gallery is the incumbent at LG, with Morris being versatile enough to play guard or center.  Satele will be the starter, with Wade as his back up unless they thnk Morris can handle being the back-up.  RG is a position where anything could happen it could end up being pears, but I don't think Carlisle will do just enough to keep his position.  Pears is a very good lineman and can play either tackle spot so he will be a starter its just a matter or RT or RG.  Barnes being the second best tackle on our team will fit perfectly at right tackle, a position better suited to his strengths.  McQuistan and Johnson are versatile and provide depth at many positions.  DE will be Ellis and Richardson as starters to help against run.  With Burgess and Scott coming in on passing downs.  Sands should start at NT he is good against the run but the reps shouls be split 50/50 with Warren.  Sands can stop the run and play limited snaps to keep him fresh.  Warren will be able to do what he does best rush the passer.  UT will be Kelly he will show how good he can be with Boschetti coming in for an occasional breather.  OLB will be a battle between Alston and Brown.  Alston is more athletic and played well last year in his limited time.  Morrison is clearly the leader in the middle.  Joseph can become a very good linebacker.  He will sit and learn the coaches will love his ferocity.  Howard is a lock and Norris will learn.  CB will be Asomugha and Johnson with Routt and Miller most likely the back-ups.  Hopefully Huff will take a paycut and stay as a corner a position that will make him great against the run and good in coverage.  He was to lean to play safety anyway.  Branch will start at FS because the raiders want Mitchell to play SS.  Eugene will start until Mitchell is ready and then he be the back up at both positions.  K and P are locks.  They are both two positions we are lucky to have very good players.  KR will be Miller and Heyward-Bey.  He will be able to use his game breaking speed, while being eased along.  PR will be higgins because he is such a weapon there. 

Practice Squad 

DT- Desmond Bryant 

S- Jerome Boyd 

LB- Chris O'Neill 

RB- Louis Rankin 

FB- Marcel Reece 

DE- Stryker Sulak  

S- Darrick Brown 

TE- Darrell Strong

I think we will be 9-7 barely win our division and play a tight first round but lose in the playoffs.  I think one more year of these players being together will be the difference.  Please tell me what you think.  Here's to the koolaid.