Oakland Raiders Draft Picks Have a Bright Future, Is Al Davis a Genius?
Al Davis is a football genius. He is one of the few men in the history of the NFL to change the game and help make it what it is today.
The team that he built in his image has had a rough decade in the 2000's despite making it to another Super Bowl early on in 2002.
The media likes to come down hard on Davis, mainly because he doesn't like to let the media into his organization.
Truth is as time passes, everyone will forget about all these reporters and players who like to mock Mr. Davis, but he will forever be an important piece of NFL history.
He has a small circle of trust, and the media doesn't have many sources that can leak out info on the Raiders.
Times have changed, but Davis hasn't changed much. In an era where we love to talk more about football gossip than we do about X's and O's, Mr. Davis refuses to let the media into his world.
You'll never see reporters like Ed Werder breaking stories about fights in the locker room, or who is mad at who and who slept with whose girlfriend in Oakland.
Most recently the media and "draft experts" have loved to ridicule a lot of the Al Davis draft picks that the Raiders have drafted in recent years.
If you look at the overall body of work that Davis and the Raiders have done in recent drafts, the outlook is very good.
Let's take a look at 10 recent draft picks that will help bring back the glory to a storied franchise.
Zach Miller
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Drafted 38th in 2007 Zach Miller has proven himself as a viable and reliable threat on offense. Miller is only 24 years old.
Not only can he block and protect the quarterback, but his playmaking abilities in the passing game make him one of the top tight ends in the league.
He has led the Raiders in receptions the past two years and may be on pace to do it again this year.
Miller gives the Raider Nation a tight end that brings back memories of Dave Casper.
Darren McFadden
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In 2008 many people thought Darren McFadden would be a Raider. He had the Raider speed that Al Davis loves and was taken fourth overall by the Silver and Black.
With his size, speed and strength, he was the perfect running back for the Raiders. In his first two years, his career wasn't what many people expected, but in 2010 he looks like one of the best backs in the league.
McFadden can do it all: Run inside, outside, catch screens and even throw the ball.
If McFadden continues to play at a high level, he could go down as one of the best running backs in Raider history. He is only 23 years old.
Do I dare say he reminds me of a lethal combination of Bo Jackson and Marcus Allen?
Tyvon Branch
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Tyvon Branch was the 100th pick in the 2008 draft. He is only 23 years old and showing flashes of being a playmaker.
He was one of the top performers in the NFL combine before he was drafted. He had Raider written all over him as he was one of the strongest and fastest defensive backs available.
He recorded 124 tackles last season, and has 59 total tackles this year. He recovered a crucial fumble by Philip Rivers and took it to that house to secure the win for the Raiders.
If you look at the YouTube video, it's scary how fast he is. He made Darren Sproles look slow.
Branch could be the safety of the future for the Oakland Raiders.
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Rolando McClain
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Roland McClain was drafted eighth overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. Nick Saban deemed him one of the smartest players that he has ever coached.
The day after he was drafted, he called the coaches and asked for a playbook so he could study it. That was music to the coaches and Raider Nation's ears.
McClain is only 21 years old and he has helped turn the Raiders defense into a fierce unit. He could finish his first season as a pro with over 100 tackles.
McClain has plenty of time to become great, but it may come much sooner than later.
Darrius Heyward-Bey
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In 2009 the world was shocked when the Raiders drafted Darrius Heyward-Bey out of Maryland with the seventh overall pick. His first two years look very similar to Darren McFadden's.
Heyward-Bey was the fastest wide receiver in the NFL Combine. Opposing teams respect his speed, and if you watch game film you'll often see the team's best cornerback on him with safety help.
Heyward-Bey is only 23 years old and has shown flashes of his potential. What should get Raider fans more excited about DHB is his work ethic and willingness to put the time in to get better.
Last year he stayed all offseason in Oakland and worked hard to add 15 pounds of muscle.
He will only get better with the more experience he gets. If the Raiders can block for their QB, DHB can have big games.
Matt Shaughnessy
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Matt Shaughnessy was the 71st overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. This guy reminds me of a young Richard Seymour.
Having Seymour around has helped many young players, but perhaps has helped Shaughnessy the most. In his first two years he has already accumulated more sacks than Seymour did during his first two years.
He's done this coming off the bench for the Raiders. He's part of a very solid and young rotation at defensive end that the Raiders have.
Shaughnessy is only 24 years old and has plenty of energy. He makes plays against the run and the pass. His high motor is what makes him very crucial to the Raiders pass rush.
Look for him to make his way up the sack leaderboard in Raider history.
Louis Murphy
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Louis Murphy was taken 124th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. He came into Oakland with the championship swagger he picked up with the Florida Gators.
Murphy is only 23 years old and has plenty of football left to play, but he plays like a savvy veteran.
He seems to make all the big plays for the Raiders when they need them.
He looks as if he is playing with a chip on his shoulder. He is going to be a part of one of the best receiving units the Raiders have ever had.
Just like everyone else, all he needs is time and more experience. Look for Murphy to be one of the greatest Raider receivers of all time.
Lamarr Houston
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Lamarr Houston was the 44th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He may only be 23, but his player is all man.
He has a mean streak and the more experience this guy gets the scarier he will be.
He is a nasty player that got into it with a couple of the veteran offensive players during camp. He was letting it be known that he is all about his business.
He is part of the Raiders defensive line that I have decided to name "The Black Hole."
He is one of the strongest most athletic players on the team. Look for Houston to be a part of a strong defensive line for years to come.
Trevor Scott
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Trevor Scott is the oldest of the young guys to be excited about. He just turned 26 years old and was drafted 169th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft.
He recorded five sacks his rookie years and then got seven in his second year.
Scott can play defensive end and outside linebacker. If you asked him to play cornerback, he would do that too.
Scott applies the pressure and makes it hard for the offense to decide who to block. He is another high motor guy and has a bright future in Oakland.
Michael Bush
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Michael Bush completes the Raiders backfield and turns it into a nightmare. Currently the Raiders are ranked second in the league in rushing.
He was drafted 100th overall in the 2007 draft. He is the oldest offensive player on this list at 26 years old.
The combo of Run DMC and Grand Master Bush is a nightmare for defenses.
Bush has been a reliable option at running back and steps up when he's asked to.
With his size and speed, I don't know many defensive backs that want to take on him head on.
Bush will help make the Raiders backfield a force for many years.
Jacoby Ford
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I know I said 10 players, but I can't leave Jacoby Ford out of this. He was the 108th overall pick in the 2010 draft. Surprise surprise, he was the fastest receiver in the NFL Combine.
He was the catalyst to the Raiders victory over the Chiefs.
Ford is only 23 years old and could be a very scary receiver. He is part of one of the fastest wide receiver corps in the league.
Ford has a bright future ahead and will be one of the reasons the Raider Nation has plenty to look forward to.
Jared Veldheer and Others
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Jared Veldheer was drafted 69th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He is 23 years old and has started at left tackle and center.
He is a smart football player that cares about the game and about learning how to be the best.
The Raiders have a lot of other young players on the squad and many of them will also be a big part of the Raiders turn around.
For more Raiders news and notes follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Elias_Trejo
I also want to give a shout out and wish good luck to my nephew and brother Pablo Vega and Chad Van Orden of the Snake River Panthers in Idaho. The Panthers are playing in the 3A State Title Game for the first time in seven years. Good luck guys!
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