NFL 2011 Draft: Oakland Raiders' Future May Be Tied To Their Past

Al Davis, Oakland's Hall of Fame owner, headed into the 1989 NFL Draft with no selections until the sixth round. Yet it did not stop the maverick owner from bettering his Raiders.

The Dallas Cowboys had just used the very first pick in the second round on an offensive guard named Steven Wisniewski. He had been a two-time All-American who led his team to a national championship.

Wisniewski was the second guard drafted, as well as the sixth overall offensive lineman chosen. All five men drafted before him never made a Pro Bowl. Only two men in the entire 1989 draft would go on to appear in more Pro Bowls than him.

Davis got Dallas to give him up in a trade, and Oakland would spend the next decade reaping the benefits of the Cowboys blunder. Wisniewski would stay with the Raiders until 2001, missing just two games the entire time.

He also went to eight Pro Bowls and was twice named First Team All-Pro in a career that should one day culminate in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was known as a smart player with incredible drive and an even bigger mean streak. Opponents did not look forward to facing him.

A member of the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, Wisniewski has come back to the team again recently. He was named the Raiders assistant offensive line coach, and is intent on bettering his team once again.

On the teams website, he exclaimed,"I'm back to my first love, the Oakland Raiders and working with the Offensive Line. I’m a Raider for life. I can help in technique, help in mindset and attitude and really push these young men to develop and to be the heartbeat of the team."

Offensive line is an area of concern of the Raiders heading into the 2011 draft, and they may not have to look beyond their own locker room for a solution, let alone a legacy of one of their truer legends.

Stefan Wisniewski is the nephew of their newly hired coach. He heads into the draft considered one of the top blockers in the draft, let alone at the guard and center positions. Not only was he an All-American like his uncle, but he was named Academic All-American three times in college.

The Wisniewski's are of legendary bloodlines at Penn State University. Not only was Steve Wisniewski and his nephew standouts at the school, but his older brother was as well. Leo Wisniewski, Stefan's father, was a star for the Nittany Lions seven years before Steve.

Leo, like his brother, was drafted with the first pick in the second round as well. He lasted three years at nose tackle, getting an impressive 235 tackles and 14.5 sacks in 36 games before a knee injury ended his career.

Oakland does not own the first pick in the second round of the 2011 draft, so that part of the Wisniewski lineage may end. But Oakland can keep another tradition alive by having a Wisniewski clear to way for ball carriers yet again.

He would represent an upgrade over Samson Satele, the incumbent starter at center. Wisniewski would also have the benefit of his uncle in his ear on the sideline, offering sage advice. The center is the quarterback of the offensive line, the intelligent Wisniewski and his uncle would lead the way to improvement for a unit that has been a weakness of the team for several seasons lately.

The Raiders have the 48th overall draft selection, an area some feel Wisniewski may last to. The Minnesota Vikings, who pick five spots ahead of Oakland, also need help on the offensive line. Most feel they'd prefer an offensive tackle. Though Wisniewski can play guard, center seems the position he is destined to play.

Not only is he said to play similar to his uncle, nicknamed "The Wiz", he gives Steve Wisniewski credit for preparing him as a player, "He was known for finishing blocks and being a nasty guy and that's what I try to do. I like to finish my blocks."

Though Oakland can look in several directions in the draft, from the secondary to linebacker positions as well. Yet getting a hungry and mean blocker is hard to pass up. Especially one playing with his uncle and his football family.

Tradition is hard to keep alive in the NFL, but Al Davis recognizes this perhaps more than any other NFL owner. The Raiders "Commitment To Excellence" can be kept alive in the Wisniewski heart and fist for another decade to come.