Originally published on Silver & Black Report on May 10, 2014
The Oakland Raiders went through yet another large rebuild in the offseason, with the defense being greatly rebuilt again. In free agency, the Raiders added veterans Antonio Smith, Lamarr Woodley, and Justin Tuck up front. In addition, the Raiders just drafted big-bodied nose tackle Justin Ellis in the fourth round of the draft after selecting the extremely versatile linebacker Khalil Mack fifth-overall. With all of these additions, the Raiders now have versatility and an ability to run a variety of defenses just as Jason Tarver and Dennis Allen desire in their “multiple” scheme. The Raiders have ran a base 4-3 while under Dennis Allen and Jason Tarver and fans shouldn’t expect that to change. But that doesn’t mean the Raiders won’t try to incorporate different looks, like a 3-4, increasingly with a more versatile roster. Changing the looks will only help confuse the opposing offense as it will make it more difficult to see where the rush is coming from and whose defending who. A change in defensive look doesn’t always mean the players’ duties will change, but will keep the opposing offense on their toes. Thing is you can’t simply “change your look” with players that won’t be efficient in their “new” position – the opposing NFL offenses are too good and will exploit their weakness. This is why having versatile players is key. The Raiders seemingly have enough depth in the linebacking corps to run the 3-4 scheme on plays should they want to. The Raiders could put Pat Sims or rookie Ellis on the field as a run-stuffing nose tackle, sandwiched by Smith and Tuck (though he may be a little small) as the two defensive ends. This would also move Woodley back to his position in Pittsburgh as a 3-4 outside linebacker with Mack on the other side and middle linebacker Nick Roach and Sio Moore playing as the inside linebackers. And the Raiders still have Kevin Burnett, Kaluka Maiava and Miles Burris for depth at linebacker. If the Raiders want to play in the same 4-3 that they’ve been playing in, they need to figure out what the plan for Mack is. Will Mack take Moore’s place as the SAM linebacker and Moore moved to WILL? Or will Mack go over to the WILL position? My first guess is that it will be Moore who is moved over to the weakside as Mack’s strengths make him a force to be reckoned with on the strongside. Either way, the Raiders have a corps of linebackers that can be moved around, with Mack and Moore also having experience and the ability to put their hands in the dirt and rush from the line on passing downs. The same versatility can be seen on the Raiders defensive line, with Antonio Smith having the ability to play inside or out, and Tuck having experience being be kicked inside on passing downs to apply more pass rush. Another thing of note is the Raiders potential NASCAR package, which historically features four defensive ends on the line and is designed to apply pressure on the quarterback on obvious passing downs. As it stands now, the Raiders NASCAR package would likely be Woodley, Tuck, Smith and Mack on the defensive line with Roach and Moore as the linebackers. That’s a lot of strength and speed down there to attack the quarterback. Don’t expect the Raiders to change their base defense from their current 4-3, but we may just happen to see more 3-4 play from the Raiders now that their personnel makes it more capable. The Raiders have done a good job acquiring defensive pieces that can be placed at a variety of positions, making it easier to achieve the “multiple” scheme they desire.
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Originally published on Silver & Black Report on May 10, 2014
Oakland Raiders fourth-round draft pick Keith McGill spoke with the media on Saturday after being selected in the fourth round (116th overall). https://soundcloud.com/sbreport/raiders-fourth-round-draft-pick-cb-keith-mcgill-talks-to-the-media Transcript: Q: Have the Raiders said if they want to play you at safety or corner or a little of both? McGill: “When I talked to them, they were talking more about corner. We didn’t talk about that today, we just talked about getting drafted.” Q: What is the preference you have, if they gave you the option? McGill: “I would like to play corner, but I’m not going to turn down any opportunity. If they want me to start on the field as a safety, I’m going to play safety. If they want me to start on the field as corner, I’m going to player corner.” Q: What led you to make the switch in college from safety to corner? McGill: “It was more of the coaches that made the transition with Sean Smith over at Utah. They said I had a lot of the same characteristics and traits as him, so I just showed up at practice one day and they told me I was going to corner so I went there and a year later I never went back to safety.” Q: What was the hardest part of that transition for you? McGill: “Probably just understanding the whole position itself. Different technique, different vision on the field, just a lot different with the receivers pressing in it play-in and play-out. I’d say just the overall transition.” Q: Did you have any kind of inkling that the Raiders were interested in you? McGill: “I had a private visit there and they really liked my ability to press off the line and how I was able to move. They said not a lot of other big guys can do what I was doing. I kind of got a good feel.” Q: There is a lot of history in this organization at cornerback, but especially defensive backs. How much of that are you aware of? McGill: “I’m aware of a good amount. On my trip, I was able to meet some people. I’m trying to go down in history like a guy I met, Willie Brown. I hope that’s what happens.” Q: You had a pretty serious shoulder injury that you rehabbed from and there were some off the field issues that were documented and had been talked about on TV. Is all that stuff behind you now? McGill: “Definitely. That was two years ago. I’ve been trying to stay clean and trying to show everybody that that was the past and that’s exactly what it was. Obviously it’s going to come up because it’s a concern for teams. All the teams that passed on me, they’re going to realize it was a big mistake and the Oakland Raiders are going to realize that it was a really good draft pick.” Q: Last year the Raiders drafted Stacy McGee who had had a couple issues at Oklahoma. When Reggie was asked about it, he said that he looked in the kid’s eyes and knew in my gut. Did you feel you had that moment with him? McGill: “Definitely. He told me those exact words. Long story short, they ended up picking me. He understood that everything was behind me. I looked him in the eyes and now I’m an Oakland Raider.” Q: Where do you think that you grew as a player and also as a person during 2013? McGill: “It was probably 2012, not on the field, it was just going through all those mistakes and sitting down with coaches and just determining where I wanted my life to go. I didn’t realize that everything could be taken away in a flash and that the window was closing. I think right then and there, there comes a point in time of life where you make a decision to become a man or remain a boy, and that’s what I did before the 2013 season. It got me in the situation I am now.” Q: Did you tend to play left or right side at Utah, or did they move you around? McGill: “I played the visitor sideline, so whether that was field, boundary, left or right, I just stayed on the visitor sidelines.” Q: There are a lot of top receivers in the Pac-12. Do you feel like that has been pretty good preparation for you? McGill: “Definitely. I pretty much locked down everybody … [inaudible]. I tried to explain that to a lot of people, and I don’t think they understood. It is a process and the Pac-12 [prepared me] for the NFL, and I am pretty excited to see that happen.” Q: How was your Senior Bowl week and what did you think you got done there? McGill: “Senior Bowl week was exactly what I wanted. I had a little cramping issues at the beginning, but when I was on the field, I think I did very well. I think I handled myself to a high-production rate [in the] overall game. Some people say the game doesn’t count, but if the game didn’t count, then they wouldn’t have it. So, I went out there and I did really well. I had pass breakup, had an interception, tackle for loss and I think I did pretty well.” Q: Were you frustrated that you weren’t frustrated earlier and where were you when you heard the news today? McGill: “I was definitely frustrated I wasn’t getting drafted today. I saw some people go ahead of me, but that’s nothing I can control. All I can control is what I am going to do on the field. There is plenty other corners that have people who are ahead of them and they’ve been successful. When I got the phone call today, I was just happy that I am going to be in a good situation and compete to be a starter.” Q: Were you at home or with family? McGill: “I’m at home in Anaheim with my family and everybody was really happy. I was on the phone a little longer and they really didn’t understand what was happening so they were all just watching the TV. When they saw my name across the board, everybody just went crazy.” Q: How much are you looking forward to working with veterans like Charles Woodson, Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown? McGill: “Really looking forward to it. I don’t know how many people know that there is only one corner in history to win a Heisman Trophy and that’s Charles Woodson. So, that should say enough right there.” Q: I saw you were at a year and a half with a shoulder injury. Was there a setback? And how frustrating was that for you? McGill: “It wasn’t a setback. It was more of an issue that I had to address. It was a little frustrating because I couldn’t be on the field, but other than that, I was just in the training room getting ready for the season and getting myself stronger so it didn’t happen again.” Q: I also read you have a seven-year-old daughter. How has that helped you mature? McGill: “I have a three-year-old daughter. That helped me a lot. She was right next to me today. Nothing can make me happier than being in the situation I am now.” Originally published on Silver & Black Report on May 10, 2014
Nose tackle Justin Ellis spoke with the media shortly after being drafted by the Oakland Raiders 107th overall. You can read the transcript below, as well as hear the audio. https://soundcloud.com/sbreport/raiders-fourth-round-draft-pick-justin-ellis-conference-call Transcript: Q: Did you have any notion that the Raiders would select you leading up to the draft? Ellis: “Me and [defensive line] coach Terrell [Williams], when we first met, we hit it off pretty good. He kept saying how much he liked me and I had a lot of interest from their program, so I did [have an idea] of them picking me.” Q: Did you come out for a visit, or did they go to your pro? When did you talk to him? Ellis: “They came out to my pro day and we just kept in contact since my pro day and stuff. Some before the pro day, I met him at the Senior Bowl and stuff too.” Q: How much do you think your performance in the East-West Shrine Game helped your draft stock? Ellis: “It helped me a lot. That’s one of the reasons why I think my draft stock moved up and it’s a blessing.” Q: It seemed like your pro day went well too. All of the stuff since the end of your season elevated your stock. Did you find new and different ways to work out? Did you get in better shape than you had been? Ellis: “Yes, I’ve always been a hard worker. As far as my weight, I did try to make sure I stayed consistent, just so the teams would know that I’m not just a guy that’s going to swell up on them. But other than that, I just work like I’ve been doing all my life. It’s just worth it that it paid off.” Q: What would you say your biggest strengths are as a player? Ellis: “My power and explosiveness, my quickness off the ball.” Q: Do you feel that you can play nose guard, three-technique lineman? What are your thoughts on your position? Ellis: “I’m most definitely an inside guy, but I can play anywhere from the nose to the three-technique. Anything they want from me, I can play.” Q: The Raiders have made a big deal about drafting guys that are really serious about playing football, they love football, and don’t have a lot of drama in their lives off the field. Does that sum you up? Ellis: “Yes, sir. That’s me most definitely.” Q: Are there NFL defensive tackles who you tried to pattern yourself after? Ellis: “Growing up, Warren Sapp was my idol. He was the person I looked up to, as far as football. Lately, the last couple of years it has been Vince Wilfork. He’s grown on me a lot. I like the way he plays the game and I kind of model my game after him.” Q: Tell us about what brought you to Louisiana Tech after high school. Ellis: “They recruited me well. I thought Coach [Derek] Dooley coached a great program. It was a building process and I wanted to be a part of it. They recruited me well and my mom liked them. I had a good feeling about it. If I trust you, I’ll most likely go with you.” Q: How appealing is it to come to a place where you’ll get to work with guys like Justin Tuck and LaMarr Woodley? Ellis: “I’m honored to be able to work with those guys. Justin Tuck is another guy that I think is a good defensive tackle, D-lineman, period. LaMarr Woodley, all those guys, I think they are great professional athletes. I’m happy to be a part of the Oakland Raiders.” Q: Most big guys wouldn’t embrace the nickname ‘Jelly’, so how do you like it? Ellis: “Yes, sir. My high school coach, my defensive coordinator my freshman year, David Taylor, he said ‘I’m going to call you Jelly Bean’ and that stuck to me. Everybody calls me Jelly and I don’t have any problems with it. That’s my name now. I embrace it.” Q: How would you describe your weight issues? Ellis: “It has been a grind. I’m a big guy, naturally, and I gain weight easily. But, I also lose weight easily, too, so my weight fluctuates. At the same time, it’s been a grind but it’s something I can do. I haven’t lost control of it. I have gained weight, but I also lose it.” Q: What’s your weight at now? What do you think, ideally, it should be for the NFL? Ellis: “Right around 346, 347. Maybe 330.” Originally published on Silver & Black Report on May 10, 2014
Reggie McKenzie and the Oakland Raiders front office continued to address needs by adding Utah’s cornerback Keith McGill with the 116th overall selection on Saturday. The Raiders signed Carlos Rodgers and Tarell Brown in the offseason but they are only on one-year contracts. The Raiders needed to add cornerback help to put opposite of second-year corner D.J. Hayden. McGill is a large corner who uses his 6-foot-3, 211-pound frame to stick with receivers in press man coverage. McGill was recently climbing up draft boards and believed to be a third-round talent, and sometimes even considered a second-round talent. The Raiders don’t pick again until the seventh round (219th, 235th, 247th), barring any trades. Originally published on Silver & Black Report on May 10, 2014
The Raiders have had a solid draft thus far but it is not even halfway over as the Raiders still have five selections remaining Saturday. The Raiders still acquired a fourth-round pick (116th overall) in their trade with the Miami Dolphins on Friday to go along with their other fourth-round pick (107th overall) and three seventh-round draft picks – 219th overall, 235th overall, and 247th overall. The Raiders addressed needs by selecting linebacker Khalil Mack, quarterback Derek Carr and guard Gabe Jackson but there’s still many holes that the Raiders will look to patch up in rounds four to seven on Saturday. Though the Raiders signed Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown in the offseason to help at cornerback, they’re only on one-year contracts making it likely the Raiders will need to draft a corner. There’s a lot of strong cornerback prospects still available, including Utah’s Keith McGill, Lindenwood’s Pierre Desir, Florida’s Marcus Roberson, Liberty’s Walt Aiken, Clemson’s Bashaud Breeland, Missouri’s E.J. Gaines and Florida’s Loucheiz Purifrey. The Raiders have also been reportedly interested in Oregon’s Terrance Mitchell, attending his workout in his hometown in Sacramento, Calif. The Raiders passed up on a possible desperately-needed number one wide receiver when they selected Carr instead of one of the wide receiver prospects. Because of that, they may choose to select a wide receiver sooner than later in hopes of catching lightning in a bottle. The wide receiver prospects have thinned out but some viable options are Clemson’s Martavis Bryant, South Carolina’s Bruce Ellington and Wisconsin’s Jared Abbrederis. Some fans hoped that the Raiders would select a defensive end or defensive tackle Louis Nix III at 81st overall, but the Raiders opted to solidify their offensive line instead by selecting Jackson. This has left the hole in the roster for defensive line help. . DaQuan Jones of Penn State would be a solid defensive tackle prospect, as would be Daniel McCullers of Tennessee. Deandre Coleman of Cal and Anthony Johnson of LSU would also be good choices. Veteran safety Charles Woodson is also getting up there in age, leaving the Raiders needing to look for a young safety to groom. The best safety prospect remaining is probably USC’s Dion Bailey, to go along with Ed Reynolds and Dontae Johnson. It’s hard to say where they’ll go, but it also isn’t out of the realm that Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie won’t continue to wheel and deal. There’s no doubt that the Raiders would enjoy the comfort of moving back in some rounds while acquiring more draft picks. No matter where the Raiders pick, there’s still work for them to do as they don’t want to slow down on an already strong draft after the first two days. Originally published on Silver & Black Report on May 9, 2014
The Raiders made two more picks on Friday in quarterback Derek Carr and offensive guard Gabe Jackson. Raiders Director of Player Personnel Joey Clinscales was at the team’s facilities to discuss day two with the media. You can read the transcript bellow. Transcript: Q: Reggie expressed yesterday that they were pretty pleased Khalil Mack fell to them at No. 5. How much gratification was there when Derek Carr fell to you at No. 36? Clinkscales: “I think we were pretty excited. At the point in time of the draft, Derek was the highest rated guy on the board. So, we were pretty comfortable taking him.” Q: Derek was mostly in the spread offense the last couple of years. Was that a concern? Did you go back and look at his previous years? Clinkscales: “We did a lot of extensive work on him. We went back a couple of years and looked at tape when he played under center more. But, we felt like at that point we stayed true to our board and he was the best player available.” Q: With the way it plays out, it seems like you guys have gone all-in on Matt Schaub. It seems the best-case scenario would be for Derek to sit and learn the NFL offense behind Matt. Clinkscales: “Right. Again, we stayed true to our board. We think Matt Schaub is our starter – we are confident in that. Derek will come in and he will learn and wherever he fits in, he fits in. But, we’re comfortable with the pick and knowing that he’ll come in and develop the way we would like to see him develop.” Q: Do you believe that he is the future of this franchise after Schaub is gone? Clinkscales: “We took him in the second round. We would like to think so. With that being said, you never know what will happen in the future. But, we’re excited that he is here and he’ll have a chance to compete. Who knows what will happen?” Q: He handled the media pretty well. Is he a high-character guy? And is that one of the reasons you guys chose him as well? Clinkscales: “Very much so. He is a very mature kid. He’s had a lot of life experiences that the regular 22-year-old hasn’t had. He’s got a family, he’s married, he has a child. So, we’re excited to get a guy like that in the program.” Q: When you look at him, do you think of his brother at all? Clinkscales: “Not at all. I don’t think you evaluate one guy and think about the brother. I think the lineage is good. I think the fact that his father has been around football, and I think the family has been around football, I think that’s a plus.” Q: David tried to sell himself as kind of a package deal. Have there been any discussions about that? Clinkscales: “We drafted Derek, so we’re excited about Derek.” Q: Did you have Derek at the top of your quarterback board heading into yesterday? Clinkscales: “Derek was the top quarterback on the board today.” Q: Is he at a point where he could play if he needed to? Clinkscales: “That remains to be seen. He’s a young quarterback. We aren’t expecting him to walk in the door and be the starter. We have a starter. Whenever that time occurs, then we’re confident the kid will be ready to play.” Q: Are you surprised that he fell to 36? Clinkscales: “We were surprised that he was there at 36, yes.” Q: There were a lot of good receivers on the board in the second and third rounds. Would you say it’s more because you’re happy with the corps that you have now, or that you didn’t like the receivers that have gone thus far? Clinkscales: “I think it’s a combination of both. Again, we stayed true to the board. We were able to draft Derek and then we were able to move back, get a player that we liked in Gabe and pick up a fourth-round draft pick.” Q: What was appealing about Gabe? Clinkscales: “Gabe is a big, powerful young man. He gives the physicality that we’re looking for in the run game, he’s athletic enough in the pass game to move. We’re excited to have Gabe.” Q: Did you guys think about moving down in the second round or when Derek was on the board, were you pretty set? Clinkscales: “We considered it. We’re open to moving up and back. The fact that Derek was there, we thought it was a good opportunity to help upgrade our football team.” Q: Did that change your strategy about when you wanted to take a quarterback, given that Carr was there? Clinkscales: “A little bit, from the standpoint that, again, we stayed true to the board. At the time of the pick, he was the top guy on our board. We were excited to get that player.” Q: What was your take on Derek’s performance against USC in the bowl game? He didn’t play very well in that game. Clinkscales: “That was one game. Again, we’ve all had bad games, we’ve all had bad days. I don’t think one game can really determine the totality of his playing career.” Q: How raw of a player is Jackson right now? Is he a guy you envision playing as a rookie if you needed him? Clinkscales: “I think he could come in and play pretty early for anybody. He’s a powerful, physical young man. When you’re building a guard, physically, that’s what they look like. Once he gets on the field and competes with the other guys, then we’ll see how that turns out. I am pretty confident that Gabe will come in and compete and be tough and be exactly what we expect him to be.” Q: You said you had to think about taking offers for that 36th pick. Did you have to turn people down? Clinkscales: “We fielded a lot of calls, quite a few.” Q: Was there any thought to trade up? Clinkscales: “No, there was really no discussion from our standpoint of moving up. We had that option if we wanted to do so, but we were pretty comfortable there.” Q: In terms of depth, where is your biggest needs are moving forward in the draft? Clinkscales: “I guess there is a point in time where the draft becomes a need, but right now we are still following the board. We’re going to follow the board and take the best player available. At a point in time when it becomes a need draft, we’ll go down that line.” Q: What’s your favorite thing about Mack? Clinkscales: “He’s physical. He’s tough. He’s able to rush the passer, obviously from standing up, with his hand in the dirt. He gives you speed. The versatility, I mean I could go on and on. I love the player and I love the pick.” Q: When you look at Mack and Carr, they’re both hard workers. Jackson was a two-time captain, which was probably intentional for the types of players you’re drafting. Clinkscales: “Absolutely. Jackson is a 50-game starter in the SEC. That tells you a lot about what kind of guy he is, he hasn’t missed a start. When you’re building a foundation of a football team, I think it’s important that you get the right kind of guys. I think we’ve tried to do that throughout the offseason and with the players we’ve drafted so far.” Q: It seems like you guys have been lucky with the guys you’ve wanted so far. Clinkscales: “I’m excited about the players. The Raiders need a little luck just like everybody else so we’re excited about that.” Originally published on Silver & Black Report on May 9, 2014 After selecting Derek Carr in the second round on Friday, Reggie McKenzie returned to building the trenches with offensive guard Gabe Jackson at 81st overall. Jackson provides the Raiders with another big-bodied guard that can be a force in the NFL for some time. NFL.com’s draft profile describes him as “Big, thickly built, relatively nuanced blocker who brings a steadying presence to the interior offensive line. Dependability and effectiveness blocking for pass and run combined with sterling intangibles, including football intelligence, make him capable of starting as a rookie and holding down a position for years to come.” Jackson should help to sure up a Raiders offensive line that has been almost completely rebuilt this offseason. The 6-foot-3, 336-pound offensive guard took time out of his day to speak with the media on Friday. The audio can be heard in its entirety below, and the transcript can be read below as well. https://soundcloud.com/sbreport/raiders-third-round-pick-gabe-jackson-talks-to-the-media Transcript:
Q: Did you know you were going to land with the Raiders? Jackson: “It was a surprise. I didn’t know that I would end up landing there.” Q: Did you have any conversations with the Raiders? Jackson: “Just moments before they picked me.” Q: So you never spoke with them during the offseason? Jackson: “I did at the Senior Bowl. I spoke with the offensive line coach.” Q: Were you watching the draft? Did you see that they had picked a quarterback? Jackson: “Yes. I was watching. I saw they traded back earlier and I thought I might have ended up there but I didn’t know.” Q: Where do you fit in with the Raiders offense? Jackson: “I feel like I fit in with their physical play. They like strong, physical offensive linemen.” Q: How would you describe your strengths? Jackson: “My awareness and use of my hands and feet. My alertness and knowing what’s going on.” Q: Have you played any right guard or has it always been on the left? Jackson: “Always on the left.” Q: What do you know about the Raiders? Jackson: “I haven’t watched a lot of it. I’ve watched some sometimes. I always know they’ve been physical, so that’s the main thing.” Q: Raiders make a big deal about drafting guys that are serious about their craft. Would that describe you? Jackson: “Most definitely.” Q: What kind of blocking scheme did you guys mostly run in college? Jackson: “Power scheme and some outside zone schemes, and a little gap.” Q: What makes you more of a guard than a tackle? Jackson: “To me, I think I’m good on the inside for my power and being good in short space areas. I’m not having to block defensive ends like most tackles are built for.” Q: Your college coach said you’re a guy that leads by example. Do you see that changing in the NFL? Jackson: “No, when I get there and I’m around the older guys, I can learn from them and get into that role.” Originally published on Silver & Black Report on May 9, 2014
The Oakland Raiders traded their third-round pick to the Miami Dolphins on Friday, adding more ammo to their 2014 draft. With the trade, the Raiders will now draft at picks #81 (third round) and #116 (fourth round) while the Dolphins will select in the Raiders slot at #67. The trade gives the Raiders a total of seven draft picks now as they only had six picks before. The Raiders will now have a fourth-round draft pick, something they lacked before the trade. This isn’t the first time the Dolphins and Raiders have done business on draft day as the Dolphins traded up to #3 overall last year with the Raiders, where Oakland drafted cornerback D.J. Hayden with the 12th-overall selection. Originally published on Silver & Black Report on May 9, 2014
Just one day after getting their guy in linebacker Khalil Mack, the Raiders once again fit a need by getting former Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr with the fourth pick of the second round (36th overall). Carr was undoubtedly the best quarterback remaining on the board at the start of the day, and some believed the Texans would take them with their first pick of the second round. Instead, the Texans selected guard Xavier Su’a-Filo, opening up the chances for Carr to fall to the Raiders with teams with little need for another quarterback in between. Reggie McKenzie and Dennis Allen get their young quarterback to groom under veteran Matt Schaub. Carr was believed to be a first-round talent, giving the Raiders solid value by selecting him 36th overall. Carr is a strong-armed quarterback, athletic quarterback that features a quick release and the ability to escape the pocket should it crumble. Carr is also reportedly very passionate about football and carries a moxie on the field, something McKenzie and Allen value highly. The selection of Carr gives the Raiders a young quarterback to groom and hopefully be the heir to Matt Schaub to become a franchise quarterback, something the organization hasn’t had for quite some time. Allen has always spoken highly of creating competition on the team, and this will only further the competition at a football team’s most important position. Carr will need to work on his on his decision making as he sometimes trusts his skills too much and tries to sling the ball in there, but provides the Raiders with a tough, instinctual quarterback. The 6-foot-2, 214-pound quarterback became just the fourth quarterback in FBS history to throw for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns. He finished last season with 68.7 percent completion rate, 5,082 yards, 50 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Schaub, the Raiders current projected starter, once replaced Carr’s older brother David as the Texans starting quarterback, might Derek overtake Schaub as the Raiders starter sooner than later? The Raiders have had a solid first two rounds of the draft, but there’s still a lot of work to do. Say tuned Raider Nation, it should be a fun ride the rest of the draft. Originally published on Silver & Black Report on May 9, 2014
Round one of the 2014 NFL Draft has come to a close and the Raiders seem to have gotten “their” guy in linebacker Khalil Mack, but the draft is far from over. NFL teams return to Radio City Music Hall Friday for rounds two and three, where the Raiders are slated to select fourth tomorrow (36th overall) and third in the third round (67th overall). There’s no doubt that the Raiders can get some quality football players there, should they decide not to move via a trade. One possible route for the Raiders is to look at taking a quarterback with their second-round selection, possibly Fresno State’s Derek Carr if the Texans don’t select him first thing tomorrow. There have been numerous reports that Raiders owner Mark Davis is enamored with Carr’s skill set, but if Texans want to take him there’s not much they can do about it now since there’s nobody to trade with to get ahead of them. Other possible quarterbacks that the Raiders could target tomorrow include Alabama’s A.J. McCarron, Pittsburgh’s Tom Savage and Eastern Illinois’ Jimmy Garoppolo, though they may not make it to the Raiders third-round pick. If Carr does go to the Texans, the Raiders may be more open to trading down and accumulating more picks and possibly taking Garoppolo or Savage more towards the middle of the second round if they think they won’t be around in the third round. Reggie McKenzie and the Raiders front office could instead look to obtain a desperately-needed wide receiver after missing out on Sammy Watkins in the first round. USC’s Marqise Lee is arguably the best wide receiver remaining when tomorrow’s rounds start, but if he gets taken there will still be solid potential number-one wide receivers available throughout the second and third rounds. Other wide receivers the Raiders may look at include Fresno State’s Davante Adams, Indiana’s Cody Latimer, Vanderbilt’s Jordan Matthews, LSU’s Jarvis Landry, Penn State’s Allen Robinson, or South Carolina’s Bruce Ellington. The Raiders may in fact decide to keep building the trenches by drafting another defensive lineman or offensive lineman. On the offensive line, offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandijo of Alabama has the potential to become a solid starter in the near future. Offensive guard Xavier Su’a-Filo of UCLA is largely believed to be the best guard in the draft and the Raiders could decide to go that route, though it may be early. There are many more defensive linemen that would have a strong impact on the team. The Raiders are thin at the defensive tackle position and Notre Dame’s Louis Nix and Florida State’s Timmy Jernigan lead the list of defensive tackles. Like wide receivers, the Raiders will have a solid group of defensive ends to pick from if they choose to. Notre Dames Stephen Tuitt is an excellent pass rusher that has a rare combination of size and speed. Kony Ealy of Missouri is a speed rusher that would also provide the Raiders with the pass rush they are desiring, as would Oregon State’s Scott Crichton with his high-motor play. The Raiders would certainly benefit from obtaining more picks if they trade down and accumulate more picks, but there’s certainly nothing wrong with taking their guy if he’s available when they pick just as they did with Mack. One thing we do know for certain is that day two of the draft is set up to be just as exciting as day one. The picks start coming in at 4:00 p.m. PST, so tune in then to see what kind of madness may happen. |
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