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2008 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

by Jay Goldberg

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2007 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

by Jay Goldberg

Outside of Henderson in round three, the Raiders drafted appropriate value throughout the draft.  In terms of needs, the only position not addressed in the draft where the Raiders could have used a player to compete for a job was at strongside linebacker.  In college street free agency, Cole and McFoy were the two signings that grabbed my attention the most.

Everyone knows that Russell is a physical specimen with a monster arm.  But what people tend to overlook is that he completed two-thirds of his passes last year with a yards-per-pass of 9.15.  Russell is an accurate passer as well as being a great deep thrower.  He was the right choice by Oakland and will be a NFL star.  Miller is a solid tight end with very good hands and a willingness to block.  His speed and quickness are above average (his measureables are comparable to Jason Witten) and he will develop into a good tight end but will, most likely, fall short of Pro Bowl status.  However, with the problems the Raiders' offensive line had last season and Ugoh and Blalock still on the board, I'm not sure I would have opted for a tight end in this spot.  Raider fans better hope that their coaching staff is right and their problems were system-related, not talent-related.  Moss had a monster junior year and looked like he would be a first round pick in this draft.  Then in his senior year it was shown that teams could game plan and contain him.  Consequently he fell to round three.  However, his situation in Oakland could be very interesting.  Playing opposite a dominate pass rushing end (Burgess), Moss will not be the focus of opposing team defenses which should result in him getting sacks.  When he gets numbers, just remember he needs to play opposite a dominate pass rusher to keep up that production.  Henderson is a boom or bust prospect who the Raiders, obviously, see as boom only.  I had a late round grade on him because of inconsistent play and, supposedly, inconsistent work habits.  He needs work on his technique, but at times showed excellent potential.  I liked Allen Barbre, a very athletic tackle with a tremendous upside much better at this spot.  Higgins supposedly ran a wind-aided 4.29 forty at a campus workout.  That speed number is why the Raiders drafted him.  However, his forty time at the Combine was 4.48.  So for speed only, Clowney should have been the choice.  He has also ran a 4.29 at a campus workout but ran a 4.36 at the Combine.  Besides,  I also Clowney's potential as a receiver better than Higgins.  That said, if the Raiders are looking at Higgins to be their punt returner and backup kick returner (behind Carr), then I can't argue this pick.  Higgins is a much better return man than Clowney and is a serviceable receiver with good deep speed.  Bush was good, not great value on day two.  While a big back,  he is a tweener back, more like Ron Dayne than Jerome Bettis at the present time.  Maybe his rehabilitation from his knee injury will make him more of a workout warrior and help him transform into the big power back.  To be anything more than a reliable backup, that is the role he will need to fill.  Currently, he is a between the tackles read and react runner without homerun speed.  Bowie is one of the best athletes in the draft.  However, he is more than that.  He showed good corner skills in college as well.  He needs work, but will be a top special teams player while he hones his skills.  Long term, at worst, he should be a top nickel corner.  But he could be more.  I thought Richardson's best chance in the NFL would be to add a bit more bulk and play end in a 3-4 defense.  While he showed some pass rush ability in college, he has only average speed and quickness so may not be able to have as much success in that area in the NFL.  I would have gone with outside linebacker Rufus Alexander to push (or beat out) Sam Williams.  Frampton was one of my the late round values who I liked a lot.  He is a tough kid who likes to hit and will, at  worst, be a top special teams player.  From his strong safety position he can both step up and play the run and find the ball in the air and make the interception.  As a former corner, the bonus you get with Frampton is a strong safety with plus cover skills.  He is a real sleeper who could eventually push Schweigert to the bench (with Huff moving to free safety).  O'Neal is a one-dimensional blocking fullback.  However, he is a very good blocker.  He could also be a straight-line, short-yardage goal line runner.  Holland will have to be a stud on special teams to make the Raiders' roster. With his speed and athleticism he could be the Raiders' gunner.  

The Raiders signed some interesting players as college street free agents.  Cole is one of the most interesting.  He had a disappointing senior year but had looked good earlier in his career and had an amazing workout.  While Cole showed a great combination of strength and speed, it is his 3.84 short shuttle that really jumps out.  If he can get it together, it will be Cole will give the Raiders a player who match up with the quickest slot receivers in the league.  Worst case he should be a great special teams player.   Keefe may have more upside than Henderson, although coming off an ACL injury he is a bigger risk and further away from contributing.  He is an ideal candidate for Oakland's development squad.  McFoy was a backup wide receiver at USC  who had a shoulder injury his senior year, and is now reunited with his college offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.  McFoy made a couple of outstanding catches at the Hula Bowl, one while holding onto the ball after a monster hit.  Worst case, look for McFoy to spend a year or two on the Raiders' development squad and then emerge as a contributor on offense.  Shotwell is an athletic undersized linebacker who has a good shot at landing a backup job with the Raiders, especially with Bong moved back to safety.

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2006 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

by Jay Goldberg

The Raiders came out of the draft with two first and a second round value, despite reaching in round three.  They also got excellent value with Morris in round seven.

Huff was the top defensive back in the draft.  He is a rare strong safety with very good cover skills.  Huff can play in the box, blanket the deep zone, step out in coverage against wide receivers, make life very difficult for tight ends, and has catch up speed to cover for teammates mistakes, or stop big plays from going the distance.  That said, let's hope the Raiders avoid the temptation to move him to corner where he could be top player, but even if he is, he won't be the difference maker he will be at safety.  Thomas Howard was another excellent pick.  I had a first round grade on this athletic outside linebacker.  Howard has the strength, athleticism, and coverage ability to play the strong side, a weak area for the Raiders the last few years.  He is also an effective blitzer.  Down the line, look for the Raiders to move Morrison to the middle and Howard to the weak side. McQuistan was a reach in three.  He is a strong, coachable kid with potential.  However, on day one I would want to draft a player that is more of a sure thing.  At tackle I liked Whimper, Scott, and Toledo better.  At guard, Jean-Gilles would have been a steal, and he would have been my pick for the Raiders at this spot.  He is going to be a top guard in the NFL.  Bing was excellent value in round four.  He is strong and uses his strength to make some monster hits.  He also has quickness, and can cut on a dime.  At USC Bing would make a big play then disappear for awhile.  Some contribute that to inconsistency.  I contribute that to boredom by USC having the game in hand.  Bing will be a good NFL player, as either a strong safety or outside linebacker, and will be a terrific special teams player.  I had a second round grade on Bing.  Boothe is a solid run blocker and has more potential as a guard than tackle, although he could develop as a right tackle.  My fourth round grade was based on his growth at guard, which stopped his senior year when he was moved to tackle.  Morris had one of the best workouts of all centers available in the draft.  He has excellent feet, good quickness, and is very strong.  I had a fourth round grade on Morris, who could be a replacement for Grove should he become too expensive to keep when he hits free agency.  McMahan, may be irrelevant as well as Mr. Irrelevant because of the tremendous depth the Raiders have at wide receiver.  He does have decent size and speed and could land on the Raiders' practice squad.

The Raiders signed three college street free agents of note.  Buchanon fits the Raiders philosophy because he has terrific speed.  He is also 6'3", a good athlete, and the son of former first round pick Willie Buchanon.  Unfortunately for Buchanon, the Raiders are deep at receiver so he may have to battle McMahan for a spot on the Raiders' practice squad.  Wusu is a decathlete who will be a very good special teams player while learning to play WILL or strong safety.  Nnabuife is an athletic safety who has a knock for getting interceptions.  He could stick as a special teams player and extra defensive back.