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== OFFICIAL OAKLAND RAIDERS 2018 thread == (4 Viewers)

DocHolliday said:
Working together as a team and playing hard and smart seems like a good idea.  I'm all for it.  
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right lol....you would think that isnt too much to ask...but its seems harder than it should be ....money and egos always get in the way

 
BustedKnuckles said:
right lol....you would think that isnt too much to ask...but its seems harder than it should be ....money and egos always get in the way
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Yep.  Playing together as a team is tough when egos are involved. 

Gruden does seem to be trying to build a team.  That would explain why the sometimes difficult Crabtree was shown the door for Nelson.  I could be wrong but Crabtree is probably the better WR these days. 

 
i'm not seeing an emulation of the patriots.  i see gritty, gutty, hard nosed football.  which is good, but will only get you so far.  him saying, "And I think that's important your first year, that you bring in some foundation players that can help you do that. So, yeah, I'm excited, man." makes me think he's thinking 2-3 years of rebuilding, with his finished product hitting the field in vegas in 2022. :mellow:  

i know i'm in the minority on gruden, but i just feel he's out of touch.  hopefully, i'm wrong.

 
stlrams said:
For projection purposes, what type of offense can we expect??  heavy pass or run? 
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No doubt that the running game is Gruden's focus. Just look at the free agency moves. Traded a pass oriented FB and signed a run blocking FB. Re-signed one of the better run blocking TE's and went and got another one. Signed another upside back in Martin and kept Lynch. 

That being said the Raider teams under him in the past did tend towards passing under Gannon. 

My guess is Gruden feels the defensive game has trended towards stopping the hyper air attacks of most teams. Going light and fast. He wants to use our top O line and smash it through to open up Carr for killing blows in the passing game. 

 
Bruno2 said:
Anyone know his story? I know he was highly touted coming out of the draft. Does he have anything left? Makes me hope they might go LB in the first round.
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Rotoworld had nothing good to say lol...but they hardly ever do when it comes to the Raiders...jerks run that site 

Raiders signed CB Leon Hall.

Headed into his age-34 season, Hall has become a journeyman reserve. The Raiders will be his fourth team in as many years. Hall has made just three starts over the past two seasons, playing 660 snaps. He won't be guaranteed to crack the 53-man roster, though new coach Jon Gruden has been going back to the future in Oakland.

 
joey said:
that whole video (Carr quotes and all the rest) freakin pumped me up!

Can't WAIT til draft day! And then mini-camp. Damn, let's get this year rolling!
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Pumps me up too. I'm sure the players are gonna be really pumped.

But ya gotta have the horses. And these players they've signed, I'd say most of 'em are ready for the glue factory. (Joking...but you know what I mean.)

 
DocHolliday said:
Yep.  Playing together as a team is tough when egos are involved. 

Gruden does seem to be trying to build a team.  That would explain why the sometimes difficult Crabtree was shown the door for Nelson.  I could be wrong but Crabtree is probably the better WR these days. 
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I know there's salary cap implications but I'm of the thought they should have added Nelson and kept Crabtree. They've still a gaping chasm for a third wideout.

 
stlrams said:
For projection purposes, what type of offense can we expect??  heavy pass or run? 
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On the one hand, Gruden is talking about having a Grade A fullback, that a back like Lynch needs one and had one in his glory years in Seattle and that would seem to indicate a heavy dose of running.

On the other hand, he said at the combine that Cooper was going to be the "centerpiece" of the offense.

So... :shrug:

 
Ed Wood said:
I know there's salary cap implications but I'm of the thought they should have added Nelson and kept Crabtree. They've still a gaping chasm for a third wideout.
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Who do you cut? 

Nelson was brought in and Crabtree cut for two reasons. Precision in routes and dropped balls.

 
Ed Wood said:
I know there's salary cap implications but I'm of the thought they should have added Nelson and kept Crabtree. They've still a gaping chasm for a third wideout.
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I get the sense there is a lot more to the locker room issues that may have existed with Crabtree. As fans it is impossible for us to know all of the dynamics in the locker room and what one person can do to ruin the chemistry of a team. There is something to be said of the theory 'addition by subtraction'.

 
The way 2017 ended didn’t sit well with Donald Penn.

After a 2016 season that saw the Oakland Raiders return to the postseason for the first time in more than a dozen years, expectations were sky high headed into 2017, and for myriad reasons, they fell short of those expectations, eventually finishing the year with a 6-10 record, good for third in the AFC West.

In addition to the shortcomings of the team’s final record, Penn – a player with 174 career appearances to his name – also finished the year on the mend, missing the final two games of the regular season with a foot injury.

But, like the organization in general, Penn is putting 2017 behind him, and is excited to get back to work at full strength in 2018.

“I’m doing good,” Penn said when discussing his recovery. “I’ve been doing everything the doctors and trainers have asked. Everybody says I’m on track.”

The veteran left tackle also went out of his way to alleviate the fears of Raider Nation, making sure to note that the 2018 version of Donald Penn will be back to his Pro Bowl form of seasons past.

“Everything is coming along; I’m doing everything, guys,” Penn said. “I’m putting extra work. I’m doing everything they’re telling me, so I’m getting ready. I can’t wait to get this thing started next year, and I have to come back with a vengeance.”

While Penn anticipates his health and level of play being the same as it always has been, there will be one difference for No. 72 and the rest of the Raiders in 2018; Jon Gruden is now the head coach of the Silver and Black.

And while the arrival of a new coaching staff inevitably ushers in a wave of change, Penn won’t be starting from square one with the Raiders head coach; he spent the first two seasons of his career with Gruden in Tampa Bay.

“I love Coach Gruden,” Penn explained. “I started my career off with him. I know the mentality he has. I know the passion he has for football, and I told him when I talked to him, ‘you’re coming into a group, a room, of hungry dogs,’ because we didn’t like the way we ended last season, and with that coming in, with his intensity, and you can see by the excitement, the fire power in his press conferences and all this stuff.”

One of those “hungry dogs” Gruden will be working with – and Penn will be blocking for – in 2018, is veteran running back Doug Martin.

Martin is another old Buccaneer who Penn played with in Tampa, and although the Stockton-native is a few years removed from being a 1,000-yard rusher, the Raiders left tackle is confident that Martin can return to form back in the Bay Area.

“[Martin] is smart,” Penn said. “He’s always going to be in the right spot. He’s small, and tough, and strong, so he gets to hide behind us, and then he just pops out. He did that so many times in Tampa… He does a good job of finding those little creases in the hole, and breaking through them, and he does a great job. That’s another guy that has a chip on his shoulder, so I can’t wait to get him out there.”

And that Martin/Marshawn Lynchrunning back tandem? You better believe Penn is looking forward to seeing that in action as well.

“Beast Mode, he’s happy,” Penn explained.  “I talked to him a couple of days ago. He’s happy to work with Gruden, and he’s really happy to work with his old guy Tom Cable because we got Coach Cable back… I got my boy “Oly” [Offensive Coordinator Greg Olson] back, so I’m happy. We have a lot of guys back that I know, a lot of familiar faces. Coach Cable, talking to him, and his plan coming into next year, I’m really excited.”

Whether it’s Martin, any of the team’s other additions, Penn himself or even Gruden, according to No. 72, there’s one constant that binds them all together; they all have a chip on their shoulder.

“Everybody, this whole team, we have big chips on our shoulders,” he said. “So when guys have chips on their shoulders, they’re going to come out fighting, so I’m excited.”

The Raiders Offseason Workout Program begins in early-April.

 
stlrams said:
For projection purposes, what type of offense can we expect??  heavy pass or run? 
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I don't know either, but looks as if it at least will be more dynamic, which is fine by me.

We were way too predictable and single threaded. Seemed to me Lynch was used in 1st down and short down situations, and without using PA or other personnel misdirection, it made it fairly obvious what we were doing when he was on the field. Ditto with Patterson.

If Gruden wants to build a tougher running team, fine by me, let's get all we can out of Lynch while we can (he certainly looked effective to me last year) -- but I doubt that Gruden is simply looking to just shift the run/pass balance as opposed to using the weapons he has to have a dynamic and tougher-to-predict offense, and using personnel in different ways to set up other elements of the game (PA, bootlegs, using run to set up more effective passing, etc.).

Chadstroma said:
Leon Hall officially is a Raider.
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I get what Gruden is doing bringing in his grinders to raise the bar and competition, provide depth and leadership, and give Guenther familiar faces. But let's not take too much from the Bengals, please? It's not as if they've been fantastic this last few years. And even from 09-13 when the Bengals did make the playoffs consistently, it's not as if they had success getting further along than that.

That's my only worry so far -- that in installing a new plan, let's not lean to heavily on any one staffer's "guys" jsut to build familiarity with a scheme that worked elsewhere. Let's build properly on top of this team's strengths we have now.

 
Marquette King has been released.

Marquette King - P - Free Agent

Raiders released P Marquette King.

The moves saves the cap-strapped Raiders $2.9 million. King has consistently been among the league's best punters, earning All-Pro recognition in 2016 while ranking sixth in punt average (47.4) last season. The Raiders will move forward with UC Davis alum Colby Wadman as their primary punter.

 
ICON211 said:
Marquette King has been released.

Marquette King - P - Free Agent

Raiders released P Marquette King.

The moves saves the cap-strapped Raiders $2.9 million. King has consistently been among the league's best punters, earning All-Pro recognition in 2016 while ranking sixth in punt average (47.4) last season. The Raiders will move forward with UC Davis alum Colby Wadman as their primary punter.
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Headscratcher given the talent. Count me among those who thought that while King was entertaining, it wasn't always entertaining and also brought a level of distraction. But I would not have released him given how amazing he is at what he does.

Chucky disagrees. So be it. 

If it helps land Bowman, ok with the move, a solid trade off to make. If it's solely to align with Gruden view on the personalities in the locker room, well, some things can be taught, Chucky. Please don't cut talented guys who can contribute without seeing if they can change first. We need as much talent as we can muster.

 
I got no problem with this. King is talented but we don't need to spend that much on a punter and we don't need a punter who gets personal foul penalties. 

 
Nice, Chucky. Send a lockerroom message and free up cap for Bowman. We'll find another punter. Addition by subtraction on so many levels.

Everyday a good day since Gruden returned.

 
I think King is more about cap than anything else. Almost $3 million freed up by cutting a punter? Sure, he is one of the better punters in the league but quick.... come up with another punter who gets penalties. Ill wait.

 
Stompin' Tom Connors said:
Headscratcher given the talent. Count me among those who thought that while King was entertaining, it wasn't always entertaining and also brought a level of distraction. But I would not have released him given how amazing he is at what he does.

Chucky disagrees. So be it. 

If it helps land Bowman, ok with the move, a solid trade off to make. If it's solely to align with Gruden view on the personalities in the locker room, well, some things can be taught, Chucky. Please don't cut talented guys who can contribute without seeing if they can change first. We need as much talent as we can muster.
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The difference between a top 5 punter and a bottom 5 punter in the league really isn't all that much.  King has talent for sure, but this was not an irreplaceable player.  I think some folks worried when Lechler wasn't retained, but I really don't recall that move having any tangible impact on the field.  I never look at an opponent's roster and worry about their punter.

All that being said, the salary cap implications make this a no brainer.

 
stlrams said:
For projection purposes, what type of offense can we expect??  heavy pass or run? 
Click to expand...
Since you asked, here is a high level breakdown of run/pass splits, and position targets. I expect a run heavy offense with one RB and WR having significant production in the pass game. Gruden's system has supported two WRs in the past.

Tm Scr Ply Pass Att Rush Att Run% Pass% RB Tar WR Tar TE Tar QB
Eagles 1,004 496 508 51% 49% 26% 64% 10% Roodney Peete
Eagles 1,037 548 489 47% 53% 27% 63% 10% Ty Detmer
Eagles 1,052 587 465 44% 56% 32% 58% 10% Ty Detmer
Raiders 968 519 449 46% 54% 25% 58% 17% Donald Hollis
Raiders 1,008 520 488 48% 52% 30% 56% 14% Rich Gannon
Raiders 995 475 520 52% 48% 30% 55% 15% Rich Gannon
Raiders 1,003 553 450 45% 55% 30% 57% 13% Rich Gannon
Buccs 981 567 414 42% 58% 33% 57% 10% Brad Johnson
Buccs 1,013 592 421 42% 58% 35% 53% 12% Brad Johnson
Buccs 905 512 393 43% 57% 29% 55% 16% Brian Griese
Buccs 944 487 457 48% 52% 25% 57% 18% Chris Simms
Buccs 957 553 404 42% 58% 30% 54% 16% Bruce Gradkowski
Buccs 939 490 449 48% 52% 32% 51% 17% Jeff Garcia
Buccs 1,013 562 451 45% 55% 25% 54% 21% Jeff Garcia
Avg 987 533 454 46% 54% 29% 57% 14%


Some conclusions:

Gruden's system is above the league average (44%) in rush attempts (46%). 
Gruden's system is above the league average (21%) in RB targets (29%). 
Gruden's system is below the league average (21%) in TE targets (14%)

I am skeptical that Lynch provides the receiving skills to lead the RB group in targets. I think someone else will emerge to claim that role.
Cook better get his resumé updated, he doesn't appear to be a fit in Gruden's approach.

Some notes on this table:

Scr plys = total pass att + rush att (profootballreference stats includes other plays in their totals.)
QB column indicates the QB that attempted the most passes that season.

 
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32 Counter Pass said:
Since you asked, here is a high level breakdown of run/pass splits, and position targets. I expect a run heavy offense with one RB and WR having significant production in the pass game. Gruden's system has supported two WRs in the past.

Tm Scr Ply Pass Att Rush Att Run% Pass% RB Tar WR Tar TE Tar QB
Eagles 1,004 496 508 51% 49% 26% 64% 10% Roodney Peete
Eagles 1,037 548 489 47% 53% 27% 63% 10% Ty Detmer
Eagles 1,052 587 465 44% 56% 32% 58% 10% Ty Detmer
Raiders 968 519 449 46% 54% 25% 58% 17% Donald Hollis
Raiders 1,008 520 488 48% 52% 30% 56% 14% Rich Gannon
Raiders 995 475 520 52% 48% 30% 55% 15% Rich Gannon
Raiders 1,003 553 450 45% 55% 30% 57% 13% Rich Gannon
Buccs 981 567 414 42% 58% 33% 57% 10% Brad Johnson
Buccs 1,013 592 421 42% 58% 35% 53% 12% Brad Johnson
Buccs 905 512 393 43% 57% 29% 55% 16% Brian Griese
Buccs 944 487 457 48% 52% 25% 57% 18% Chris Simms
Buccs 957 553 404 42% 58% 30% 54% 16% Bruce Gradkowski
Buccs 939 490 449 48% 52% 32% 51% 17% Jeff Garcia
Buccs 1,013 562 451 45% 55% 25% 54% 21% Jeff Garcia
Avg 987 533 454 46% 54% 29% 57% 14%


Some conclusions:

Gruden's system is above the league average (44%) in rush attempts (46%). 
Gruden's system is above the league average (21%) in RB targets (29%). 
Gruden's system is below the league average (21%) in TE targets (14%)

I am skeptical that Lynch provides the receiving skills to lead the RB group in targets. I think someone else will emerge to claim that role.
Cook better get his resumé updated, he doesn't appear to be a fit in Gruden's approach.

Some notes on this table:

Scr plys = total pass att + rush att (profootballreference stats includes other plays in their totals.)
QB column indicates the QB that attempted the most passes that season.
Click to expand...
Fantastic post, solid analysis, thanks.

Lynch was never a pass-catching back. Guys on the team (for now) like Richard/Washington fill that role. While Doug Martin isn't a pure pass catcher (he's had re-occurrences of dropsies over his career), he is well rounded and involved in the pass game a lot in his rookie season before the Bucs went on to bring in RB pass-catching specialists -- a quarter of his total yards his rookie season came from the passing game. He's not Faulk, but he's not trash in that area of the game. He is trash at pass pro, but sending him out as a receiver cures that.

Gruden definitely likes building stout blocking TE formations, which also speaks to your point about Cook. Looks like what Gruden is trying to do is emulate what the Pats and Chiefs do in terms of their 3-TE formations that help the run game, controls the clock, etc. Letting Walford go seems to fit this system, placing more of a premium on TE blocking than catching.

I still think Cook will have a place in a 3 TE set -- one benefit is that this formation exploits weakness along the seams against cover-2, which is a predominant scheme these days given its success against WCOs. This package also works well in short down/red zone situations given size mismatches and smaller windows that favor big/tall TEs that can compete for balls. Cook can still be quite involved in a system that employs more 3-TEs set and doesn't target the TE as frequently, but you are right that we can't expect volume for Cook as we once did.

 
Jon Gruden reportedly made the call to release former Raiders P Marquette King due to "personality issues".

What those personality issues were is unclear. Oakland undoubtedly needed the relief in cap space, but this news sheds light on another reason the All-Pro was released. Former Raiders HC Jack Del Rio also grew tired of King's antics after he picked up consecutive personal foul penalties in 2016. King will still have several teams interested as he's consistently been among the league's best punters.

 
Enderdog said:
Makes me wonder how long Lynch lasts.
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BustedKnuckles said:
Gruden is on record several times stating that he wants Oakland natives on his team....I say Lynch gets a pass
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Lynch will get a pass and last as long as he produces this year and does not become a distraction in Gruden's eyes.

There's likely a different level of tolerance between a guy at a true skill position with over 10 years in the league, a SB ring, 5 Pro Bowls (including 1st and 2nd All-Pro Team nods), a guy who led the league in rush TDs in two consecutive years, and a guy who has half the tenure and nowhere near the # of accolades (Second team All-Pro, NFL punting yard leader, that's it).

 
I've never seen so much whining over a punter in my life. He's talented,  but he's still just a punter. This is Grudens show now, if you're a punter, and a distraction, you're gone I guess. Move on Raider Nation.

 
Bruno2 said:
I've never seen so much whining over a punter in my life. He's talented,  but he's still just a punter. This is Grudens show now, if you're a punter, and a distraction, you're gone I guess. Move on Raider Nation.
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Agreed.  Guy was a clown. 

 
BustedKnuckles said:
Gruden is on record several times stating that he wants Oakland natives on his team....I say Lynch gets a pass
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Seriously? He said that? :lol:

Oakland natives currently in the NFL would be, uh, nobody BUT Lynch if my surveying a wikipedia link is correct. I do recall he said at the introductory press conference about whether Lynch would be on the team something like, "I want to be in Oakland. He's from Oakland. He wants to be here. We'll see what happens, yada, yada, yada" but I never saw anything but that.

So...Crabs and King are out not because they're "malcontents" and "troublemakers" but because they're not from Oakland. Lynch, who certainly marches to the beat of his own drummer, is from Oakland so he stays? Ok then.

I think it's more they traded Crabs for Nelson which they're ok with as a wash and as somebody pointed out here the difference between a top 5 punter and a bottom punter is pretty negligible so they could afford to let King go. But if the Raiders land a stud at RB, I think it's safe to say they'll probably wave good-bye to Lynch too.

 
Well, I'm on record not being enamored with who Gruden has brought in so far--that goes for players as well as coaches.

But now there's the draft to look forward to. Unfortunately, as someone here has pointed out, his record with there isn't exactly scintillating either.

With the King canning, it's pretty clear this is Chucky's show, which it should be given the money he's making.

Just hope it has an extended run playing to sell out crowds and not closing after two or three disastrous years.

 
since we're discussing the kicking game so much ;)

I wouldn't mind if the Raiders took this opportunity to get OUT of the lefty-kicker market and bring in a plain ol' righty kicker. That'll make it be much easier to replace than when you have a lefty and everyone has to train up on snapping and holding for a lefty. I like the Italian kid, but I want an interchangeable piece at placekicker and a righty gives us that.

enough kicker talk, right? :)

I want Roquan Smith, dammit.

 
WR (return specialist) Dwayne Harris signed,

Clive Walford claimed by the Jets. 

 
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joey said:
I want Roquan Smith, dammit.
Click to expand...
Saying it, here, there, and everywhere. Saying it in a box and with a fox, in a house, or with a mouse.

Roquan Smith is who we are ending up with.

I'd love it if others fell, but would be fine if we ended up with the Montezuma Machine.

 
BustedKnuckles said:
After reading this my takeaway is Gruden is going to try and model the Raiders after the New England Patriots ...use players that arent really BIG name stars but rather work hard and want to play ....hes seen the way the pats run things while working as a broadcaster ...this insight is invaluable 
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This narrative really fits every move the team has done thus far. But even the Patriots sign a big name free agent now and then (Stephen Gilmore). What would really be a tell is if they traded down and picked up multiple second recond picks. That is a classic Billichik move. Does this mean the Raiders will start moving players “a year to soon?”

King’s release was a bit of a surprise. He was a very good asset for changing field pisition. I just hope they have a adequate replacement in mind. You replace talent with talent.

If personality was a factor in King’s release I can’t understand why they retainined Lynch. The Lynch I remember was acting all the fool on the sideline at the end of the Jets game. Even worse, he was constantly pulling himself out of games. And who can forget that disqualification in the Chiefs game? That was a beauty. I wonder how long Billichik would tolerate that nonsense?

 
BustedKnuckles said:
Dear Lord...this tool completely butchered Gruden...nice work Rotojerks 

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/78986/472/the-gruden-problem
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I dunno. I think there's a lot of truth in there regarding personnel moves.

But, yep, there's some nonsense for sure. It's ludicrous to say Gruden is disdaining analytics. It's quite clear he's not; he's just not as enamored with it as others. And it's ridiculous to infer the Raiders won't be prepared every Sunday. They will be...much more so than last year. The question will be do they have the players to execute Gruden's vision. Time will tell on the personnel.

 
32 Counter Pass said:
If personality was a factor in King’s release I can’t understand why they retainined Lynch. The Lynch I remember was acting all the fool on the sideline at the end of the Jets game. Even worse, he was constantly pulling himself out of games. And who can forget that disqualification in the Chiefs game? That was a beauty. I wonder how long Billichik would tolerate that nonsense?
Click to expand...
I was thinking about the dancing shenanigans today. JDR loved it. The first time Lynch dances on Gruden's sideline with probably be the last time.

And Gruden has already addressed "part-time" Lynch. He's not interested in that guy. He wants the Beastmode guy. And if he doesn't get him, Lynch won't have to be pulling himself out of games cuz he probably won't be in them.

 
BustedKnuckles said:
Dear Lord...this tool completely butchered Gruden...nice work Rotojerks 

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/78986/472/the-gruden-problem
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The author brings up some very legitimate concerns. I understand that everyone is excited about Gruden's return, but look at his record as a head coach as well as his draft record, which I brought up earlier in this thread. Gruden's record is very average. I am hoping for the best but it is very reasonable to have doubts. 

 
NFL Draft Needs: Raiders

Tuesday, April 3, 2018
 

Evan Silva (@EvanSilva) is the Senior Football Editor for Rotoworld's NFL Page

Raiders Team Need No. 1: Defense

Silva’s Analysis

Literally every position group on the Raiders’ defense needs upgrading. Oakland doesn’t get enough pass rush from anyone except Khalil Mack, and the Raiders’ run defense has been middling at best for years. Free agent Navorro Bowman improved Oakland’s linebacker play late last season, but he has not been re-signed. Secondary additions CB Rashaan Melvin, CB Leon Hall, CB Shareece Wright and S Marcus Gilchrist are short-term solutions at best.

Raiders Team Need No. 2: Offensive Tackle

Silva’s Analysis

LT Donald Penn is 35 and coming off Lisfranc surgery. In-house candidates to replace departed RT Marshall Newhouse are Vadal Alexander, David Sharpe and Breno Giacomini. 2016 seventh-round pick Alexander failed to beat out Newhouse and has struggled in pass protection. Sharpe got destroyed in two late-season spot starts filling in for Penn. As a member of the Texans, Giacomini was the worst starting offensive lineman in football last year.

Raiders Team Need No. 3: Pass Catcher

Silva’s Analysis

Jordy Nelson is coming off the worst season of his career at age 33, and the Raiders have stuck with ineffective slot man Seth Roberts for far too long. Oakland lacks young talent in its pass-catcher corps beyond so-far inconsistent Amari Cooper.

Norris’ Mock Draft

Round 1 (10): LB Roquan Smith, Georgia - Roquan is a top five prospect in this class and perfectly fits a need for the Raiders. I wonder if Jon Gruden, who is now calling the shots, sees Derrick Brooks in Roquan’s game. He is a building block at the second level, anticipates plays on the edge or inside and then makes the tackle at or behind the line of scrimmage.

Round 2 (41): CB Donte Jackson, LSU - Gareon Conley has a lot to prove in 2018, but adding Jackson at defensive back will help create a young core in the secondary. Few corners entering each draft have outside corner height to go along with slot corner experience. Add on his straight-line speed to close and Jackson will intrigue in the top two rounds.

Round 3 (75): T Jamarco Jones, Ohio State - Jones might be one of the best pass protectors in this class. I’m not sure if we’ve heard an answer as to why he elected to not attend the East-West Shrine Game or Senior Bowl, but on the field, Jones has experience and could potentially grow into a long-term starter at left tackle.

Round 4 (106): WR Cedrick Wilson, Boise State - There’s a lot to like about Wilson’s game. He is smooth in his routes and breaks and made his living on short crossing routes and winning at the catch point in contested situations. His ability to play the ball in the air is impressive.

Round 5 (159): iOL Dejon Allen, Hawaii - One of my favorite late round blockers in this class. Played tackle in college, but he’s another mauling finisher up front.

Round 5 (173): DL Lowell Lotulelei, Utah - Interior help to hopefully aid the play of linebackers. Lotulelei looked like a future star early in his career, but he plateaued in his final years.

Round 6 (185): EDGE Ade Aruna, Tulane - One of the most athletic edge rushers in this class. Profile suggests he’s a straight-line player. Possible practice squad contender.

Round 6 (212): WR Jeff Badet, Oklahoma - Channeling Al Davis, the Raiders double up at receiver and select one of the fastest players in this draft.

Round 6 (216): DL Kahlil McKenzie, Tennessee - I had to. The son of Reggie McKenzie actually fills a potential depth need for the Raiders up front.

Round 6 (217): CB Arrion Springs, Oregon - Played on both sides of the formation. These late round selections are often viewed as priority free agents.

Round 7 (228): TE Jordan Akins, UCF - Late Senior Bowl add. Made a few acrobatic catches.

 
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