efore I get into my take I just read somewhere that Patriot QB Tom Brady has found a new girlfriend to replace Gisele Bundchen.

The recently jettisoned Raider RB LaMont Sanford errrr Jordan.

Now do not take that the wrong way, I like Jordan it’s just that he never really became the stud running back that we were hoping for when Al signed him from the Jets.

I also read that former Raider Jerry “Never Let ‘Em see You Sweat” Porter was placed on Jacksonville’s physically-unable-to-perform list.

Now there’s a surprise, enjoy Porter’s act Jaguar fan.

And before reading those little gems I read that former Raiders Barry “False Start” Sims and Stuart “The Ballerina” Schweigert are mouthing off to the fish hacks about all the losing and their bad times in Oakland. Hey, if you two jerk-offs would have done a better job maybe we would have won a few more games.
Get ready whiner fan you are going to hear a lot of this “False Start On The Offense Number 65”.

And Redskins fan get ready to yell “OLE’” every time you need Stu to make a tackle for you.

On To The Take:

With the 2008 season almost upon us I want to identify 7 starters that will have the most significant impact on the team’s success or failure this year.

Quarterback JaMarcus Russell
This is an obvious choice and it will be very easy for everyone in the Raider Nation to expect too much during his first starting season. But, as long as he makes some plays and does not commit too many turnovers he should be a remarkable improvement from last seasons’ signal callers. In Russell’s favor is that he showed up in shape and has been working hard in the off-season program. Give him some room to grow Raider fans, his potential is phenomenal if his confidence is not destroyed early on.

Running Back Darren McFadden
Run DMC is the breakaway threat we have not had since the Bo Jackson days. He could make an already good running game into a league leading attack and that will be welcome news for Russell and the O-Line. McFadden also has great hands so look for Kiffin to find different ways to get him the ball. Remember, Kiffin was USC’s Offensive Coordinator in 2005, the same year Reggie Bush won the Heisman Trophy and gained 1,740 yards on the ground and 478 yards in the air. If anyone knows how to use this guy it’s Kiffin.

Wide Receiver Javon Walker
If his knee is sound, Walker has all the physical tools to be our number one guy. Up until training camp I have been a bit worried. Reporting to mini-camp a bit out of shape due to the knee then getting mugged in Vegas wearing $100,000 worth of bling. But, he is looking good in the first few days of camp and has even burned DeAngelo Hall a few times. If he keeps his head on straight and performs to his ability it will take a lot of pressure off of Russell.

Offensive Tackle Kwame Harris
Harris was signed to play left tackle and protect Russell’s blind side. He is a good run blocker and has gotten a bad rap from Frisco fans. His numbers are really not that bad as you can see here: http://www.realfootball365.com/index.php/articles/raiders/11611

Offensive Line coach Tom Cable knows offensive linemen and if he likes him then that is good enough for me.

Safety Gibril Wilson
Wilson’s signing did not garner the headlines it should have. With Wilson at Strong Safety it allows Michael Huff to move to Free Safety. Huff is a big improvement over the Ballerina mentioned earlier and Wilson is a better Strong Safety than Huff. So, 1 guy signed, two upgrades made. Not only will Wilson help the Raiders in the passing game and is the final piece to what is the most talented defensive backfield in the NFL. His presence will also be felt on run defense. When the Raiders need to stack the box with 8, that eighth guy better be able to tackle someone like Tomlinson of SD, Johnson of KC and whoever the Rat uses in Denver. Otherwise we will be seeing that all too familiar sight of their backside as they race into the end zone. Based on the numbers Wilson will be that guy.

Defensive Tackle Tommy Kelly
Kelly’s huge money signing was a real shock to me. I like Tommy, but he has never had a real break out Pro Bowl type year and he is coming off reconstructive knee surgery. With only Terdell Sands, Gerard Warren, Josh Shaw and newcomer William Joseph manning the position it seems that this maybe the weakest position on the defense. I can only assume Rob Ryan had a big say in the resigning of Kelly and the addition of Joseph. I just hope he knows what he is doing because if Kelly falters the defensive will suffer and if that happens again Ryan will be looking for a new gig in 2009.

Cornerback DeAngelo Hall
Hall was another big money signing that Al Davis has recently been complaining about. But, with Asomugha signing his one-year $9.765 million contract and reporting on time the Raiders are expected to have one of the best cornerback tandems in the NFL.

Next Week My Opening 2008 Salvo Against The Frisco Whiners.

I was scannng the Internet (thanks for creating it Al) for the latest Raider news and found a few tidbits I wanted to comment on.


05/13/2008 Raiders Add Another Piece on Defense Signing DE Spires

Just when I thought The Emperor would not spend another dime on the defense he goes out and lands DE Greg Spires. Spires, late of the Buccaneers, will compete with Kalimba Edwards, Jay Richardson and rookie Trevor Scott to provide pass rushing balance for Derrick Burgess. Spires missed six games in 2007 with a calf injury and has amassed 39.5 career sacks during his decade in the NFL. He started every game he played for the Bucs until last season, including their Super Bowl victory against his new employers. Spires is a wily veteran with something to prove (sounds familiar). If he has anything left in the tank he may make an impact this year. To make room for Spires on the roster, the Raider released Duane Starks again. Starks, once the 10th pick in the draft, was signed a month ago and this makes three straight years that the team’s had him and released him.

05/20/2008 Raiders Release Safety Stuart Schweigert

Well I guess Rob Ryan and the rest of the Raiders' brain trust finally acknowledged what all of us have been thinking. You could kind of see the writing on the wall as far back as last year. First he lost the starting job in the middle of the season to Hiram Eugene. Then during the off season the team signed free agent Gibril Wilson, and during the last training camp announced the move of Michael Huff to safety.
Schweigert is a nice guy, he gives back to the community and is good in the locker room. But, he is too slow, takes horrible angles and even the Burger King plays the position better.

Just watch this
Rumor has it that Stu may wind up in KC. I hope he does so Russell can torch him for four touchdowns a game.

05/22/2008 Raiders Bring Back QB Tuiasosopo

Why? Now do not get me wrong, I like Tui, but an NFL starting quarterback he is not.
He did not take a single snap while with the Jets and he was playing behind Kellen Clemens and his 60.7 QB rating.
Starting the season with only Andrew Walter and Tuiasosopo as your backups is like playing Russian Roulette with all the chambers full. If something where to happen to Russell and he is out for several weeks, I for one do not want to see either of these guys guiding my team. I think a better choice would be resigning Daunte Culpepper. He is still un-signed, has NFL starting experience and he knows the system.

05/23/2008 Raiders Disappointed In WR Walker's Conditioning

It seems that Pro Football Weekly is now jumping on the Raider Hater bandwagon. Are these guys taking lessons from Sports Illustrated notorious Raider hater Don Banks? Don Banks is the guy on March 7, 2008 that reported that JaMarcus Russell was up to 300 lbs. But, miraculously he shows up at training camp weighing 269.
Either Russell joined Marino's team or Don "Banks is a liar!!!

Aside from these conditioning concerns, Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Knapp says Javon Walker's (knee) progress "has been excellent." "He's got a little hunger and a little fire, and he is going to make it exciting for us," Knapp said. Walker reportedly made a sharp cut to get by DeAngelo Hall for a catch in practice. We still can't imagine he's 100%.
Like Knapp said, Walker is still recovering from knee surgery so I'm really not surprise he isn't in ideal shape. He has a lot of time to get into playing shape. I will wait for training camp and pre-season to make a judgement, unlike the Raider Haters in the media.

After spending two days watching ESPN’s coverage of the 2008 NFL draft, I have a question, does anybody believe a word Mel Kiper spews out of his pie hole?
Anybody that looks like a cross between Count Chocula and Joey Buttafuoco cannot be taken seriously.

Count Kiper is the same guy that took Merrill Hoge to task when Merrill stated that he didn't believe WR Mike Williams was worth being a 1st rounder due to his inability to get separation and Mel went nuts because he thought Williams might be the best player in the 2005 draft. Memo to Mel, Mike Williams SUCKS!!!!!!!

Okay, Mel, I know you have been doing this draft since 1770 when England drafted George Washington and traded him to the Colonist in America for Benedict Arnold and a third round pick in 1771, but you are still an idiot and I am not certain what the suits at ESPN see in you.

Now with that off my chest plate how about I discuss what I thought of our draft?

Since our 2nd & 3rd round picks were traded away, I still think we did okay.

The Raiders traded their second round pick to Atlanta for CB DeAngelo Hall, who was drafted 8th overall in the 2004 draft. I doubt a “can’t miss “player of Hall’s caliber could have been with the 34th player so I will call this a good trade for now. 

The Raiders sent their 3rd rounder to New England last year in order to move up and select Mario Henderson in 2007.
We have not seen much from Mario so the jury is still out on that trade.

Unless you have been living on Hoth, you no doubt heard that the Raiders took Running Back Darren McFadden with the fourth pick.

I really believe the Raiders would have selected Howie’s kid Chris with this pick but the Lambs snatched him with the their second pick.

For the past few months as all the mock drafts were making my eyes water I was thinking that we did not need another Running Back. But, the more thought I put into it the more I have started to love the McFadden pick.

My reasoning is simple, not to say that the other positions on offense are not important but in my opinion the three most important positions are the Quarterback, the featured Running Back and the tackle that protects your quarterback’s blind side.

Not many teams get to the Super Bowl with lackluster quarterbacks. There are a few exceptions, like the 2000 Baltimore Ravens with Trent Dilfer. And likewise, not many teams reach the big dance without a good running game. Why do you think Dallas owner Jerry Jones was salivating and begging for a chance to trade up and get McFadden?

So, at such a critical position where the players take a pounding and often get injured, an NFL team can never have too many good running backs. And let’s face facts the Raiders have not exactly worn out scoreboard operators the past few years.

On another positive note, first year running backs can sometimes make an immediate impact on an offense unlike most of the other positions that require more NFL experience.

Still not convinced and still screaming at your television set that Al has lost it?

Well, just take a look at what happened around the league last year:

In Minnesota, Viking Rookie sensation Adrian Peterson missed a month with an injured LCL.

In Pittsburgh, the Steelers’ Willie Parker broke his right fibula on December 20th.

In KC the Chiefs lost Larry Johnson in week 9 with a foot injury.

In St Louis the Rams’ Steven Jackson missed weeks 4-7 and was not the same all year.

In Tampa Bay, Chucky lost Cadillac Williams, Mike Alstott and Michael Pittman for most if not all of the season

In our back yard, the Raiders LaMont Jordan was relegated to nursing an ailing back all year and even Justin Fargas went down in week 15 with a sprained MCL.

The Super Bowl Champs in New York were not immune either. Brandon Jacobs was hurt off and on for most of the season.

In New Orleans the Saints lost Deuce McAllister in week 3 and Reggie Bush in week 12.

Getting the picture, so now with the release of Rhodes the Raiders hope to have a healthy Justin Fargas, Michael Bush off of the PUP list and ready to compete for playing time, rookie Darren McFadden and possibly LaMont Jordan (although I believe he is being shopped around and may be released before the season opener).

As far as our other picks:

Corner Back Tyvon Branch Connecticut

Branch should contribute right away on special teams, may be able to help out in dime packages and he can even play safety in certain situations. With some work I think he will be an improvement over the traded Fabian Washington.

Wide Receiver Arman Shields Richmond

I believe we needed some depth at receiver and Shields has great upside.

He does not hesitate going over the middle and has enough speed to stretch the field.

Defensive End Trevor Scott Buffalo

Scott is an interesting player.

He played Tight End his first three years with the Bulls and was moved to DE his senior season. He did pretty well there considering he was still learning the position.

Wide Receiver Chaz Schilens San Diego State

Schilens will be a long shot to make the team.

He has good speed but needs to learn how to run routes better.

If somebody does not pick him up off waivers, he will probably make the practice squad.

Of the undrafted rookie free agents the Raiders signed, I think only four have a real shot at making the team:

DE Greyson Gunheim Washington

He is very strong and excels against the run.

LB Malik Jackson Louisville

Will be solid on Special Teams and was a one-man wrecking crew his junior year but had a lackluster senior year. If he has a good camp Sam Williams may end up being cut for him.

OL Brandon Rodd Arizona State

Rodd is versatile and has started at LT, RT & G for the Sun Devils. He may be a bit too slow for tackle but at guard he fits the zone blocking schemes well.

C Adam Spieker Missouri

Spieker has short arms for the position and was not drafted because he is not expected to do much on the next level. But, he is big and smart and the Raiders will give him a long look.

The others getting banged up in training camp so a starter does not have to are:
CB Derrick Brown Southern Utah

DL Derrick Gray Texas Southern

FB Matt Hahn Penn State

RB Louis Rankin Washington

LB Shane Simmons Western Washington

TE Darrell Strong Pittsburgh

TE Chris Wagner South Dakota State

Is it August yet?

Darth