The readers decided that the Bengals would go with in-state power running Beenie Wells with the 6th pick in the draft; which brings us to the Oakland Raiders. They were really a tale of two teams last season—there were things they did really well and there were things they did horribly. There was the team that was awful at the beginning of the season and there was the team that showed signs of life towards the end. You could say that it was pre-Lane Kiffin and post-Lane Kiffin… but I choose to look at the team with and without the incomparable DeAngelo Hall! So who will help the Raiders prove that the end of last season was more than just a fluke?
Here are the previous 6 picks in our mock draft, determined by the readers:
1. Detroit Lions: Aaron Curry
2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith
3. Kansas City Chiefs: Brian Orakpo
4. Seattle Seahawks: Eugene Monroe
5. Cleveland Browns: Michael Crabtree
6. Cincinnati Bengals: Beenie Wells
2008 Record: 5-11
Record in Division: 2-4
Total Offense Ranking: 29th (272.2 yds/game)
Passing: 32nd (148.1 yds/game)
Rushing: 10th (124.2 yds/game)
Total Defense Ranking: 27th (360.9 yds/game)
Passing: 10th (201.2 yds/game)
Rushing: 31st (159.7 yds/game)
Key Off-Season Acquisitions: Samson Satele (C); Khalif Barnes (OT);
Key Off-Season Losses: Gibril Wilson (S); Jake Grove (C)
Tell Me Something Good:
Nnamdi "Don't Even Think about Throwing it Towards Me" Asomugha
For a team that hasn’t won more than 5 games in the past 6 seasons, the 2008 version of the Raiders had a lot going for it! As a team, they were able to run the ball pretty effectively all season—especially down the stretch. On defense, they were one of the better teams against the pass. Of course, any time you have Nnamdi Asomugha locking up an entire side of the field, it’s going to help you stop anyone’s passing attack!
What Sucks? There are two sides to every coin, and last year’s Raiders team exemplified the point. It’s true; their rushing attack was one of the better squads in the league last year. Unfortunately, their passing attack was one of the worst. JaMarcus Russell showed signs towards the end of last season, but he still hasn’t developed into the player that the organization dreamed he’d be when they selected him #1 overall. When you look on the outside, it’s not like he has any help. The questionable signing of Javon Walker did nothing to change the fact that Johnnie Lee Higgins was the #1 receiver for the team last season! But the passing attack was nothing compared to their problems when they tried to stop the run. The only team worst against the run was the Detroit Lions—so they weren’t exactly respectable. On paper, Tommie Kelly, Gerard Warren and William Joseph should make a decent interior line. Of course, the Raiders don’t play their games on paper—they play them in that minimum security prison across the freeway from the Oakland Airport.
Biggest Needs: Clearly, they need someone that can help in those two areas that were previously listed. A defensive tackle that could clog the middle would go a long way to helping solidify their run defense. A genuine #1 receiver may help JaMarcus Russell in his progression towards a legitimate NFL starting quarterback. Regardless, they have too much money invested in Russell to give up on him yet—whether they think he’ll succeed in the league or not. But forget crazy things like “need,” “fit,” and “character.” We all know that Al Davis will go with the guy that has the fastest 40 time! Anything beyond that and we’re only clouding the issue!
Some Helpful Links
| 2009 Draft Order | Draft Order for the first 2 Rounds |
| DraftCountdown.com | Scott Wright’s Top 32 Prospects for the 2009 NFL Draft |
| fftoolbox.com | Top Prospects by Position |
Matt Reitz is the Editor-In-Chief here at ViewFromMySeats.com and former NHL Writer for ProHockeyTalk on NBCSports. When he’s not shoving a mic in the face of NHLers or explaining why home teams should wear white, he’s usually trying to figure out what song to play next on his iPod. It’s a never-ending job.
