5 Holes Worth Plugging

Is O-Line support in the Raiders 2007 draft plans?

The NFL draft is a little more than two months away, but the prognosticators have been busy trying to figure out which prospects are headed to which teams since early January. Rather than focus on the “who’s available”, I thought I’d share my opinions on where the Raiders deepest holes exist in their current roster.

It’s obvious that one of the weakest offenses in the league is due for a major overhaul, but more importantly, the Raiders need to establish more reliable depth at a number of offensive positions. They had too many key positions filled with 2nd and 3rd options last season because of injury, suspension, you name it. These are not changes that are going to turn around a team in a season, because few draft picks do that, but they are areas that need to be upgraded.

These are the areas the Raiders MUST improve in order to have any shot at being competitive in the next 2-3 years. You take the best player available, when you’re in a position to do so. The Raiders have so many holes, it’s going to be hard for them not to address two or three just by showing up to the draft. Jamarcus Russell appears to be he consensus #1 pick, but it’s not the Raiders #1 need.

So here they are. My top 5 Raider needs entering the April 28-29 NFL Draft (in priority order):

Need #1: Right Tackle
Langston Walker has voided the final year of his contract, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Bishop O’Dowd and Cal alum could be resigned by the Raiders, but it’s unlikely. Brad Badger’s is no longer a viable option at the position, so it will be priority 1 to fill this position. If Robert Gallery kicks things into gear, Chad Slaughter is an option at left tackle, but Gallery’s injury plagued 2006 is a constant liability for the Raiders.

Need #2: Left Guard
Barry Sims is about to enter his 9th season in the league, but it’s unlikely to be as a Raider. From 2001 through mid 2006, Sims started 85 of 87 games for Oakland (including 68 straight), but a sports hernia sidelined him for five games last year. A $4.533 million roster bonus that’s due in March and a $1 million base salary in 2007 will most likely force the Raiders to cut Sims. Corey Hulsey didn’t provide much relief in Sims absence and the Raiders don’t have much else in terms of depth at the position. The Raiders are expected to move 2nd year guard Paul McQuistan over to the left side (his natural position is at left tackle).

Need #3: Running Back
LaMont Jordan is not a feature back, no matter what his contract says. His 1000-yard season in 2006 showed promise, but that may have been the high point of Jordan’s mediocre 6-year career. Marquee feature backs consistently turn out 1000-yard+ seasons, and Jordan has one under his belt. Jordan would complement a marquee back and provide the Raiders with some punch from the backfield, but the Raiders can’t rely on him as the main man if they’re serious about moving the ball down the field. Justin Fargas was a nice experiment, but he’s destiny is a 3rd-string option. If the Raiders could somehow find a decent running back, Fargas becomes expendable.

Need #4: Quarterback
Aaron Brooks is not the answer. His 61.7 QB rating was abysmal, and it’s declined every year for the past three seasons. His 88.8 rating in 2003 was the best rating he’s had in 8 NFL seasons. It’s time for Oakland to cut its losses with Brooks. The jury is still out on Andrew Walter, but his statuesque (as in he's as mobile as a statue) performance during his 8-game stint as the starter last season exposed a huge liability. Yes, he had defensive linemen in his grill on just about every passing play, but his 13 interceptions in 276 attempts proved that he made a lot of bad decisions as well. His visible frustration with kissing the turf as often as he did may have turned off many of his teammates as well. His 53.3 completion percentage wasn’t horrible, but it also wasn’t great.

Need #5: Free Safety
Stuart Schweigert had a career high 86 tackles in 2006, but he’s marginal at best in pass coverage, is weak in run support and is an average tackler. Jarrod Cooper is a career backup and the Derrick Gibson has never been able to lay claim to his spot in the secondary. The oft-injured Gibson enters his 7th season behind Michael Huff at strong safety, but could spell Schweigert at the free position if the Raiders are unable to solve this problem thru the draft or free-agency.

The Question Mark: Wide Receiver
Who knows how this soap opera is going to play out. Will Randy Moss grow up overnight and honor his contractual commitment to the Raider? Unlikely. Will the real Jerry Porter show up? Will he be on the active roster for us to find out? Who knows? Is Johnnie Morant the answer? The 8-Ball says no. Can Ronald Curry stay healthy? Wouldn’t count on it.