Freddie B Foundation Event

Raider fans interested in supporting a noble cause and enjoying a fun filled event should check out this link:
http://www.naxcom.com/New/2005/Tradeshows/TEMPLATE/shows.htm

To honor their slain daughter Tracey, Fred and Angela Biletnikoff established a foundation to support young women recovering from substance abuse and provide education for the prevention of domestic violence. Here are more details on the foundation's work:

To address the issues of dual diagnosis and substance
abuse, the Biletnikoff Foundation supports Tracey's Place of
Hope. Tracey's Place of Hope is a residential treatment
center which addresses substance abuse and its
secondary effects. This establishment offers specific
therapeutic activities such as Art Therapy, individual needs
and skills assessment, psychosocial evaluation,
psychotherapeutic counseling, and appropriate referrals to
outside agencies. The counselors focus on the specific
needs and issues of adolescent girls, such as mental health
and adjustment problems, parental substance abuse, and
developmental delay.

Fred's event will take place on 6/1 & 6/2 at two different locations. Sunday, 6/1, over 15 former Raider Legends including, Fred, Tim Brown, Daryle LaMonica, Cliff Branch, Greg Townsend, James Lofton and others will be attending a Charity Autograph Event at Strikes Bowling Alley in Rocklin, CA. The following day, a group of over 25 Raider Greats head over to a Charity Golf Tournament at Catta Verdera Country Club in Lincoln, CA. For a $60 donation, you get receive a Biletnikoff Logo Football, T-Shirt, Free Autographs, Admittance to both events and much more.

You can call Kevin @ 310-568-8825 x102 or email to k.klein@naxcom.com to order.

Thank you for your time and the Biletnikoff Foundation thanks you greatly for any attention or assistance that you might give. For helping out, let Kevin know if he can help you out with some free autographed merchandise from Fred!

Youth Will Be Served

When reviewing the 2008 roster which is still a work in progress, one aspect about the Raider football team really jumped out to me ... how our core squad is comprised of youth. Take a look at our projected starters (always up for debate) and key players for both the offensive and defensive units:

Offense Unit

QB1: JaMarcus Russell (22, 2nd year)
RB1: Darren McFadden (20, Rookie) > new addition
RB2: Justin Fargas (28, 6th year)
RB3: Michael Bush (23, 2nd year)
FB1: Oren O'Neil (24, 2nd year)
FB2: Justin Griffith (27, 6th year)
WR1: Javon Walker (29, 7th year) > new addition
WR2: Drew Carter (26, 5th year) > new addition
WR3: Ronald Curry (28, 7th year)
TE1: Zach Miller (22, 2nd year)
TE2: John Madsen (24, 3rd year)
LT1: Kwame Harris (26, 6th year) > new addition
LT2: Mario Henderson (23, 2nd year)
LG1: Robert Gallery (27, 5th year)
LG2: Paul McQuistan (25, 3rd year)
C1: John Wade (33, 11th year) > new addition
C2: Jake Grove (28, 5th year)
RG1: Cooper Carlisle (30, 9th year)
RT1: Cornell Green (31, 9th year)
RT2: Paul McQuistan (25, 3rd year)

Defensive Unit

LCB: Nnamdi Asomugha (26, 6th year)
RCB: DeAngelo Hall (24, 5th year) > new addition
NCB: Stanford Routt (24, 4th year)
SS: Gibril Wilson (26, 5th year) > new addition
FS: Michael Huff (25, 3rd year)
WLB: Thomas Howard (24, 3rd year)
MLB: Kirk Morrison (26, 4th year)
SLB: Robert Thomas (27, 7th year)
LDE: Jay Richardson (24, 2nd year)
NT: Terdell Sands (28, 8th year)
UT: Tommy Kelly (27, 5th year)
RDE: Derrick Burgess (29, 8th year)

When the 53 man roster is finalized in late August, the Raiders will more than likely have only 6 players in their thirties. 3 of the 6 play special teams; Jarrod Cooper (30), Seabastian Janikowski (30), and Shane Lechler (31). The other 3 grey beards are OL Cooper Carlisle (30), Cornell Green (31) and John Wade (33).

The success and foundation of the Raiders in 2008 and beyond will be built on the shoulders of young, talented performers. The identity of the offense will be shaped in large part by Russell and McFadden. The defensive core consists of players hitting (or in) their prime such as Asomugha, Hall, Wilson, Huff, Howard, Morrison, and Kelly.

It will be exciting to watch the individual player's career development and at the same time, the team as a whole mesh into a cohesive group. With 7 potential new starters and many critical players who are 25 or younger, the Raiders coaching staff has their hands' full especially during the upcoming June training camp. One way or another, youth will be served.

Let Er Rip

On draft day, the Raiders were given the choice of 2 distinct paths. The fork in the road came as soon as the Falcons turned in their draft card to select QB Matt Ryan. One path, Glenn Dorsey Road, was to add a cog to our run D which was considered "safe, sensible, solid" by many arm chair GMs like myself. The other path, Darren McFadden Avenue, was to select a dynamic playmaker that would add a whole new dimension to the Raiders offense. As you know by now, the Raiders swung for the fences with the 1st round selection of Darren McFadden aka Run DMc.

A new day and exciting era in Raider football is upon us. The big play running threat of Run DMc coupled with a franchise QB in JaMarcus Russell who can stretch the field vertically gives the Raiders offense in 2008 the capabilities to be highly explosive, balanced, and diversified.

Darren McFadden had an amazing 3 year career at Arkansas where he compiled 4,485 rushing yards (5.9 average per carry) and scored 40 touchdowns in 37 games played. Here are the notes from McFadden's scouting report:













Darren McFadden Height: 6-1 1/4 Weight: 211 40-Time: 4.33

Strengths:
An outstanding natural athlete...Has very good size...Excellent timed speed with a burst...Has great vision and instincts...Big play threat who can take it the distance at any time..Elusive with nice feet..Quick and agile...Real strong...Tough and loves contact...Runs hard and does not go down easy...Has decent hands and can be a weapon in the passing game..Plays with a nasty demeanor..Extremely productive.

Weaknesses:
Has some off-the-field and character questions...Legs and lower body are a little thin....Might run too high and open himself up to big hits...Could still improve as a blocker...Does not have a ton of experience as a receiver...Did not really play in a conventional offense in college and shared the workload...Ball security is an issue.

Notes:
Burst onto the scene as a true freshman...The Heisman Trophy runner-up as both a sophomore and a junior...In the summer of '06 he dislocated his toe (which later required surgery) while trying to kick someone during a fight outside a night club at 4am...In January of 2008 was handcuffed during a disturbance outside of a bar shortly after midnight because according to the police report he was agitated and provoking aggressive behavior inciting the incident....Often worked as a shotgun quarterback in the Razorbacks "Wildcat" package and showed the ability to throw the ball...Pure football player with all the physical tools who is as good or perhaps an even better prospect than Adrian Peterson was coming out...A rare talent who should rank amongst the top running backs in the NFL very early in his pro career.

It is thrilling to realize that JaMarcus Russell has all of the tools and weapons at his disposal to be very successful. In the passing attack, Javon Walker and Drew Carter are both athletic, fast, big receivers. Ronald Curry is an excellent possession receiver. TE Zach Miller should be able to build upon his productive rookie season (44 receptions) and provide a nice security blanket for Russell. In the backfield, we now have an electric, home run hitter in Run DMc in combination with the tough, hard charging Justin Fargas. Dominic Rhodes can be utilized in some special offensive packages. What role, if any, Michael Bush plays in 2008 is unknown. Bush could be used possibly in some red zone packages as well as short yardage plays. Lamont Jordan will be cut on June 1st.

Although RB wasn't a "need" pick for the Raiders, I understand how a special player of McFadden's caliber should not be passed over. When you review the Raiders offense of 2007, it becomes quite clear that one of the missing components was a big play, game changing element.

2007 Offense Scoring
28 TDS (11 rushing TDs #19 ranking; 17 receiving TDs #24)
17.7 pts/g #23 ranking

With McFadden in the backfield, the Raiders opponents will need to be on their guard to contain our rushing attack. If the opponent's D sticks 8 men in the box and the rush ends aren't pinning their ears back to rush the passer, it clearly will open up the passing game. Give me play action pass with Walker/Carter in single coverage and Russell pulling the trigger and I will love our chances to have an explosive, unpredictable offense. Let er rip!

CJ's Top 10 Mock Draft

Calico Jack's Top 10 Mock Draft

I know there are thousands of mock drafts floating around cyberspace. Everyone is an armchair expert on the draft this time of year. My intentions for this post were simply two fold ... first, for fun's sake and secondly, to be on record with my picks for the draft. Nothing more, nothing less. Truth be told ... I could whiff on 8 of the 10 picks and be quite pleased knowing I hit my mark on #1 and #4.

#1 Miami Dolphins: Jake Long (OT, University of Michigan) > Jake signed for 5 years, $57.75M, $30M guaranteed. Jake's contract averages $11.55M per year in comparison to Jamarcus Russell's $10.15M per year contract.

#2 St.Louis Rams: Glenn Dorsey (DT, LSU) > The Rams pick will shape and shift the top half of the draft. Although Chris Long & Vernon Gholston are possible selections here, neither grades out as high as Dorsey.

#3 Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan (QB, Boston College) > If Dorsey was available at #3, Ryan would not be the selection. The Blackbirds are in a MAJOR rebuilding mode and need to develop a QB for the long term.

#4 Oakland Raiders: Chris Long (DE, University of Virginia) > Son of Howie (SOH) fills 2 vital needs for the Raiders defense. As an everydown DE, Long is strong at the point of attack which will improve the Raiders biggest weakness, run defense. Chris is a relentless, tireless pass rusher who will be a nice bookend for Derrick Burgess. The best thing about SOH is that he is a "throw back" football player loaded with all the important intangibles to be highly successful: stong work ethic, unbelievable motor, toughness, goal oriented, and very coachable. The Raider Nation will be grinning from ear to ear if SOH dons the Silver and Black jersey in 2008!

#5 Kansas City Chiefs: Vernon Gholston (DE, Ohio State) > With the departure of DE Jared Allen, the Chiefs desperately need to replace him. Gholston has the skill set to become a terrific pass rusher in the NFL.

#6 New York Jets: Darren McFadden (RB, Arkansas) > Run DMc is a big play, offensive game changer who should be a regular on ESPN highlights. If the Raiders didn't have Michael Bush in the wings, McFadden very likely would have been our selection. The Jets game in Oakland this season will have added intrigue as it pits Long vs. McFadden.

#7 New England Patriots: Branden Albert (OG/OT, University of Virginia) > When was the last time UVa had 2 picks in the top 10? If Albert doesn't land here, my guess is Leodis McKelvin (CB, Troy St).

#8 Baltimore Ravens: Leodis McKelvin (CB, Troy St.) > The Ravens were hoping Matt Ryan would fall into their lap but will have to settle for the best QB available in the 2nd round.

#9 Cincinnati Bengals: Sedrick Ellis (DT, USC) > A high value, need selection which is the best of both worlds. The Bengals D is a mess and Ellis will be a solid piece in their rebuilding efforts.

#10 New Orleans: Dominque Rodgers Cromartie (CB, Tenn. St) > New Orleans could be a major wild card on draft day. There were plenty of rumors on the net about the Saints desires to move up to #2 or #3 to snatch up Glenn Dorsey. If the Saints sit tight at #10, I expect the Saints to take Cromartie to improve their secondary.

2008 Raiders Schedule

To the delight of the fans, the NFL announced the 2008 schedule today! Here is a link to the Raiders schedule:
http://www.raiders.com/Gameday/Schedule.aspx?id=11662

You've got to hand it to the strong arm of the NFL marketing machine to continually keep the league's business front and center 12 months of the year. It is amazing how a league with 4 months of regular season games has such strong exposure 24/7/365. Think about it ... from January to December the league is on the minds of professional football enthusiasts.

January >>> Playoffs & SuperBowl
February >>> Pro Bowl & NFL Combine
March >>> Free Agency
April >>> Announcement of schedule plus the draft which is a cottage industry upon itself
May >>> Mini camps
June through July >>> Training camps and personnel moves
August >>> Exhibition season
September through December >>> Regular season games

Like many Raider fans, as soon as the schedule comes out I'm excited about picking which games to visit Oakland. I start looking at the matchups and dates to come up with a short list of possible games to select. My short list this year although subject to change consists of week 4 vs. SD, week 13 vs. KC, and week 15 vs. New England. The divisional games always are a high priority for obvious reasons.

A few observations and notes on the Raiders 2008 schedule:

* Besides the usual divisional foes, the Raiders are lined up to play the AFC East (New England, NY Jets, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills) plus the NFC South (Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers).

* This year's schedule seems favorable overall in a number of ways. There aren't any back to back east coast swing games. There aren't any road games where weather should be a factor excluding the possibility of snow flurries for the game in Denver on 11/23.

* The Raiders only face 3 teams that made the playoffs in 2007 (SD, New England, Tampa Bay).

* The Raiders have the 3rd easiest schedule based on their opponents winning percentage in 2007. The Raiders opponents had a combined record of 112-144 for a .438 winning percentage.

* The Raiders have 2 prime time games; MNF vs. Denver opener and NFL Network Thursday night matchup at divisional rival SD Chargers.

* Lane Kiffin will get to match wits in a battle of his offense vs. his father Monte's Tampa Bay defense.

* The only real downside to the 2008 schedule that I noticed was having the bye week so early in the season (week 5).

* Although the schedule for each team follows a predetermined formula, I find it rather odd that for the 3rd consecutive season, the Raiders will host the Houston Texans.

* Along those same lines, for the 3rd consecutive season, the Raiders are squared off with at least 1 SB participant from the previous year; 2006 (Pittsburg, Seattle); 2007 (Chicago, Indy); 2008 (New England).

* It will be very interesting to see some of the other teams high draft choices fare vs. the Raiders. Teams like Miami (#1 pick), Atlanta (#3 pick), KC (#5 pick), NJ Jets (#6 pick) and New England (#7 pick) are all on the 2008 docket.

The beauty of being a true fan is that when the official schedule comes out it marks a clean slate, a fresh beginning, and a brand new season filled with hope.

Demolition Man

For the Raiders to maximize their investment in 2 highy paid, man on man, press corners, we need another pass rushing DE.

Based on our current personnel, team needs, and the way the draft selections of Miami (#1), St. Louis (#2), and Atlanta (#3) are shaping up, our choice at #4 is quite obvious to me ...

Defensive End Vernon Gholston (Ohio State)

Everyone should be excited about having the best CB tandem in the NFL. I would feel much better about our new CB tandem making a significant impact if we had 2 of the better bookend DE pass rushers in Burgess & Gholston.

As it stands today, Burgess is our only legitimate pass rusher. Teams will naturally double team and chip block him. Add Gholston to the other side and watch the opponent's QB start heaving the ball up for grabs or violently being drilled to the turf.

This pick has all the ear markings of everything coming together to make it a "no brainer".

The Raiders depth chart at DE is bare thin.

Gholston should be available at #4 (or #6 with a draft day swap with the Jets).

Gholston is the type of athlete that Al covets... a super freak athlete who looks good coming off the bus. Incredibly athletic, strong, fast with tremendous potential. A good comparison would be Gholston and Merriman.

Here's the bio on Gholston:
Vernon Gholston is a remarkable talent, but he's only just begun realizing his vast potential.

He never picked up a football until his sophomore year in high school and had just one season of defensive experience as a linebacker before being converted to defensive end when he arrived at Ohio State.

Blessed with incredible speed (clocked at 4.56 in the 40-yard dash), long limbs and superb strength, Gholston is the prototype pass rusher that professional teams look for -- big, fast, strong and explosive. An avid performer in the weight room, he boasted the best bench press on the team at 455 pounds. He also put on an impressive performance for teammates, squatting 405 pounds 20 times.

How Gholston was lured into football will one day make a nice story, if he becomes the legendary pass rusher many personnel experts are predicting. Walking in the halls of Cass Technical High School, football coach Thomas Wilcher spotted the 14-year-old strapping youngster, who stood 6-3, 240 pounds at the time. He convinced the player to join the football team.

Gholston was too big to play in Detroit's Police Athletic League and the elementary public schools did not offer an organized football program. From the first time he ever stepped on the field, the coaching staff knew they had a natural talent.

As a sophomore at Cass Tech, Gholston was first tried at linebacker, but he was overwhelmed by the plays he needed to know to play that position. One of the offensive coaches "stole" the youngster away from the defensive squad and had him play offensive guard as a sophomore. His junior campaign was limited by ankle sprains, which forced him to stay on the offensive line and scrap plans to also play linebacker.

By his senior season, he had already earned All-State honors as an offensive lineman and gained experience playing linebacker for the first time in his career. In just one season on defense, he was regarded as one of the best linebackers in the Midwest region. He would go on to record 75 tackles with six sacks in his final season, as Rivals.com rated him the 11th-best defensive end prospect in the nation and the 12th-best overall prospect in the state of Michigan.
Gholston enrolled at Ohio State, becoming the only player from Michigan on the squad. He turned down scholarship offers from Michigan, Michigan State and Iowa to join the Buckeyes. The coaching staff immediately began giving him a crash course in playing the "Leo" position, which incorporates dropping into pass coverage and rushing the passer from either side of the field.

He mentored under Mike Kudla his first year with the team, appearing in six games as a true freshman in 2004, but did not record a tackle. In 2005, a broken hand suffered in the second game vs. Texas earned Gholston a medical hardship. He had one tackle in that game and spent the rest of the year on the sideline.

Gholston used that time wisely in the weight room, bulking up from 238 to 264 pounds, as he took over "Leo" duties in 2006. He garnered All-Big Ten Conference second-team honors, as he ranked fourth in the league with 15 stops for losses of 86 yards and was fifth in the Big Ten with 8.5 sacks. He added a quarterback pressure with two pass breakups and an interception. He also finished sixth on the squad with 49 tackles (21 solo).

In 2007, Gholston earned All-American recognition and was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the nation's top defensive end. He posted 37 tackles (25 solo) and was a terror in the backfield, ranking eighth in the nation with 15.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and second nationally with 14 sacks. He also scooped up a fumble and returned it for a 25-yard touchdown.

In 34 games at Ohio State, Gholston started 25 times. He registered 87 tackles (47 solo) with 22.5 sacks for minus-184 yards and 30.5 stops for losses of 199 yards. He had two pass deflections and an eight-yard interception return, as he also recovered a fumble that he returned 25 yards for a touchdown.

Here's Vernon Gholston's scouting report via NFL Draft Countdown:
http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/de/vernongholston.html

Calico Jack's Checklist on Vernon Gholston:
(1) Size: (check) > 6'3, 266 chiseled lbs.
(2) Speed: (check) > 4.58 40 time
(3) Strength: (check) > 37 reps of 225 lbs (best result of entire combine)
(4) Explosion: (check) > 42" vertical jump & 10' 5" broad jump
(5) Production: (check) > 14 sacks in 13 games in 2007 including a sack vs. Jake Long
(6) Combine: (check) > complete confirmation of physical talents (see results below)
(7) Pro Day: (check) > same as above
(8) Need: (check) > The Raiders biggest need position is DE; Raiders had only 27 sacks last year
(9) BPA: (check) > if selecting at #4, one of 2 top BPA on the board. If a trade is completed with the Jets; selecting at #6, definitely BPA
(10) Impact Position: (check) > A speedy pass rushing DE is a high impact position
(11) Value Pick: (check) > NFL teams place a high premium on acquiring a pass rushing DE.
(12) Additional Value: (check) > The acquisition of Vernon Gholston enhances the value of the Raiders cornerback tandem who play man to man coverage.

2008 Combine Results:
DL Top five 40-yard dash times (seconds)
1. Marcus Howard, Georgia -- 4.48
2. Quentin Groves, Auburn -- 4.50
3. Cliff Avril, Purdue -- 4.57
4. Vernon Gholston, Ohio State -- 4.61 (* ran 4.58 at pro day)
5. Shawn Crable, Michigan -- 4.64

DL Top five 10-yard splits (seconds)
1. Marcus Howard, Georgia -- 1.53
2. Vernon Gholston, Ohio State -- 1.56
3. Quentin Groves, Auburn -- 1.60
4. Cliff Avril, Purdue -- 1.61
T5. Shawn Crable, Michigan -- 1.64
T5. Jeremy Thompson, Wake Forest -- 1.64

DL Top five bench press results (reps)
1. Vernon Gholston, Ohio State -- 37
T2. Trevor Laws, Notre Dame -- 35
T2. Ahtyba Rubin, Iowa State -- 35
T4. Sedrick Ellis, Southern California -- 34
T4. Nick Hayden, Wisconsin -- 34

DL Top five vertical jump results (inches)
1. Vernon Gholston, Ohio State -- 35.5 (jumped 42” at pro day)
2. Marcus Howard, Georgia -- 34.5
3. Chris Long, Virginia -- 34
T4. Cliff Avril, Purdue -- 32.5
T4. Louis Holmes, Arizona -- 32.5

DL Top five broad jump results (feet)
1. Vernon Gholston, Ohio State -- 10.5
2. Chris Long, Virginia -- 10.4
3. Jason Jones, Eastern Michigan -- 10.3
4. Louis Holmes, Arizona -- 10.1
5. Quentin Groves, Auburn -- 10.0

The ideal situation for a high 1st round pick is for the player that we take is both a vital need AND the BPA. Further, it is ideal if the player taken plays a high impact position such as QB, LT, and DE. Drafting at #4, Vernon Gholston would fill the most vital need AND be arguably 1 of the 2 BPA AND plays a high impact position. If we had let Rhodes go ... or if we didn't resign Fargas ... or if Bush wasn't 100% ready for takeoff, I could see more merit in taking Darren McFadden. As it stands now, Gholston makes the most sense to me.

Banking on Shut Down Corners

The eventual signing of DeAngelo Hall is on the horizon. It is always exciting to land a supremely gifted young player like Hall who has played at an All Pro caliber level in 2 of his 4 season in the league. Here's the scouting report on DeAngelo Hall:

Hall has an excellent combination of quickness, speed and agility. He routinely matches up with the opponent's top receiver. He is tough, physical and confident. He has the ability to be a very effective press cornerback. He can reroute and disrupt the timing of a receiver with his jam. He plays with good body position on vertical routes and has the speed to run with any receiver in the league. He has very good ball skills and hands. He will make the difficult pick and is a dangerous threat with the ball. He has very good man-top-man cover skills. He is aggressive against the run and will attack the ball from an outside-in position. He is an effective ankle tackler. But Hall is inconsistent for an elite cornerback and tends to play fast and loose. He sometimes lacks focus in zone coverage and can get lazy with his technique. He allows too many completion in front of him. He takes chances on the back end in coverage. He is a bit reckless and undisciplined in run support. He will throw his body at a runner. He sometimes loses outside leverage on the ball.

A Few Questions To Ponder:
(1) Is this mega deal the best way to utilize the team's cap space?
Constructing a 53 man roster is like putting together a complicated jig saw puzzle. The key is identifying your team's weaknesses, upgrading the talent level, and spending your cap dollars on player who can make the biggest positive impact. Getting the most "bang for your buck" is the simplest way to put it. Managing your cap space means spending your dollars wisely to set yourself up for the following years.

(2) Is the pairing of Hall and Asomugha Al's way of trying in vain to recapture the magic of Hayes and Haynes?
This isn't 1983. In 1983, the Raiders ran a 3/4 defense and had 3 eventual Hall of Famers (Long, Hendricks, Haynes) and numerous Pro Bowlers (Millen, Martin, Hayes). Here's the 1983 SBXVIII defense in comparison to the projected 2008 lineup:

1983 Defensive Edition
75 Howie Long LE
62 Reggie Kinlaw NT
77 Lyle Alzado RE
83 Ted Hendricks LOLB
55 Matt Millen LILB
51 Bob Nelson RILB
53 Rod Martin ROLB
37 Lester Hayes LCB
22 Mike Haynes RCB
36 Mike Davis SS
26 Vann McElroy FS

2008 Defensive Edition
56 Derrick Burgess RDE
63 Gerrard Warren DT
93 Tommy Kelly DT
98 Jay Richardson LDE (or possibly Vernon Gholston #4 pick)
53 Thomas Howard WLB
52 Kirk Morrison MLB
55 Robert Thomas SLB
21 Nnamdi Asomugha LCB
XX DeAngelo Hall RCB
28 Girbil Wilson SS
24 Michael Huff FS

(3) How will the Hall signing impact the Raiders ability to sign Asomugha long term?
Assuming we are able to sign Asomugha to a long term deal equal to or greater than Hall's deal, is it prudent to spend $20M a year to secure the services of your 2 corners? This move reminds of when SF traded for Neon Deion Sanders. The BIG difference though was SF was already one of the top teams who was adding the cherry on top to an elite team. The Raiders have been cellar dwellers for 5 seasons straight. I believe the Raiders need to take the approach of a bricks and mortar approach. Our Run D and OLine are far from being finished products or top groups. A CB is dessert. DL & OL are meat and potatoes.

(4) In what ways will the Hall signing impact our key defensive deficiencies?
(a) Run Defense: Ranked #32 in the NFL (4.8 YPC) > The Raiders defensive scheme will be to allow Hall & Asomugha to play man to man coverage. The other 9 defenders will have greater latitude to play the run and be positioned closer to the line of scrimmage. Safeties Huff & Wilson should have free reign to support the run. Our DTs (Kelly, Warren, Sands, Joseph) will need to raise their level of play and do a better job clogging the middle.

(b) Turnovers Created: Ranked #21 in the NFL (18 Ints; 8 fumbles) > The "trickle down" effect of signing Hall is that the opponent's QB will find it very difficult to avoid Asomugha's side of the field. I am expecting Asomugha to rack up between 5 to 8 INTs in 2008. It will be imperative for Michael Huff to maximize his ball hawking skills at FS. Of course we are literally banking on Hall demonstrating his playmaking and return skills to make a difference.

(c) Pass Rush/Sacks Created: Ranked #28 in the NFL (27 sacks) > There is no question that by having the best CB tandem in the NFL, there will be more opportunities for the Raiders to put the opponent's QB on his back. First, it creates a platform for Ryan to blitz more liberally. Secondly, the sticky coverage of the DBs will force the QB to hold on to the ball a second or two longer. On obvious passing downs, it is imperative for Ryan to mix in some exotic blitz schemes to aid this cause and keep the QB guessing where the pressure is coming from. Thomas Howard, the fastest LB in the entire NFL, should be utilized as a blitzing edge rusher. Both Huff and Wilson can quickly converge on the QB from a variety of angles.

Clearly the ball is in DC Rob Ryan's court to employ a D that is both aggressive and unpredictable. He will need to trust Hall/Asomugha to be on an island and turn the other defenders loose to attack the line of scrimmage, get after the QB, and dictate the action on the field. You got your hair cut Rob. Now how bout' cutting the dogs of war loose?

The signing of Hall is an exciting acquisition but you have to wonder if it will create headaches and cap woes that were completely avoidable. For Al's sake, I'm hoping he gets a solid return on his numerous off season investments.