The key to winning and losing football games, is winning the war in the trenches. The Raiders have been weak on both sides of the trenches for the past several years. If the Raiders want to be competitive, they have to upgrade both their offensive and defensive lines.
Along the offensive line, the Raiders seem to be leaning towards Mario Henderson starting at left tackle, as he played well to close the season once he replaced the deposed Kwame Harris. Despite his apparent success, he is still unproven as he only started a few games in 08. The only sure thing along the the offensive line is left guard Robert Gallery. Gallery has established himself as one of the better guards in the NFL after an inauspicious start at tackle. Cooper Carlisle who is solid if not spectacular, will be the player to beat at right guard.
With Jake Grove signing with the Miami Dolphins, the Raiders have a hole to fill at center. The Raiders are said to be looking at Duke Preston from the Buffalo Bills as a potential acquisition at center. The Raiders have to be hoping that Cal center Alex Mack will fall to them in the second. This would be a great pickup. The Raiders have been week at the center position since Barrett Robbins had his meltdown just prior to the Super Bowl.
The Raiders would be wise to sign Khalif Barnes, the tackle with whom they had a visit today. Barnes has been a durable tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars who has played both right and left tackle. The Raiders need to upgrade their right tackle position because Cornell Green has been mediocre at best in that position.
The defensive line is in worse shape than the offensive line. Derrick Burgess's play has fallen greatly since his two Pro Bowl seasons, and he has also become injury prone. With this being his contract year, he may find some of his missing game, as he has been complaining about his contract for the last few offseasons. Jay Richardson seemed to be a find in the fifth round, but he has been distinctly average. He is more of a depth player who can spell a starter, but is not starting material. Trevor Scott has shown promise as a situational pass rusher, but the Raiders lack an every down defensive end who can do it all.
The interior of the defensive line has been a sieve for the Raiders since Darrell Russell's heyday. Tommy Kelly never played up to the contract he receiver in the last offseason. He is expected to be the penetrator and get after the quarterback, but he has been less than effective at doing so. It doesn't help that Terdell Sands has never broken out. Despite Sands' size, he plays soft. His role is to take on multiple blockers, but doesn't. Gerrard Warren is inconsistent. He is a penetrator like Kelly, so having Kelly and Warren lined up next to each other is going to be a major liability against the run.
The Raiders would do well to draft B.J. Raji the defensive tackle out of Boston College. He would fill the Raiders need for a force on the inside of the defensive line. Defensive end would also be a very good move with the opening pick. The Raiders should bring in former Jaguar defensive end Paul Spicer for a look.
As commenter "Howie" said yesterday, the Raiders need to build a dominant offensive line. That is a line that is the absolute truth, and they need to do the same thing with the defensive line. These lines should be built with the combination of the draft and free agency.
SEE ALSO:
Opening statement on the draft
Can Marshall tackle Raiders woes?
Oakland needs the Raider attitude
Highest priority positions to upgrade
Revamping offensive line a priority
Grove a 'Fin, Carlisle returns
Comments
Hey Patrick, no mention of Erik Pears in this write up - do you not see him challenging as a potential starter?
I'm still holding out hope for Kelly.He had knee surgery that everyone says takes a year to completly come back from and he was very limited in training camp last year.This is his make or break season.Turd has to go.
Thanks for the acknowledgement Patrick. Any pickup at the linemen position if he is an improvement over what the Raiders have had is a step in the right direction. But is Pears a dominate type lineman or is he just another bandaid on the wound that has bled the Raiders of any success over the last six years? The wound of course is the lack of talent along the line on both sides of the ball. Before the Raiders can return to their glory years of being consistent winners Al Davis has to have a change of mind with regard to the what positions are the most important as to the level of talent he chooses to spend his money. A great line on both sides of the ball will elevate the play of the players behind them but will not work in reverse.
Imagine Al Davis, a line that can not only open holes consistently for the running game but pass protect so well that JR will be to reach his potential as an elite QB or a defensive line that is so good that it would be deserving of a nickname similar to the "Steelcurtain" days of the Pittsburg Steelers.
I say push hard for Barnes, and Roy Williams in free agency. Draft Raji and try to move up for Mack. Now with Walker back in the mix we can resign Drew Carter and maybe last seasons free agency class will not be a total wash out. We can then spend the rest of the draft going for the best players since we will have patched most of our holes.
By the way anyone know whats going on with Paul Mcquistion? I thought when he was healthy he was gonna look to play at guard or right tackle.
patrick you should really proofread dude. i usually hate when people say that but for real you should know cooper carlisle will be our RIGHT GUARD not TACKLE... come on man i respect your views but you gotta look more professional if ur gonna be one of the NATION'S finest writers... not trying to diss you at all i actually read a lot of your articles...just make sure u report the correct information... otherwise it was a pinpoint article...just trying to help
oh yea and j rich was a 5th rounder
Snowy- He will compete. Hard to say what he will do after missing an entire season.
S&B- Fixed, thanks
on a side note arent we all enjoying the turmoil in denver... i love the saying what goes around comes around.. and right now it looks like deja vu in denver... don't u all remember our young, offensive genius head coach that was gonna change everything... look how that turned out... remember all those FAs that didn't work out last year... i believe the donkeys are at about a dozen FAs now... and most important remember how kiffin supposedly didn't like russell well i hope cutler can call plays without talking to his head coach cuz right now i think his little crybaby ass will whine his way outta denver... javon walker will at least be on the field(barring inevitable injury) while brandon marshall will be at home beating up his girl again and again... isn't it odd how we hate each other yet we seem to be so much similar in the way we act and things we do
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