Oakland Raiders News: What Effect Would Adding Two Offensive Linemen Have On The Depth Chart?

by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Feb 7, 2009 11:55 AM PST Comment 13 comments

While everyone is breaking down free agency and speaking of franchising...or not...I can't help but wonder about the draft once more.

This morning I got to thinking just how great our offensive line could be under Cable and, I am going out on a limb here Keith Gilbertson's, control.

Gallery, Henderson, McQuistan and Grove could be joined by Oher/Smith/Monroe and Mack/Unger for 2009.

I can see Grove moving to RG to make room for our rookie Center and having Henderson and another Big Boy as the bookends.

There is no denying that Mario Henderson was instrumental in keeping the passrush from getting to JaMarcus Russell and he will be pencilled in as a starter in 2009. The only question will be if he starts at RT or LT.

I start to get excited when I see us drafting a player as good as a Ryan Clady, Jake Long or Joe Thomas.

Imagine Robert Gallery and Michael Oher teaming up on the Left side of the line, with Mario Henderson and either Paul McQuistan or Jake Grove flanking Alex Mack or Max Unger. That would be a very talented offensive line that could be together for a VERY long time.

Most Mock Drafts have Mack or Unger available for our second round selection, so this scenario is entirely possible and the rest of the additions can be made from the third round on down.

I had to watch us pass on Satele and Kalil only to see them blossom as centerpieces of their respective lines. I don't care if we don't draft a wide receiver, at this point, as long as we shore up the line.

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I completely agree

Thank god someone feels the same way… start with the OL. We can fill WR needs by other methods. I think Higgins could be a very good receiver downt he road.

I wonder if there is a way to cut some salary and bring in Boldin?

Light up the Freakin Halo!

by marshgr on Feb 7, 2009 12:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I agree to an extent

I really don’t want to draft O-Line in round 1, as my first round pick would be for maualuga. But if we don’t draft him, then we should get Monroe/Oher/Smith in that order. Second round should go to either MLB or OT (depending on which wasn’t picked in the first) Third round should be a WR, just for insurance and extra depth if we didn’t get a good free agent here. Third round could also be towards DT or DE. Maybe even another O-Lineman. But i’d prefer to see a defensive position drafted here. After that it’s really just guys trying to break through training camp so that’s where I cut off.

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by KA1Z3R on Feb 7, 2009 12:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'm All For A Linemen

1st round – Eugene Monroe
2nd Round – MLB Or DT
3rd – WR
I also like to add, everyone who we drafted last year stayed on the team. Last year’s draft was brilliant and very successful. Our 4th round pick, Tyvon IS going to be one of the best. Scott looks very finesse and could become a threat. Mcfadden is a BEAST. Mad hands for a RB. Too bad we didn’t have a 2nd round pick. I could’ve had us getting a great receiver. Uh, o well.

Wack To Mack With The General and The Back. (J-Mac and D-Mac)

by Rayder K on Feb 7, 2009 1:56 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Agree Somewhat

To answer your general question – what effect would adding two OL have? – it can only be positive, and it could easily be more than two if Harris, Carlisle, Green, and Wade are replaced.

However, your path to that goal is fraught with problems.

McQuistan played limited time at RT in 2007, then during OTA/training camp of 2008 both Cable and Kiffin said that McQuistan would be playing exclusively on the left side. He hurt his knee Opening Night when he briefly spelled Kwame Harris. There isn’t anything to suggest that he will move back to the right side of the line or even has the talent to crack the starting roster on the OL.

Also, I don’t think Henderson is suited for the RT spot either, meaning that if he’s playing he’s at LT and our draft focus should be on the right side of the line. Oher, A. Smith, and others further down in the draft certainly fit the billing, but Monroe and J. Smith likely do not.

As for the center position, I’m not familiar enough with Alex Mack or Max Unger to categorically state that they are better than Jake Grove, so I can’t immediately support those moves. Even if you were able to draft one of the two, I’d prefer to keep Grove around for a bit as insurance. Speaking of Grove, has he played any guard in the NFL?

The main thing is to keep the right side of the line strong on the run, which it obviously is, while improving its pass blocking skills. Carlisle regressed and Cornell Green was never really any good at it. Al Davis’ comments about bringing a bit of power blocking back could point to him at least considering Andre Smith, who is mostly a power blocker but probably has good enough footwork to be a solid pass blocking RT as well.

So, what would the 8 man OL roster look like?

Starting
LT – Henderson
LG – Gallery
C – Grove
RG – rookie/FA
RT – rookie/FA

Backups
Could include McQuistan, Morris, Marten, Wilson, or rookies/FAs.

"I love being here. I love these players. I'm loyal to these players and this team, all right? I'm on the side of the players and the Raiders. And anybody who isn't on the side of the Raiders, then I'm not with them." - Randy Hanson, DB coach.

by LiveAdam on Feb 7, 2009 4:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Well

RT is usually easier than LT. I think it will be an easy transition for Henderson to move. He is good at run blocking (As seen at KC game) and he he stepped in and protected J-Mac well. So, we should still draft an LT.

Wack To Mack With The General and The Back. (J-Mac and D-Mac)

by Rayder K on Feb 7, 2009 4:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree

Henderson may have had a good game run blocking in KC, but overall his skill set is not geared toward being a mauler against the run. If we’re drafting an offensive tackle with the intention of putting him at LT, then Henderson becomes the backup on the left side. He’s not the guy for RT.

I’m still OK drafting a tackle with the 7th pick given the talent available, but it should be someone who can play LT or RT. You and I agree that Monroe is the best LT of the draft, but I’m not so sure anymore that he’s the best fit for us (assuming that Cable is intent on penciling in Henderson as starting LT).

Oher and Smith would be that great combo of run mauler/pass blocking that the right side so desperately needs. Huge holes for McFadden and Bush to run through.

by LiveAdam on Feb 7, 2009 5:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it is safe to say the Raiders

will draft an OT in the first round. With as little money as they have in cap space it seems unlikely they can fill the OL hole through free agency. Getting a RT is essential, and
Green can more properly be used in reserve along with McQuistan if he doesn’t start. I believe that in ‘07 Grove and McQuistan played at guard for short periods. Most of the draft charts have Mack available in the 2nd round, I am sure the Raiders will draft him if he is still there when they pick. I know a lot of guys on this site don’t like Grove, but obviously Cable does, he beat out Wade who was a 10 year starter. Grove must be doing something right.

by Laoren on Feb 7, 2009 4:50 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed on OL - Need #1

I was a big proponent of Big Mario all year and will always say it. Good news is what he showed at the end of the year he may have proved me wrong. With that said if a franchise /all pro/pro bowler can be had we HAVE to draft him.

That said I still would like Eugene Monroe as my #1 option, however it sounds like so would everone else including the 6 teams before we draft.

So have been reading a lot on the tackles. Andre Smith is an absolute mauler in the run game and is quick enough in the pass game. downside is weight. So what if big Mario can man JRuss blindside and Andre can flatten the right side as McFadden cuts downfield. I am starting to like this idea and it also let’s Smith “ease” into the NFL.

I like Mack much more than Unger and would totally be down for him in round 2, but another name who is listed in a lot of mocks in the 2nd round is the #1 guard in the draft Duke Robinson. Another sheer beast. If we plug them into the RT side from day 1.

If we ended day one in April with Smith, Robinson and Beckwith I would be estatic.

LT – Big Mario
LG – The Undertaker Gallery
C – Grove
RG – Duke Robinson (6’5" 325lbs)
RT – Andre Smith (6’4" 330lbs)

Derry Beckwith to slot into SSL, and pick up a red zone target in Ramses Barden in Rd 4.

We would need to address the DL late though

by Bud Light on Feb 7, 2009 6:55 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Ramses Barden and Robiskie's Kid are on my Raid-ar:

I can’t wait for the combine!!!

But when they start scheming us the way these guys did, and we weren't particularly ready for it, anything can happen."

by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Feb 9, 2009 9:22 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oaky

I’ll admit it. The lineup you have up there is intriguing. I wouldn’t mind that. But I do think Mario can play RT.

A New Spirit, A New Team, A New Coach, But Same Commitment.

by Rayder K on Feb 7, 2009 7:59 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

LOL

So let me get this straight, Al Davis has a presser the other day and talks about his guy at LT(Mario) dominating the top top tier of pass rushers in the NFL and you want him to play at RT? Do you guys even understand the difference between LT and RT? Right tackles are road graders and excel at run blocking more than pass blocking. You guys are miserably saying Mario is a road grader. That is the furthest thing fromthe truth. His excellent feet and long @ss arms cal for him to play Left Tackle. Raiders arent drafting an OT in the first round. Forget it. Oh yeah and what in god’s name would possess any person to want Jake Grove back at center? Did you not hear about the Raiders mention implementing some power blocking elements to the o-line? Jake Grove sucks and is weak upper body strength wise. He wouldnt start on any other team in the NFL.

by Brien Raider on Feb 9, 2009 10:36 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I agree with the concerns about our line as any knowledgeable Raider fan would. However I disagree with taking one in the first round at our current position. I would actually rather see B.J. Raji or Jeremy Maclin (Mr. Crabtree is a pipe dream). My reasoning is that a ZBS/semi-power running style RT is not someone you draft in the first. Mario Henderson passed his audition with flying colors and will be the LT next year. He shut down Seymour and the ROLB’s for the Pats, Mario Williams was actually moved to the other side because he was dominated so bad by him, and Gaines Adams was flat out embarrassed by him. We have a LT, and as much as I would love to draft Oher or Smith to make this line dominate. We have to get a WR or NT in the top tier of prospects.
I agree that OL is a focus and deserves serious attention but here is our guy at RT……Troy Kropog OT Tulane 6’6 315, plays with a mean streak, blocked for two of the Nations leading rushers, 3 year starter in a ZBS system and lead two fo the nations leading rushers. We should take this guy in rd 2. With either Maclin or Raji or trade down (yeh right!) at 7. I would love to come out of this draft with Maclin, Kropog, Ron Brace, and Zach Follett.

by DarthDavis on Feb 9, 2009 3:36 PM PST reply actions 0 recs