Crabtree has GOT to be the pick:

by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Mar 29, 2009 4:59 PM PDT Comment 13 comments

With the Jaguars being stuck with the 8th pick and the Raiders drafting seventh, it is a very big possibility that Michael Crabtree will make his way to Oakland.

In a time that Oakland A's "Wolff in Sheeps Clothing" Owner, Lew Wolff, is tearing Oakland apart and making his intentions to leave very clear, the Oakland Raiders have added three of the League's brightest young talents in JaMarcus Russell, Zach Miller and Darren McFadden and may add another in Michael Crabtree.

Make no mistake that our sports teams give us something to rally around in Oakland and giving the fans a solid team that can support these star level players will have a possitive effect on the City of Oakland's psyche amid the current, near daily, loss of life from Oakland to Richmond coupled with the pending loss of our 81 game (min.) a year hang-out, The Coliseum Parking Lot for A's Games. I heard somewhere that the A's employ 1,000 people. That is a lot of locals that would lose their jobs.

Amid all of this losing, there are some bright spots. The Fox Theater has given Oakland a top notch Theater that has already drawn in BB King, Jeff Beck and Social Distortion. Uptown is nearing completion and the 10,000 unit urban condo project has created mini communities that are creating their own feel.

These are good stories and drafting Michael Crabtree will create a League-wide buzz about Oakland.

The O-Line is better, even though they looked pretty good at the tail end of last season, the Tight-End position is as strong as it has been since Todd Christensen dominated the AFC, Mcfadden, Fargas and Bush may be the best backfield in the NFL and JaMarcus Russell played his best football in the final three games last season.

What is missing from this team is a go-to, money on the line, hands receiver that can get 6-8 catches a week and go the distance on his own.

That player is "Big Play" Michael Crabtree. In fact I think I'm going to start calling him "Big Play".

I've watched as many highlight reels of him as anybody and I am a believer. He can work the sidelines, end zone and the slot.

This was kind of a rant, but, isn't that what Diaries are?

Cheers!

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I’m all for drafting Michael Crabtree. I’ve posted this elsewhere, but I’ll post it again.

Here’s the top nine on my big board (not my overall rankings, just who I think the Raiders should take if he’s available):

1.) WR — Michael Crabtree — Texas Tech
2.) OLB — Aaron Curry — Wake Forest
3.) DE — Brian Orakpo — Texas
4.) DT — B.J. Raji — Boston College
5.) OT — Jason Smith — Baylor
6.) OT — Eugene Monroe — Virginia
7.) DE — Aaron Maybin — Penn State
8.) WR – Jeremy Maclin — Missouri
9.) OT — Andre Smith — Alabama

The Ultimate Opportunist

by Rated-R Superstar on Mar 29, 2009 5:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That's a VERY Solid 9:

I’d take any one of those players on my team…No doubt.

My draft thoughts are starting to lead more into who will be there at #40and 71.

Will Zack would Fall-it all the way to #71 or is he worth the 40th pick?

Is Patrick Chung a reach at 40?

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 Mar 29, 2009 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Follett would be there at 71st and I don’t think Chung is a reach with the 40th pick. I really wouldn’t be surprised if he goes a few spots before then, actually.

The Ultimate Opportunist

by Rated-R Superstar on Mar 29, 2009 5:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

LB, Safety

I think Chung is a bit of a reach at 40, I think he’s a mid 2nd, early 3rd round pick. Moreover, I’d rather have Chip Vaughn.

I love Follett’s energy, but scouts worry that he’s a liability in coverage and that he’s peaked at Cal. I’d rather get a LB, whether MLB or SLB, who’s best years of football are ahead of him, and I’m not sure that’s the case with Follett. Jasper Brinkley’s still my boy if we take a LB in the draft.

Dream Drafts:
Michael Crabtree, Ron Brace?, Chip Vaughn, Lawrence Sidbury
Brian Orakpo, Brian Robiskie, Jasper Brinkley, DT

by LiveAdam on Mar 29, 2009 6:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brinkley has major upside, and would be a welcome addition in the 3rd or 4th

The more I look at Follett, he may be there in the 4th. I just think that he will be more than a back-up and has the perfect skill set to be a MLB with Morrison and Howard at his flanks.

In a dream draft, we could draft Crabtree (Although Cincy or Cleveland would be DUMB to pass on him), Chung, Jasper and Follett and do MUCH worse.

I am trying to figure out how we can have the best draft POST Crabtree.

If Crabtree is gone, then we need to try and trade down with someone, Philly, who needs a DT like Raji and then stack up in the first through third.

The Top 6 talents in this draft in my opinion are:

Sanchez
Curry
Smith
Raji
Orapko
Crabtree

From all of the mocks that I’ve read, the top 6 are:

Stafford
Curry
Smith
Orapko
Crabtree
Monroe

So, it looks to me as if Monroe OR Raji will be there with the 7th pick.

Monroe would be my choice because I think that he would instantly upgrade the LT spot. Period. Henderson and Barnes could duke it out for the RT/RG spot.

A case could also be made for choosing Raji. B.J. wold allow Kelly to really be a three technique DT and could rotate in with Warren or Sands, although one of them would probably be traded for a 5th rounder, or better, if Raji were the pick.

If Monroe or Raji were the pick, then would go with Brian Robiskie in the 2nd because he is the 2nd best receiver, imo, in this draft.

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 Mar 29, 2009 7:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hit the nail on the head

Deciding whom to draft if Crabtree isn’t available is the real dilemma. In some versions either Orakpo or Raji will be available, and it may be interesting to see if a team like the Eagles want to trade up to make sure the RB they want isn’t off the board. If the choice is Raji or trade down, I might just trade down.

We see eye to eye on Robiskie. He’s polished and is faster than I thought he was. A nice legacy player as well.

The Raiders may decide that LB is less of a need than defensive line or safety, so I won’t be too disappointed if they aren’t able to select Brinkley. They definitely need to take Vaughn if he’s there in the 3rd round though.

Dream Drafts:
Michael Crabtree, Ron Brace?, Chip Vaughn, Lawrence Sidbury
Brian Orakpo, Brian Robiskie, Jasper Brinkley, DT

by LiveAdam on Mar 29, 2009 7:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I totally agree that Crab-Man is the real deal

I just think last year we did the whole BPA thing in the right way. As we needed a TD threat and Dorsey never had me believing in him. But this year our offense has an established identity a serious running team that can run with anyone in the league. I’ve heard so many people say that we need to get J-Russ some help, and I agree but there is another guy on this team that could use a little help. That man is Nnamdi “The Awesome One” we would literally be wasting his talent and value if we were to neglect our Run D in consecutive years for the BPA.

Furthermore, we have a young WR core with talent and ability, we need them to step up and given our running attack I believe they will find success. Granted Crab-Man would be the perceived missing piece of the offense but we really need the defensive help. Our defense had a top 5 pass rush last year, and ended up ranking 13th in sacks, why because we rarely see a third and long our run D has been the no-excuses thorn in the side for this ball club. We have 0 bright spots in this all important aspect of the game. What good is a Pass Defense when teams run it down our throats and make chump RB’s look like stars. We will never be a serious contender until this problem is fixed. People can blame Rob Ryan all they want but Warren is a UT and Sands should be handed his pink slip. Morrison is looking like a chump in the running game because he does not have a serious NT in front of him.

I would be cool with Crab-Man as the pick no question, he is amazing but after Raji we are looking at some pretty weak NT talent in the draft and even more so with FA. Raji has amazing strength, conditioning, and agility. He is a rare NT talent given what he can provide this team from the inside. Essentially he provides both of what Sands and Warren provide respectively and can do so without getting winded early at 335lbs. I think BJ Raji is as rare a NT you can find in any draft, and comparatively trumps Ngata when he was coming out of Oregon. WR’s and RB’s are easy to come across late in the draft, this is not the case for talented Big Men (see Parcells Planet Theory). To take the BPA in Crab-Man just like we did last year with DMC would prevent this team from being a contender in the AFC West as everyone of our opponents literally laughs at our Run D and is the obvious glaring hole and weakest link of this team. Passing O has justifiable excuses, injuries and young players our defensive front 7 have no such excuses to forgive their atrocious attempt at being a respectable front 7.

I will say it all day every day Raji and Robiskie > Crab-Man and Brace

"I need a couple A's for Q's, I'm not an Asshole I'm just a little confused"
-Aesop Rock

by DarthDavis on Mar 29, 2009 8:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm With You Brotha

Raji is one of the different breeds of DT’s I have seen. People don’t give him enough credit for his pass rushing capability. he can plug up the hole, but also penetrate consistently. Yes, academically he is a problem, but behavior was never an issue.

Also, don’t say Ron Brace was taking the double teams because that was not the issue. If anything, Raji was the one getting double teamed.

Police Fucking Hate Me, Trying To Relocate Me To LA, But Like The Raiders, I' ma Bring It Back To The Bay! - Nump

by Rayder K on Mar 29, 2009 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great call:

I have wondered about which 1-2 would be better, and Raji/Robiskie would fill two holes. Then we could add Follett or Brinkley.

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 Mar 29, 2009 9:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow you guys want Crabtree

I love Oakland. I hope you never leave the AFC West

Time is a great teacher... unfortunately it kills all it's pupils.

by 808NaNz808 on Mar 29, 2009 11:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Now that is some really varied and interesting stuff about football… full of information and entertainment as well.. I really liked that football in prom dresses part. The NFL also announced last week that the Raiders will travel to Dallas to face the Cowboys in one of three nationally-televised games on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26.
Rockets tickets

by Rockets tickets on Mar 31, 2009 4:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Crabtree would be my decision

Micheal Crabtree is an extremly talented WR from Texas Tech he is the drafts most talentedplayer other than Aaron Curry from Wake Forest. Al Davis must not i repeat must not take Jeremy Maclin just because of speed we dont need help on special teams. Crabtree is far superior to Maclin.

Micheal Crabtree must be the Raiders Choice.

by GeorgeakaFROSTY on Mar 31, 2009 1:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Not once in 11 years has the #1 or #2 rated player overall

fell outside the top 5, so anybody else that you like or are we just gonna put all our chips in on the far fetched chance that this guy slips that bad.

"I need a couple A's for Q's, I'm not an Asshole I'm just a little confused"
-Aesop Rock

by DarthDavis on Mar 31, 2009 3:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs