1. Darren McFadden
   
2. Trevor Laws
   
3. Dexter Jackson

IF the Raiders end up with those three players and can pick up Marcus Monk and/or Thomas Williams along the way this team will compete for the AFC West Championship THIS year.

Here we are Nation. We are sitting on the doorstep of greatness.

"Kid" Kiffin has popped his cherry and Lord Al has spent the dough to bring the "GREATNESS" back to our Town by the Bay.

J-Russ will be leading a running offense and mixing up the calls when the opposing defense begins to leak in the third quarter.

Bush, Fargas and Rhodes will be STORMING behind O'Neal and Griffith as we plow through the opposing defense.

Last year is in the rear view mirror and the FUTURE is BRIGHT...I cannot wait for this Saturday...5 new Raiders (in the least) will be crowned and all of the draft talk will be dead. (I've written about the draft for 4 months and cannot wait to write about the team that is taking shape ON THE FIELD)

With Steve McNair retiring, the Baltimore Ravens may be "Ravenous" in their pursuit of Matt Ryan.

If he is taken in the Top 3, by either Atlanta or Miami, then the point is mute, but, there are many mock drafts that have both Longs AND Dorsey going in the top 3.

From where the Raiders sit, number 4 overall, they may be sitting in the catbird's seat with BOTH Matt Ryan AND Darren McFadden available.

It makes sense that the Raiders have been marching wide-outs Devin Thomas and Mario Manningham through town because it is possible that Baltimore may deal the number 8 pick (Sedrick Ellis) and a second #39 (Manningham) in order to land their franchise QB.

In fact, the Ravens may even have to add in another couple of picks to move up 4 spots.

This "Raven" wrinkle is another possibility along with Dallas trading us their two first rounders and their second this year AND next for Fabian Washington and the #4 pick in the hopes of landing McFadden.

Of course IF they are BOTH bidding against each other, then the value of the #4 pick may be as high as the #4 pick was to Mike Ditka when he traded his entire draft for Ricky Williams.

I Love Vernon Gholston and Darren McFadden and think that they will be difference makers on whatever teams they goes to, but the kind of value that the Raiders can get from having the leverage of Ryan and McFadden available at #4 will go a lot further than adding one player.

Official NFL Schedule 2008

Monday, September 8      7:15   Denver Broncos     ESPN

Sunday, September 14      10:00 @ Kansas City Chiefs CBS

Sunday, September 21      10:00 @ Buffalo Bills CBS

Sunday, September 28      1:05  San Diego Chargers CBS

Sunday, October 5     BYE WEEK

Sunday, October 12     10:00 @ New Orleans Saints CBS

Sunday, October 19     1:15     New York Jets CBS

Sunday, October 26     10:00     @ Baltimore Ravens CBS

Sunday, November 2     1:15     Atlanta Falcons     FOX

Sunday, November 9     1:05     Carolina Panthers     FOX

Sunday, November 16     10:00     @ Miami Dolphins     CBS

Sunday, November 23     1:05     @ Denver Broncos     CBS

Sunday, November 30     1:15      Kansas City Chiefs     CBS

Thursday, December 4     5:15     @ San Diego Chargers NFLN

Sunday, December 14     1:15      New England Patriots CBS

Sunday, December 21     1:05     Houston Texans     CBS

Sunday, December 28     10:00     @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers CBS

There can be no better Opening Day for a Raider Nation than hosting the Denver Broncos on Monday Night. Period.

It will be the last game played in Week One and every eye will be glued to the Silver and Black and our loyal Nation. Fantasy Numbers, parlays and office pools will keep the fans across the "Other" Nation tuned in while Al unveils his 2008 squad.

Thank You Schedule makers.

Getting Buffalo in week 3 is also a blessing because I would hate to go in there in December and try to run our offense or stop theirs.

Once again, Thank You Schedule Makers.

The best part about this schedule is that we will have home games for nearly a month straight!!!

From October 19th to November 9th we will get the Jets, Panthers and Falcons IN OAKLAND and play only one road game, in Baltimore.

This is the gelling point. A 3-1 or 4-0 run through this part of the schedule will set the season on FIRE with 7 games left and will build the momentum that the team will need to knock off three tough road teams San Diego, Denver and Tampa and also deal with New England in OAKLAND on December 14th.

How does this schedule sit with the Rest Of You, Raider Nation?

One of the contributors at NinersNation saw Long with Ryan at the Giants Game last night.

"I went to the Giants game last night

and Chris Long was there with Rob Ryan, defensive coordinator for the Raiders. Considering reports on ESPN that the Dolphins are negotiating a contract with JAKE Long, I thought this was interesting.

by Hitchcock on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:17:26 PM EDT"

http://ninersnation.com/story/2008/4/10/141649/108#commenttop

I don't think that the Rams can pass on either Dorsey, Gholston or Jake Long...Maybe Chris Long will be in Silver and Black...Well, One can dream can't they!?!?!

Chris Long would be the cure for what ails this franchise most. Long would give this team an instant identity...oh yeah, and a pass rush to go along with our newly revamped passing defense.

I know that there is not one person who bleeds silver and black who would pass on Howie's son if he fell into their laps on April 26th.

The words you never hear surrounding Chris Long, Work-out Warrior (Scout terminology for potential steroid abuser), Me First (He has been a model teammate by all he's played with) and Potential (Scout term for lazy, dumb or inexperienced).

I am a HUGE believer in DNA and drafting Hall of Famer's kids. There is just something about being raised around the NFL culture and learning from a HOF dad that gives them an advantage, not to mention the apple doesn't always fall far from the DNA tree.

What do you think Raider Nation? Would you take Howie's Kid over the Arkansas Flash?

I chose to make this it's own discussion because Fabian's value is pretty high when you look at his contract, ability and experience in a man scheme.

I would say that McKelvin and Cromartie are at the top of my list of available corners, but are they worth 10 million in up front guarantees?

Washington's contract only calls for $2.265 million for the next two years and he is just as fast as both of them and has more experience.

So, if he isn't worth McKelvin or Cromartie, just how far would Washington fall?

Is he better than Aqib Talib or Antoine Cason? How about Mike Jenkins?

All five of these players are projected to go in the first round and will get paid more over the next two years than Washington and none of them has his experience.

Washington's value would seem to be highest to a team like Dallas who could use someone that can start this year and prevent the big play that rookies usually give up.

That being said, would Dallas trade their second first round pick to the Raiders for Fabian?

The Raiders have already floated that they have a team offering a second round pick for Fabian.

That could mean that his value starts at a Top 63 pick.

Maybe JaMaal Charles, Trevor Laws or Mario Mannnigham will be around for a second round pick or Devin Thomas is there for a first? Who knows?

At this point, I'd trade him for Dexter Jackson and I do know that I would take Fabian in the Top 50 picks for his contract, ability and experience.

I mean, would you rather give Brandon Flowers 5 million or pay Fabian 2.2?

Now is the time Raider Nation. Let's look at all of the angles for the Raiders in the upcoming draft. I nearly HATE doing this for fear that this report gets into the wrong hands and raises the value of any of these players... ;)

The MOST important factor, who will be chosen 4th overall has been talked about ad nauseum.

One thing that has broken is the fact that Gholston or Jake Long may already be off the market when we choose and either Chris Long, Glen Dorsey or Darren McFadden will be there at #4.

I'll say that IF Chris Long is there then he WILL be a RAIDER.

Dorsey is the best Defensive Line fit, next to Chris Long.

Dorsey would allow Kelly to go back to end on rushing downs and rotate into the middle on passing downs.

McFadden has been the most discussed, and I can honestly say that IF he is picked, there would be very few of us that were not excited about having a "True" six point machine.

The players that I want to get into are the players who will be traded and the players that can be picked up as UFA or late round draft picks.

The fourth and fifth rounds are usually great rounds to draft offensive and defensive linemen.

One player that I had my eye on, Steve Justice - C - Wake Forrest, has moved up from the 6th or 7th Round to the 2nd or 3rd on most boards.

Another that I've had my eye on Ahtyba Rubin, http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/profile.php?pyid=73491, may still be there in the 4th Round.

If what we need is cheap talent on the D-Line, then Rubin fits that need.

From what I've seen of Rubin, he has the ability to drive the best offensive lineman backwards. I know that we can use that push on 3rd and short and 4th and goal.

Lavelle Hawkins, Eddie Royal and Dexter Jackson are all intriguing names that started in the 4th-6th Round projections and may now be heading as high as the 2nd and 3rd Round.

My real hope for the 4th Round is that LaVelle Hawkins, Dexter Jackson or Eddie Royal are still around for the Raider pick.

Any one of those four receivers would give us a punt returner and another explosive weapon for JaMarcus Russell.

All three of these players have game speed that is as good or better than anyone else in this draft.

It is possible that any one of our expendable players can get us a high enough pick to land any of those three, should they rate out higher that the Top of the 4th Round.

I've continued this topic in the thread above.

Cheers

I had my first sit down interview with Lane Kiffin last night, of course it was after the Raiders Lost 7-2 to the Denver Broncos to open the season in a game that went from a throwback high school stadium to a swimming pool.

In my sit down there were some things of interest:

1) When I mentioned having McFadden in the same backfield as JaMarcus Russell he turned giddy and his eyes turned shades of silver and black.

Meaning: All of you McFadden fans can go ahead and start buying your McFadden Raider jerseys NOW.

2) When I mentioned him drafting Vernon Gholston he said that "The Ghost" didn't fit their system.

Meaning: We'll take Dorsey, Ellis or Long IF we go defense.

3) When I asked him about having the honor of working with Al Davis he said that it was a very challenging situation, BUT, he still had the silver and black gleam in his eye.

Meaning: The Dark Lord is working his young apprentice into shape and Bud Light WILL be giving me a Club Seat this year!!!

4) When I mentioned that Javon Walker would have his revenge on Denver in Week One, he said that the situation was much deeper than was released to the press.

Meaning: Walker hates the Donkeys and his hate runs DEEP. he will torch them in Week One. Fantasy Football players can go ahead and start him in the first week.

There were also some other interesting things that stood out:

I spent the dream going from player, in full pads, interviewer,in a lounge scene, to assistant QB Coach, JaMarcus is pretty tough to coach!!!

D-Hall nearly took one to the house on a punt return. The punt oddly came on a first and ten drop kick by the Mules.

The offense had a tough time moving the ball in the water...Imagine that.

And for the most part the team didn't like playing the football version of water polo.

All in all it was a pretty odd dream, but then again I think that I am in the majority in that I have recurring dreams like these. How about you?

This is a Live interview that I did with a tailgater in the Oakland Coliseum Parking Lot. This new technology will take blogging to a new level. I LOVE IT!!!

why overpay for a guy you wont use often...maybe 15 times rushing at the most. and then use him at kr or pr. come on use a proven guy in DHALL. finish building the great defense or O-line...get off mcfadden's nuts...or if you want to stay on them get off his wobbly bandwagon. heres a great "plan" for draft day.

1. trade down
   
2. trade fabian
   
3. trade lamont
   
4. dont take mcfadden