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
   

http://www.mockingthedraft.com/story/2008/4/1/142438/7017

"With BOTH Vernon Gholston and Chris Long off the board this is the easiest pick that I can possibly make.  Matt Ryan!  ...Just kidding.

I am taking the back that will make Mike Mayock eat his jockstrap by Week 5, Darren McFadden.  Not ONLY does Mayock have Rashard Mendenhall ranked ahead of McFadden, which is possible (but I wouldn't bet $20 million guaranteed on it), he has McFadden as the #15 player in the draft!!! NUMBER 15!!!

While most see Mendenhall as an every-down back and McFadden as a situational back, the last time I looked, scoring touchdowns is the number one goal of any offense, and Darren McFadden is a threat to score from any offensive position (well, any eligible position) AND special teams. He can line up at tailback or in the slot and can also throw for touchdowns and return kicks.

The Raider offense needs playmakers and there is no greater playmaker in this draft than Darren McFadden.  Even though Justin Fargas ran for over 1,000 yards last year, he doesn't have the break-away speed to go for 6 and I can't recall the last time the Raiders scored a special teams touchdown.  McFadden will be the cure to those two ills.

IF Michael Bush comes back strong, he and D-Mac will be, potentially, the best running back tandem in football.  Some on Silver and Black Pride are calling them "Thunder and Lightning" because of D-Mac's quicks and Bush's bulk. They will be a one two punch that can put any defense on its heels and tire them out.  That will only make it easier for JaMarcus Russell to get the ball downfield to Javon Walker and Zach Miller.

So, with the fourth pick in the draft, the RAIDUZZZZ select Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas - a.k.a. "Razorback Lightning".

Matt Miller, host of this site as well as owner of New Era Scouting, provides his analysis below:

  Another surprising pick, if only because of the glaring needs on the defensive line for Oakland. McFadden is an extremely talented player and by far the best available, but Oakland has Justin Fargas, LaMont Jordan, Michael Bush and Dominic Rhodes on the roster already. Overlooking Glenn Dorsey and Sedrick Ellis with this pick is classic Oakland, all flash and no foundation. The team is strapped with no pass rushing threat oppopsite Derrick Burgess and hoping that the surgically repaired Tommy Kelly can take his $50 million knee inside. This is a pick that can define a franchise. Oakland will need to recover later in the draft, but must do so without a 2nd round pick due to the DeAngelo Hall trade.

    Grade: C :: Darren McFadden Scouting Report - New Era Scouting ::  Matt Miller's Top 5 Prospects Remaining -- 1. DT Glenn Dorsey, 2. QB Matt Ryan, 3. DT Sedrick Ellis, 4. CB Leonis McKelvin, 5. RB Jonathan Stewart"

Both Longs and Gholston were gone.

It's funny how everybody thinks we need a DT...We have Kelly, Warren, Sands and Joseph, but we definitely don't need a RB.

http://www.nfl.com/kickoff/story?id=09000d5d8077fc99&template=with-video&confirm=true

After being snubbed from National TV last year, the Oakland Raiders will be hosting Denver in Week One on ESPN!!!

This would be a GREAT coming out party for D-Mac AND Russell.

I have the over under on Javon Walker's numbers at 10 catches for 120 yards!!!

BRING ON THE DONKEYS!!!!

RRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAIIIIIIDDDDDDEEEERRRRRSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Heck, I may even change the name of this blog to Silver and Black-Fadden Pride!!!

I have resisted the temptation for long enough, BUT, I am back on the Mcfadden Train (Where I was when this whole Draft Craziness started).

Watch him break this run amidst the highlights. It made me scream. Also look at Marcus Monk, my 6th round pick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amlEeXR519E&feature=related

Then there is the Ultimate Weapon Link:

(Take special note of his coach backing up his personality and the last line, "The Nations Most Dynamic Player")

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APEFj8Glx7Q

Rhodes and Fabian will be packaged or traded individually and McFadden will be a RAIDER...Book IT!!!

I'm sitting here on the deck of our timeshare in Solvang, sipping a Pilsner in the 72 degree weather and smiling about all of the teams that I am passionate about.

The OAKLAND Raiders have DOMINATED the NFL off-season to this point (No matter what the Haters Say), the OAKLAND Warriors just broke hearts of 18,000 LA fans (Even "Jack" told "Jax" that he was the better "Jack" last night) and the OAKLAND A's are set to kick off the MLB Season on National TV against the hated Red Sox (Nation Poseurs...They all know that Raider Robb started the first Nation when he called us the Raider Nation 10 years ago).

All is well in the Nation...The EBN (East Bay Nation) is sticking it to the ESPN (Eastern Sports Poseur Nation) and I am feeling the LOVE that is shining down on our little Town that COULD!!!

It is as bright as the sun that is warming my face...And my beer...!!!

I'll leave you with this today:

OOOAAKKLLAANNDD!!!! RRRRRRAAAAIIIDDEEERRSS!!!!

OOOAAAKKKLLAAANNDDD!!! WARRRRRRIIIOORRSS!!!!

OOOAAKKLLAANNDDD AAAAAAAAA''''SSSSSS!!!!

Al Davis and his team of employees have climbed to the top of the NFL Mountain and when asked if they would ever be competitive again SHOUTED, "Hall Yes!!!"

By signing Wilson, Harris, Walker and now Hall, coupled with keeping Fargas, Nnamdi and Kelly the Raiders have gone out and signed Pro Bowlers and potential Pro Bowlers to a young core of talent that will NOW have playmakers and shut down defensive players to lean on.

By adding Gibril Wilson to the secondary mix, they sent a message that Schweigert WILL NO LONGER BE A PLAYER ON THIS TEAM unless he takes a substantial pay cut and just plays special teams. They also used the first signing to replace the largest weakness on the entire team and they didn't stutter or hesitate, they paid the Bay Area native and best safety available in the draft or free agency and moved onto Wide Receiver and LT.

By bringing in Kwame Harris, they said goodbye to good guy Barry Sims and opened up a spot for second year player Mario Henderson to compete for  while making the 6th best rushing team even better with the powerful and agile Harris. He can play LT or RT and is a BEAST in the running game, while he has struggled, to say the least, in the Niner's version passing game. Cable brought him in because of his high football IQ and his dominating run blocking.

When Jerry Porter bolted for Jacksonville (My pick for AFC Champs in 2008) he left a terrible group of receivers, of which he was the supposed #1 guy.

With no true #1 available in this draft and a deep talent pool of "Potential" receivers the Raiders went after the 2nd best receiver on the market, Javon Walker and they gave him #1 money.

Walker has all of the tools that are required to be a #1 receiver. He has great hands and he makes tough catches in traffic and he can, unlike Jerry Porter, battle well for contested tosses. He is exactly what a young JaMarcus Russell needs, a second go to guy on third down (Miller is also an option) as well as a threat to score from anywhere on any given play.

Last season there was NO THREAT that the Raiders would score through the air and the team STILL ranked #6 in the League in Rushing. Imagine how well the team will run with an actual threat to throw the ball under center and catch one deep split wide.

The presence of Warren Sapp, who should have been a pass rushing ONLY player, and the lack of Tommy Kelly really hurt the inside of the Raider's run defense so the team made sure that Kelly would be in Silver and Black for a LONG time by committing Top Line money to him.

Tommy Kelly is as versatile as any DT/DE in the League and if he stays healthy he will make the run d better.

Justin Fargas deserved the money that he got to stay. Fargas is a true Raider and in part time duty he ran for 1,000 yards last season. Any team that wants to be successful over an entire NFL season needs three backs that can start and with Fargas, Rhodes and Bush the Raiders are set at RB until 2009. And that is VERY important on this "Running Team", which the Raider should be to take the pressure off of JaMarcus in his first full season.

Even in adding Drew Carter, slot receiver, and William Joseph the Raiders continued to address needs and then the Bomb dropped yesterday.

With Nnamdi (Arguably the best man on man corner in the NFL) already locked up with the franchise tag, the Raiders made a move that sent "Shock and Awe" through the NFL. By putting together the sign and trade for DeAngelo Hall (Arguably the best bump and run corner in the League) the Raiders have put the League on notice. The Raiders are coming back and their doing it their way.

The lockdown duo of Nnamdi and Hall will allow the team to blitz and stunt more and there will be no QB in the League that wants Derek Burgess breathing down his neck while waves of silver and black piranhas stir in the secondary just waiting to take a pick back to the house.

If you add Michael Huff to the mix as a lockdown safety on the tight end then the Raiders can take your three best receivers out of the game...Completely...With three players while the rest of the team gets after the QB and stuffs the run. That will be SWEET!!!

So, with the money concerns that some raise and the health concerns that others lament, I can offer this, by doing things Al's way,  "We may be going to "Hall" In a Bucket, but at least we're enjoying the ride...Again"

http://www.ajc.com/falcons/content/sports/falcons/stories/2008/03/18/halltradeburst_0319.html

"There is just some tweaking of the language that needs to be done, some minor details," Hall said of contract negotiations. "No deal breakers."

So there you have it. The Raiders, if they draft Gholston or Long may have the best defense in Football next season.

Hall, Huff, Wilson and Nnamdi will be able to keep the offenses from getting off the line, can run anybody down AND are sure tacklers.

I Love being a Raider fan...Al Davis believes in one thing and ONE THING ONLY...WIN NOW BABY!!!

We don't rebuild we reload!!!

Now, let's get Newberry back in here and work the draft to get even better!!!