A Raiders Take on the Kansas City Chiefs’ Draft
Recently, I gave my thoughts on the Oakland Raiders’ draft for their site on MVN. You are not going to believe this, but Raider Nation tore me apart for thinking that Darren McFadden was the wrong pick for their franchise. I asked “Thoughts From the Dark Side” writer Patrick Patterson to contribute his thoughts to what the Kansas City good guys did last weekend. Please feel free to comment on his observations.
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I am not a huge draftnik by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, the next college football game I watch all the way through will be the first. With that out of the way, there is not a lot for me as a Raider fan to like about the Chief’s draft. The Chiefs bolstered their lines in the first round and went from there. My favorite move was getting Jared Allen out of the AFC West, as I was tired of seeing him harass quarterbacks in Silver and Black uniforms.
1a Glenn Dorsey-DT LSU- After sending one of the league’s best defensive linemen to Minnesota, the Chiefs needed reinforcements. While Dorsey plays inside making him not a replacement for Allen in the technical sense, he can be a disruptive force in the middle that will raise the play of the remaining ends. Grabbing Dorsey is a great move for a team that has to face LaDanainian Tomlinson, The Denver Bronco running back factory and Larry–oops… Oh yeah… He became a Chief… He will have to stop his collegiate nemesis Darren McFadden twice a year. (The AFC West is now truly a hellacious running division.) With the Chiefs facing an elite back, a potential elite back, and an elite system, the Dorsey pick was a no brainer.
1b Brandon Albert-OL Virginia-In one of my previous posts for Ryan, I commented on the Chiefs’ offensive line needs since Will Shields and Willie Roaf retired. Replacing two potential Hall of Fame players is no easy task, and there are no guarantees in the draft, but Albert was a very good pick. He is a big athletic lineman that can play either tackle or guard. Considering the state of the Chiefs’ line last season, maybe Herm is hoping that he can play both at the same time. (Just kidding, please put the torches and pitchforks away.) In all seriousness, this is an outstanding pick at a position of dire need.
2 Brandon Flowers-CB Va Tech- Considering that both of the Chiefs’ starting corners last year are soon to be applying for AARP membership, the Chiefs were in need of a DB. Getting one with questionable speed is something that is a foreign concept. He is known for being tough and physical, which should help him handle the bigger possession receivers.
3a Jamaal Charles-RB Texas-A running back? LJ may be getting to the downside of his career, but he is still a dangerous back. Not to mention, Kolby Smith stepped up his game in LJ’s absence. He has breakaway speed, maybe he is on tap for return duties.
3b Brad Cottam-TE Tennessee-Grabbing a young tight end with great measurables is a very good move for the future. Cottam will get a chance to learn from an elite tight end in Tony Gonzalez.
3c DeJuan Morgan- S NCState-This seems like an Al Davis type pick. He has great measurables and is raw, having only been a starter for one year. Maybe Carl Peterson has been learning from your arch-rival.
4 Will Franklin-WR Missouri-I would have thought that the Chiefs would go for a wide out earlier to try and give Brodie Croyle a downfield threat non named Dewayne Bowe. This guy has some size and speed and could eventually emerge as a threat.
5 Brandon Carr-CB Grand Valley State- A defensive back with size and speed who NFL.com says looks more like an athlete than a defensive back. It sounds like Peterson has been watching Al Davis’s moves.
6 Kevin Robinson-WR Utah State- NFL.com says he is one of the top returners. As a Raider fan I am hoping you haven’t found the reincarnation of Tamarick Vannover.
7a Brian Johnson-DE Gardner-Webb- So the Chiefs brought in the lead singer of Ac/Dc, now there is a unique pick. More confusing is waiting until the seventh round to even take a stab at refilling the position where you lost your absolute best player. Oh well.
7b Mike Merritt-TE Central Florida- If a late seventh round pick makes the team, its a surprise. Not expecting anything from this guy.
The Chiefs had a very good opening round attacking severe needs in the trenches. Not saying that these moves will have an immediate impact on the team, but they are solid moves for a rebuilding team. Apparently the brain turst has some faith in Brodie Croyle as they didn’t use one of their top picks on a signal caller. They got him some protection early, but waited until later to give him any kind of targets. It was also odd that there was not a move to replace Jared Allen until the seventh round.
Have fun trying to stop Darren McFadden, and will be by again sometime!
Patrick Patterson covers the Raiders on MVN for Thoughts from the Dark Side.
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36 Responses to “A Raiders Take on the Kansas City Chiefs’ Draft”
May 1st, 2008 at 8:13 am
Pretty good rundown. I hope all the AFC West teams regain prominence, and reclaim the title of best division in the NFL.
The rivalry games are so much better when 3 of us aren’t crap.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:51 am
i enjoyed the comments on the picks, im so tired of these writers of 20 years in penmanship saying no brainer filled a need on each pick.
I would welcome you to come back anytime and give your 2 cents on our situation.
May 1st, 2008 at 11:47 am
Dear Raider Nation -
This is how a classy, well-informed fan base reacts when another writer comments on your team. Notice the correct grammar and spelling, too.
Thanks for your comments, readers. They are appreciated.
RB
May 1st, 2008 at 2:44 pm
nice job patrick…you slew me with this one “Considering the state of the Chiefs’ line last season, maybe Herm is hoping that he can play both at the same time.”…hilarious.
May 1st, 2008 at 3:27 pm
I gotta say, when I sent in a comment on the KC guy’s analysis, that when I said the Chiefs were further along, I meant that they were worse off than we were. That’s why they had a good draft in comparison. So the guy that commented on that was right. I’ll have to watch what I write once in awhile. What else can you do but reach when you get into the later rounds?
May 1st, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Hey Ryan, notice the quantity of comments. This is typical of a small and unenthusiastic fan base. However, I do agree with you regarding Darren McFadden.
P.S. I hope my spelling and Grammer was correct.
May 1st, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Ooops, I made spelling mistakes, i must bee ai total reatrded rAYDor fan.
May 1st, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I am a Raider fan and if any KC fans are even reading this well I will give your team some credit. It was a good draft for you guys and its how it should be done, stockpile picks and spread out the money.
But this draft probably wont help you avoid last place this year. Down with Al Davis. He has lost it.
May 1st, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Darkside,
You spelled grammar wrong, and you hope your spelling and grammar WERE correct.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:23 pm
You guys did have a good draft, but none of that matters because you got croyle at qb. As long as he’s there you guys are going nowhere. Theres more Raider fans in these comments than Chiefs fans. Great fans you got in KC
May 1st, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Run DMC,
Actually there are 5 posts by KC fans and 4 by Raiders individual fans (and that includes your post). If we take out Ryan Brown’s comment (who posted this piece on behalf of the Raider fan author), it is 4 to 4 including your post. The ratio would be even.
So, 5 is more than 4; therefore, more KC fans than Raiders fans. If I spot you Ryan Brown, it would be 4 to 4, still not more Raiders fans.
Since your assumption was made before you actually posted, I would have to assume it was 5 Chiefs fans to 3 Raiders fans at the point you came to your conclusion. Again, if we generously spot you Ryan Brown’s post, it would still be 4 to 3 KC fans. 4 is more than 3. 5 is more than 4 is more than 3.
It’s okay though, if you need to ignore basic mathematical principles in order to assuage your pain of the number of losses you have from our Chiefs, we understand. It would make us ignore basic fundamental principles too.
The larger question is: Which is more embarrassing; the win/loss to the Chiefs, or your need to compensate by creating your own math?
May 1st, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Good article Patrick.
Ryan, I believe that you are being pretty unfair to Raider fan. Your posts over at the Darkside have some comments that are pretty inflammatory towards Raiders fans. Look at how Patrick wrote his post. Nowhere does he make derogatory comments towards Chief fans. If you want to cut down on the inflammatory fan comments that you get, you may want to practice what you preach.
KCFAN - Hey! Look at that! No spelling errors!
DThomasReigns - You pretty much lost me by your third paragraph, but if you count Ryan and Patrick and this post, I would say that it’s 6 Chiefs fans and 5 Raiders fans. Since 6 is more than 5, I suppose Chiefs fans win. How’s that math? BTW - I’m not counting double-posts.
Good luck Chiefs! I agree that it’s much more fun watching a Chiefs vs Raiders game when both teams are good.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Here’s a Chiefs fan post:
Faders Suck!
(Had to keep it even)
May 1st, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Good point, Rob. No matter what kind of year both the teams are having it seems like the games are always a nail-biter!
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:27 am
Here’s another Raider Fan’s post. Well, I wrote the original article, so I guess that would be double posting.
The Chiefs are my most hated team, but I have to admit that you guys had what appears to be a good draft. I have to say that I hope they are all busts of epic proportions, but thats not the point.
I have hated the Chiefs since my dad took me to a game in 81 where you guys beat us. The Marty years only added to it…
One of these seasons, I am going to catch a Raider game in Arrowhead.
PVChiefsFan- I am glad you enjoyed my piece. I tried to be fair, and throw some humor in there.
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:22 am
Yea you need to watch a game at arrowhead someday I think you would enjoy it.
I hear a lot of people sayin that the chiefs are picked to finish last im really not sure about this, Miami barely squeaked out a single win last season had a good draft rated below ours how are they goin to out do us this commin season?
Yea so we cut a ton of people they might as well have been gone anyway, its not like free agents and unsigned peeps we bring in can’t outperform those whom where cut.
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 pm
RunDMC -
your new QB weighs three times more than ours and WE are the ones not going anywhere?
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Hey KC Fan, have you heard of sarcasm.
May 3rd, 2008 at 8:04 am
[…] Chiefs draft… from a different perspective. Thoughts on the Dark Side gives Chiefs fans the view of our draft class in the minds of Raider Nation, and while they’re pretty high on the Raiders new 3rd string RB […]
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:15 am
QB, QB, QB, QB!!!!!
This is why the Jolly Roger will be flying at Arrowhead for years to come. Brody Croyle is no more an NFL caliber quarterback than Brody Dalle (google it).
Flowers and Dorsey will be the test of this draft- if they become studs, it was a good draft. If not, then it wasn’t. Just like us and McFadden.
The Chefs (no typo)still have holes to fill, enough holes that they will be the bottom of the AFC West once again. Drafts like these pay dividends, but it takes a couple of years.
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:41 pm
here’s some more math chiefs fans… 3 is more than 1. . . as in our three super bowl championships to your 1…
May 3rd, 2008 at 3:13 pm
“The Chefs (no typo)still have holes to fill, enough holes that they will be the bottom of the AFC West once again. Drafts like these pay dividends, but it takes a couple of years.”
Spokane you say that like the chiefs have been in last for a long time, im pretty sure that you guys drafted in front of us which means that you lost to someone that we beat, which gives us the tie breaker for third place, thus putting the raiders in last, for god knows how long but anyway all that money you guys are spending is gonna come back and bite you where it hurts, Javon walkere doesn’t deserve the money he got niether does Tommy KElley and your cap room is going to be affected by it, the chiefs are buildinga team the right way
May 3rd, 2008 at 3:14 pm
touche Raider_in_KC but don’t live in the past too long
May 4th, 2008 at 7:57 am
You forgot Barry Richardson - all 6′7″ 320lbs of him. I understand though, typical raider mistake - oh, **** I forgot about that guy!!!
May 4th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
In response to: PVChiefsfan says:
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 pm
RunDMC -
your new QB weighs three times more than ours and WE are the ones not going anywhere?
Russell weighs 3 times more than Croyle but that’s all solid and he’s in great shape. That would be a good thing to go along with his good mobility as well as the cannon arm. I can see why you feel the need to question even if you thought it was retorical.
I see flash backs of Leonard Marshall destroying Montana’s punter like frame ala Croyle in your future. You should have drafted all offensive linemen to protect that twerp or a QB that won’t get punished and hurt. I know Huard is happy…
May 5th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Go ahead and add my post to the Raider fan comments total.
PVChiefsfan: News of JRocks weight problem has been greatly exagerrated (reference to a quote that you likely have no knowledge of). Or rather is not true at all. JaMarcus is a huge dude. And that is not flab. So keep thinking that is a bad thing while the DE your team doesn’t have tries to bring him down unsuccessfully. Really is the Raiders QB weight all you’ve got? weak.
May 6th, 2008 at 5:55 am
For the record I am a Chief fan. This post cracks me up. On paper we had a great draft, but paper dont mean anything. I was born a rater hater, as most raiders were born to be a chief killer or whatever you call it there. Fact is if we dont win but 2 games this year. I hope its against the Raiders. I love revielry its what makes football great. Plus the passion we all have for our favorite teams win or lose. Good luck this years you hated raders.
cal.
May 6th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
“The Chefs (no typo)still have holes to fill, enough holes that they will be the bottom of the AFC West once again.”
Again?The last time the Chiefs were at the bottom of the AFC West was in 2002 (and the Raiders won it) since then, who has been at the bottom of the division 5 years in a row? Not the Chargers…not the Broncos…but the…
May 6th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Add one more to the Raider side…
PVChief- well during that time the Raiders have been at the bottom, how many times did the Chiefs win the Super Bowl? Does it really matter? Times have changed and the future of the Raiders looks great. Can’t wait to watch Dorsey miss yet another tackle against DMac! I can here Greg Papa now….TOUCHDOWN>>>>>>>RRRRAAAAIIIDDDEEERRRSSS!!
May 7th, 2008 at 5:49 am
“Times have changed and the future of the Raiders looks great.” The Raiders fans have been saying that before every season for the last 5 years…excuse me if I remain skeptical…at least Chiefs fans know and admit when our team is in the toilet.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:47 am
PVChiefsfan,
Raider Nation knows and admits when we are in the toilet. The difference between us is we always have faith. All this trash talk back and forth goes back to one main thing. Who has been at the top of our division the last couple years, The Chargers, and where have they been watching the Super Bowl from, there homes just like the you and us. Ultimately, if you didn’t go to the show and win the other 31 teams all say, “There’s always next year.” So keep talking trash about how we are dillusional. We don’t care, it shows our love for our team.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
“Raider Nation knows and admits when we are in the toilet.” Perhaps you do, but many of your co-fans are not that introspective. and I always have faith…it’s just tempered by reality.
May 10th, 2008 at 12:37 am
i probably won’t be a whole lot of touchdown kans-ass shity ha!
May 10th, 2008 at 12:39 am
we probably won’t be hearing a whole lot of “touchdown kans-ass shity”
May 12th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
One more Raider Fan post. The only good thing I’ve got to say about KC is at their home games everyone wears red. Watching this on tv looks real cool, kinda like a alabama game. I wish the Raiders would take one home game and tell all the fans to wear black only. We could call it Black Sunday.
May 14th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Why do people keep assuming that Jamaal Charles might be headed for return duty? He hasn’t returned a single kickoff or punt since high school, if ever. Check the stats on the UT website.
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