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Thoughts from the Dark Side
The Raider Nation delivers another NFL Mock Draft: Thoughts from a Reader’s Side
I am loving the response that we are getting with this mocking the draft project here at Thoughts from the Dark Side. If you are going to participate, please have your submissions in to me no later than Monday, as we are going to be creating a master list of all the Mock drafts submitted so we can see whose ideas were closest. Today’s entry is from our trusty reader OakFoSho, who is now an MVN writer for the San Jose Sharks site. (Anyone care to guess who he has the Oakland Raiders picking? One clue, its not Matt Ryan.)
OakFoSho’s Mandate is this Mock Draft
by OakFoSho
Special to Thoughts from the Dark Side
Disclaimer: I am not an expert and fully expect this to be destroyed on Draft Day. I reserve the right to change this until draft day. If there are any trades, this gets tossed out the window. (Thus, toss it right out that window right now!) Pick #4 is all I really care about, and if Run DMC is not taken at #4, I will have a heart attack! (and cry!) Now on to the Cataclysm that is my draft…
1. Miami Dolphins: Jake Long, OT, Michigan
Baring a trade, this appears to be the least expensive choice for the Tuna, while still a major need.
2. St. Louis Rams: Chris Long, DE, Virginia
Should go at #1, but the Tuna is looking for someone on the cheap.
3. Atlanta Falcons: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
Matt Ryan is SLIPPIN!! As long as Dorsey’s leg continues to check out, he will be the pick if still on the board.
4. Oakland Raiders, Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
Al’s Mandate is McFadden!! Raider Nation, Prepare for Glory!! Nuff Said….
5. Kansas City Chiefs: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
Chefs are HURTING on the OL. If they don’t take an OT at this pick (baring a trade) I will be shocked!
6. New York Jets: Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio St.
Perfect for the Mangina’s defense, and should go no higher REGARDLESS of the prior picks. Overrated combine all star, but 6 seems about right.
7. New England Patriots: Leodis McKelvin, CB, Kansas
Unless the Pats trade, they need CBs. I’m just taking a shot that it will be Leodis, but it could be one of about 3 other CBs as well. It’s all about system fit.
8. Baltimore Ravens: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
All these years after the Super Bowl, they should have just stuck with Dilfer. The Ravens finally get their Franchise QB and begin the rebuilding process that is desperately needed on an aging team.
9. Cincinnati Bengals: Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
This is the player the Bengals have been coveting, and if he falls to them it’s a no brainer. I could also see a trade with the Pats or the Chiefs, but we aren’t playing that game.
10. New Orleans Saints: Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas
Another team desperate to get CB help, and again, it could be any of a number of players as the top 4-5 CBs are fairly evenly rated, so this is just a guess. Again, it’s all about system fit.
11. Buffalo Bills: Dominique Rodgers-Cromarti, CB, Troy
I could also see the Bills taking a WR as it is the most major need, but at #11, Any WR would be a serious stretch. I could see a trade down if they are determined, or a trade up for DT help, but if at #11, CB it is.
12. Denver Broncos: Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh
The Donkeys need help to stop the run, but at #12, the great DL talent will be gone. Thus they address the OT position with the mobile Otah. If they trade up, again expect it to be for DL help.
13. Carolina Panthers: Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
If the Panthers were at 12, they would still take Williams as he is a better system fit than Otah. Many feel that DE is a great need, but at #13 they are straight out of luck, unless they reach a bit. Still OT is a huge need and they still have Peppers and Rucker, (and Brayton. Laughing!!)
14. Chicago Bears: Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
The Bears need help in several positions, but Benson isn’t cutting it. This guy is a beast, and if you believe Mayock, then this is a steal at #14.
15. Detroit Lions: Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
They let Kalimba go and are in desperate need. Many have teams reaching for Harvey closer to 10, but I think he falls to 15, and the Lions fill a major need. They could also get jumpy and trade up, but again, we aren’t playing that game.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
Got to have more in the D Backfield to help out Rolle. At this point, you know my take on CBs in this draft. Jenkins is the top CB left on the board, but the CB order is very unpredictable at this point. Regardless CB should be the choice for the Cards baring a trade.
17. Minnesota Vikings: Keith Rivers, OLB, USC
None of the players that the Vikes were hoping for are here. No quality DE, CB, or OT. (though I could see them reaching for Sam Baker, OT, USC) Either way, it’s a Trojan draft for Minnesota as they take Rivers who has slid down the board.
18. Houston Texans: Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
OK, we really aren’t playing the trading game, but if the Texans can’t fill their CB need at #18, they are screwed!! Look for a trade, unless they get lucky with one of the top 4 CBs falling to #18.
19. Philadelphia Eagles: Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan St.
The Eagles will shock some people here that are expecting an OLB or S pick, and because the Eagles almost never draft WR in the first round. The Eagles should trade up for Rivers if he falls to the Vikes, and this would allow the Vikes to get a bit more value in positions of real need. Nevertheless, this begins the run on WRs, just about where it should begin value wise.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal
The Bucs just missed on the player they really wanted in Devin Thomas, but as Steve Smith has shown us, speedy, shifty, WRs can be very successful in a west coast look. Merry Christmas Chucky, as your return problems are over too!!
21. Washington Redskins: Limas Sweed, WR, Texas
The WR run takes its toll on the Skins, as they are sure that Thomas or Jackson will get to them, but it’s not meant to be. If I were in Charge then Sweed it is, but as much as I like the guy, 21 seems a bit high. The Skins could very well shock the world as some are predicting Merling, DE, Clemson.
22. Dallas Cowboys: Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
Money Bags Jones gets his wish after all, a Hog RB. Congrats, and teamed with Barber, look the hell out!! This could be the best tandem backfield short of the “Three Headed Monster” (Let me patent this phrase ahead of time with regards to the Raiders) now in Oakland. (Run DMC, Fargas, Bush, Oh My!!)
23. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina
Could be a WR, just not in my Mock as only Kelly and Hardy are left and are real big reaches at 23. Balmer is a perfect fit, as he is versatile and will be used in great ways in Steel Town. The Jags, Titans, and the Jets (early round 2) are pissed they did not trade up at this point to take Balmer.
24. Tennessee Titans: James Hardy, WR, Indiana
The Titans just missed on Balmer, so they will take the scraps from the WR heap. Hardy is not a bad haul, as Trojan Killer needs weapons to spread the ball around.
25. Seattle Seahawks: Fred Davis, TE, USC
Gotta have him. This is the best TE in the draft and is highly skilled in the passing game. This will aid the Seahawks while their man Branch recovers from knee problems. Come On Seattle!!
26. Jacksonville Jaguars: Calais Campbell, DE, Miami
The Jags missed on Balmer, so they take the next best thing in Campbell. This is a bit of a reach, but a reasonable one considering need.
27. San Diego Chargers: Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
This just makes sense because of need, but it’s a bit of a reach. The Chargers have some Steroid issues to work out at MLB and Dan Connor could help them out, though he is a bit of a reach.
28. Dallas Cowboys: Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
The Cowboys need a WR in round one, and even in my Mock, at least Kelly survives for them to take, or slightly reach for, at #28.
29. San Francisco 49ers: Jerrod Mayo, LB, Tennessee
The Whiners just miss on Cherilus, and their probable 2nd choice of Kelly. At this point, the Whiners look to fill another need at OLB, and Mayo is the choice. Patrick and Jerrod could become the West Bay’s version of The Law Offices of Howard and Morrison.
30. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech
Wait, but wasn’t the run on corners mid round? Yes, yes, and Flowers is good but not as good as the top 4. The Packers still reach here, and I think the pick may be Phillips, S, Florida, but this guy is a decent, not great, fit in the Packs system.
31. New England Patriots: Zilch, nada, nyet….forfeited due to CHEATING BASTARDS!!!
32. New York Giants: Kenny Phillips, S, Miami
This is a no brainer if the top safety (in a weak safety class) falls to #32 (technically #31, but I wanted to rail the Cheaters), as the old Giants S is now a member of The Nation.
Whew!! The End!! Take Your Shots!! Remember, The only pick that really matters to me is #4……
Al’s Mandate is McFadden!!
OakFoSho writes for the Cold Shoulder, the MVN home of the San Jose Sharks, which is a brand new addition to MVN.com. Lets give our friend some support. If you would like to contribute a mock draft to our mocking the draft project, please email it to me at mvnraider at yahoo.com.
Our Mocks are being tracked by hailredskins.com.
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30 Responses to “The Raider Nation delivers another NFL Mock Draft: Thoughts from a Reader’s Side”
April 17th, 2008 at 1:48 am
PSSSST!!! Sharks Kick Ass!!! Pass it on…….
OakFoSho
April 17th, 2008 at 1:49 am
I always respect the guys who make a mock…So respect man, but i have some problems with your mock…
At 4:i don’t want DMC…trust me Michael Bush will have a much better season(and carrier) then McFumbler…
At 5:if Matt Ryan falls to them i think they will get him…
At 8:Ravens don’t need a QB…McNair or Troy can handle it
At 10:Aqib Talib is a huge reach there…all the other db you have in the first round are better then him…
At 12:denver uses smaller OTs so c.Williams is their guy…
At 14:I really like the guy and the pick but who the hell will block for him???
At 17:the Vikings main need is DE…
At 23:The Steelers main need is a RT so they will select Gosder Cherlius…if D line they need DE not DT…and Balmer is not a 3-4 Dline man anyway…
After this you can give Balmer to the Chargers at 27…
At 29:the 49ers could use this lb tandem a lot, but i think DT is a bigger need there…
At 31\32:the Giants need big help in their secondary and in their LB corp…and i think Dan Connor is better than Kenny so i would pick DC…
April 17th, 2008 at 2:03 am
Rolni,
As far as CBs are concerned, I view them 1-4 as good NFL corners. However, the order in which they are taken will largely depend on scheme. The guy with the most speed, off the ball skill, or man skill will not necessarily be taken first, as the teams looking for CBs look at very specific aspects of CB play to determine who will best fit their schemes.
As a result, I find it difficult to rate the top 4 CBs against one another, and thus the order is irrelevant. The point I was trying to make is that there are some teams that have to take a CB in my mind (baring a trade). Who that CB is, I have no freaking clue, cause I don;t know the specifics of what each team values in their CBs.
For example, the Hooded Cheater is very specific about the corners he takes, and I can;t dream of getting in his head to try and figure out what the hell he is looking for. (Maybe the ability to run a camera?) In the end which corner teams will take is arbitrary to my thinking.
OakFoSho
April 17th, 2008 at 4:14 am
Prepare for Glory? Nice there 300 Leonidas
How about This IS SPARTA! and Kick Shanarat in the chest knocking him down the hole : )
J. Stewart is hands down the best back in the draft!
April 17th, 2008 at 5:18 am
Per: YarBarker
“My trip to the Raiders”
submitted by DarrenMcFadden on April 16, 2008
I have been making a lot of trips to the NFL teams the last two weeks and wanted to catch the Yard up with my visits.
I had a great visit with the Raiders last week. It was my first trip and I had a great time. I got in Monday night and went to dinner with the offensive coordinator, Greg Knapp, and the running backs coach, Tom Rathman. Coach Rathman picked me up the next morning for breakfast. He gave me a tour of the facility and then we watched some film. We watched two of my games - one against Alabama and the Arkansas-LSU game. Coach Rathman seemed to like what he was watching. He said he likes tough running backs. In the LSU game we ran a dash right, a sprint out pass to the right. When the defensive end came charging in I hit him real good and knocked him backwards. Coach Rathman liked that play a whole lot. He is a coach I would love to play for. He is the type of coach who can take me to the next level and I’m a player who is looking and willing to work to get to that next level. I think we’d be a great combination.
I also got a chance to meet Al Davis. I was really excited about that. I’m just a guy from little ol’ Arkansas meeting a legend like him. That was great. He had a lot of energy and he knows so much about the game and all the players in the draft. We spent about 10 minutes together and I enjoyed it very much.
I’ll fill you in on my New England trip next.
Darren
April 17th, 2008 at 6:44 am
DMC had 10 minutes with Al…it doesn’t show me that Al is in love with him…
Spencer Mills,
I know that CBs are different and the scheme is very important when a team drafts…and i know that is hard to tell who is the best…between Cromartie,Jenkins,Flowers i couldn’t choose,but i think Talib is after these players thats why i think he won’t be the #1 cb in the draft…
April 17th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Hey FoSho,
Nice job, you know I don’t agree with all the picks. I still like the mock in general. I think the site needs to keep all the mocks and give a award to the reader whos mock is the closest or most picks right.
April 17th, 2008 at 7:25 am
Bill, that’s a great idea. We are going to keep all of the mocks and get those posted as well so EVERYONE can mock, the mockers. Did I say that right?
FoSho, great mock! I guess Al’s mandate really is McFadden!?!?
April 17th, 2008 at 8:46 am
No Rob it isn’t.
Oh and anyone who puts “NUFF SAID!” at the end of a post simply doesn’t have anything else to back up his reasoning. And “Spence” nice cop out with “the only pick that really matters is #4″. You seem to use picks 1-3 as part of your reasoning behind the Raiders getting Dmac so apparantly they do matter. And if all you cared about was the #4 pick then you should have stopped there. And it is spelled “barring” as in “barring a trade”. “baring” sounds like the trades are exibiting indecent exposure. Since you are a Sharks writer now (lmao) you should know things like that. You’re welcome.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:22 am
I think the first three picks will definately be Long, Long and Dorsey, except I’m thinking Miami get’s Chris and Rams get Jake. #4 I think we’re getting Ellis. Kiffin and Al love SC guys and Ryan would love Ellis as well. I think Al leans toward Gholston but ends up being convinced our team needs a run stopper more than it needs a pass rusher and Kelly will end up playing lots of end instead of full time Tackle as once expected. I also think Chiefs go Clady and Jets go Gholston.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Even if the first 3 picks play out like you predict, there is no way Al is taking Mcfadden. That pick does not make sense. Fargas and Bush with Rhodes for depth is one of the better backfields in the NFL especially with are zone blocking scheme. We need d-line to stuff the run and rush the passer so we can keep opposing offenses from chewing clock on our defense and force them to pass against our secondary so we can create more turnovers and give our offense more chances to score.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Hey “Spence” let go of your man crush D. McFadden. The Raiders will not draft him, we need a defensive line help and furthermore we can’t have a RB in the backfield that fumbles especially with this young offense.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Adrian is right! Why does Spence have such a huge crush on Mcfadden. I am just glad he isnt in Als shoes b/c I think he would pick Mcfadden over everybody in this draft!
April 17th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Why do you and the media really feel that Dmac will be a Raider. I agree with slvrnblck478. Look the Raiders rank 6th in the NFL in rushing without Bush last year. Therefore, this year with all four backs this will lead them only to improve. And if you compare the college stats to Bush in college in fact he is better when healthy then McFadden. Michael Bush stats show it he ran for 1,143 yards and an amazing 23 touchdowns, while catching 21 balls for 253 yards and another touchdown… averaging 5.7 yards per carry as junior… Al Davis likes Michael Bush so watch out he might turn out to be a very exciting back to watch.
Also people seem to forget McFadden is not the fastest RB in the draft nor the strongest. Did you know that Justin Fargus in 2003 in combine from S. California bench more in fact in the combine and ran about the same speed as McFadden. Need I say more. Yes he will be a starting RB in the NFL but not for the Raiders and he definetly won’t be the next Adrien Peterson nor LT.
April 17th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Just a little more info to back up O! Fargas ran a 4.35 coming out of college and had 27 reps!
April 17th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
if we talking about stats…McFadden had much, much more fumbles than Bush…
Bush will be better RB in the NFL
April 17th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Al will not take Dmac i assure u that!!! To many other needs Al knows this he wants to win now and knows he wont win by taking a RB. Thats not one of our needs! Its the opposite we need too rush the passer and stop the run!
Go Raiders!!!
April 17th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
When u compare Mcfadden and Bush’s Highlights you will notice Bush breaks tackles and falls forward for positive yards. Mcfaddem might get a occasional stiff arm in, but for the most part he is easily tackled. He relies on his speed too much. The NFL is full of fast guys and he wont be able to outrun everybody!
April 17th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I believe there are 6 players at the top of this draft that we could really use. Since we have the forth pick I can be pretty sure that we will get one of them. Out of all the recomendations above, the one guy I do not want is Ellis. That would be a waste of a #4 pick, in my opinion, and a waste of a huge contract for Kelly. We don’t need another 300lb 3 teq. type player playing next to Kelly. They need a bigger player next to Kelly to free him up and make some plays. The key to the draft is not the #4 pick. Barring a complete brain freeze, we will get someone that will help us big time next season. The key is getting MORE picks later to help the lines. Time to start unloading players for picks. I realize that they are not going to be high picks but we need all the chances we can get to find “diamond in the rough” type players for the O and D lines.
Al’s mandate is not F’ing this up!
April 17th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I agree we need to acquire draft picks, but I dont think ellis would be a waste of a pick! To have a succesfull d-line you need guys who have a non-stop motor, and I believe he is one of those guys. He may be undersized, but if is able to beat his man one on one (which i think he can) he would require double teams freein up kelly and burress. It doesnt hurt to have big guys up front but look at the bears who had the best defense a couple of years ago. They had two smaller DTs but still stopped the run and of course pressured the quarterback!
April 17th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
and if Run DMC is not taken at #4, I will have a heart attack!
Promise?
April 17th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I’m telling you we’re getting Ellis and you’ll be happy we did. Richardson and Kelly at ends w/ Warren and Ellis in the middle on run plays will be a much more formidable rush defense than last year. He’s the guy that will be on the board that will best help us fill our biggest weakness.
April 17th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
What about trading down for Derrick Harvey? More of a run stopping DE than Gholston plus we’ll get more in exchange than just the pick?
April 17th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Thanks for all the comments guys. I’m off to class, so I will respond later on this evening in a bit more detail.
OakFoSho
April 17th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
LMAO Martin. Harsh. Love it.
Rolni: Spence won’t listen to reason. I have been telling him for months now that Bush is better and he thinks that by looking up college stats, that proves something. McFlurry is not an NFL featured back which is what is so funny about his hype. Does any team REALLY want a guy who can’t carry the load for their team with a top ten pick? He talks about McLovin being such a great receiving running back but he wasn’t even the best recieving running back on his TEAM! Felix Jones was better. He is what they call “a jack of all trades, master of none”. And as has been pointed out so many times the “trade” that the Raiders need is run defense and that is not in his bag of tricks. Spencer stop insulting Al Davis’ intelligence by suggesting he is blinded by McDreamy’s 40 time enough to neglect this teams true weaknesses.
Also notice how the next place McFatten went after his Oakland visit was New England? Yet another team with no intention on drafting him but would like everyone to think there is a chance so they can get someone to trade up if he falls to them.
Last but not least McFumble can’t hold onto the frickin ball. That might just be a little important at the NFL level. Especially with faster, better tackling monsters tackling him and ripping the ball out. So while Spence is dreaming of the days of Bo Jackson (which DMac will never be), the rest of us will be awake and seeing things in the real world.
April 17th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Dline and Oline is what we need baby. Al knows it too. Al is loading up on Cornerbacks (Waddell, Duane Starks) so he can get some Olineman in the draft by trading away Routt and Washington. Even if we get Gholston or Clady w/ our pick we will have come a long way from last year.
April 17th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Hey man when I fear your comments I agree with everyone, except the ones about Darren McFadden. The raiders should not be picking another running back, that would make six (I think).
April 17th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
LDizzle,
I like how your only real complaints are spelling and my use of catch phrases. Its hard to attack solid logic so I don’t blame you. I wrote this thing late last night and could care less if I misspelled one word. You got the point, and thats all that matters. If you rally want me to explain for the ten thousandth time why I like Run DMC I will. Just let me know. Nuff Said!
Adrian,
I just can’t quit Run DMC! Sorry buddy.
slvrnblck478,
Yes, I would pick Run DMC, but not over C. Long.
O,
How are you gonna put me in the same category as the media. Thats cold man, and I’m offended! I am just a lowly graduate student, but I am certainly not a dirty member of the media.
Again, thanks for all the comments, and Go Raiders!!
Al’s Mandate is McFadden!!
OakFoSho
April 18th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Hey I’ve got to say one thing in FoSho’s defence. Balmer is being projected as a 3-4 DE or a 4-3 DT. So yes the Steelers will think about him if he is still on the board. Plus his love affair with D-Mac is not unfounded. D-Mac is the 2nd best player in this draft (behind Dorsey). I have never seen a 2nd gear like his in a RB ever. He is also over 6 feet tall, so he can split out wide and be a 3rd WR. He can also do all those cool little trick plays and throw the ball. He wants to return punts and kicks too! This guy is a football player and a great one, just like our boy C Long. I think you could ask this guy to play LB and he would do it. Its just too bad the Raiders have no room for him and that C Long is in the same draft as him.
Al’s Mandate is C Long!
April 18th, 2008 at 7:44 am
The Raiders biggest problem is the lack of (football players) on the team. We have a few (few) but not enough to play deep in the post season. D hall? What about Burgess who every offseason is cryin about his contract? Play the contract you signed first cry baby! Morrison’s a player so is Aso. But just because your a good player Howard, Burgess, Hall, Huff, Washington, does not make you a good football player like Aso, Kelly, Morrison and soon to be on the team C long.
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