I fully expect the Raiders to go after a "sexy" pick as usual with no regard for positions of need...guys like Spiller, Claussen, Mcclain, or Dez Bryant. Then again, maybe they would do something asinine like taking a guard that would go in the 20's at #8 instead of trading down for him.
I would consider QB a position of need for the Raiders. I don't think they will/should take Clausen but it actually wouldn't be that bad of a pick IMO. Not sure what their LB core is like but McClain is considered the best MLB in the draft so he probably wouldn't be a bad pick unless they already have a stud at MLB. A more "Al Davis" type pick would be Bruce Campbell, Jason-Pierre Paul, or Taylor Mays; workout warriors who have question marks.
Ideally the Raiders should try to trade down if they are targeting a guy like Iupati, and they might be able to leverage Buffalo into overpaying to move to their spot to take Clausen (If Buffalo wants him as bad as NY wanted Sanchez last year), provided that they've put it out there that they are open to moving the pick.
Right. I should have said "sexy" position rather than player. I'd be surprised if they took a non-skill player like an OT or OG.
@WesBunting: Also hearing the Browns had a long phone call with CB's Joe Haden and Klye Wilson today, but I hear they like Wilson more
Sometimes though the Workout warrior actually works out. Just look at Mario Williams...who is by definition a work out warrior and now has turned into a pro-bowl level player and all-pro when he feels like it.
Workout warrior? I always use the phrase for someone who is great in the gym, but doesn't succeed as well on the field/court as well as his measurable would suggest. Mario is great on field and in the gym.
Not when he was drafted. He was a monster in the weight room but was a questionable college football player. What he was saying is spot on about mario, he proved to be great in the NFL, but was mediocre in college.
Mario was not a mediocre college football player. He put up monster numbers at N.C. State but it was his workout at the combine that really put him over the top.
I think the criticisms that the poster was alluding to was that Mario was questioned for having a number of games where he seemed to disappear and it was his combine efforts that moved him up in the draft. Unfortunately, this trait has continued into his pro career. There are games where he dominates... imagine his impact on the game if he developed more "go-to" moves to the the passer than alway relying on speed to get around the tackle. Hopefully getting an inside rush will also lessen the double teams he sees.
If I remember correctly, he put up a large majority of his stats in a couple games against some terrible teams. He was not ever considered a great college player, the MVP of the team's defense was MAnny Lawson (OLB for the 49ers) not him. THe combine is where he gained all his draft stock.
Yep, his biggest knock was he acquired those numbers against bad teams. As you say Lawson was the 'best' player on defense for NC State. Mario literally shot right up because of his combine numbers, and the pick has actually worked out. Mario wasn't the accomplished player like Bush or Young and some of the guys were even saying he was a prospect.
1. St. Louis Rams — Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma 2. Detroit Lions — Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska 3. Tampa Bay Bucs — Gerald McCoy, DT Oklahoma 4. Washington Redskins — Eric Berry, FS, Tennessee 5. Kansas City Chiefs — Russell Okung, LT, Oklahoma State 6. Seattle Seahawks — C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson 7. Cleveland Browns — Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State 8. Oakland Raiders — Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma 9. Buffalo Bills — Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee 10. Jacksonville Jaguars — Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech 11. Denver Broncos— Earl Thomas, FS, Texas 12. Miami Dolphins — Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas 13. San Francisco 49'ers — Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa 14. Seattle Seahawks — Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers 15. New York Giants — Rolando McClain MLB, Alabama 16. Tennessee Titans — Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida 17. San Francisco 49'ers — Joe Haden, CB, Florida 18. Pittsburgh Steelers — Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida 19. Atlanta Falcons — Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan 20. Houston Texans — Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State 21. Cincinnati Bengals — Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma 22. New England Patriots — Jared Odrick, DE/DT Penn State 23. Green Bay Packers — Charles Brown, OT, USC 24. Philadelphia Eagles — Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama 25. Baltimore Ravens — Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State 26. Arizona Cardinals — Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri 27. Dallas Cowboys — DeMaryious Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech 28. San Diego Chargers — Linval Joseph, DE/DT, East Carolina 29. New York Jets — Jerry Hughes, OLB, TCU 30. Minnesota Vikings — Mike Iupati, LG, Idaho 31. Indianapolis Colts — Rodger Saffold, OL, Indiana 32. New Orleans Saints — Taylor Mays, FS, USC
Mario was a beast in college. Lawson had the preseason hype, but if you watched NC State during conference play...Mario was the best guy on that defense. His sacks may have come in bunches, but he was a force. No one ran at Mario.
Manny Lawson was awarded MVP by the coach of the team, OVER Mario, I think he knows more than you. Like we said, Mario had plenty of knocks on him on college. In 2005, he had 3 sacks against Wake Forest, 3 against Southern Miss, and 4 against Maryland. In the other 8 games, he had a combined 2 sacks. He was never considered consistent or even among the best DEs in college football. Most people had never heard of the guy until the combine.
Mario went first in the NFL draft. Workout warriors do not go first. I'll take Kubiak's and my thoughts on Mario over yours, his college team, and his college coach. I don't care that his sacks came in bunches. He provided a lot of pressure constantly and was playing a more difficult position than Lawson to get sacks. He was also a First Team All American while Lawson wasn't. Those go to people that the media thinks are elite. No player in college football has had a season with more sacks and more tackles for a loss since Mario.
Is there any doubt a year later who the best player in 2009 in college was, and who the best draft pick would be? It's Ndamukong Suh and it's not even close. ...and genius Todd McShay decided to be a contrarian and bump him down to only the second best DT behind Gerald McCoy, even though Suh pretty much blew everybody away in workouts, just like he did on the field - Nice one todd.
