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Oakland Raiders
Posted: Sun April 19, 1998 at 9:51 p.m.
* compensatory pick
QB - Jeff George put up monster numbers last season. The problems was, those big numbers didn't translate into wins for this team. If John Gruden brings his west coast offense with him, George may struggle some. He has never been a very good completion % QB, and the West Coast offense takes a QB who can be very precise with his passes. He is best suited in the vertical passing attack. Backup David Klingler has a huge arm, but his career has been plagued with poor decision making. Donald Hollas is just a veteran journeyman type. May look to add a young QB to start developing in the draft.
RB - Napolean Kaufman is an exc. RB, they just have to start giving him the ball. He had too many games last season where he carried the ball less than 10 times. Kaufman is a lot like Barry Sanders... he may take some negative gains, but if he keeps getting the ball, he is going to go the distance eventually. The depth here is marginal at best. Tim Hall and Joe Aska lack big play flair, and neither are great inside runners. May look to add a tough between the OT's runner in the middle rds. of the upcoming draft.
WR - Have a lot of athletes, but not very many good receivers. Tim Brown is the only quality route runner, and the only guy who can get open on a consistent basis. Brown takes a lot of shots underneath, and the West Coast offense won't do anything to stop that from happening. Brown is tough though, and should continue to post big numbers. James Jett is a good vertical threat, but is not a very polished WR, and drops way too many balls. The team hoped Demond Howard would become a quality #3, but he was a bust as a RS, and worse as a receiver. Look for them to add a WR or two in the draft. In their new offense, they need some more weapons.
TE - Rickey Dudley should benefit more than anyone in the West Coast offense. He has exc. size/speed combo, and puts a lot of pressure on opposing defenses. He would be in the upper tier of TE's in the NFL if he would stop dropping easy balls. Backup John Henry Mills is mostly just a ST guy... need to add a #2 and 3 TE. May get one on the draft, and the other before training camp. This team needs a big blocker type too.
OL - Played better than expected, but not with any consistency. LT Pat Harlow continues to have back problems, and should probably retire. He hasn't played well, and won't if his back doesn't start feeling a lot better. The biggest surprise has been RT Lincoln Kennedy. He has kept his weight in check, and has developed into a decent RT. The team cut RG Lester Holmes, but that shouldn't affect their lineup... he has always been an underachiever anyway. One scenario could be OC Barrett Robbins moving to RG, with Curtis Whitley coming off the bench to start at OC. Whitley seems to have put his off the field problems behind him. Team has to hope Tim Kohn or Scott Whitaker are ready to step up should Harlow not be able to go.
DL - A lot of bodies, with marginal production.They are still waiting to see if DT Chester McGlockton will become a player... he is solid going half speed, and could be a terror if he would put some effort into his. Other DT Russell Maryland isn't much better. Surprisingly, the only guy on this unit that played hard every down was rookie Darrell Russell, who carried the underachiever tag in college. Chester McGlockton is carrying the Franchise tag right now... if he stays, Russell will play DE again this season. They have struggled at times to get consistent pressure... The light has to go on for undersized Lance Johnstone this season. Could add another pass rush guy in the draft.
LB - A lot of holes, especially with the trade of SLB Rob Fredrickson to the Lions. Fredrickson was coming off a mediocre season, but played despite not being 100% back from his 1996 shoulder injury. Fredrickson's departure, and the ineffectiveness of MLB Greg Bieket and WLB Mike Morton has to have the coaches concerned. Morton is also coming off a late season knee injury. The starters are a huge ?, and the depth is worse. Have to address this unit in the draft.
DB - May be one of the oldest units in the NFL last season ... Starters Terry McDaniel and Albert Lewis have lost at least a sep anda half. Nickle DC Lionel Washington was playing in his 13th NFL season. These guys couldn't stick with anyone in M/M situations last season. Help is on the way though... they traded for DC Eric Allen and will likely draft Charles Woodson with the #3 overall selection. Allen has said he is not going to report, but the Raiders have $2.5M reasons why they think he will. DC isn't the only problem, their safeties can't run anymore either. There are huge holes in this unit... adding 4 DB's in the draft would be a step in the right direction.
ST - The duo of PT Leo Araguz and PK Cole Ford is a little bit shaky... Araguz is improving though, while Ford has gone South... he hasn't kicked with confidence the past 2 seasons, and an upgrade is needed. RS Desmond Howard wasn't the answer, but will get another shot in 1998. In his defense, the blocking up front wasn't very good.
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