Raiders Draft Game Plan a Winner

By Barbara Mason 4/26/10
Raiderdrive/Bay Area Sports Drive

He’s big, has incredible reaction time, a hard worker, mature, smart, has rare athleticism; and best of all he’s an Oakland Raider. After an extremely long list of questionable picks the Raiders hit it right on when they chose for their eighth pick in the first round middle linebacker Rolando McClain out of Alabama.  What makes this pick so surprising is that it makes complete sense. 

While there are just a few flaws in his game they are far outweighed by McClain’s attributes.  He is not great on 3^rd down situations or a big hitter but he is always where he needs to be and where he lacks his work ethic will take over and correct those flaws..  What the Raiders need are players with unquestionable work ethic and this is the man with those qualities.  He has the power to excel in stuffing the inside run which is so desperately needed by the Raiders as well as adept on pass coverage..  He turned things around for Alabama and he can help turn things around for Oakland.   

The acquisition of Jason Campbell was another great move giving the team sorely needed leadership at quarterback.  He brings experience, talent, and great work ethic to the Raiders.  He will be the type of player that is early in and late out.  The one thing that was hard to avoid noticing last year was that the team played like a real football team when Russell was not on the field.  Could it be Jason Campbell who will lead the Raiders to the Promised Land?  A lot of questions to be answered before that opening game against the Tennessee Titans.

Oakland made some really good picks addressing the myriad of needs on both sides of the ball.  They’re second round pick was Lamarr Houston, DT out of Texas.  Jared Valdheer (Hills) and Bruce Campbell (Maryland) both tackles were 3^rd and 4^th round picks.  Oakland had two picks in the 4^th round and their second one was Jacoby Ford, WR out of Clemson.  The 5^th round pick was Walter McFadden, CB, coming to the Raiders from Auburn.    Travis Goethel, LB, Jeremy Ware, CB and Stevie Brown, S round out Oakland’s picks.

This year’s draft could very well turn out to be the one that turns this team around.  Fans will no doubt be really looking forward to the 2010 season.  This could be a big one for the Oakland Raiders, the year that the team got seriously back on track.  How each of these players work into the system still remains a question that will be answered as training camp gets underway in late July.  This year’s camp promises to be highly competitive; more so than in year’s past.  It will definitely add even more excitement than merely the start of another football season.  It is a real time of hope that just might, at long last, be realized.

Photo AP