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| Will Flanagan. 2nd May, 2008 - 3:34 pm
 The “Commitment to Excellence” is a stance that Al Davis has approached with all of his Raiders' teams. This commitment was on display from 1967 to 1985 when the Raiders won thirteen division championships, three Super Bowls, and made fifteen playoff appearances. Unfortunately, Davis’ commitment to excellence has been absent as of late especially this past Saturday when the Raiders drafted Darren McFadden with the fourth overall selection in the NFL Draft.
Oakland did very little right last season as indicated by their 4-12 record. Defensively, the Raiders ranked 28th in sacks and 31st in rushing yards allowed. Offensively, they ranked 31st in passing with just 17 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. Despite these wretched statistics, the Raiders did one thing particularly well in 2007: running the football. They ranked sixth in the NFL with an average of 130.4 yards per game on the ground. One would assume that the running game wasn’t an area that needed much of an upgrade via the draft.
Apparently, Al Davis thought otherwise.
By selecting McFadden and passing on the likes of Glenn Dorsey and Vernon Gholston, the Raiders wasted an opportunity to improve upon their dismal record from last season.
According to some analysts and draft experts, Dorsey was the best overall player in the draft. He was held in such high regard by the Rams and Falcons, two teams that had much bigger needs than defensive tackle, that their decisions to go with Chris Long and Matt Ryan were not easy ones to make. The reason for such intense debate in both St. Louis and Atlanta is simple: Dorsey is that good.
He is a rare breed at his position. There are defensive tackles who stop the run well, and there are some who place tremendous pressure on the quarterback. Dorsey happens to excel at both. His statistics may not always indicate such dominance, but his presence on the field allows for the other ten defensive players to shine, as seen during LSU’s run to the national championship this past season.
Gholston may not have been considered the best overall player in the draft like Dorsey, but he certainly has what many experts feel to be the most potential of all the draftees. After posting 37 repetitions on the 225-pound bench press, a 40-yard dash of 4.64 seconds, a 35.5 inch vertical jump, and a 10’4” broad jump, it’s difficult to debate Gholston’s potential and sheer athleticism.
Upside is nice, but Davis wanted immediate contributions and Gholston could have provided the Raiders with both. Even as a rookie, Gholston could have provided a solid presence against the run, sound tackling, and the ability to get pressure on the quarterback through a variety of moves. Gholston’s performances on the field during the past two seasons were a big reason why Ohio State made it to the national championship game two years in a row.
Oakland’s defense has just a few holes in it. The additions of DeAngelo Hall and Gibril Wilson to a defense that includes Nnamdi Asomugha, Kirk Morrison, Thomas Howard, Derrick Burgess, Tommie Kelly and Michael Huff make this one of the more talented units in the NFL. Adding a big body like Dorsey would have certainly helped in providing run support, which could have improved their disturbingly low ranking in rushing yards allowed. Adding a top notch pass rusher like Gholston would have given the Raiders a pair of dynamic defensive ends, which could have improved their dismal number of sacks.
Doesn’t defense win championships?
McFadden has the potential to be a very special player in the NFL. He is extremely fast and a threat to take it to the house each time he touches the ball. It is almost certain that McFadden will help this offense improve upon its abysmal stats from last season. Above all else, McFadden’s presence in the backfield should certainly give JaMarcus Russell a feeling of assurance, which could lead to better play from last year’s first overall pick.
However, as the Giants further proved this past Super Bowl, defense does indeed win Super Bowls. Unfortunately, that won’t be happening for Raiders' fans anytime soon. |
