People talk all the time about trading down with someone who wants Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston. But what about teams who like Kevin White, who is doing everything to show the Raiders he is better than Amari Cooper? They all have to be thinking about jumping over Oakland, who is mocked to pick one of those two guys. Yes, there are other great wide receivers, but the Bills traded up for Sammy Watkins when they could have picked Odell Beckham at #8 and the Giants said Watkins was ranked higher than Beckham on their board. So why does everybody think if we trade down, it must be because somebody wants a quarterback? Mariota could drop out of the top 10 easily, but nobody says that should be expected of either White or Cooper. Our best bet to trade down is actually for a team that needs a wide receiver because the Raiders don't need a quarterback either, but they do need an elite pass catcher.

 

The jury is still out on whether White or Cooper is the best wide receiver until West Virginia and Alabama have their pro days. Certainly teams could be content to stay put and see who falls. But anything is possible in the draft, including a team moving up to beat someone else to a specific wide receiver, which happened last year. Why shouldn't we expand our trade-down discussions to include any top five draft prospect, especially guys the Raiders need?

We've had two offseasons under our belt and know what Gus likes and doesn't like.  With that in mind, I looked at some players that might have some traits that Gus has repeatedly talked about.  

I'm talking about long corners, LEOs, and OTTOs.

 

 

 

Ladarius Gunter, CB: 6'2"

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/l...id=2552574

 

Jalen Collins, CB: 6'2"

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/j...id=2552573

 

Quinten Rollins, CB: 6'1"

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/q...id=2552263

 

Josh Shaw, CB: 6'1"

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/j...id=2552259

 

Kevin Johnson, CB 6'1"

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/k...id=2552261

 

 

OTTO: "long" ..."set the edge"... Someone that can rush the passer and also occasionally drop back..  Someone like Bruce Irvin in Seattle.

 

 

Vic Beasley

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/v...id=2552301

 

Bud Dupree

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/b...id=2552289

 

Eli Harold

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/e...id=2552494

 

Hau'Oli Kikaha

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/h...id=2552292

 

 

LEO:

 

Dante Fowler, Jr. 

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/d...id=2552437

 

Randy Gregory

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/r...id=2552446

 

Shane Ray:

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/s...id=2552451

 

Danielle Hunter:

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/d...id=2552603

 

 

There are tons more, But I thought I'd start something that looks at these "fits" that Gus is looking for.

I admit my understanding is very limited - but what I've gathered from Gus is that he wants/prefers tall/long corners.

He wants the long Leo that is very athletic - some are one but not the other - it's tough to find a true LEO.

The otto from my understanding is a bigger LB, with length and the ability to rush the passer.  I kind of see them as almost your traditional 3-4 outside rush backer ... like the Joey Porters of the world.

 

If anyone has a better idea of what makes a LEO a LEO and an OTTO an OTTO, please chime in.  Add more players if needed.

 

I think we will end up with 1 of those guys up there.

 

 

In recent weeks this name has become more and more prominent on the FA wish list.  I get it, we were near the bottom of the league in passing and people want help.  That's where my understanding dissipates.  

 

1.) Cobb is more naturally suited as a Slot/Flanker.  You don't pay a slot/Flanker 9-10 million per year.  If He's the best receiver on the market it will be because the other teams in the league re-signed their split end receivers. 

 

2.) We just invested the 40th pick overall in Marqise Lee who started to develop at the end of last year and should have a similar if not superior skill set to Randall Cobb.

 

3.) Of his four seasons in the league, he only has one 1000 yard receiving year with a dominant Qb. 

 

I can understand the interest and wouldn't flip out if he was signed, but I don't see this team being desperate to overpay a receiver.

Check out my article and let's discuss our new OC...


 

http://greatamericansportsnetwork.com/th...son-story/

It's finally happening.


http://m.espn.go.com/extra/boxing/story?...d=12355361

Kurt Busch suspended indefinitely
 

NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kurt Busch has been suspended indefinitely, according to ESPN's Marty Smith and multiple reports.

Earlier Friday it was ruled that Busch smashed his ex-girlfriend Patricia Driscoll's head against his motor home wall Sept. 26 at Dover International Speedway, according to the conclusions of a Kent County (Del.) family court commissioner who granted Driscoll's request for a protective order Monday.

 

http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/cup/sto...definitely

I just found this article from the Packer version of BigCatCountry and they don't think that the Packers will tag Cobb or Bulaga. SIGN THEM BOTH, CALDWELL!!! http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2015/2...yan-bulaga

Per rotoworld:

Quote:Sam Bradford | STL

(February 20, 2015 2:51 PM EST)


Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reports the Browns will "take a real run" at trying to trade for Sam Bradford.


Relaying Combine buzz, Cole reports the Browns will aggressively pursue quarterbacks, and Bradford is at the "top of their list," with free agent Josh McCown as a fallback option. Cole floats a second- or third-round pick as potential trade compensation. Bradford has reportedly informed the Rams he will not take a pay cut, which may complicate his future in St. Louis. If he falls out of the Rams' plans -- which still seems unlikely -- the Browns would love to be there to catch him.


SOURCE: BLEACHER REPORT

For the 2015 season, who is the Jaguars deep threat?  Do they have one?  Do they need one?  What's our situation.

https://twitter.com/JoeBuscaglia/status/...2976665600

 

"...it's a good tool.  It's a good system of checks and balances."

 

"It's not going to dictate decisions, but it's going to help us go to the right decision."

 

I love to hear this.  This type of analysis and decision making has been used in business for years, but is somewhat "new" to the NFL (particularly for scouting.)  What's reassuring is that his is the right approach (using it as a tool or aid and not more than that.)

 

There are many people and organizations who do not completely grasp that and lead themselves to poor decisions based on incorrect application of such tools.  They hear the "analytics" buzzword and jump in expecting the technology to do the job for them, not knowing how to correctly implement such a tool.

 

I thought it was a nice little insight.