Raiders Position by Position Evaluation: Defense

Defensive End:
1. Derrick Burgess
2. Kalimba Edwards
3. Jay Richardson
4. Scott
- This is a serviceable group when healthy. Edwards, the team sack leader, has played well and Richardson is a decent big-bodied back up who provides decent pass-rushing and run-stuffing skills. Scott also has been effective as a pass-rush specialist. However, the one pro-bowl caliber player, Burgess, seems to be on the decline and needs an air apparent who can reak havoc on an opposing QB. The strength of next year's draft is in the available pass-rushers. However, most of them fit the mold of 3-4 rush-ends. So, with that in mind the raiders might be well served to incorporate a 3-4 scheme to take advantage of next years class.

Defensive Tackle:
1. Tommy Kelly
2. Terrdell Sands
3. Gerard Warren
- Tommy Kelly received a huge contract in the off-season and has responded by being relatively underwhelming. He needs to be force over the next couple years or else the raiders should consider sending him the way of DeAngelo hall in order to free up future cap room to possibly pick up a real difference maker at the position. Sands and Warren have been serviceable at best, but an upgrade is defiently needed. The next DT the raiders need to target needs to be one that can, first and foremost, stuff the run. In next years draft, Terrence Cody represents a very desireable target in the first round. Peria Jerry would be a good target in the second.

Outside Linebacker:
1. Thomas Howard
2. Ricky Brown
3.
- Thomas Howard is one of the few building blocks on defense and could really blossom into a probowl player if given better protection upfront. He has excellent speed, 4.4 forty, to go along with his 6'2 240 frame- and shows a great virsitility at stopping the run, as well as rushing the passer. He is also one of the elite pass defenders at the LB position as evidenced by his 6 picks last year. The raiders need to look to acquire another OLB opposite Howard, as Brown is not starting-quality OLB. OLB's as well as 3-4 rush ends is the strength of this years draft. However, the raiders might have to many other glaring needs to take advantage.

Inside Linebacker:
1. Kirk Morrison
- Morrison is another building block on defense. However, like Morrison he needs more players around him in order to maximize his effectiveness. If the Raiders start to incorporate a 3-4 look, another run-stuffing MLB will be needed.

Cornerback:
1. Nnamdi Asoumgha
2. Chris Johnson
3. Stanford Routt
- Addition by subtraction. Coming into the year the Raiders were expected to have possibly the best starting CB tandom in the NFL with Asoumgha and Hall. While, Asoumgha has started his assention to becoming the best CB in the league, Hall struggled mightly as teams folled Denver's opening-season blueprint and continually looked to pick on Hall instead of testing Asoumgha. Hall promtly received his one way ticket out of town and since then the Raiders have looked like one of the best pass defenses in the NFL. The reason- Chris Johnson. This burner, has done well in manning the opposite post, and essentially forced offenses to test the waters that Asoumgha roams by taking away the deep ball and limiting big plays. Hopefully Johnson continues to be solid and the raiders can rely on this two to lock down WR's for the next couple of years. Routt provides a decent option as a nickle CB, but depth is needed.

Saftey:
1. Gibril Wilson
2. Michael Huff
3. Hiram Eugene
4. Colin Branch
- This unit has talent but has not quite lived up to it. Gibril Wilson has not been the type of dominating presence he was expected to be when he was signed away from the defending SB champions. Michael Huff who was expected to benefit greatly from the switch over to FS has essentially lost his starting job to Hiram Eugene. Eugene has been serviceable in relief of Huff, but he is nothing more than an adequate starter. There are some good safety prospects in next years draft. However, the Raiders have more glaring needs and will probably be forced to make due with what they have for the next year or two. Colin Branch is a developmental prospect who could eventually step in an become a decent player.

Defensive Needs:
1. DT
2. DE
3. OLB
4. Safety
5. CB depth