Offseason Tactical Direction:

Oakland has found itself restricted in what they can accomplish in 2009 free agency due to poor financial decisions made in last years offseason. This, however, may be a good thing because it could force the raiders to make sound financial decisions and sign players who may not be stars, but can serve as solid starters and building blocks towards being competitive next season. To this point, Oakland has shown more players the door than welcoming players into the 2009 fold. DeAngelo Hall, Gibril Wilson, Kwame Harris, and Jake Grove are a few. The Raiders, however, have been smart to resign players such as Asoughma, Lechler, cooper carlisle and chris johnson to send the message that people who perform for this organization will get paid.

In FA, the raiders biggest acquisition to this point so far has been signing restricted FA OT Erik Pears. Hardly a major signing, but Oakland would be wise to follow a blueprint of continuing to sign cheap young players who have starting potential, like pears, in order to create competition and increase their chances of finding a few unrealized stars along the way. Here is a list of players they are either looking at or should be looking who could help them fill starting positions:

Ray Willis OT- started 10 games for Seattle last season at RT. Powerful young, 24, tackle who has starting potential and would come at a relatively cheap price. Through bringing him into the fold, the Raiders would then have 3 young potential starting tackles- Pears and Mario Henderson being the other two. The hope is that competition would be intense between these three throughout camp and 2 strong starters would emerge while the odd man out would serve as a strong back up who is sign at an affordable price.

Melvin Fowler OC- The Raiders were smart to let Jake Grove walk because they have too many holes to commit 5yrs/ 26mill. to a center who has had various injuries throughout his career. Fowler has served as a young starting center for the bills over the past couple of years and fits perfectly into the raiders zone blocking scheme. He would not require nearly the contract that Grove commanded and he might be a better player for the raiders system while being more reliable in terms of health.

Duke Preston OG- Preston has started games at G,C, and T for the Bills over the last couple of years. He is another young offensive lineman who provides more power than Fowler and would give the raiders great versatility at an affordable price. With the resigning of Carlisle, getting Preston would seem to be less of a need. However, if the raiders cannot sign Fowler or another OT- Preston would be a smart player to invest in bc he can fill multiple roles.

Kevin Burnett OLB- Burnett is an excellent special teams player who is capable of starting in spots and would be a great player to use on passing downs. I believe we need to acquire a run-stuffing MLB, via draft or FA, in order to shift Morrison to OLB. However, if we acquired Burnett, we could have him and Thomas Howard flank Morrison on passing downs. Then acquire a MLB who is a great run stuffer, but not good in coverage, to come in on first and second down to play in the middle and shift Morrison outside. Either way Burnett is young, athletic and cheap. Needless to say, we need as many players like that as we can get.

Angelo Crowell LB- After being injured the previous season, Crowell came back and had a solid season last year recording 126 tackles 1 sack and 1 int for the bills last season. He is an OLB, however, he is at his best attacking the line of scrimmage and many believe he could make a seamless transition to MLB. It is unclear how much he will command on the open market but the fact that he sustained a season-ending injury the year before could allow the Raiders to sign him to a bargain deal. If he comes at a reasonable price, pacing him in the middle to help stop the run and shifting Morrison to the outside would pay huge dividends and possibly serve to create one of the better young LB units in the NFL.

Jermaine Phillips DS- at 6'2 220 Phillips is a protypical sized SS who could fill the hole of the departed Wilson at a reduced cost. He had 3 ints last season and is generally more effective at playing close to the line where he can use his size and strength to help stop the run. The raiders should only pursue him if he comes at a reasonable price- I think he would. However, at 29, he would be a sure upgrade and allow the raiders to pit Tyvon Branch vs. super bust Michael Huff in a competition for the FS position. As it stands right now, the prosects of going into next year with a promising but young, 2nd year former fourth round pick, Branch and Huff, who can't hold the starting job even in the face of minimal competition, as our starting safety's is less than ideal.

James Butler DS- 6'3 215 another solid young player, at 26, who had a nice year last season with 3 ints for the Giants and would probably come in, at an affordable price, and fill one of the starting safety spots.

Sean Jones DS- 6'1 220 had 4ints for the Browns last season and at 27 yrs old he still has some potential to become an even better player. Of the 3 safety's I have mentioned, it would make sense for the raiders to due the dilligence on all these players to determine which one is the best fit for their scheme. However, because they all offer similar skill sets and production it would make sense to target the one who would come the cheapest. Jones is probably the most risky but provides the highest upside.

D.J. Hackett WR- Hackett was recently released from Carolina after spending one injury-plagued season with the team. Last year, I wanted the raiders to pick him up to become a solid number 2. Now we are in a position to sign him at a very afforable price and hope he can get over his injuries from last year to get back on track to becoming the solid possession receiver he was on the verge of becoming his last year in Seattle. This would represent a low risk/ high reward opportunity and the raiders should take advantage of as many of those as they can get.

Devery Henderson WR- I am suprised the Raiders have yet to kick the tires on Henderson to see if they can nab him at an affordable price. Last year, Henderson had 32 catches for 730 yrds and 3 tds; most importantly he averaged 24.8 yards per catch and represents the type of true deep threat that Al Davis can't resist. I would not want the raiders to sign Henderson if they had to overpay for him and we might already have a similar player in-house, in Higgins, which would negate the need for a player like Henderson. However, Russell has the strongest arm in the league and Henderson can get downfield with the best of them which could make the raiders an ideal destination for a player like Henderson.

Anthony Montgomery DT- a 6'6 315 24 yr old RFA who would cost the raiders a 5th rd pick to sign. With the redskins signing Haynesworth they might not put up as big a fight if the raiders were to try to sign him away. He represents a young developing player with starting experience who has the frame to take on blockers and stuff the run. A fifth round pick would be worth his services and give the raiders a cheap young starter or excellent rotational player.

Igor Olshansky DE/DT- at 6'6 309 Igor has started every game since he was a second round pick of the chargers back in 2003. Unlike the other FA's I have mentioned this signing would not come very cheap and this would require more analysis to from the raiders to determine if they have the type of financial flexibility to sign Olskansky and still be able to accomplish their other goals in FA. However, if they have the flexibility to sign Olshansky this would be the type of signing that would pay major dividends. Olshansky who previously played DE for the chargers, is best known as a blue-collar player who is excellent at stopping the run. He is still young, at 26, and converting him to DT, where he will be asked to take on less blockers, might allow him to blossom into an even more dominating player.

As it stands right now our needs are:
1. OT
2. DT
3. OC
4. MLB
5. #1 WR
6. DS
7. DE

After making cost-effective signings:
1. OT- Erik Pears 3/4.5mill; Ray Willis-sign to sim. contract; that should resolve OT issue
2. DT- Anthony Montgomery- 3/7-10 mill or Igor Olshansky 5/35mill if it doesnt hinder other signings from happening.
3. OC- Melvin Fowler- 4/16 mill or Duke Preston 3/10 mill- either would provide quality young center; fowler fits system better but preston prob. more effective against 3-4 NT's.
4. MLB- Burnett- 3/ 5 or 6 mill to be quality back; Angelo Crowell if comes at affordable price to be MLB.
5. DS- sign Phillips, Jones, or Butler to 3-4 yr/ 15-20 mill range.

With so many needs to fill it is essential for the raiders to take advantage of the strengths of FA to get bargain deals and fill holes with young players with starting potential in order to narrow the scope of their needs before the draft.

Ignoring the possible Olshanky signing- b/c I don't know if the raiders have the resources to sign him- the raiders should have the flexibility to sign OT Ray Willis, OC Melvin Fowler, DT Anthony Montgomery, OLB Kevin Burnett, LB- Angelo Crowell DS- Sean Jones.

That would make our starting units look like this:

QB- JaMarcus Russell
RB- Darren McFadden
WR-
WR- Chaz Schilens
WR- Johnnie Lee Higgins
LT- Mario Henderson/ Erick Pears
LG- Robert Gallery
OC- Melvin Fowler
RG- Carlisle
RT- Pears/ Willis

DE- Burgess
DT- Montgomery
DT- Kelly
DE- Richardson/ Scott
OLB- Howard
MLB- Crowell/ Morrison
OLB- Morrison/ Burnett
CB- Asoumgha
FS- Branch/ Huff
SS- S. Jones
CB- C. Johnson

As you can see, these signing go along way to fill needs and would allow us to narrow are focus in the draft. It is pretty much a foregone conclusion that our 7th pick will be used on a WR- Crabtree or Maclin. I still believe we should attempt to trade down. However, if the raiders follow a similar approach to what I am presenting; drafting a potential game changing receiver would be a wise choice. If these players were to be signed then are primary needs would become:

1. #1 receiver
2. DE
3. OL
4. DT

The raiders would then look to draft:

rd 1: Michael Crabtree or Jeremy Maclin

rd 2: After taking their future #1 WR in the first the raiders would have options in the second.
DE- Michael Johnson, Robert Ayers, Paul Kruger
DT- Evander Hood, Sen'Derrick Marks, Ron Brace
OL- William Beatty OT, Mack or Unger OC, Duke Robinson OG
- If Michael Johnson is available bet on al picking him because he has top 5 talent but plays like a 3rd rd. pick. Mack would be a strong possibility bc are current O-Line coach came from CAL. My pick would be Evander Hood bc he is a DT who can rotate with montgomery and kelly and has the talent to develop into solid starter in the NFL.

rd 3- The raiders would again have options:
OL- C's Eric Wood & Antoine Caldwell, OT's Jamon Meridath & Phil Loadholt (if the fall)
DT- Sammie Lee Hill, Terrence Taylor, Roy Miller
DE- Lawrence Sidburry Jr., David Veikune
DS- Pat Chung, William Moore
My pick- best OL that falls Meridath or Wood ideally