Shifting the Oakland Raider focus back towards building the team

Thoughts from the Dark Side

January 29, 2008

Shifting the Oakland Raider focus back towards building the team

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The signs seem to be pointing to Lane Kiffin once again stalking the sidelines for the Oakland Raiders in 2008. Kiffin and Greg Knapp interviewed James Lofton today for a�� job as a position coach. No way Al Davis would have a coach he wasn't keeping in on an interview. Now the focus is on resigning players like Jarrod Cooper, Nnamdi Asomugha, and Justin Fargas so the Raiders can decide who to go after in free agency and the draft.

There are rumors that the Raiders are targeting Bernard Berrian of the Chicago Bears. He would be a great addition to the Raiders' WR corps. He has the speed that the current crop of wide outs lack, and would make a good combination with Ronald Curry's role as a possession receiver.

There is hope that the Raiders can pull the trigger on a deal with the Detroit Lions that would net them wide receiver Roy Williams and defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. Berrian, Roy Williams, and Ronald Curry would be a great trio of wide receivers. There are questions about Shaun Williams's motivation, but line coach Kieth Millard is highly thought of and could provide the motivation.

The Raiders should be targeting an offensive tackle to supplant Barry Sims as well. Sims has been a war-hors for the Raiders, but the position needs an upgrade to protect JaMarcus Russell.

Stay tuned to Thoughts from the Dark Side for news and views about the Oakland Raiders.

Tags: NFL, Oakland Raiders, Raiders

Discussion

16 Comments on "Shifting the Oakland Raider focus back towards building the team"

Posted by Listen Up, January 29, 2008 12:17 AM

I wonder if Knapp will sit in on the Al Saunders Interview as well... Even if the reports about the Raiders coaching conflicts are not entirely accurate - the perception of mismanagement and awkwardness is enough to derail Raiders hopes to land valuable free agents. All the more reason that if Al really does put winning above all else, we need a statement or another Al "State of the Raiders" address to clear the air and show the rest of the League that the Raiders have a plan and are not a franchise in total disarray.

Posted by Juanito, January 29, 2008 12:54 AM

I cant wait for the NFL draft! We need to get better at the LT position, and the safety position. Shweighert is gone, and so is Eugene. I say we trade for WIlliams and Rodgers, and sign Berrian in the offseason. Berrian would fit in well because #1, he is from Cali so i know for a fact he would come play here.

Posted by Anthony, January 29, 2008 5:24 AM

Sims is on my personal shortlist of players I'd love to see gone. Ever since he was just humiliated by Simeon Rice (the REAL MVP of that Super Bowl), I've been counting down until the Raiders had a LT that was capable of being a genuine cornerstone. Oh, and one that can learn the correct snap count would be a plus, too.

Posted by Raul, January 29, 2008 8:39 AM

I can't wait for the draft and actual football talk. If all the rumors about Kiffin being fired are false, I wish Davis would come out and say so.

I know Gallery was a bust at LT, but I wouldn't mind them giving another high draft pick to that position. Simms is not cutting it. DT's and WR would be the other positions to be addressed ASAP.

Posted by Raisin, January 29, 2008 8:53 AM

The storm has settled. (a lull or peace; who knows) All the focus still remains on Kiffin and the offense(which I agree needs improvement) but the offense made good statistical improvements last year with a mediocre cast. The defense regressed with a much more talented roster. No one is talking about the defense? Interesting. Stay tuned.

Posted by Silver_N_Black, January 29, 2008 1:03 PM

Rumors. Too funny. I've been saying repeatedly that until someone is fired or resigns there's nothing to talk about.

If we ended up with Williams, Rogers & Berrian that would be a great start. We should add Ellis, an OT and a SS via the draft and we'll be ready to see what this team can really do.

Posted by curiousgIII, January 29, 2008 1:52 PM

I see that alot of people are excited about the prospect of landing rogers. Is anyone else concerned about his lack of hustle and motivation?

The guy has all the talent in the world but has not been consistent enough to warrant giving anything of value. We took Detroit's last project (mike williams) and that didn't work out too well.

Posted by Adrian, January 29, 2008 2:03 PM

Rogers will be a great addition , however I read a rumor that Millard was getting let go by Kiffen. Is there any truth to that?

Posted by duh, January 29, 2008 3:52 PM

Patrick your blog has a much charisma as a funeral. Give it time you��ll get better. Its better than going to raiderfans.net and listening to all the cry babies over there and site owner trying to rip people off for his DUH INSIDER INFORMATION. This dude posts some of the most ridiculous shyt around. of course if I was 8 yrs old Id fit right in.

#10

Posted by Eric, January 29, 2008 3:57 PM

I really doubt a face/face interview with Saunders would be required, a phone call (or conference call) would probably suffice.

Al has known him forever and he has interviewed him 2x already for the HC job.

Who knows how many additional sidebar conversations they may have had in the past few years.

#11

Posted by rodmoney, January 29, 2008 9:52 PM

Coe is gone. With Lofton our WR will improve with youngsters Higg and McFoy and Buchanon making big strides. I'm sure we will draft or trade for a WR to mesh with JR. Oh Holland will blow up as well. Make this move and watch 300 yd games every week.

#12

Posted by Juice, January 30, 2008 11:53 AM

Keep in my mid fellas that if they pull the trigger on a "potential" Lions trade for Williams and Rogers that Oakland will undoubtedly have to give up thier first round pick. There is no guarantee that we'll end up with Detroit's firts rounder as part of the package deal with the two aformentioned players. That's a pretty hefty ransome for the third, or fourth pick whatever it may be that they end up with. And Silver_N_Black, I highly doubt that if they do end up with the Lions' first pick (15th overall) that they'll be able to land Ellis who is billed as a top ten talent. Oh, and if Kieth Millard is held in such high regard, then why the hell is Lane Kiffen trying to fire the guy, and is he being held as the culprit for that awful run defense?

#13

Posted by Juice, January 30, 2008 11:56 AM

Oh and if they do end up adding James Lofton to the staff as a receivers coach, I can't see that as being anything but a plus. He did a real good job this season with the Chargers personnel group which up until this season was pretty average. Al Saunders though? I don't know about that. If he were added to the staff it would be to replace Kiffin, not to be as an assisstant.

#14

Posted by rodmoney, January 30, 2008 1:56 PM

Kiff is'nt going anywhere. This organization has to get on the same page. Committment to Excellence. Saying that as much as the trade with Detroit tempts us we must refrain from that. We can't have Rogers quitting on us like he did with the Lions while they were in playoff contention. We had enough of that with Moss. We have to start winning before we can motivate players with great potential. We have to address the obvious weakness we have at DT ,DE and SS to begin our rebuilding process. On O it's WR, C and OT. We don't have enough picks to handle all our problems in one yr and with the B.S. going on in the last 3 weeks no quality FA will dare set foot in the Black Hole. This is where the scouting and lane as well as Al have to make decisions to draft the BEST football players to better the Silver and Black not neccessarily players from SC or DB or WR with 4.1 speed . Whether we draft in the 3rd,4th or trade down we have to address weaknesses and not go for the sexy pick and once we do that we will be on track to see the GREATNESS OF THE RAIDERS.

#15

Posted by Angelo, January 30, 2008 4:57 PM

We need to stop the run. Last year we could not get the defence off the field.The run game was good but it seemed like the other team out rushed us in every loss.So i think we need DT AND OT in the draft and skill player in free agency or trade.

#16

Posted by Silver_N_black, January 30, 2008 9:28 PM

Juice, I never said anything about giving up our 1st rounder to get those guys. Berrian is a FA. We could trade Washington, LJ or Rhodes and/or some of next year's picks to get Williams & Rogers. BTW, Rogers might be cut so he could potentially cost us very little.

My point was if we could get one or two of those guys it would be a good start.