First topic message reminder :

1. Indianapolis Colts (0-13): Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
Obviously the Colts go with a QB here, but I lose confidence by the day that it will be Andrew Luck for some reason.
**Projected Trade with Minnesota**
2. Miami Dolphins (4-9): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
Dolphins get arguably the best player in the draft in RG3 who would revive the franchise.
**Projected Trade with St. Louis**
3. Kansas City Chiefs (5-8): Matt Barkley, QB, USC
Kansas City gets a franchise QB of the future for their new regime.
4. Washington Redskins (4-9): Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
Richardson would be a very interesting fit with the Redskins and head coach Mike Shanahan.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
Blackmon would provide Blaine Gabbert or whatever QB the Jaguars use with a big time playmaker at the receiver position.

6. Carolina Panthers (4-9): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
Panthers get a top notch defender in Morris Claiborne who can also return kicks and punts.

7. Minnesota Vikings (2-11): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
Vikings get some much-needed help on the offensive line with Riley Reiff.

8. Cleveland Browns (4-9): Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina
Fast athletic linebacker prospect who adds another dimension to the Browns’ defense.

9. Tampa Bay Bucs (4-9): Dre’ Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
Big cornerback prospect who has a ton of potential as a shut-down cornerback.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (5-8): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
Eagles need to get tougher on the offensive line, and Martin is one of the best in the country.

11. Buffalo Bills (5-8): Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis
Poe is an athletic freak with huge upside. I think the Bills adding him along with Marcel Dareus could be dangerous.

12. St. Louis Rams (2-10): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
Floyd is a sure-handed WR prospect who would help the desperate St. Louis Rams and QB Sam Bradford.

13. Seattle Seahawks (5-7): Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
Bit of a reach here, but Tannehill is a solid prospect who will likely have a great offseason.

14. Arizona Cardinals (6-7): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
The Cardinals just need to add more protection up front, and getting DeCastro would be huge at this point.

15. San Diego Chargers (6-7): Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama
The Chargers continue to try to rectify their pass rush problems with the addition of the talented Upshaw.

16. Dallas Cowboys (7-6): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
The Cowboys need a center in a bad way. Peter Konz is the best in the country.
17. Tennessee Titans (7-6): Quinton Coples, DL, North Carolina
The Titans end the fall of Quinton Coples and get themselves a nice DL prospect who can play multiple positions.

18. Cincinnati Bengals (7-6): Lamar Miller, RB, Miami
Miller would add another dimension to the improving and young Bengals offense.

19. Oakland Raiders (7-6)(traded to Cincinnati): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
The Bengals are not afraid to take character risks, and they are missing the presence of Jonathan Joseph in the defensive backfield.

20. Chicago Bears (7-6): Devon Still, DT, Penn State
The Bears’ defense is aging, and they could really use some help at defensive tackle. Still is one of the top DT’s available in this year’s draft.

21. New York Giants (7-6): Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama
Big, athletic linebacker who would likely start immediately in the middle of the Giants’ defense.
22. Atlanta Falcons (8-5)(traded to Cleveland): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
Jeffery would be great value here for the Browns, who continue to seek out playmakers at the WR position.

23. New York Jets (8-5): Alamada Ta’amu, NT, Washington
Jets get a big, nasty nose tackle to clog up lanes in the middle of that defense.

24. Denver Broncos (8-5): Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson
Complete DT prospect who has great size and could be a force for the Broncos in the middle of the line.

25. Detroit Lions (8-5): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
Great value pick here and gives the Lions a tackling machine who can lead the defense.

26. Houston Texans (10-3): Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
Big playmaker at wide receiver who would add insurance if Andre Johnson continues to miss time due to injuries.

27. New Orleans Saints (10-3)(traded to New England): Mark Barron, S, Alabama
Patriots upgrade the safety position with the All-American Barron from Alabama.

28. New England Patriots (10-3): Jared Crick, DL, Nebraska
Tough defensive lineman coming off of injury who can provide pass rush as a 5-technique.

29. San Francisco 49ers (10-3): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
Solid, physical corner with a good build who could step in and start right away on one of the best defenses in the NFL.

30. Baltimore Ravens (10-3): Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin
Physical running back who would complement Ray Rice as Ricky Williams likely won’t play much longer at a high level.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia
Big, nasty offensive lineman who fits in perfectly with what Pittsburgh likes to do.

32. Green Bay Packers (13-0): Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
Decent value pick here, adds some much needed talent and depth to the front line for Green Bay.

I've taken part in arguments suggesting that Hue Jackson was responsible for not only the improvement on offense, but running JaMarcus Russell out of town, Darren McFadden shedding the bust label and an improved defense.

At the same time I've argued Tom Cable was responsible for the blown challenges, wasted timeouts, the quarterback controversy and the porous offensive line.

Though I still believe Hue Jackson is deserving for the praise he was given, I have also decided he deserves some blame for the Raiders struggles in 2010.

For one Hue Jackson was responsible for the Raiders inefficiencies in the red zone. He admitted as much in the recent press conference and acknowledged that it needs to be fixed.

Hue Jackson also shares responsibility in the quarterback controversy. As Hue took credit for benching Jason Campbell for Bruce Gradkowski at halftime of the Rams game. But Tom Cable only added to the controversy by making the decision to start a healthy Gradkowski after the bye week.

Then there's the offensive line. Many Raider fans, even myself, have suggested that Tom Cable was responsible for the struggles on the offensive line because he was the former offensive line coach and supposed guru. While others argued that Tom Cable was no longer coaching the offensive line and was no longer responsible for the offensive line.

Who is to blame for the problems along the offensive line?

Tom CableHue JacksonLack of talent on the offensive lineJason Campbell, he holds onto the ball too longWhat Problem? The o-line was greatsomething elseSubmit Votevote to see results

Reality is Hue Jackson was responsible for the struggles on the o-line and in turn responsible for high sack count and injuries to the QBs. As offensive coordinator, Hue Jackson was not only responsible for the offense as a whole, but it was his decision to make the transition from a zone-blocking scheme to a man or power-blocking scheme.

Likely transitioning and learning a new scheme on the fly contributed to many of the struggles on the offensive line. I suspect many of the sacks the Raiders gave up were do to mental errors on the O-line because of the new scheme. This explains why their performance improved as the year went on and they became more accustomed to the new scheme.

Not only were the players hampered by the transition, but so were the coaches, both Jim Michalczik and Chris Morgan(Tom Cable as well) were students of the zone-blocking scheme, and not prepared to teach power-blocking at the NFL level.

Regardless of whether or not Hue's decision to implement implement power-blocking hurt the team, it was a move that had to be made. Unlike Tom Cable, Al Davis isn't a firm believer in zone blocking and it was doing nothing but holding us back.

Hell, zone blocking isn't even what I would call the Raider way. The Raider way is about being better than the guy lined up across from you, not about using cut blocks, angles and deceit to gain an upper hand.

The Raider way is about being a bully, and that is exactly what Hue Jackson had in mind when he replaced Tom Cables zone-blocking scheme with a power-blocking scheme.

To quote Hue Jackson:

"What I'm most excited about is the environment that is starting to be created here. The process is in place. We're gonna create an environment for out players to be great..."

That process started when the Raiders re-implemented power-blocking into the offense.

by Bill Williamson

Now that Hue Jackson has been promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach, expect him to use the offense he fully wants. That will start on the offensive line.

Gone is former head coach Tom Cable, who was a proponent of the zone-blocking scheme. Jackson is a believer in the power-blocking scheme. Jackson said at the NFL combine in February that he wants to incorporate the power-scheme more into the offense.

The offensive line is one of Oakland’s greatest needs. Oakland will be looking at bigger, stronger offensive lineman. The zone-blocking scheme utilizes smaller, faster more athletic lineman. Jackson wants 300-pound tough guys.

Also, of course, expect the Raiders to look for speed. The Raiders value speed as much as any team in the NFL. They recently drafted the fastest man at the combine in the form of cornerback Stanford Routt and receiver Jacoby Ford. With cornerback a potential draft need, expect the Raiders to scour 40 times as part of their draft evaluation process.

If he wants to put the power scheme in he might not be what we need. The only way that can happen is if we really revamp the OL. Bring in someone like Grubbs in FA to help with the transition, let Lilja go and draft a mauling RT. It just doesnt suit Alberts style of play either. I just cant see it happening. We would erase everything we have worked for on the OL the past three years. I love a power running game just not for this team.

Richardson is a Mauler. Albert was known as one in college and was drafted for Herms mauling OL. Aso is mean enough he could do it. I don't think we are all that far off one way or the other. Lilja and Weigmann would have to go, and that doesn't bother me at all.

That had less to do with size and more to be with being out coached. The Packers had no answer on the interior for stopping the giants interior rush with giants constantly putting guys like Tuck in there to rush the guards off the ball and collapse the pocket forcing rodgers out and resulting in more pressure and sacks. The giants just played aggressive and the packers could not stop it. They got out played. It wasnt because they were small, according to you they have to weigh 340 pounds and be a fat turd to stop anybody with size. That is just crazy.

Yesterday we took notice that a lot of the 2012 NFL mock drafts floating around out there are once again projecting an offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs. It seems like that's been the offseason theme the last couple of years with the mock drafts and it will be again this year.

ESPN's Mel Kiper thinks the Chiefs will go after a tackle -- but on defense. Kiper's latest mock draft has the Chiefs selecting Penn State DT Devon Still. Kiper says the Chiefs have a chance to become an "upper-echelon defense" in the coming years and a "disruptive interior line presence" like Still can help accomplish that.

So do you focus on the defense, where the Chiefs are getting closer to becoming one of the better units in the league? Or do you look to the offense, where the Chiefs ranked second to last in points scored?

It's way, way too early to be figuring out which player specifically the Chiefs will select but the offense vs. defense thing is a good debate. I can see the arguments for both sides but I probably won't settle on any players until after the NFL Combine and some of these workouts. We don't even know if they'll be drafting 11th or 12th yet (a coin flip will determine that).

Kiper thinks alot more of Still than I do! I didn't even think Still was a 3-4 NT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7-il4z0QRc

Stills highlights are better than I thought. Most of them are against non ranked teams but he did have a couple of beastly plays against Alabama.

I'm surprised no one has pointed out that this is the first year I'm not the anti OL in the first round.

I would LOVE the picking Devon Still. He is someone that can take over a game at the point of attack.. He will make Tamba, DJ, Belcher, and Houston play that much better.. With a dominant presence in the middle our defense could go to the next level and be in the elite class with Baltimore and Pittsburgh.