Raiders' Offseason Moves

Now that the Oakland Raiders have lost and have clinched the first pick in the 2007 draft, let us think what should the Raiders do in the offseason to fix this embarrassment of a season.

Scenario #1:

• Clean up the mess in management. This will probably not happen with Al Davis still holding onto all the power. This suggestion actually applies to all scenarios but I'll just leave it here.
• Sign two free agent offensive linemen. This move will show any potential free agent quarterback that the Raiders are serious about protecting the QB. My suggestions are at right tackle and at left guard. Let Robert Gallery stay at left tackle for another season to see if he will develop.
• Cut Aaron Brooks and sign Matt Schaub. Have Schaub and Andrew Walter compete for the starting job.
• Trade both Jerry Porter and Randy Moss. Liberal estimates would have Moss for a second round pick and Porter for a third round pick.
• With the overall number one pick in the draft, coupled with two picks in the second round, two picks in the third round, the Raiders will have five picks in the first three rounds.
• Draft Adrian Peterson with the number one pick. He will provide instant help for a QB that might be struggling.
• With the Raiders' second overall pick, draft a run stopping defensive tackle. The Raiders play in a division with Ladainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson. They must stop the run.
• With the third overall pick (in the second round), draft a defensive end. Tyler Braton is not cutting it.
• With the first of two third round picks, draft a wide receiver to develop.
• With the second of two third round picks, draft a blocking full back.
• Draft the best available player/OL the rest of the way.

Scenario #2:

• Trade Moss and Porter.
• Sign FA OL
• Draft Brady Quinn
• Draft Marshawn Lynch if he is available. If not, draft a run stopping DT.
• Draft a DE
• Draft best available player/OL the rest of the way

Scenario #3:

• Trade Moss and Porter for picks and/or OL
• Sign FA OL
• Cut Brooks and sign Schaub
• Trade the first overall pick to either Detroit, Cleveland, or Washington to stock up on draft picks. The assumption is that all three of those teams will be after Brady Quinn.
• Draft Adrian Peterson
• Draft a run stopping DT
• Draft a DE
• Draft a blocking FB
• Best available player/OL

These are but only three scenarios that may happen. Feel free to add your suggestions.

Hello World

Just for posterity’s sake (and to document it), my picks for who will come out on top of the current console wars.

Overall:

1. Wii
2. Xbox360
3. PS3

North America:

1. Wii.
2. Xbox360
3. PS3

• Rationale: Xbox360 will continue to lead in 2007 but Nintendo will continue to close the gap with their aggressive push to the non-gamer crowd and continued sales to the Nintendo faithful. By the end of this generation, I see Nintendo with the greatest number of console sales - but not by much. There will be no clear cut majority as in the last generation.

• PS3 will have a difficult time overcoming their earlier stumbles. The console is too expensive; it’s too expensive to develop games for the PS3; the market penetration of the PS3 is limited because of its price point; that in turn will cause developers to shun the PS3 because of development costs and lack of console ownership mentioned supra.

Japan:

1. Wii
2. PS3
3. Xbox360

• Rationale: For whatever reason, Japan has not warmed up to the Xbox360. The Wii has many parallels with the Nintendo DS and I predict the Wii will mirror the success of the DS in Japan.

Europe:

1. Wii
2. Xbox360
3. PS3

• Rationale: Everything costs more in Europe. Because of this, the Wii will have a distinct advantage for the foreseeable future.