Ranking the Raiders Roster on Importance #3

[RaidersAreOne]

Consider "important" as how detrimental it would be to our overall success if we lost them due to injury. Feel free to also mention names I should add to the pole next round.

Voted list so far:

1. Derek Carr - 100% (Link)
2. Khalil Mack - 100% (Link)

The first two polls were fairly obvious on how they would play out. However I think this is when things start to get a little interesting.

[RaidersAreOne]

POST 17,000!

 

Anyways, this is where things get difficult for once. Remember you need to consider both their positional importance and level of play. Having both Cooper/Crabtree reduces their overall importance imo, because we could probably get by for a little without one of them. Do you go LT with an aging Penn? Do you go SS with a promising Joseph (the only competent secondary player we have), how about King who is a top 2 Punter and is an absolute weapon,  what about the definition of consistency at C with Hudson, etc.

I think I surprisingly have to go with Donald Penn here. He plays the vital position of LT and protects our $100M+ franchise QB. I will be the first to say I am beyond annoyed at his timing for this holdout and think he is not only hurting himself but the team. But I would by lying if I said I am comfortable rolling with Newhouse/Alexander as our bookends this year. Penn may be getting old, will likely decline a good amount this season and potentially cost a solid chunk after his holdout, but there's no denying he is an immensely important aspect to our team.

 

EDIT: Just to add to the above. Our rookies Ware/Sharpe have looked surprisingly decent thus far. And although Newhouse hasn't looked completely awful through TC and 2 pre-season games, I simply do not trust any of them to take over for Penn at LT.

[Darkness]

I'd go with Penn too. He's been great for us, and is pivotal in keeping Carr clean from the outside

[holyghost]

I went with Hudson. If the topic is "importance". Our line fell apart and our offense collapsed at large without Hudson and when he was hurt. He's the core, and our line is the core of our offense, which is the core of our team. It's close because the LT is such a big deal. But Hudson to me is a crucial player for us. We might survive the loss of Penn with TE help, spit and glue, and whatnot. But the dropoff at C to Feliciano or Silbermann is nothing short of disastrous. 

[G]

Cooper is a STUD and without him the Offense will struggle more. GREAT route runner with size 6'1 and speed. 

KO then Hudson. Hudson was missed a few seasons ago but KO took us to another level especially with running the ball. I'd put Jackson ahead of Penn as I think his success is more from Carr than Penn's skills. Didn't notice him gone last night but I'd like to bring in a vet to compete. Albert, Clady even Oher if the price is right I'd take two...Penn isn't getting more money and is being fined. If he came back this week I'd be okay with waiving the fines, but if we sign another Tackle then fines stick and he can retire if he isn't happy. I'm wondering if his injury from last season is why he's pulling this because if he shows up and isn't good he knows his career is DONE!!! I'd pick a couple Defense players before I think Penn is important. Penn is NOT IMPORTANT he plays an important position but I'm ready to walk as I was last season but I will not cut him. He plays for us or retires!!! Shove it DP!!!

No I'm not upset. 

[MrOaktown_56]

If Cooper is injured, we aren't scoring a lot of points with Seth Roberts as our #2 and Crabtree on #1 corners. That's as obvious as it gets. Obviously having Jared Cook will help, but I just don't think the offense would be the same.

Cooper is the 3rd most important player. I"d say, Penn, Hudson, and KO follow. But our backup OL haven't been all that bad.

[SilverNBlackFan]

Hudson.

[SilverNBlackFan]

7 minutes ago, MrOaktown_56 said:

If Cooper is injured, we aren't scoring a lot of points with Seth Roberts as our #2 and Crabtree on #1 corners. That's as obvious as it gets. Obviously having Jared Cook will help, but I just don't think the offense would be the same.

Cooper is the 3rd most important player. I"d say, Penn, Hudson, and KO follow. But our backup OL haven't been all that bad.

Carr and the offense as a whole is good enough to get by without Coop for a couple weeks. We wouldn't be nearly as dynamic, but we'd still score points.

 

Coop is a top 3 overall player on our team, but not top 3 in terms of importance.

[RaidersAreOne]

4 minutes ago, MrOaktown_56 said:

If Cooper is injured, we aren't scoring a lot of points with Seth Roberts as our #2 and Crabtree on #1 corners. That's as obvious as it gets. Obviously having Jared Cook will help, but I just don't think the offense would be the same.

Cooper is the 3rd most important player. I"d say, Penn, Hudson, and KO follow. But our backup OL haven't been all that bad.

Not saying Cooper is a bad choice here (he's one of my favorite Raiders), but having another good WR reduces his importance imo. Sure our WR corp would take a major hit, but our RB's and Te's are good receiving threats too. Crabtree, Patterson, Roberts, Cook, Walford, Richard, Lynch, Washington, Olawale, etc. That is a sufficient number of weapons to work with. Compare that to Newhouse, Alexander, Ware, Sharpe... that's a little scary. Or like others have said with having Hudson to Feliciano, that's also rough.

[MrOaktown_56]

35 minutes ago, RaidersAreOne said:

Not saying Cooper is a bad choice here (he's one of my favorite Raiders), but having another good WR reduces his importance imo. Sure our WR corp would take a major hit, but our RB's and Te's are good receiving threats too. Crabtree, Patterson, Roberts, Cook, Walford, Richard, Lynch, Washington, Olawale, etc. That is a sufficient number of weapons to work with. Compare that to Newhouse, Alexander, Ware, Sharpe... that's a little scary. Or like others have said with having Hudson to Feliciano, that's also rough.

The others really aren't comparable. Crabtree isn't comparable either. Losing one out of 5 starting OL isn't nearly as bad as losing your best receiver, especially if our receiving core isn't as deep as you make it out to be. Lee Smith can chip dudes off either side and play as a 6th OL, which means Carr can get decent protection regardless of where he's playing. Sharpe gave up 0 pressures yesterday, Newhouse has looked ok, Vadal looked fine at guard in limited playing time. When Hudson was out at center, that was when J'Marcus Webb was starting at guard and we had no depth.

If we have 4 very good OL, and lose 1, we still have 3 very good OL. Not nearly as bad as having only 1 receiver worth a damn.

You really think Crabtree is gonna win against #1 corners consistently? Roberts on #2 corners?

Our RB's are receiving threats partly because our receivers force them to play safeties over the top, allowing underneath completions. By losing Cooper, we lose our biggest deep threat over the top, a guy who can separate against all calibers of corners, and our biggest YAC threat.

You can list off a ton of guys who have some talent, but they're only able to succeed because they're given less attention. No one is worried about Patterson as a consistent receiver. Cook was playing with Rodgers, Nelson, Adams, and Cobb last year, which helped him get nice looks over the middle. 

Take Julio Jones off the Falcons. Is that offense really the same? Are those backs gonna get no attention? Will Sanu beat #1 corners? All doubtful. 

If the Redskins last year lost Jackson or Garcon, they would still have Crowder, one of the best slot receivers in the league, the other one of that pair, and Jordan Reed. A pairing of those three for example >>>>>>>>>> Crabtree, Roberts, and Cook/Patterson

[daineraider]

Cooper or Osemele.  

[NightTrainLane]

First of all, to not think the oline is the next piece that is key to our success after Carr and Mack show how much you know about football. Next, the argument could be made for any of our Pro-Bowlers on the line but the leader of the line is unquestionably Hudson. He makes the calls plays at a high level and when he was out the offense looked like garbage. He gets my vote but like I said I can understand vote for Penn as the blindside protector or KO as the All-Pro that brought the bully back to the Offense. Cooper's importance is big but not as big as the effect the oline has on our team.

[MrOaktown_56]

22 minutes ago, NightTrainLane said:

First of all, to not think the oline is the next piece that is key to our success after Carr and Mack show how much you know about football. Next, the argument could be made for any of our Pro-Bowlers on the line but the leader of the line is unquestionably Hudson. He makes the calls plays at a high level and when he was out the offense looked like garbage. He gets my vote but like I said I can understand vote for Penn as the blindside protector or KO as the All-Pro that brought the bully back to the Offense. Cooper's importance is big but not as big as the effect the oline has on our team.

But it's like 1/5 OL vs your #1 receiver who opens up the offense for all other skill position players...

[NightTrainLane]

46 minutes ago, MrOaktown_56 said:

But it's like 1/5 OL vs your #1 receiver who opens up the offense for all other skill position players...

Yes, and like I said I think Hudson as the key clog in the Oline is more important than Cooper. Cooper does draw coverage but if he wasn't there and it was some other starting WR then Crab would be drawing the attention depending on who you replace Cooper with in this hypothetical.

I believe the stability, power and intelligence Hudson brings to the line is invaluable in heading a top 3 oline and is the engine that makes this offense go.

[MrOaktown_56]

4 minutes ago, NightTrainLane said:

Yes, and like I said I think Hudson as the key clog in the Oline is more important than Cooper. Cooper does draw coverage but if he wasn't there and it was some other starting WR then Crab would be drawing the attention depending on who you replace Cooper with in this hypothetical.

I believe the stability, power and intelligence Hudson brings to the line is invaluable in heading a top 3 oline and is the engine that makes this offense go.

So even if this OL would go from top 3 to top 15, osemele, jackson, and penn are all very good players. They could still open holes in the run game, and pass blocking at center with 2 guards who allowed no sacks doesn't seem all that bad.