Raiders sign WR Willie Snead

[Frankie2Gunz]

3 minutes ago, NYRaider said:

On defense having a dominant DL, CB, or FS makes a world of a difference. A disruptive DL can blow up a game himself, commands double teams which frees up other DL and LB's from blocks, and also shortens the time that DB's have to hold up in coverage. A dominant cornerback can take away half of the field. And a dominant FS on the backend is a security blanket that can make up for the mistakes of other guys and gives the defensive coordinator the ability to take more risks with blitz, etc. 

That's why the Rams defense has been so good. Even when they lose guys their defense doesn't skip a beat. Because having Donald and Ramsey makes everyone else's jobs 100x easier. 

Those are the main reasons why our D sucks and continues to suck. We have nothing close to AD or a lock down, elite Cb. We have a number 2 as our number 1 and if Arnette reaches his potential, based on what I have seen he is at best an average 2.  We can combine every one of our interior lineman into one player and still not have AD.  We have patchwork, castoff trash as our 3T's and pray that one can generate some type of pressure. 

[NYRaider]

Just now, Frankie2Gunz said:

Those are the main reasons why our D sucks and continues to suck. We have nothing close to AD or a lock down, elite Cb. We have a number 2 as our number 1 and if Arnette reaches his potential, based on what I have seen he is at best an average 2.  We can combine every one of our interior lineman into one player and still not have AD.  We have patchwork, castoff trash as our 3T's and pray that one can generate some type of pressure. 

I agree. The main reason that our defense has been poor is because we lack a true difference maker at all 3 levels. We haven't had a DL that commands double teams since Mack left and we haven't had a great shutdown CB since Nnamdi left. 

When you look back at our last 20 drafts the only defensive linemen we've drafted in the 1st round are Mack and Ferrell. 

[Frankie2Gunz]

2 minutes ago, NYRaider said:

I agree. The main reason that our defense has been poor is because we lack a true difference maker at all 3 levels. We haven't had a DL that commands double teams since Mack left and we haven't had a great shutdown CB since Nnamdi left. 

When you look back at our last 20 drafts the only defensive linemen we've drafted in the 1st round are Mack and Ferrell. 

If we had an AD or a Chris Jones our D would take a step forward.  Until that issue is addressed our D will continue to disappoint. 

I do like the YN signing but for him to truly elevate this D from the cellar he will have to command a double, win and generate around 12 sacks.  I don't know if that is possible

[NYRaider]

2 minutes ago, Frankie2Gunz said:

If we had an AD or a Chris Jones our D would take a step forward.  Until that issue is addressed our D will continue to disappoint. 

I do like the YN signing but for him to truly elevate this D from the cellar he will have to command a double, win and generate around 12 sacks.  I don't know if that is possible

It really won't matter how great Yannick and Crosby are off the edge if our interior pass rush is non existent, QB's will just step into the pocket. 

[G]

I get why people don't like this signing at this moment in time. However or BUTTTTT Carr's #1 target is his TE Waller and with good reason. He's a mismatch for most to cover. He's the only 1,000 yard receiver. 5 of our WR's will get 500-700 yards each which is already 3500 yards add the RB's and some tosses to other TE's and Carr will be on track for his best season ever. However....We really need to protect him. Butttt we really need to get the defense better and below 20's.

To 'solve' this problem because SOLUTIONS are all that matter not griping for pages about whatever that doesn't change a damn thing so a 'possible solution is found in the draft.

First 2 picks will be a Tackle and Safety. Unless we already have an agreement of sorts with Boston (comes in late) or Hooker is just waiting for a better offer. The Tackle situation is probably solved with a pick. If a top 3 Tackle is there then they are the pick. If we can trade down then a lower tier tackle or FS is on the plate. Move up in the 2nd to secure a Tackle as soon as there's a run which is usually when the position you're waiting on isn't picked for a bit and then one is and then 3 will be over 4-5 picks. I don't want to trust rookies to start at positions of need and would rather get someone like Parsons, then a Tackle and then a S but that's too risky without some vets. 

Remeber 'Pass rushers are hard to find' and 'everybody wants to be a Raider' or whatever the commander has said...So I'm not 'on board' but I'd like to 'hope' the 10 million dollar man has a plan but...EGO is a hell of a drug...

[NYRaider]

2 minutes ago, G said:

. If we can trade down then a lower tier tackle or FS is on the plate. Move up in the 2nd to secure a Tackle as soon as there's a run which is usually when the position you're waiting on isn't picked for a bit and then one is and then 3 will be over 4-5 picks.

Considering our current needs I think that we go OT in the 1st and then hope that Grant is on the board at #48. If he's not hopefully Tre Boston is still a free agent. 

These issues could be solved by signing Schwartz and Boston before the draft. Because then we'd truly be in position to go BPA.

[drfrey13]

21 minutes ago, Frankie2Gunz said:

If we had an AD or a Chris Jones our D would take a step forward.  Until that issue is addressed our D will continue to disappoint. 

I do like the YN signing but for him to truly elevate this D from the cellar he will have to command a double, win and generate around 12 sacks.  I don't know if that is possible

That is why I want them to go after Reed if they get a chance and draft a DT early.  He is not the best DT but has shown to be above average.  19 sacks in his last 42 games is 1 short of Jefferson and Philon in their last 92 games combined.

[Jeremy408]

51 minutes ago, NYRaider said:

Crosby is going to play a lot and having him and Yannick both coming off of the edge is really going to help our pass rush. We just need our interior pass rush to be much better. 

100% agree. I like the guys we brought in because of their upside. Definitely leaps and bounds more talented in the interior than last year but We don't know if that's going to turn into production. The thing that really sucks is that Jaren reed came out now. 

[NYRaider]

4 minutes ago, Jeremy408 said:

100% agree. I like the guys we brought in because of their upside. Definitely leaps and bounds more talented in the interior than last year but We don't know if that's going to turn into production. The thing that really sucks is that Jaren reed came out now. 

I'm not confident it will happen but I really hope that David Irving can be the Darren Waller for our defensive line. 

[Frankie2Gunz]

1 minute ago, NYRaider said:

I'm not confident it will happen but I really hope that David Irving can be the Darren Waller for our defensive line. 

Meh, I am skeptical of anyone who's performance was PED enhanced. 

The guys hasn't produced since 2017 and is a proven quitter.  Let's just say I'm not holding my breath, 

[ronjon1990]

1 hour ago, Jeremy408 said:

1.  But most of those players you mentioned have actually nothing to do with Ngakoue’s ability to rush the pass rusher and apply the pressure he has(Irrespective or scheme). Only players that really apply on the list you gave would be the defense of lineman he played with because those are the potential players he is directly effected by. 

2.1 When it comes to Josh Allen,  I believe he was a prime benefactor of playing next to Ngakoue and Calais Campbell his rookie year(I actually said that last year). Only time will tell if that’s true because he got hurt this year so we didn’t get to find out.

3. Tyson Alualu wasn’t even remotely good until he went to the Steelers(where he was decent but not anything spectacular)

2.2 Ngakoue still manage to get 4 sacks then he was traded midseason

Responding a bit out of order, so I numbered them. 

1. The LBs and secondaries absolutely impact the ability of D-linemen to get to the passer. His big year in Sacksonville, they were ridiculously stingy in coverage. Our secondary is the drizzling $#!+$ and every two-bit offensive mind in the league knows that. Kwit and Littleton are ok-above average LBs, but we still got absolutely abused in the run game. (Somewhat Related Sidenote: I see some people referencing the Chiefs games, to which I say the Chiefs are the perfect example of a team buoyed by a transcendent QB, much like the Saints and Packers have long been. We got into shootouts with the Chiefs, which really isn't surprising to me. Our offense was far from awful, and the Chiefs D hasn't been a whole lot to write home about. Anyways, moving on.). When we can't cover anyone and teams know we can't stop the run, the pass rush suffers tremendously. That's Defense 101. Edge rushers, particularly pass rush specialists, are only as good as the defense around them. With poor coverage and shaky LB play, teams will simply abuse them with screens and quick passes- something we saw last year game after game. In Jacksonville, he played with Calais Cambell drawing attention, Malik Jackson being no slouch, Gipson, Bouye, and Ramsey providing very good-astounding coverage, solid run stopping LBs with Myles Jack and Telvin Smith (why isn't he still playing, btw?) being bonafide top 20 LBs during that span. The back end was covered, the short pass/screen game locked down, and O-lines having to scheme for 3 bonafide D-linemen in Yannick, Campbell, and Jackson. That's absolutely huge for a pass rusher and nothing we can remotely offer. 

2.1 & 2.2 Allen very well could have benefited from Campbell and Yannick, which only furthers my point: stats can get hyperinflated by virtue of who they're playing alongside. Again, nobody is saying Yannick is bad. But let's temper the expectations and get a dose of reality. Maybe Allen was a benefactor and one hit wonder, maybe he's the next coming of Kevine Greene. You're right that we can't tell yet. The same as we can't possibly know what Yannick's impact will be on a team with Swiss cheese coverage and a bunch of speed bump run defenders instead of his previous runs with some of the best secondaries and LB units in the league. He certainly didn't transform Minnesota's D, which wasn't nearly as bereft of talent as ours is. They have a better secondary than we have and far better LBs, though like us, they had glaring holes on the D-line. Didn't work out very well for them, and Mike Zimmer is a far better defensive mind than Gruden and Bradley. Once in Baltimore, he wasn't transformative either. He played alongside some good players there too and was alright, but hardly a star or Baltimore would've been trying harder to keep him. Thinking he's going to come into a defense with even worse talent and transform this ragtag bunch into a functional defense is nothing but hopes and prayers. Did we sign the sack master from Sacksonville, or did we sign the guy who gets 4 sacks alongside better talent than we can offer? It's a fair question as it wouldn't be the first time someone got a nice deal only to flop. I remember when Jadaveon Clowney was a can't miss Julius Peppers clone who was going to take the league by storm and knock helmets off of QBs (additional side note: Kenny Young has knocked off more helmets than Jedaveon Clowney). So I'm very harsh on signings with backgrounds that don't ooze consistent Probowl caliber play. 

3. Tyson Alualu was a fairly decent starter early in his career. Ironically, he's a guy who didn't live up to hype in terms of sacks, but has always been a solid DT. Point being, we would kill to have a Tyson Alualu at DT. Given the scrubs we have been plugging the D-line with, I dare say Alualu would have a bigger impact on the defense as a whole than Yannick will, simply for being an undeniable upgrade over what we have in the same position.

A decent player surrounded by decent players will always turn out better pigeonholing a superstar in with a bunch of scrubs. We've been through the "lets sign a superstar and the rest of the team will get better!" routine before when we plucked Randy Moss. The team around him sucked, and he made no impact, but sure did when around competent players in New England afterwards. Been there, done that bought jersey. 

I'll be 100% honest: I firmly believe that Yannick will come back to bite us in the @$$. The guy wasn't producing at any more of a clip than Crosby has. He wanted to get paid royally though, infinitely more than anyone here would be willing to pay Crosby going forward. I hope I'm wrong. I WANT to be wrong, because I'm tired of losing and hemorrhaging money to wasted signings. But I can't shake the feeling that Yannick knows he took a discount with the full intent of cashing in later. And you know what scares me about all of that history lesson? That Yannick isn't any more productive than Crosby but we fall for it and actually pay him royally and remain strapped for cash while chasing unicorns yet again based on a narrative that he's more than the record will support he is. 

As it stands, we have 5 glaring holes to fill with a starting caliber player (2 DTs, 1 LB [no, I'm not a believer in Morrow], NCB/CB2, FS) and 3 spots where upgraded play is needed to field anything close to respectable (DE, SS, CB2/NCB). I think people are severely underestimating just how many holes that is to fill, and relying on the Draft isn't going to cut it with our track record. Upgrading/filling 3-5 holes on D to even just mask the other numerous weak links is going to take at least 4 years at the rate we're drafting players worth playing on D. We didn't need a STAR player on D on a short lease with a bigger payday sure to come bite us. We needed STAR playerS on deals that will keep them around to see our longer term goals sink or swim as we draft and develop, or, we needed to focus on signing starting but not spectacular talent that rounds out a respectable roster. 

We've failed on that front, imo. We're signing short leases like we're the dynastic Patriots one player away from the promise land with a robust history of successfully plugging holes with guys chasing rings. We aren't building the foundation of a team, we've engaged in patchwork pipe dreaming that always ends in (another) rebuilding process. 

[Jeremy408]

3 minutes ago, NYRaider said:

I'm not confident it will happen but I really hope that David Irving can be the Darren Waller for our defensive line. 

That's also highly possible. But if not we only paid 1 million to get him. I think he starts though but Solomon Thomas has a lot of potential now that he's going to actually be used right as a 3T like he was at stanford

[NYRaider]

2 minutes ago, Frankie2Gunz said:

Meh, I am skeptical of anyone who's performance was PED enhanced. 

The guys hasn't produced since 2017 and is a proven quitter.  Let's just say I'm not holding my breath, 

But you loved Rankins who hasn't produced since 2018. Irving is an extremely talented player and has a great relationship with Rod. Waller also had issues with the substance abuse policy early on in his career and ever produced at a high level like Irving did in Dallas. He's only 27 years old and on a 1 yr deal I think we'll see his best football. 

[NYRaider]

4 minutes ago, Jeremy408 said:

That's also highly possible. But if not we only paid 1 million to get him. I think he starts though but Solomon Thomas has a lot of potential now that he's going to actually be used right as a 3T like he was at stanford

Quinton Jefferon has some juice as an interior pass rusher as well. 

[NickButera]

8 minutes ago, NYRaider said:

Quinton Jefferon has some juice as an interior pass rusher as well. 

I'm surprised his thread got buried after only 3 pages. I'm really high on him and think he's going to have a huge impact. His first two years getting snaps, on a very good seattle team, he was able to contribute more qb hits than games played.