NFL Draft

Will La’el Collins Help Cowboys’ Running Game?

May 19, 2015 by Micheal Savoie

The Cowboys recently signed undrafted offensive lineman La’el Collins. As you may have heard, Collins was the 1st round talent who was not drafted due to a poorly timed murder investigation. His name has since been cleared and after visiting with several teams, he decided to sign with the Cowboys. Collins is expected to become the starter at guard, strengthening the best offensive line even further.

The Cowboys are poised to have one of the top running games in the league once again. All they need now is a running back. Or do they?

Many people expected the Cowboys to make a push for Adrian Peterson. That didn’t happen. After that, most assumed they would take an RB in the draft. The only question seemed to be if they would take one in the 1st round or wait until the later rounds. Well, they opted not to trade up for Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon and then surprised many people by drafting offensive tackle Chaz Green in the 3rd round over many of the talented running backs that went in the same round.

After that, they passed on all of the running backs in the 4th-7th rounds to end the draft with nothing more at the position then when they started. This has many people wondering what their plan really is. They have arguably the best offensive line in the league and no one to take advantage of it.

So what do they currently have? They have Darren McFadden and a stable of unproven talent which they hope to use as a committee but insiders are starting to talk about one player that could potentially be a huge sleeper.
That running back is Ryan Williams. The former 2nd round stud running back who nearly lost his career due to injuries. People are saying Ryan Williams has put on weight and looks like he did back in his rookie year. If this is true and his body can hold up, he will be placed behind the best run blocking offensive line in the league and will have no choice but to succeed tremendously.

This is really going out on a limb but if you are bold enough, a fully recovered and healthy Ryan Williams should be able to rival ex-Cowboys running back Demarco Murray’s rushing title from last season.

Although Williams has a chance to shine, the Cowboys could also go back to the free agent pool and find a guy like Knowshon Moreno or Chris Johnson – a couple of previously productive free agent running backs that could end up without a team by the preseason.

In Defense of Winston, as if he needs it.

May 4, 2015 by Micheal Savoie

Donald Trump spins his story by saying that he started with only $10,000 and built himself into one of the largest real estate moguls to ever exist. However, he leaves out that his father was a construction magnate. If he were not able to capitalize from his father’s success, $10,000 would have meant nothing. Yet, his success is lauded as one of the great American success stories. The truth is that in America, there are very few people that actually start from nothing and achieve mega stardom. This pool of people would be even more limited if these people had to navigate any of the obstacle to reach success before they were 21 years of age.

This is exactly what Jameis Winston has done. He is one of the rarest athletes to ever exist, and through withering schemes to thwart his success, he has succeeded in making something of nothing. There is not a single group of elite athletes that has not had to fend off questions of improprieties with women and other grand offenses. Contrast this with Winston. There was never any proof of his guilt, and the other things he did would have been done by a majority of teenagers. Yes, teenagers. Winston is not a grown man, but he is learning at lightning speed.

Recent Heisman winner and media favorite Marcus Mariota had the press, but Jameis Winston got the call first. The vast machinery that the NFL has to vet the athletes that will be gracing its ranks considers him solid also. This is especially true after the spate of bad news that the NFL has endured over the past year in this area. You can bet good money that they have upped their vetting game. In any case, Winston is in familiar territory. Although this may seem counterintuitive, it is not.

Winston was only a freshman when he carried one of the most storied programs in college football history and restored them to their proper dominance. His value in recruiting alone will be worth millions to the university, as if the Heisman and National Championships were not enough. There are plenty of valid reasons to hate athletes. Cheering for the good and loathing the bad is one of the releases that sports provides. So hate him because he is the opponent, and not because of people’s glaring biases.

The Raiders and the 2015 Draft: Wide Receivers

April 26, 2015 by Micheal Savoie

April 30th is fast approaching and the diehard fans of the Silver and Black are chomping at the bit trying to figure out how Mark Davis is going to handle the first round of the 2105 draft. Al Davis, the patriarch of the football empire, used his gut to make his picks, and always went for the best available player, but that has changed since Mark Davis has taken the reigns.

Last year, Mark looked to Reggie McKenzie, the General Manger, for advice and they deviated from the normal strategy. The number five overall pick, Khalil Mack (LB) fell into their laps and Raider Nation saw an instant difference in the defensive line. Also, with the addition of Derek Carr (QB) at number 36, fans could see a potential turnaround in the franchise. McKenzie has a penchant for wheeling and dealing like a used car salesman, so it should be no surprise to see him trading down for more picks.

According to NFL.com, the Raiders have a great chance to combine the strategies of father and son. With a number four overall pick and a need for a wide receiver, The Men in Black might actually have a chance of filling a position on their offense.

If there is any position that seems to be missing on the Raider’s roster, it has to be the Wide Receiver. Even with Michael Crabtree, James Jones, and Rod Streater one the roster, the Raiders still have an apparent need for a number one receiver.

This is where Alabama’s golden boy Amari Cooper comes in. Standing a 6’1″ and weighing 211 pounds, he is a long and lean powerhouse. Cooper was deservingly named the nation’s best receiver last season, after catching 124 passes for 1727 yards and 16 touchdowns, and he was only a junior.

His only competition comes from West Virginia. Kevin White, a Mountaineer senior, made the most of college career during the 2014 season. White stands 6’3″ and weighs 219 lbs., but holds his own against Cooper as far as stats are concerned. White received 109 passes that allowed him 1447 yards and 10 touchdowns. Mike Mayock, a NFL Network analyst has Kevin White over Amari Cooper, for two reasons, He believes White has a higher ceiling and greater potential.

Even with Cooper named number one, how will the Raiders handle this situation. Having the pick of two dynamos is a position that many of the teams behind Oakland would love to be in, so it is imperative that they make the best decision for the organization.

Kevin White and Amari Cooper are both power-driven and sought after performers on the field, and gifted enough in their own rights to haul in a tough catch for a third down, or flashing downfield to catch a bomb from the dominant arm of Derek Carr.

It is apparent that they need another proficient player to fill in their offense, and Bill Musgrave, the new offensive coordinator is going to need a weapon in his arsenal to cultivate Carr during his perilous second year.

With the unpredictable nature of the Raiders during the draft, the fans hope to see either of these athletes on the roster for the 2015 season. No matter which player is chosen on April 30, having the addition of either of these athletes is a step in the right direction to resurrect the Raiders from their 3-13 record of last year. Only time will tell if the changes in coaching staff and draft strategy will be enough to have the Raiders take their place back as one of the NFL’s most loved and respected teams.

From field reporter: Mellissa Webster