Black Hole to Claim Top Overall Pick
Not only is Ace an winning football handicapper providing winning NFL sports picks on a weekly basis. But we also cover the NFL and NCAA news 365 days a year resulting in well written articles for our readers. Since their loss in the all-pirate Super Bowl against Tampa Bay, the Oakland Raiders have plummeted down a very steep hill. At the same time, the “black hole” has become all too literal for some top players. Randy Moss went to Oakland and suddenly stopped causing defensive coordinators to lose sleep. Robert Gallery, the second overall pick in 2004 and seen as one of the best offensive line prospects in years, has not yet seen his potential turn to success. Pirate Bowl opponent and all-pro Warren Sapp seems to have disappeared into the black hole as well since joining the Raiders as a free agent. Now trying to climb their way back up the hill, the Raiders will have the first pick in April’s draft. Rated by most experts as the best talent in the draft along with one of the most promising in years, Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson is making the Raiders’ decision a difficult one.
Though at 6’4” and 237 pounds Calvin Johnson may be a once-in-a-decade type receiver, the Raiders have no one to throw the ball to him. Aaron Brooks throws a great deep ball, but that’s the extent of his ability. He seems incapable of consistently making good decisions. Oakland’s defense showed some potential in 2006, but the offense lacked leadership and was simply a disgrace statistically. The Raiders pass offense ranked 31st overall and scored only 7 touchdowns, causing bettors to wager against the Raiders NFL betting lines each and every week. The next four worst teams, Minnesota, Tennessee, Houston and Tampa Bay, threw for 13, 13, 14 and 14 respectively.
JaMarcus Russell had a 61.86 completion percentage at LSU and threw for 52 touchdowns in 29 games as a starter, and capped it all off by leading the Tigers to a Sugar Bowl victory over Notre Dame in January. At 6’6”, 263 pounds with a cannon of an arm, he’s a physical freak with size along with running ability. Russell is also a great leader, as the only quarterback to take LSU to double digit victories in consecutive years and engineered eight fourth quarter come-from-behind victories in the ’06 season.
The Raiders’ frivolity demands more than a playmaker on the outside to catch passes thrown by a mediocre quarterback. The only way to bring the franchise back to playoff contention and respectability is to develop a quality quarterback and team leader.
-AB
