Holla At Me Raider Nation!
 
I know I should be "excited" about the new blood our team just drafted; However, it's going to take just a bit more then the end of the draft to get me to start bouncing around. It's going to take something like let's say, the start of the regular season to get me "excited".
 
Until then I'm just going to have to maintain my composure, and find ways to entertain myself. With that in mind I was thinking about how this is the first time in my life that our beloved Oakland Raiders have had a draft without Al Davis.
 
I know that all of Raider Nation has been hearing, and reading about how McKenzie and Allen are looking to "change" the Raiders. I also know that we've been hearing the Al Davis "haters" saying: "Now that Al (Davis) isn't running the team, the Raiders are going to draft football players." (as if Al Davis didn't draft football players!!)
 
Usually it takes two, or three seasons before we can tell if the players that we've drafted are going to be an intricate part of the team; Therefore, more than likely we're not going to be able to tell right away weather or not McKenzie and Allen have had a successful draft day. However, I thought it might be interesting to take a quick look at the players McKenzie and Allen drafted; As well as the last two years of the Al Davis Dynasty, to see if we can find any "football players" in the group.
 
Note: No first or second round picks are listed because we didn't have any for 2012.
 
Raider Draft Picks 2012
 
Round Three: Tony Bergstrom- OG Additions to the offensive line have to be viewed as a good thing (unless your name is Robert Gallery).

 

Round Four: Miles Burris- OLB - Drafted to attack the quarterback; I do believe it was Al Davis who said that the quarterback much go down, and he must go down hard! (but I could be mistaken)

 

Round Five: Jack Crawford- DE - Drafted to add dept to a position that quite frankly could never be too deep.
 

Round Five: Juron Criner- WR Drafted to be a possession receiver; Has good hands, should be another weapon on offense to help keep the chains moving.

 

Round Six: Christo Bilukidi- DT - I remember when D.H.B. was picked; People were asking "Who the hell is Darius Heyward-Bey?" Well, people know who D.H.B. is now!! Maybe one day the same thing will be said about Mr. Bilukidi. He's from a "small school"  However, Al was know for picking talented players from small schools and molding them into Raiders (let's hope the tradition can continue).

Round Seven:  Nathan Stupar- OLB Another defensive pick. Solid player who should add depth.
 
 
Raider Draft Picks 2011
 
Round Three: Joe Barksdale- OT - Still with Oakland; Improving player

Round Three: DeMarcus Van Dyke- DB Still with Oakland; Improving player that should see more game time action.

 Round Four: Chimdi Chekwa- DB - Still with Oakland. Should see more playing time now that Oakland has dumped Standford Routt.

Round Five: Denarius Moore- WR - Still with Oakland; Is a player who's future looks bright.

 Round Six: Richard Gordon- TE - Still with Oakland; Improving player. 
 
Raider Draft Picks 2010
 
Round Three: Jared Veldheer- OL - Still with Oakland; Improving player who's future looks bright.

 

Round Four: Bruce Campbell- OL - Not with Oakland any longer; However, he is a good player.

 

Round Four: Jacoby Ford- WR - Still with Oakland; Moreover, not only is Jacoby a good football player he's someone the Raiders need to use more.

 

Round Five: Walter McFadden- RB - Not with Oakland; However, Walter does have talent.

 

Round Six: Travis Goethal- LB - Still with Oakland; Injured however, is a good football player.

 

Round Seven: Stevie Brown- DB - Not with Oakland any longer; However, he is a good football player.

 

I don't know about the rest of Raider Nation but I can certainly see some "Football Players" on this list. I'll just give you two names: Denarius Moore & Jacoby Ford. Two players drafted by Al Davis that Dennis Allen should put to work to help this team win games. Who said Al Davis didn't draft football players?