Re-visiting the Oakland Raiders class of 2007

The Oakland Raiders 2007 season was not a memory that any fan wants stashed away in their memory banks. Sometimes it is just best to forget about things and move on with your life. However, if there is going to be a turnaround for this franchise moving forward, you could perhaps look to the rookie class of 2007 Oakland Raiders as the turning point that laid the foundation for the shift towards a “re”-commitment to excellence. Granted, Al Davis and Lane Kiffin fueled a duel of epic proportions between themselves that year, but it did produce one of the better draft classes of the decade for the Oakland Raiders. In this article I will analyze the best (and some of the worst) pick-ups by the team in the 2007 season.

Let’s start by looking at the team’s departures from the season:

February 22, 2007–

QB Aaron Brooks cut

March 2, 2007 Declared Free Agents–

S Derrick Gibson, OG Corey Hulsey, LB Grant Irons,

OT Chad Slaughter,

CB Duane Starks, QB Marques Tuiasosopo, OT Langston Walker, WR Alvis Whitted,

CB Tyrone Poole

September 2, 2007 Released-

FB Zack Crockett, S Donovin Darius,

TE O.J. Santiago, DT Josh Shaw, OT Chad Slaughter

 WR Alvis Whitted

September 2, 2007 Waived-       

TE James Adkisson, C Jesse Boone, G Kevin Boothe, LB Kurt Campbell, LB Kyle Shotwell,

DB Marquice Cole, S Eric Frampton, WR Carlos Francis, WR Chris McFoy,

P/K Tyler Fredrickson, DT Anttaj Hawthorne, DE Quentin Moses, DE Dave Tollefson,

OT Mark Wilson

You’ll notice that WR Alvis Whitted was declared a free agent in March, resigned, and eventually cut from the team prior to the season. You’ll also notice that first pick of the third round in 2007, Quentin Moses, was also waived before the season even began. That means that the first pick of the draft, JaMarcus Russell, as well as the first pick of the third round, Moses, were both complete failures and have not amounted to anything at the NFL level. It’s also worth noting that when Moses was waived, Russell had yet to sign a contract after holding out for the entire 2007 offseason. Yet, somehow, this class still could end up being that foundation that I mentioned in the opening statement. Here is the list of the 2007 Raiders Rookie Class:

Of this draft class, two players made Levi Damien’s “09 Season Ballers” list; TE Zach Miller and HB Michael Bush. Other notable players from this class include starting left tackle Mario Henderson, PR/KR and part time WR Johnnie Lee Higgins, and solid back-up defensive end Jay Richardson. All five of these players have made impacts on the Raiders squad during their time with the team.

Perhaps the most noteworthy player is Zach Miller. For the past two seasons, Miller has led the team in receptions and yardage. Despite being blanketed by heavy coverage during most of the 2009 season, Miller still improved on his stats over his 2008 numbers. He is widely regarded as the most reliable Raiders receiving threat and managed a spot on the 2009 Pro Bowl roster as an alternate. Miller will most likely establish himself as one of the Raiders all-time great tight ends before it is all said and done. There have been times when Miller has made some of the worst QB’s look really good during his career already, and it will be good for him to get a chance to work with a guy like Jason Campbell or Bruce Gradkowski for an entire season.

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Johnnie Lee Higgins could see his job become jeopardized with the installment of new rookie wide receiver Jacoby Ford. Alongside the further advancement of WR Chaz Schilens, Louis Murphy, and Darrius Heyward-Bey, the wide receiving core has not been this crowded in a long time. Throw in the fact that last year’s preseason sensation UDFA Nick Miller should return to the squad and the fact that Todd Watkins might have been the best looking wide receiver in mini-camp this year and it becomes painfully obvious that Higgins has really got to bring it this year. Certainly, Higgins has had his moments for the Silver and Black. His 2008 season was his best by far, when he led the Raiders wide receivers in receptions and yardage and returned three punts for touchdowns; cutting a back flip at the end of one of them in the back of the endzone. Personally, I believe that Higgins would provide a great threat as an outside receiver for the squad if given the chance. Many others believe he is best suited to play in the slot, but his lack of ability in changing direction on routes definitely holds him back regardless of his position on the field. One thing is certain; Higgins will be fighting for his life in this offseason.

Mario Henderson is considered to be a solid starting offensive tackle in the NFL. The doubts do not lie in whether or not he is a worthy starter in the NFL, but rather whether or not he is the best option at left tackle. I will say, however, that he was very solid on the left side while Robert Gallery was starting to his inside. And although he gave up 10 ½ sacks during the 2009 season, it is also important to remember that 4 of those sacks were in one game against the Redskins when Robert Gallery was absent from the line-up. With another year under his belt and an entire offseason with which offensive line coach turned Head Coach Tom Cable is going to be able to focus more on his craft, Mario Henderson could indeed be the best left tackle on this squad again in 2010. There is no doubt however, that rookie Jared Veldheer will be breathing down his neck for that starting spot this year.    

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Michael Bush is widely regarded as the Raiders best threat out of the backfield since the release of Justin Fargas. Bush is responsible for the last three 100 yard rushing performances by a Raiders tailback, including two times in 2009. As Levi Damien points out in his Ballers and Busters, “Bush is a streaky player; he has good days and not so good days. But when he is good, he is really good.” Michael was a standout in college and widely regarded as the one of the top two halfbacks in the 2007 rookie class, along with the Vikings Adrian Peterson. Unfortunately for Bush (but quite fortunately for the Raiders), he broke his leg in the first game of his senior season and missed most of his first rookie season for the Raiders after being placed on the non-football injury list by the club. I believe Bush is the most well rounded halfback on the Oakland squad and I look forward to him being the Ray Rice of the Raiders offense under new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson in 2010.

Jay Richardson could be the most underrated player on the Raiders defensive line altogether. At 6’6″ and 280 pounds, Richardson is a legitimate and stout defensive end who has earned his spot on this roster before the preseason even begins and could push for a starting spot with the release of last year’s starter Greg Ellis. Thus far in his three year career as a back-up, Richardson has produced 109 tackles and 7 sacks. His two best games in 2009 came against the Houston Texans, when he had five tackles and a sack, and against Cincinnati when he racked up six tackles with one tackle for a loss. Regardless of whether he earns a starting spot, he has made improvements to his game every year he has suited up for the Raiders, and is a valuable depth player at his position.

Aside from the rookies, the 2007 Raiders class was not much to write home about. It included HB Dominick Rhodes, a trade with the Detroit Lions for WR Mike Williams (who was waived in October 2007) and QB Josh McCown (whom I called McCLOWN all season), QB Daunte Culpepper, safety Donovin Darius who was cut before the season began, CB Duane Starks, QB Josh Booty, DE Dave Tollefson, OT Mark Wilson, DE Charlton Keith, FB Justin Griffith, TE Fred Wakefield, and DE Bill Swancutt.

Personally, I always felt it was a mistake to let Culpepper go following the season as he would’ve provided nice leadership to rookie QB JaMarcus Russell. I do understand the move to let him go, however, as he battled injuries throughout the year and was eventually placed on IR. In addition to Culpepper, Justin Griffith provided a solid fullback while he was in the Silver and Black uniform and a large portion of the success of the NFL’s 6^th best running game that year  is due to the fact that Griffith was on the squad.

But the cream of the crop in 2007 was the draft class for certain, and many of the players selected will have an opportunity to be an important part of a squad that is looking to turn the bad habits into winning ways. As I said at the beginning of the article, the five players outlined in this article could be considered the foundation of this team moving forward as the Raiders attempt to break the string of consecutive 11 loss seasons in 2010 and become a competitive team once again that their opponents actually prepare diligently for before games.  

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