Power Ranking Number 25: Oakland Raiders

The JaMarcus Russell era in Oakland is over and many people are very excited to see that end and the Jason Campbell era being. Now will Campbell make the Raiders a better team the Russell yes, but good enough to fight for the division that is to still yet to be seen. The Raiders have some good running backs in Darren McFadden and Michael Bush but they need McFadden to step-up, stay health and play like the player they expected him to be when they drafted him in the first round a few years ago. He can be an explosive, game changing player, and with more consistent play at quarterback hopeful that will help him as well.

People have been killing the Raiders for drafting Darrius Heyward-Bey as the first overall wide receiver in the 2009 NFL Draft and he really needs to step-up his game and be the player that the Raiders expected with his homerun hitting type speed. The Raiders do have one of the more underrated tight end’s in Zach Miller and he should be able to help Jason Campbell in the passing game.

On defense they drafted linebacker Rolando McClain in the first round and expect big things from him this season. Defensive linemen Richard Seymour is back for his second season with the Raiders and should help their transition to the 3-4 defense. Nnamdi Asomugha is a shut down type cornerback and one of the best in the NFL.

The Raiders will be better this season and in a down AFC West they could make some noise and with Campbell at a place where he is wanted he could excel.

Top 10 ILB’s for 2010 NFL Draft

Here are my top ten inside linebackers and some sleepers to watch.

1. Rolando McClain, Alabama
2. Sean Lee, Penn State
3. Donald Butler, Washington
4. Jamar Chaney, Mississippi State
5. Brandon Spikes, Florida
6. Pat Angerer, Iowa
7. Phillip Dillard, Nebraska
8. Travis Goethel, Arizona State
9. Danny Batten, South Dakota State
10. Matt Mayberry, Indiana

Sleepers:
Boris Lee, Troy
Vincent Rey, Duke
Alex Joseph, Temple

2010 NFL Mock Draft 5.0

1. St. Louis Rams – QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
2. Detroit Lions – DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma
4. Washington Redskins – OT Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
5. Kansas City Chiefs – S Eric Berry, Tennessee
6. Seattle Seahawks – OT Trent Williams, Oklahoma
7. Cleveland Browns – S Earl Thomas, Texas
8. Oakland Raiders – OT Bryan Bulaga, Iowa
9. Buffalo Bills – OT Anthony Davis, Rutgers
10. Jacksonville Jaguars – LB Rolando McClain, Alabama
11. Denver Broncos – WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
12. Miami Dolphins – OLB Sergio Kindle, Texas
13. San Francisco 49ers – CB Joe Haden, Florida
14. Seattle Seahawks – RB C.J. Spiller, Clemson
15. N.Y. Giants – OLB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
16. Tennessee Titans – DE Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida
17. San Francisco 49ers – QB Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame
18. Pittsburgh Steelers – OG Mike Iupati, Idaho
19. Atlanta Falcons – DE Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech
20. Houston Texans – DT Dan Williams, Tennessee
21. Cincinnati Bengals – TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma
22. New England Patriots – DT Jared Odrick, Penn State
23. Green Bay Packers – OT Charles Brown, USC
24. Philadelphia Eagles – CB Kyle Wilson, Boise State
25. Baltimore Ravens – CB Devin McCourty, Rutgers
26. Arizona Cardinals – OLB Brandon Graham, Michigan
27. Dallas Cowboys – S Taylor Mays, USC
28. San Diego Chargers – RB Ryan Mathews, Fresno State
29. N.Y. Jets – NT Terrence Cody, Alabama
30. Minnesota Vikings – C Maurkice Pouncey, Florida
31. Indianapolis Colts - DT Brian Price, UCLA
32. New Orleans Saints – DE Everson Griffen, USC

2010 NFL Combine: LB Overview

List of Linebackers Invited to NFL Combine:
Outside Linebackers:
Jason Beauchamp, UNLV
Kyle Bosworth, UCLA
Navorro Bowman, Penn State
Keenan Clayton, Oklahoma
Justin Cole, San Jose State
Harry Coleman, LSU
Kavell Conner, Clemson
Rennie Curran, Georgia
AJ Edds, Iowa
Cody Grimm, Virginia Tech
Keaton Kristick, Oregon State
Simomi Lawrence, Minnesota
Sean Lee, Penn State
Samuel Maxwell, Kentucky
Eric Norwood, South Carolina
Perry Riley, LSU
Steven Sylvester, Utah
Dekoda Watson, Florida State
Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri

Inside Linebackers:
Pat Angerer, Iowa
Donald Butler, Washington
Lee Campbell, Minnesota
Jamar Chaney, Mississippi State
Phillip Dillard, Nebraska
Travis Goethel, Arizona State
Josh Hull, Penn State
Micah Johnson, Kentucky
Boris Less, Troy
Rolando McClain, Alabama
Mike McLaughlin, Boston College
Roddrick Muckelroy, Texas
Darryl Sharpton, Miami
Brandon Spikes, Florida
Nathan Triplett, Minnesota
Daryl Washington, TCU
Kion Wilson, South Florida

Juniors:
Navorro Bowman, Penn State
Rennie Curran, Georgia
Rolando McClain, Alabama

Played in Senior Bowl:
Donald Butler, Washington
Jamar Chaney, Mississippi State
Phillip Dillard, Nebraska
Roddrick Muckelroy, Texas
Darryl Sharpton, Miami
Dekoda Watson, Florida State
Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
Daryl Washington, TCU

Played in East – West:
Mike McLaughlin, Boston College
Kavell Conner, Clemson
Jamar Chaney, Mississippi State
Kion Wilson, South Florida
Keaton Kristick, Oregon State
Lee Campbell, Minnesota
Steven Sylvester, Utah

Played in Texas vs. Nation:
Simomi Lawrence, Minnesota
Travis Goethel, Arizona State
Josh Hull, Penn State
Boris Less, Troy
Nathan Triplett, Minnesota

Storylines:
Navorro Bowman - Can Bowman show enough at the NFL Combine to make him worthy of a 1st round pick.

Justin Cole - Cole is one of the many players who fits into a 3-4 defense as an outside linebacker.

Harry Coleman - Coleman played linebacker this season for LSU, but should be a safety in the NFL.

Rennie Curran - Can Curran show that he has the speed and quickness to make up for the lack of height.

Sean Lee - Can all of Lee's medical information come out possitive.

Eric Norwood - Is Norwood a linebacker in the 4-3 or 3-4 defense?

Sean Weatherspoon - Weatherspoon had a great week at the Senior Bowl and can he follow it up with a great week at the NFL Combine?

Pat Angerer - He should run in the 4.4, which will be huge for him.

Donald Butler - Butler showed speed and athleticism at the Senior Bowl and needs to show it again at the NFL Combine.

Travis Goethel - Goethel had 10 tackles at the Texas vs. the Nation game and could help himself somemore with a good week at the combine.

Rolando McClain - McClain might be one of the best athletes at any position.

Brandon Spikes - Spikes came into the season with a 1st round grade and now has dropped, can he help his stock at the NFL Combine?

Daryl Washington - Washington is a player some people feel has jumped into the late 1st round.

VanFulpen's Top 25 NFL Draft Prospects

Here are my top 25 prospects for the 2010 NFL Draft Pre-NFL Combine.

1. DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
2. DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma
3. S Eric Berry, Tennessee
4. DE Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech
5. CB Joe Haden, Florida
6. LB Rolando McClain, Alabama
7. OT Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
8. WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
9. DE Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida
10. QB Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame
11. QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
12. OT Anthony Davis, Rutgers
13. DE Carlos Dunlap, Florida
14. RB C.J. Spiller, Clemson
15. DT Dan Williams, Tennessee
16. OG Mike Iupati, Idaho
17. OT Trent Williams, Oklahoma
18. DT Brian Price, UCLA
19. S Earl Thomas, Texas
20. OT Bryan Bulaga, Iowa
21. CB Kyle Wilson, Boise State
22. DE Brandon Graham, Michigan
23. S Taylor Mays,
24. DT Jared Odrick, Penn State
25. DE Everson Griffen, USC