Raiders 2019 NFL Draft Round 1 Recap

Day 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft is a wrap and the Raiders have made all three of their first round selections. They tanked enough to get #4 overall pick. They get additional late first round picks from the Bears and the Cowboys since they traded Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper respectively. The Gruden/Mayock regime can't possibly screw this up correct? Let's take a look at their selections and I provide my own personal thoughts on them.

#4: Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson

The top 5 pick that surprised a whole lot of analysts that covered a lot of mock drafts prior. So, this is the reason why Gruden and Mayock sent their scouts home? I got a chance to see Ferrell play against Alabama in the National Title game. I was paying close attention to he and Quinnen Williams as I thought the Raiders would get both players back-to-back. Not the case today as the Jets took Williams at #3. Clelin Ferrell is not a bad player. He was key in disrupting Alabama's offense and not allowing Tua Tagovailoa to turn loose as the Tigers rolled over the Tide that game. Then again, that Clemson D-line was stacked with all kinds of talent and Ferrell without question is a 1st round talent. He's ranked as a top 10 DE/EDGE rusher in this draft. High character, coming from a military family. He's exactly what the Raiders needed to shore up the pass rush that was non-existent since they gave away Mack to Chicago. The only problem is that he was taken a little too early. Most mock drafts had him as a mid-late 1st rounder. Again, I thought the Raiders would've used their late 1st round picks to get him or they could've traded down and he still would've been on the board. Bosa went at #2. Williams at #3. The top defensive prospects are gone, so why not trade down, accumulate more picks, and still get Ferrell? Another thing is that other top prospects like Josh Allen out of Kentucky was still on the board. But, the Raiders selected Ferrell because he's a better scheme fit. The number one rule for teams with a top 5 pick is that you use that pick for a need. You use it for an impact player that can help right away, hence why I and along with a few others were stunned that they reached for Ferrell this early. Like I said, he's not a bad player. He's just overvalued for a #4 overall pick. Inserting him with Hurst, Hall, and Key on that D-line is going to be Paul Guenther's big project. That line is filled with a lot of promise and unknowns.

#24: Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama

From the Khalil Mack trade obviously. There's a lot of uncertainty at the running back position with Marshawn Lynch retiring (again) and Doug Martin remaining unsigned (like the Raiders need him). They did sign Isaiah Crowell this offseason to address RB. With this selection, they might potentially have added their bell cow back of the future. I didn't get to see much of Josh Jacobs in the championship game vs. Clemson. Alabama got destroyed so they couldn't rely on the running game too much. But from what I've heard and looking at his highlights, he's versatile and can fit in a zone or power scheme. He's shown some flashes as a solid pass catching back, has a nose for the end zone, and possesses some good speed when he hits one big hole. He's pretty shifty with his feet as well. Given that and his pass catching ability, I'm probably assuming that Josh Jacobs is more of a scat back. He's definitely a perfect replacement for Beast Mode since Marshawn is a similar runner. The only knock on Jacobs is that Alabama's running backs are hard to trust when they go to the NFL. Think Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy, T.J. Yeldon, Derrick Henry (TBD), etc. Alabama RBs have been on a downward trend lately and many are figuring out that they're byproducts of Alabama's pro-ready O-line. Nonetheless, The competition at RB is heating up with Jacobs and Crowell expected to be #1 and #2. And then Richard, D-Wash, and CW III (Chris Warren III) projected to fight for that #3 spot.

#27: Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State

I initially projected the Raiders to go defense heavy with all three of their first round picks. I wouldn't be surprised if they used one of those picks to get a DB. And they did address that with their last pick of the draft. Last year, the Raiders' secondary started to turn the corner. Karl Joseph broke out since taking over for Reggie Nelson. Gareon Conley was finally 100% and showed some flashes of being a shutdown corner. Thank goodness they didn't bring back old-@$$ Reggie Nelson and signed LaMarcus Joyner from the Rams. I'm being a little off topic here, so let's go back. The Raiders select Johnathan Abram. He was the leading tackler in the SEC Conference. He's a hard-hitting safety that excels in whenever Mississippi State's defense stacks the box. He's also a versatile safety, able to play both Free, Strong and can easily be plugged into playing as a nickel corner. I'm not sure if this pick indicates that the writing is on the wall for Karl Joseph. He's a free agent by season's end. We'll see what happens. But, the Raiders are stacking a lot of depth in the secondary. They're deep especially at the Safety position with Joseph, Joyner, Erik Harris, Curtis Riley, and now, Johanathan Abram.

A Season in Review: 2018-19 Lakers

*Some NSFW language*

This was quite a week for the Los Angeles Lakers and not in a good way. Perhaps the shitstorm that's going on in La La Land was right on queue for me to post our annual Season in Review post for the 2018-19 Lakers. What started as a season full of hope and optimism turned into a nightmare and it doesn't stop there with all the major turnover that is going on inside a franchise that was once the "gold standard" of the NBA. Let's recap a bit here.

When the Lakers brought in LeBron James, we were elated that the Lakers finally landed that superstar free agent they desperately coveted. They landed the NBA's biggest star and they were the talk of the league once again. To complement the acquisition of LeBron, Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka added Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee, and Lance Stephenson, players all with playoff and championship saviness to help turn the Laker boys into men. With LeBron, the young core, and the one-year vets, the Lakers got off to a solid start. They played above .500 basketball, were #4 in the West, and they blew out the 2x defending champion Warriors in Oakland on Christmas Day. The game proved that the Lakers were back and they were back with a vengeance.

And simultaneously after that game, the Lakers were never the same again. The Lakers lose LeBron on a groin injury and he dozed off to the bright lights of Hollywood, caring more about Space Jam 2 and his collab with 2 Chainz rather than bringing the Lakers back to prominence (hence the load management). It also doesn't help that the Lakers Front Office pretty much put the entire team on notice for one Unibrow in New Orleans in Anthony Davis. Let's be honest, both sides made piss poor PR moves in this trade drama. But, it hurt the Lakers more because after that, nobody seemed to trust nobody. No NBA GM trusts Rob Pelinka. No player on the roster trust LeBron and his Klutch Sports agency because they failed in pulling the strings to get Anthony Davis to LA to play with LeBron. As a result for this consolation, the Lakers still managed to pull off some trades...by adding Reggie Bullock and Mike Muscala. **Excuse me while I take a step back and question reality.**

As LeBron went down with the groin injury, the injury bug spread to the Lakers' young core like a disease. Lonzo Ball never saw the court again with leg and ankle injuries. It's what happens when you wear those cheap, bootleg BBB sneakers. Brandon Ingram is currently fighting a career and life-threatening blood clot. Even with "playoff mode" activated, the burden was too much for LeBron to carry with a lot of postseason mileage and being in a competitive West instead of a weak East. The Lakers missed the playoffs yet again and Lou Williams and Patrick Beverly backed up their statements that the Clippers still have a stranglehold over LA given their more recent successes. 

Now that I've rambled on the general summary of how this season went, let's boil down to the shitshow that has happened in these couple days after a disappointing 37-45 finish to the season. Magic Johnson stepped down as President of Basketball Operations hours before the Lakers' final game against Portland. Maybe LaVar Ball was right, he was just the face of the Lakers, not a true basketball executive. Magic has a big smile and charismatic charm that he had since he came into the league. Unfortunately, that charisma has lead the Lakers to pay some hefty fines for tampering since he could not shut up about other teams' star players. Magic may be a business man, but he doesn't have a sharp eye for talent nor does he have the patience and competency in trusting a process. Exhibit A) trading D'Angelo Russell because he needed a "leader," Exhibit B) Putting the young core on the trade block to field a two-man superteam. No matter what happens, Magic is a powerful figure in Laker land regardless. He just doesn't have the moxie to coach or build a team. At least there's some things that Larry Bird has edged Magic out in. Per Magic's words, "he's a free bird now." Good luck Rob Pelinka, you're gonna need it.

A day after, the Lakers fire their athletic trainer. When a team has this many injuries in a season, definitely there has to be an overhaul of professional trainers and physical therapists. The tragic thing is, he was probably a protege of Gary Vitti, the Lakers' longtime athletic trainer until 2016. With the amount of injuries this season, obviously the Lakers need some new trainers to better condition players and make them as injury-free as possible.

As the Purple and Gold Rome burns day-by-day, the most inevitable departure happened. Head Coach Luke Walton gets the axe after three seasons. Both he and the Lakers "mutually parted ways." Despite coaching the Warriors to a 24-0 start, Luke was still green by pretty much inheriting his own team after being a part of the Steve Kerr coaching tree. We can't ignore the deficiencies that hindered his development. His rotations were questionable at best. He throws players out there, hoping some things work out rather than survey the matchups out there and sub in and out player to exploit some advantages. His set plays off timeouts were subpar at best. But let's be honest here, Luke could not properly establish the culture and system he wanted to bring to the Lakers because of high roster turnover in all of his three years with the Lakers. He was brought in to develop the young core. His first year, he intended to build a system around D'Angelo Russell. D'Lo gets traded, now Luke has to adjust around Zo, B.I., Kuz, and Randle. Randle leaves. Lakers bring LeBron and a couple of vets in and now, he can't fully implement his system because the "LeBron system" doesn't work that way. Despite all that, Luke helped improve the Lakers year-to-year from 26 wins to 35 wins to a whopping 37 wins. Yup, Luke was definitely the "fall guy" for the Lakers because the front office kept plugging square pegs into round holes around the roster. It wouldn't take long for Luke to find a job. He's a hot candidate for young teams in need of a player development-oriented coach.

Just when we thought the Lakers were trending in the right direction. The organization is being exposed into what it currently is: a Purple and Gold Shitshow. They've done it. They've pretty much become the Oakland Raiders of the NBA: a dysfunctional franchise that is clinging on to the glory days of the past. You know I thought it was only Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak that was destroying the Lakers from within, boy does it get worse with Jeanie Buss running the show? Honestly, what is the late Dr. Jerry Buss thinking about in the afterlife now as he sees his kids destroy his proud empire? You know? It's probably like what the late Al Davis is going through right now seeing Mark Davis burn the Raiders to the ground. It's tough to root for two dysfunctional teams that is making losing a normal conformity year after year after year: coaching carousels, high roster turnover, delusions of grandeur in chasing superstar free agents in their prime, vice versa, chasing the big names in the twilight of their career, and accumulating all kinds of draft assets and then stunting and demoralizing the growth of those young prospects because the front office does not know what the hell they're doing. 

The team is in shambles. They're pretty much rebooting the rebuilding process again. But, the biggest hurdle right now is the 4-year, $134 million contact they offered to bring an aging LeBron James in. Hmmm... doesn't this remind me of Kobe's final years? Hasn't the organization learn a goddamn thing that you must choose either to win now or build for the long-term and that there's no in-between the two paths? Especially with the latter being the better option among the two because it equates to long-term success? Look at how San Antonio built their team. Look at how Golden State built their team. The Lakers can't even try to develop and mold their own draft assets even if their organization's life depended on it. We get it, the draft is a 50/50 hindsight. The #1 pick is nearly a guaranteed superstar and the Lakers haven't had the luxury of a #1 pick in these past few years. But, this doesn't excuse the fact that the Lakers have accumulated a lot of young talent these past years only to throw them away as they find success elsewhere because the Lakers are so desperate to win championships right away. This is why free agents stay as far away as possible and I bet they're not even going to consider playing with LeBron and the Lakers with the shitshow that is going on there. Free agents do not care about past success, the amount of championships won, and the fact that it's the Lakers and it's LA. They care more about the long-term outlook of the team. Hence why the Lakers are horrifyingly out of touch with today's NBA! They're trending on a parallel path that has plagued the Raiders in the NFL since their Super Bowl hangover in 2002. "We can pry Jerry West away from the Clippers." Easier said than done given the Lakers had their chance and blew it. They have a GM that nobody trusts. The next head coach is likely a puppet of LeBron. Free agents are monitoring this situation closely and it's more likely than not that the Lakers have no Plan B because no top free agent would want to come and play in LeBron's shadow.

Jeanie Buss, the ball is in your court. If you don't have a long-term plan to turn the Lakers around, then I'm afraid it might be time for a changing of the guard in ownership. For most of us fans that continue to preserve the "championship or bust" mentality, it's time to look in the mirror. Otherwise, the Lakers would continue to be in an endless loop of rebuilding and tearing back down and the cycle won't stop until they have a firm plan and identity in place for the long run. That's my rant/review for the year. We'll see what's in store for the offseason.

Lakers Weekly Roundup (03/31): Oh, Now They Start Winning?

*Some NSFW language*

A few more games after this week remain. It's a time where good teams start resting their star players sitting comfortably in their playoff spots and where bad teams start picking up G-League players to showcase their potential in making the team. The Lakers have long been eliminated from the playoffs, but they still play on as the NBA demands it. It was a March to forget about as the Lakers took so many L's that they doomed their playoffs hopes. Now ever since they were eliminated, they started playing better. Let's be honest here, they played against teams that are tanking or have no shot at the playoffs whatsoever this week. As they pile up meaningless W's, they are on pace to break their win total from last year, despite finishing under .500 yet again, which is a big disappointment considering they went from 26 wins to 35 wins in Luke Walton's first two years as Head Coach. And more likely than not, he's fired by season's end. Let's get to the bottom of this week's Lakers Weekly Roundup.

03/26: vs. Washington 106-124 [W] (33-41)

HIGHLIGHTS

Lance Making Jeff Green Dance

You know? Games like this makes me wish that the NBA had an option to flex out games that are not worthy for national television. Kinda like what the NFL does. I mean, nobody wants to see two NFL teams with losing records headlining a Sunday Night game. It's understandable why this was nationally televised from the get-go. The Wizards were projected to be playoff team this year and LeBron James has made the Lakers relevant again and must-see TV. Now, these are two teams out of the playoff hunt and riddled with injuries. This game was easy pickings for the Lakers when Washington's only offense this game came out of Bradley Beal,  who's on an all-around tear these last few games. Beal had 32 points this game, but the Lakers beat the John Wall-less Wizards on an all-around team win. Ironic to say considering they tried to tear this locker room apart. But, it was all fun and games here. Lance Stephenson had the highlight of the night this game crossing up Jeff Green and making the Laker bench and Staples Center lose their minds. Even though Green clearly stepped on Lance's foot and slipped. With the game well out of reach, the Lakers debut their recent G-League tryout, Scott Machado, signed to a 10-day deal.

03/27: @ Utah 100-115 [L] (33-42)

HIGHLIGHTS

Back-to-back set, so no LeBron here. The Lakers were bound to lose this game. It's always a hostile crowd in Salt Lake City. With the Lakers having nothing to play for, the Jazz were well within reach of a playoff berth if they win this game. The Jazz took care of business behind a stellar game from Joe Ingles. John Stockton was reincarnated as an Aussie this game as Ingles carved up the Lakers with his passing, racking 14 assists and making Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors look good. Congrats Jazz, you've clinched a playoff berth. Nothing more to say here.

03/29: vs. Charlotte 115-129 [W] (34-42)

HIGHLIGHTS

Hornets fans, you have to implore his Airness to give Kemba Walker some help. The guy does so much for this team, but he's surrounded by a shit supporting cast. Lucky for the Hornets, they play in the East and their playoff hopes are still faintly alive. But, the Lakers dampen those playoff hopes a bit with this win as LeBron continues his shutout in head-to-head matchups against Kemba. I just found out that he has a 28-0 record all-time against him. That should be good enough for LeBron. Now, let's shut him down for the rest of the season.

03/31 @ New Orleans 130-102 [W] (35-42)

HIGHLIGHTS

Following up from the last post, the Lakers announced prior to this game that LeBron James will not play the rest of the season. I'd say it's a wise move. The guy has a lot mileage with 8 straight finals appearances and he hasn't been 100% since the groin injury in December. The playoffs are well out of reach, so there's no reason to push him to play out the remainder of the season.

Now that's that, time to give the Pelicans another beating for helping sabotage the Lakers' chemistry. Funny enough, the Pelicans listed Anthony Davis as probable for this game, then they ruled him out at the last minute. Honestly, who'd be stupid enough to play their disgruntled star player at this point of the season? To smite the team that tried to trade for him? Okay. Activate Alex Caruso's bald spot! Before we get into that, this was a revenge game for Rondo against his former team and he showed out with 24 points, 12 assists, and 2 steals. McGee also contributed with 23 points and 16 rebounds. But, it was the brilliant shooting of Alex Caruso and Reggie Bullock off the bench this game to help blow the Pelicans. Caruso lead the bench with 23 points to go along with 6 assists and 4 steals. He's been nothing short of solid when given the opportunity to go off the bench. But, we gotta give credit to the Laker defense in the 2nd half to spring the hot shooting. I was checking the plays on the Yahoo Sports app and they forced the Pelicans to turn the ball over like crazy to ignite the rout. Well, I'd say this probably the Lakers' last easy W this season. They got five more games against playoff contenders in the West (Golden State, Portland, OKC, Utah, Clippers). They'd be lucky to catch some of those teams resting players. Probably the team that won't likely rest players are the Warriors as they are neck-and-neck with the Nuggets for the #1 seed in the West. I probably won't be doing weekly roundups the rest of the way. I'll be heading straight for the annual Season-in-Review post. Anyway, here's to a strong finish to the season!