Quote
Barf33
No disrespect but you are conveniently not listing any of McKenzie's misses. And there were plenty. Again I live here. I'm actually around that organization a bit because many Saturday's I work the visitor's locker room @ the Colliseum. Let's just say McKenzie wasn't on many Christmas card lists.
I know this gets old but if we are listing his hits then:
Aaron Donald
Alec Olgletree
Trumaine Johson
Todd Gurley
William Hayes FA
Michael Brockers
TJ McDonald
Yes Carr and Cooper have gone A LONG WAY in McKenzie's success.
Then please list his misses for me? He didn't even have a 2012 draft as they basically had no picks. Look back at the top 2-3 picks in every draft between 2013-2016. CB DJ Hayden is the only real miss but is still on the roster as a backup. DE Mario Edwards (who was a 2nd round pick) underperformed, but has also been hurt and on IR since last season. Who else?
2016
1. Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia - Starter
2. Jihad Ward, DE, Illinois - Starter
3. Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State - Backup
2015
1. Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama - Starter
2. Mario Edwards Jr., DE, FLorida State - IR
3. Clive Walford, TE, Miami - Starter
2014
1. Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo - Starter
2. Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State - Starter
3. Gabe Jackson, G, Mississippi State - Starter
2013
1. DJ Hayden, CB, Houston - Backup
2. Menelik Watson, T, Florida State - Starter
3. Sio Moore, LB, Connecticut - Traded - Started as rookie and in 22 games Raiders first two seasons before having hip surgery and was never the same.
McKenzie received a 2016 6th round pick form the Colts for LB Sio Moore. With that pick McKenzie drafted current starting rookie MLB Cory James from Colorado State.
When you say McKenzie wasn't on many Christmas card lists, what does that mean? He was disliked by people inside the organization? If so, for what reasons? Was he a hard guy to get along with? Was it the fans? Because they were too impatient for him to rebuild a team that he had to blow up?
I listed Gurley and the Rams offensive players.
There is no question Fisher does a good job with the defense and prioritizes his draft picks on them. You named 5 good defensive starters he has drafted with 3 being 1st round picks over 5 years. I`m not discrediting what he has done for the defense, but keep in mind he has had 8 1st round picks over 5 years whereas McKenzie has only had 4. And if the Rams were 7-2 like the Raiders and playing great football, this wouldn't be a conversation.
Yes, and McKenzie drafted both Carr and Cooper. And Mack! And the 3 of them have made a significant difference for the Raiders and why they are winning today and have a great future. That's my point of this whole thread.
“The moment we want to believe something, we suddenly see all the arguments for it, and become blind to the arguments against it.”
George Bernard Shaw