With the draft just days away, we’ve moved into peak paranoid season in the NFL and the Raiders are a team looking to send mixed messages as much anyone else in the league.
At Friday’s pre-draft press conference, Pete Carroll and John Spytek were asked a pointed question about Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, and it was a mumbled message from Carroll to Spytek (caught by the microphones) that has initiated a lot of conversation in the hours since the presser.
Immediately after being asked what makes Jeanty special, Carroll leaned over slightly and appeared to inconspicuously tell Spytek to “Be careful.”
Spytek responding by saying he was going to “be careful” before explaining why he places significant value on the running back position.
“There’s certain ways to build a team and I don’t know where we got to a place where we don’t feel like running backs are valuable,” Spytek said. “I come from the University of Michigan. It’s in my core. Those guys were certainly really valued there.”
Safe to say, Jeanty is a player the Raiders see as a key to their draft.
There is no other explanation.
Either Carroll and Spytek love him, and the “be careful” comment was sincere, or the head coach and GM were putting on a performance to send a message to the rest of the league.
If the Raiders want the league to believe they are going to draft Jeanty, they either want another player with the no. 6 pick or they are hoping someone will want to trade with them for the sixth pick.
Maybe the 73 year-old Carroll didn’t realize how loud he was being with his whisper, but he probably deserves more credit. It’s also a little fishy that Spytek would make the case for drafting a running back right after being told to be careful.
It’s possible the Raiders love Jeanty and are praying he’ll fall to the sixth pick, and Friday’s press conference at face value certainly gave the impression they like him a lot.
But Spytek and Carroll are two of the smartest men in the NFL and it’s a lot more likely that they are skilled actors rather than a HC/GM tandem awkwardly giving away draft secrets at a press conference.
x: @raidersbeat
The Raiders may want Jeanty, but they will not get him because both New England and Jacksonville want him. If they fail with Jeanty they should draft Hampton because without a sound running game they will go nowhere, 9=8 at best and more likely 8-9.
The Raiders will not get Ashton Jeanty at [ick 6 so they need to draft Omarian Hampton or they will have a terrible season without a running game (last year’s ground game was horrible.
Curt button I agree that Hampton will be the logical choice but I just just have that gut feeling pal that he will fall to the raiders at 6. Pick him period. Go get your qb in the 2nd round. My choice is milroe but I really think that the chemistry between Kelly and Howard you pick Howard. 7 more picks to go, pick um. I would take a chance on the UNLV homegrown linebacker Woodard ? Could be an awesome pick in the later 6th round.
Sorry curt I did spell your name correctly.p I t t o n