The Raiders went with a defensive player in this year’s draft, selecting Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain at number 8 overall.

McClain is 6’3″ and weighs 254 pounds.  Below is NFL.com’s pick analysis.

Pick Analysis: The selection of Rolando McClain came as a surprise to some, but it’s a sensible pick based on the Raiders’ struggles against the run. McClain is a stout “Mike” linebacker with exceptional instincts. He gives Oakland a more physical presence inside. With the Raiders not satisfied with Kirk Morrison’s play, the decision to add McClain was a reflection of a desire to improve the middle of the defense.

The Raiders have traded a 5th-round pick in the NFL Draft for Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Quentin Groves.

Here are Groves’ career stats:  started 7 games, 43 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 passes defended, 1 interception, and 2 forced fumbles.

The Raiders have acquired outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley from the Cleveland Browns.

Wimbley was the 13th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.    He led the Browns last season with 6.5 sacks.

Wimbley is 26 years old and will most likely start at defensive end in place of Greg Ellis.

The Raiders hired former Ravens assistant Hue Jackson on Tuesday, hoping that he can help develop JaMarcus Russell the way that he did Joe Flacco.

Jackson also has history with Tom Cable, the two worked together at Cal-State Fullerton and Cal Berkeley.

Cable did not have an offensive coordinator in his first full season of coaching, so Jackson is expected to take over play-calling duties.

Adam Schefter of ESPN has just announced that Tom Cable will be back for the 2010 season.

The Raiders were handed their 10th loss by a team that had only 3 wins.  The Browns defeated the Raiders 23-9 in a game where Oakland committed stupid penalties and had two players ejected from the game.

Charlie Frye started at quarterback for the Raiders and finished 26 of 45 for 333 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.  Tight End Zach Miller was the leading receiver with 9 catches for 110 yards.

Michael Bush carried the ball 10 times for 52 yards and Darren McFadden had 7 carries for 23 yards.

Sebastian Janikowski drilled the 4th longest field goal in NFL history with a 61-yard field goal to end the first half.

The Raiders are now 5-10 and play the Baltimore Ravens at home next Sunday to close out the season.

Charlie Frye started the game at quarterback, but was injured in the fourth quarter and replaced by JaMarcus Russell who led the Raiders on a 58 yard touchdown drive to win the game.

Russell connected with Chaz Schilens on a 10 yard game winning touchdown with 35 seconds left in the game.  Schilens had 5 catches for 37 yards and 1 touchdown.

Running back Michael Bush had a big game with 133 yards rushing and 1 touchdown.  Darren McFadden also had 74 yards.

The Raiders are now 5-9 and play the Browns next week in Cleveland.

Coach Tom Cable says JaMarcus Russell will “continue to develop” while Charlie Frye is given the starting quarterback job.

The Raiders also signed J.P. Losman who was a first round pick of the Buffalo Bills and recently led the Las Vegas Locomotives to the first United Football League championship.

What happened to the Raiders’ running game?  The Raiders rushed for only 65 yards against the Redskins, the fourth time this season they have been held below 70 yards on the ground.

Quarterback Bruce Gradkowski left the game in the 2nd quarter with two injured knees and was replaced by JaMarcus Russell who finished the game 10 of 16 for 74 yards and 1 interception.

Sebastian Janikowski has yet to break the longest field goal record, something he has claimed to be able to do.  He was well short on a 65 yard attempt at the end of the first half.

The Raiders are now 4-9 and travel to Denver next week to take on the Broncos.

The Raiders defeated the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers again for the second time in their last two meetings, winning 27-24 in Pittsburgh.  Last time the two teams met the Raiders beat the Steelers in Oakland in the 2006 season after the Steelers defeated the Seahawks in the Super Bowl.

The Raiders’ defense held the Steelers close throughout the game.  The fourth quarter started with the Steelers ahead 10-6.

Bruce Gradkowski hit Louis Murphy for 2 touchdowns, including the game winning touchdown with nine seconds left in the game.  He finished 20 of 33, 308 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions.  Murphy had 4 catches for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The Raiders are now 4-8 and host the Washington Redskins next week.

Bruce Gradkowski started at quarterback for the second straight game and finished 18 of 35 with 200 yards and 1 touchdown. 

The Cowboys had their way with the Raiders as they gave up 494 total yards.

The Raiders are now 3-8 and play at Pittsburgh next week.

The Raiders were 10 point underdogs at home Sunday, but pulled off an upset defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 20-17.

Bruce Gradkowski started at quarterback in place of JaMarcus Russell.  Gradkowski went 17 for 34 with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.  Gradkowski connected with Zach Miller on a 10-yard touchdown pass, as well as a 29-yard touchdown pass to Louis Murphy to tie the game at 17-17 with 33 seconds left.

On the ensuing kickoff with the score tied 17-17, Bengals return man Andre Caldwell fumbled the ball and Oakland recovered in Cincinnati territory.  Sebastian Janikowski then kicked the winning 33-yard field goal.

The Raiders’ defense recorded 3 sacks and Nnamdi Asomugha had an interception that ended the game.

The Raiders are now 3-7 and travel to Dallas on Thursday for a Thanksgiving game.

It is becoming clear that the Raiders’ offensive woes are not all the fault of JaMarcus Russell.  The Raiders seriously need to do something to improve at the wide receiver position.

The Raiders had a chance to win the game by 1 point with a last second drive, but the drive was unsuccessful after important passes were dropped just as most passes were all game.

The defense looked impressive as usual, recording 3 turnovers and 2 sacks.

JaMarcus Russell was benched during a game for the second time this season and finished the game with 9 completions, 24 attempts, and 67 yards.  Bruce Gradkowski, who came in for the benched Russell, finished 4 for 7, 46 yards, and 1 interception.  It should be noted that Gradkowski’s interception wasn’t exactly his fault, he threw a perfect pass to Darrius Heyward-Bey who bobbled the pass up into the air for the defender to grab.

The Raiders and Chiefs are now 2-7.  Next week the Raiders host the Bengals at home in Oakland.

Although they only lost by 8 points, the Oakland Raiders suffered yet another ugly loss to a division rival.  The 24-16 loss to the Chargers makes it 13 consecutive losses to the Chargers.

The Raiders were up to their usual antics of ridiculous penalties and wide receivers running into each other.  The offensive line is having a terrible time with pass protection.

Justin Fargas got going on the ground finishing the game with 18 carries for 59 yards and 1 touchdown.

As always, Raiders wide receivers seemed non-existent, but tight end Zach Miller had 5 catches for 52 yards.

The Raiders are now 2-6 and will be off with a bye next week.

The Raiders fell to the New York Jets at home on Sunday 38-0.  They are now 2-5 and Richard Seymour’s guarantee of the Raiders making the playoffs this year now seems even more ridiculous.

JaMarcus Russell was benched in the 2nd quarter and finished 6 for 11, 0 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.  He was replaced by backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski who finished the game 10 for 19, 0 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.

The Raiders’ defense gave up over 300 yards rushing.

Next on the schedule for the Raiders is a trip down to San Diego to face the 3-3 Chargers.