Ah, the good ol’ Oakland Raiders. Beat writer Jerry McDonald says that right now Johnny Lee Higgins and Chaz Schilens are slated to be the starting wide receivers for the Raiders. That means that they have a #7-overall pick (Darrius Heyward-Bey) and a big money guy (they gave Javon Walker $16 million guaranteed last year, but in all fairness they did restructure) on the bench.
And it seems like rookie fourth-round pick Louis Murphy actually has a better chance to contribute right away than Walker and Heyward-Bey.
The latter was considered an iffy pick this year by just about everyone on Earth with opposable thumbs. He didn’t have very good production at Maryland, but he is extremely fast. That was all Al Davis had to see apparently. And now he’s been dealing with hamstring issues so he’s falling behind for sure.
Photo Caption: Pop!
We’d expect either Murphy, Heyward-Bey or Walker to contribute something at some point, but as of right now, none have cracked the starting lineup.
Cracked the starting lineup? LOL, for gods sakes man, camp hasn’t even started yet where they compete for a starting spot.
I do feel there will be some good competition between WR’s, but if Walker is healthy, and he says he is, I am willing to bet the starters will be Walker and Schilens, with Higgins being the # 3 WR’s and returning punts.
I think Murphy and Heyward-Bey will see some action early on also. DHB can be used as a decoy opening up other WR’s.
If Russell starts to come around and be the Gunslinger he is supposed to be, the Raiders can start running 3 and 4 WR’s sets, so all of then well see some action.
Does this qualify as an article? I mean, do you have any other quotes from other people’s work on this subject? I guess you are trying to become a mediot by picking at Raider scabs like the draft, and some perceived lack of adequate decision making, but you even fail at that paint-by-the-numbers attack.
Analyzing Schilens and Higgens, I have no problem with that tandem, and it is probably the most qualified and talented we have. Rookie WR’s rarely come to the NFL and have much early success, give DHB time. Walker has to earn his spot, and will have the chance to do it, he just hasn’t done anything to speak of yet for us, and Higgins (entering 3rd year) caught on late as JRuss’s go-to guy with 3 tds’ in the last 3 games and 4 total TD catches while getting limited snaps until late in the year when Cable woke the team up. If I’m Cable, I get the ball to Higgy-baby. Schilens looks good too, and came on late last year, but Walker will get his chance in preseason and camp.
That is why we have camp, and games to see what we have. Thank God we don’t have to go by what you or some agenda filled mediot says. Bring on the games and the crow is served raw this season. Go Raiders!
Agenda filled? Have you read the rest of OTR? Obviously not.
I like Schilens, but I’m a big fan of Higgins. I dig him. But what I didn’t make clear is that I really don’t see DHB doing much this year. Not for where they picked him.
Micah, team hardly draft a player to be the savor of the franchise in his first year regardless, where they are picked.
All of a sudden, rookies players are going up against the best players in the world, in DHB’s case, the best corners in the world.
Nobody is expecting this kid to start, and if he dose, what dose that say about the WR’s that have been around awhile?
No doubt it will take time for the first year WR’s to learn the system and the pace of the game, people that have played the game know this, I guess the average fan doesn’t? or they just like to pick on the Raiders first draft pick? That’s what I am getting from you.
LOL, I’m not picking on the Raiders. But I admit I think they took DHB way too high. And no one knows for sure what he’ll be in the NFL. He could be better than Maclin, Nicks and Crabtree combined. Nobody knows, certainly not me.
And I’ve got nothing against the Raiders. I even have a black authentic Kirk Morrison jersey. If there is any bias on this site, it’s for Philly. We are based in Philly and that gives us no reason to pick on anything related to the Raiders.
And Nnamdi Asomugha might be my favorite player in the NFL if that helps.
Micah, why do you hate the Raiders so much?
[...] Raiders wide receiver situation Ah, the good ol’ Oakland Raiders. Beat writer Jerry McDonald says that right now Johnny Lee Higgins and Chaz [...] [...]
raiders are always being put down by the league which stupid to me a team that struggle from time to time always redeem themselves.
Why does everybody say someone is drafted too high. The draft is based off of needs. The raiders have run a zone blocking system that is easier to fit Offensive lineman in and they had already added three free agents. The defense will be improved by a better offense. The raiders had two possesion receivers in Walker and Schillens and a slot guy in Higgins. DHB is a guy that can add a little strength and be able to get off the press and be a legitimate deep threat. Everyone acknowledges his ability to turn any play into a touchdown. So how is a WR who is 6-2 with the ability to score from anywhere on the field, who came from a run first offense and doesn’t complain drafted too high. He has good character and is a very willing blocker. Everyone said Jerry Rice was drafted too high but he is the greatest receiver of all time. It makes me sick to hear that someone is drafted too high. You draft talent and potential and it is the player and coaches job to get him to reach his full potential. Its too bad that many media forget that it is the coaches job to make the player better and to improve. As for Walker he was a high risk high reward player. So far he hasnt panned out but he wasnt healthy or in very good shape last year. This year may be different but you cannot blame Al for picking him. He was the best WR on the market at the time. And it was one of our pressing needs. It didn’t pan out but that is not Davis’ fault. He always gets the talent the coaches need to do their job. Cable is developing the players and a team atmoshere. The transition is difficult and to expect a player to step in the first day and not make rookie mistakes is naive. He will do exactly what he was drafted for to first compliment our offense and when he is comfortable be a starter.