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Oakland Raiders Camp Battles: Wide Receiver- Can anyone unseat Javon Walker and Ronald Curry?
Continuing our “Camp Battles” series, today we look at the wide receivers. Its nice to step away from looking at a certain receiver’s off the field antics and looking at the football aspect of the Oakland Raiders potential wide receiver corps. This year’s edition should be much more explosive than last year’s, as the Raiders have added speed at the position in Javon Walker and Drew Carter to go with Ronald Curry as a possession receiver. That is if Walker is healthy and ready come training camp, if not, oh boy. Anyway, here is how the Raiders’ wide receivers stack up.
Projected Starters: Javon Walker and Ronald Curry
Ronald Curry has been solid, but not spectacular for the past two years. He has led the Oakland Raiders in receptions and yards, despite having had two achillies injuries in his pro career. Walker was brought in to be a fast compliment to Curry and stretch the field. He was given his high contract to be a starter, and will be a starter unless his injuries catch up with him.
Projected Depth: Drew Carter and Johnnie Lee Higgins
Drew Carter was signed as a free agent to be another stretch the field type player. Higgins was drafted last year, and Lane Kiffin has lamented publicly that he did not use Higgins more last season. Higgins has been a bit of a standout thus far in mini-camps. He is a second year player who did not impress last season. He is close to being on the bubble.
On the Bubble: Arman Shields, Todd Watkins, Chaz Schilens, Chris McFoy, and Will Buchanon
Two of these five will likely make the team out of camp. Chris McFoy was unimpressive in his limited action last season, and it seems as if Will Buchanon can’t get off the practice squad. As this year’s fourth round pick, and third player selected by the Raiders he probably has a bit of an inside track. Todd Watkins could be the sleeper of this group. Chaz Schilens was a seventh round pick and will have to impress to stick.
Outside Looking in: Drisan James, Jonathan Holland, and Marcel Reece
Marcel Reece has the size and speed, but was an undrafted free agent which makes his climb to the top hard. His injuries, which limited his time in minicamps have hurt his chances, although he is the best candidate of the three to break through. Jonathan Holland was a seventh round pick last season who spent it on the injured reserve. Drisan James was a practice squad player last season.
What to Look For:
This looks to be the most wide open of the camp battles that have been looked at thus far. It helps that there will likely be five to six receivers kept instead of the four that stuck last season. This one will be a winnowing down process that will likely last until the final cut down. This unit should be much more explosive than last year’s edition, and the strong competition should only make them better.
WildCard:
Injuries are by far the biggest wild card in this battle. Ronald Curry has two achilles injuries in his past, and whilst he has been healthy now for two seasons, that concern is always just below the surface. Javon Walker’s injuries from his off the field misadventures are also a concern, as well has how his knee will hold up after having had two surgeries. There are doubts about the stories that had emanated out of Denver that he needed microfracture surgery.
Outlook:
This unit looks to be much more explosive than last year where there was a dearth of speed at the position. If the injury bug stays away, and Walker will be recovered as advertised, this unit should be able to move the ball quite well and turn in some big plays. It will be exciting to see how it plays out in the preseason as there are several guys competing for the two to three remaining wide receiver slots. It will be a situation where every play counts for them even down to the fourth quarter of a lopsided preseason game, as that is their chance to show what they can do.
Looking forward to the season here at TFDS
This entry was posted
on Saturday, June 21st, 2008 at 12:27 am and is filed under Chris McFoy, Chaz Schilens, Arman Shields, Will Buchanon, Jonathan Holland, Drisan James, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Ronald Curry, 2008 Raiders Offseason, Oakland Raiders Current Player Analysis, 2008 Raiders Season Preview, Javon Walker, Marcel Reece, Drew Carter, Training Camp.
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17 Responses to “Oakland Raiders Camp Battles: Wide Receiver- Can anyone unseat Javon Walker and Ronald Curry?”
June 21st, 2008 at 2:10 am
Great Read, Patrick!
What Curry had quoted about his work ethic in the weight room was quite astonishing. Im just thinking that if he had taken the weights seriously from day one, he would be a hell of threat at WRs.
I play for my high school team and my coach always reminds us that “Games are won and lost in the weight room!”. That pretty much summarizes how important weight training is for football.
Im just hoping that he was being modest at the time and only trying to prasie the new coaching staff or something?
June 21st, 2008 at 7:17 am
Hi!
I would say Javon and Carter for #1#2 and Curry in the slot!!!
June 21st, 2008 at 8:10 am
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June 21st, 2008 at 8:20 am
Uhhhh that’s how your coach is programmed. Herschel Walker was a huge stud and never touched weights - pushups and situps on all commercials. Weights are a great equalizer especially if you have a lack of talent on your highschool team. Depending on the different sets you run, lifting can play a larger of smaller role in your squads success.
Don’t get me wrong I’ve lifted all my life maxed at 405 bench 605 squat and ran a mile in 4:53 but I’ve been around others who could do amazing things on the football field without lifting. However, an entire program to not lift isn’t a good idea so listen to your coach and do your best. Speed and agility should always be present so don’t compromise it.
June 21st, 2008 at 9:00 am
I don’t know man. I am not in love with our receivers. I think they are better than last year but I would like to see the Raiders mimic the Colts when they had Harrison their for a year I think or close to the same time as when Manning came in to the league.
Next year I believe that Receiver and a big DT should be our priority.
But hey I am still excited about this year lets get our running game going.
Bush , DMC and Fargas can do some good things.
Lets go Raiders.
June 21st, 2008 at 9:29 am
Why not split out DMC? I’m sure they have a few sets that do it. Imagine Chump Bailey crapping his pants having to cover this guy.
June 21st, 2008 at 10:24 am
I like the height and speed of our young receivers. JR should have a good time this season when you add the three headed monster. O and D line are going to get ther job done now that they have something to work with in running backs, quarterbacks, and wide recivers. And don’t forget about Zack MILLER. Timing is eveything. I feel these guys are going to be on the same page.
RFL
Go Raiders!
June 21st, 2008 at 12:03 pm
great article pat! very good and realistic view/outlook of our receiving corp. Yes spokane of course lane will lineup dmac at wideout while fargas and bush sit at fullback and rb … i almost guarrantee that lineup because that will confuse the sh!t out of most defenses.. you cause confusion and keep teams guessing, you eat up big yards.
I see the raiders keeping a lot of the big, physical and fast receivers that they’ve recently drafted .. because as grilla just stated that he liked the size and speed.. this also means you get good potential blockers for our RBs that are trying to make a move on the secondary (which DMAC and BUSH will see a lot of me thinks :P) FOR EXAMPLE: walker, curry, chaz schilens, and zach miller all lined up on the right side.. a pitch right to dmac(of course permitting that he can stay behind his blockers which im sure he will learn very quickly how to do better).. and all of them making a key block on a free safety, a strong safety, and a cornerback to open up huge seams in the secondary … this spells
TOUCCCHDOWWWWN RAIIIDERSSSSSSS!!
June 21st, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I an sure McFadden will be split out in some sets, and Miller will be a threat. However, this postwar about the guys battling for wide receiver roster spots.
June 21st, 2008 at 1:16 pm
yes pat that’s just an added bonus to this offense in the 08 season.. obviously we need to be deep at receivers if we want to win games.. and i really think the raiders have what it takes in the receivers they have to move the chains and setup the run.
June 21st, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Well OGKUSH im not sure if we’ll be able to run a 4 WR set until our O-line can prove it can block for J.R without any help from TE’s or RB… Also Michael Bush might see a couple of screen passes go his way for the simple fact that everyone will be expecting the screen to Dmac… And i agree on one of the posts above… I would like to see #1 Javon Walker, #2 Drew Carter, and #3 Ronald Curry(where he had the most success)… And Wes Welker proved how important a quick small slot WR can be… But if Dmac is in the slot i dont see any LB being able to cover him or keep up with him in our division… Maybe D.J Williams(Broncos), Glad that Thomas Howard plays for the Raiders… And then Safeties yeah i would love to see John Lynch, Marlon Mcree, ric Weddle, etc trying to guard Dmac… Teams will most likely have to put a corner on him with help underneath with a LB… So that should help Zach Miller get open a little easier…
GO RAIDERS!!!
June 21st, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Also our run game will have a great effect on our passing game… If we are as good or better than last year, our play action game will be AWESOME!
GO RAIDERS!!!
June 21st, 2008 at 3:20 pm
well yea man.. but you’re talking about pass blocking, im talking about the rush blocking.. and with virtually the same line (except the losses of sims and newberry) with the additions of wade and harris who are very good rush blockers, we got a good thing goin in the run game. and of course bush will be taking screen passes as well, because hes just as capable.. and has good speed with a lot of power.. so i mean j-russ has a lot of good options when the line folds in the pocket and rushes at him.. which is night and day from last year.. when his only outlets were fargas and freakin justin griffith..
June 21st, 2008 at 7:44 pm
If everyone is on the same page and healthy, the offense should impress.
June 21st, 2008 at 9:22 pm
yes that’s obvious eks.. not talkin trash to you otanythingpeople would agree that everyone on this offense will have a good sense of WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE to incease the percentage of YPC for each running back in the rotation.. wether it be huggy bear jr, bush or run DMC .. as the coachings of tom cable and the play calling of kiffen/knapp will have a huge effect on the effectiveness of both the passing game and the potent running game.
June 21st, 2008 at 10:45 pm
and obviously the defensive coordinating of rob ryan … as he LOVES the man to man coverage on receivers while the safties figure out ways to make the game breaking plays.. bah im drunk, why am i still talking haha
June 21st, 2008 at 11:32 pm
yea i mean just look at how bush takes these screen passes.. i know he wont lose much speed with a rod runnin thro his leg..
http://youtube.com/watch?v=QhEFxYxTXrk
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