Oakland Raiders Takes: In Search of - Who Will be the Raiders #1 Wide Receiver for 2009?
by TheRaiderWay on Mar 1, 2009 6:35 AM PST
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PrintWhile watching these last few days of the free agency frenzy, I was thinking about when our Oakland Raiders will get active. While watching player after player, I was wondering, who are the Raiders going to have as their #1 wide receiver for 2009?
We are currently in the free agency period to be followed by the draft, will the answer come from there, or will it be via a trade, or is the answer already on the current roster? First, let's look at what the Raiders have on their current roster:
- Johnnie Lee Higgins
- Jonathan Holland
- P.K. Sam
- Chaz Schilens
- Arman Shields
- Javon Walker
- Todd Watkins
From that list, only Walker has had experience being a true #1 wideout and at this point we don't even know if he will be with the team past March 5th when his roster bonus comes due. If the Raiders and Walker do not work out a restructuring of their deal he could be gone by next week. Even if the Raiders decide to keep Walker, there are always the concerns with his attitude, motivation and health. He possesses the skill, speed and certainly the salary to be a #1 WR, but can he really be counted on?
Then we have JLH. Though Higgins progressed nicely in 2008 leading the team with 22 receptions for 366 yards and 4 TD's, he seems best suited for the slot. Here's what the scouts think:
He has adequate height with limited bulk and strength. He does not break many tackles or show much strength to the ball in a crowd. He needs a lot of work on his route-running skills because he tends to round his breaks off too much and does not do a very good job of setting defenders up. He looks tentative in his play and needs to work on his release to avoid the press as well as his ability to avoid being re-routed after he gets off the line. He has the tools to improve with work, but he needs to come into camp with an attitude that shows he is confident in his skills.
Chaz Schilens: I love that we got Chaz in the 7th round last year and he came from a small program and came to the NFL and adapted well in his rookie year. Schilens with great measurables at 6-4, 225 lbs and 4.4 speed caught 15 passes for 226 yds and 2 TD's. Schilens and JaMarcus Russell seem to be developing a nice chemistry, but it could be too much to assume that Schilens could be the #1 for 2009.
The rest of the current roster are not candidates for the #1 WR position anfd the two unsigned FA's, Ashley Lelie and Drew Carter, both have issues that would keep them out of the consideration of being the #1 should they even be re-signed in the first place.
Trades: through free agency or trades the choices are not easy because of cost and compensation. Trading for Boldin would cost more in draft choices then the Raiders, in rebuilding mode should be willing to give up. Others would be Terrell Owens, Plaxico Burress or Chad Johnson, #1 capable by skill set, but way too much of a headache to be worth it for a team trying to change its culture.
Free agency: there are some choices that could work and should be considered.
- Laverneous Coles
- Marvin Harrison
- Nate Washington
- Drew Bennett
- Amani Toomer
- Devery Henderson
From the above list only Coles and Harrison are true #1's with Nate Washington having the potential, while any of the others would be nice pick -ups for depth. In Al's mind maybe Harrison would be kind of a Jerry Rice type acquisition, but he has baggage and would be pricey. Coles I like if the price and terms are right but he probably will go to the Dolphins. Nate Washington is still learning the nuances of the game, but has all the skills and potential to become a #1.
From the draft in the order of current scouts top 10 rankings:
- Michael Crabtree
- Jeremy Maclin
- Percey Harvin
- Hakeem Nicks
- Darius Heyward-Bey
- Kenny Britt
- Brian Robiskie
- Juaquin Iglesias
- Derrick Williams
- Brandon Tate
The first 5 on that list are first round talents and could no doubt eventually become their teams #1 wide receivers. While the last five might someday have that potential. Only Crabtree has that "sure thing" tag associated with him, but is he ready to become #1 in his rookie year?
Conclusion: I believe that the Raiders have to draft Crabtree if he is there based soley on his incredible talent. But he may not be ready for #1 in 2009, so the Raiders will have to address their needs through free agency. I hope that they can get Coles or at least Nate Washington because I fear going into 2009 with Javon Walker as the #1.
Alright Nation, what are your thoughts. Who will the Raiders put on the field in 2009 as their #1 wide receiver?
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either FA or draft guy
that isn’t Crabtree. I really don’t like Crabtree. I just can’t see him being a great NFL WR. I really want Hayward-Bey or Hakeem nicks in Oakland. Robiskie would also be a good pickup. That wouldn’t leave us with a true #1, but we would have three very talented WR on roster.
FA-wise, i still hope to see Drew Bennett, not as a starter, but as a good depth man. You say Coles and Harrison are the only real starters, what about Toomer. Amani has started before beside Plax and without Plax. Toomer is a very good veteran player who I would absolutely love in Oakland.
And Mason said to god, "May my clutch shots go in" And God said, "Yes. Yes they may my son"
You remember K,
that you said the same things about McFadden last year. Toomer would be good, but he’s no longer a #1 and he would be a good pick up with Crabtree.
Your team is your child...You love it no matter what.
true
but I’ve watched a lot of Texas Tech football and the entire time I was watching Crabtree I thought “This guy’s great, but not NFL great” it seemed the Texas Tech offensive style was what was dominate to me. It wasn’t just Crabtree, there were a lot of weapons on Tech’s offense which made it hard for teams to double Crabtree. I never actually saw him get doubled very much. If he came to Oakland, he would be doubled a lot. Meanwhile people like Nicks and Hayward-Bey were doubled all the time because they were the only real receiving threats, and they were still very good.
And Mason said to god, "May my clutch shots go in" And God said, "Yes. Yes they may my son"
Saw both Nicks and Heyward-Bey play last season
Specially a lot of Nicks, and as much as he helped our team he plays too slow and is simply a possession receiver in my mind. All the throws Sexton and Yates threw at him were nail bitters between Nicks and the Cornerback.
As for Heyward-Bey, I saw him play once, and he’s amazing, I wouldnt be surprised if Al picks him over Crabtree if he decides to get a WR. We had to keep him in check with Goodard all game long because he was just too damn fast and Maryland sent him deep a lot of times.
Clear its radiance shine...
We've been drafting flashy picks for a while now
QBs, WRs, CBs, HBs. We need to realize that the main problem this team has is in both lines. We haven’t had any new talent and long term solutions on the D and O line for a while now.
As much as WR is a need, I feel we have bigger present and long term issues on the lines. Because of this I really think we need to draft Raji or a LT.
Clear its radiance shine...
You may be correct...But,
who do you think then will be their #1 WR?
Your team is your child...You love it no matter what.
I hate to say this but
Al will probably bring Jerry Porter back and expect him to start.
I’m also thinking we might sign Drew Bennett, would be a good cheap option.
Bennett, Lee Higgins, Porter and Shilens might be our WR core next season. And as crappy as it looks, its better than last season.
Clear its radiance shine...
The Raiders
have already gone on record and told Porter thanks, but no thanks. Besides, Porter is in decline and is no better than a #2.
Your team is your child...You love it no matter what.
I know his sucks, everyone knows this
I’m just saying Al might bring him back. Let’s remember how he likes to marry players
Clear its radiance shine...
Poll did not include our likely pick?
We should at least be discussing the guy who is most likely to be drafted by the Raiders and on our roster vying for the #1 WR slot, and that’s Jeremy Maclin. There are at least a few scouts that think that at the end of the season he will be regarded as a better WR than Crabtree. He had more catches for more yards than Crabtree last season. Crabtree only had more catches for touchdowns than Maclin, but sometime that is just the result of the style of play that their teams employ. Some teams have strong running games and run it in for touchdowns. So, NEW POLL, SHOULD JEREMY MACLIN BE OUR NEW #1 NEXT SEASON?
In the poll, "others from the draft"
includes Maclin, who I listed in the possibilities. If you feel Maclin is it, then great, that’s why you are free to comment. My question to you is: Do you think then that Maclin should be the #1 receiver for the Raiders for the 2009 season?
Your team is your child...You love it no matter what.
I thought the Randy Moss drama
made us learn that WR is one of the last positions you need to upgrade in order to be successful, maybe we didnt learn and are again spending big bucks on one.
Clear its radiance shine...
moss
except when we picked up moss we didn’t upgrade at all.. Moss spent most of his time in silver and black on the sideline injured so there was no upgrade. he was frustrated with his lack of playing time, but i mean dang dude stay healthy and you’ll play. so yeah he goes on to NE and has a career year which he’ll never have again.
We Just Need Role Players
The Raiders don’t need a “#1 receiver”, they just need a solid group of wide receivers that can do their job effectively. As the latter part of last seasons showed, once the offensive line starts to figure things out and the QB gets comfortable in a system the young wide receivers we had much more success getting catches and scores.
I highly doubt the Raiders are going to make a splash in free agency for a WR. If anything they’ll simply re-sign Drew Carter to try and make a run at it again next season.
The draft is a more likely scenario for the Raiders to bolster their WR corp, and not necessarily in the first round. If Brian Robiskie fell to the Raiders in the 2nd round I think they’d be ecstatic.
If the Raiders get the offensive line upgraded and can get Russell and the receivers to click in the passing game, then it’s probably not necessary to go out and try to get a “#1 receiver.” If the Raiders start making their passing game better, the Raiders’ #1 receiver will sort itself out.
Besides, isn’t Zach Miller already our #1 receiver?
"I love being here. I love these players. I'm loyal to these players and this team, all right? I'm on the side of the players and the Raiders. And anybody who isn't on the side of the Raiders, then I'm not with them." - Randy Hanson, DB coach.
Role players?
You make some good points, however, the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t win the Super Bowl with “role players” at wide receiver. For, that matter, the Arizona Cardinals didn’t get to the Super Bowl with role players at wide receiver and neither did any of the playoff teams. They all had one thing in common: a true #1 wide receiver.
I’m not saying I have the answer, that is why I put up this post, because I think the Raiders have a true dilemma to sort out for #1 in 2009.
The fact that Zach Miller is our #1 receiver illustrates the problem right there.
Your team is your child...You love it no matter what.
by TheRaiderWay on Mar 1, 2009 10:22 AM PST up reply actions
Why are you comparing us to Super Bowl/playoff teams
We’re rebuilding, not thinking about the playoffs and winning the Super Bowl.
That’s the same Al Davis crap thinking that has give us this amazing 5 years. LiveAdam is right, we need role players and a decent line in order to let things work.
Clear its radiance shine...
You would
have said that about the Cardinals last year also. Tom Cable believes the Raiders are a playoff team this year and will compete for the division.
Your team is your child...You love it no matter what.
by TheRaiderWay on Mar 1, 2009 11:34 AM PST up reply actions
Please
let’s not fool ourselves, he has to say that in order to keep his job
We all know we’re far from that. A 7-9 season would be great this year
Clear its radiance shine...
Right
and the head coaches for Miami, Atlanta and Arizona all thought that to before the start of last season. In the NFL things can turn quickly. The Raiders have just as much of a shot at the playoffs this year as those teams did last season.
Your team is your child...You love it no matter what.
by TheRaiderWay on Mar 1, 2009 12:12 PM PST up reply actions
Labels vs Performance
I don’t think you can simply point to a guy and say “you’re our #1 receiver”. Rather than bringing in a player for the purpose of being the #1 receiver, the Raiders should concentrate on bringing in players that make the WR corp better as a whole. I don’t really care who is labeled as the #1 receiver if they all play better.
By the way, who was the Steelers’ #1 receiver? The Steelers got contributions from Ward, Washington, etc. and provided enough offense to let their defense lead them to another Super Bowl victory. Both Ward and Washington are good receivers, but if we’re now considering a “#1 receiver” to simply be a franchise player, then Ward and Washington hardly belong in that discussion.
As for the Cardinals, yes, they have at least one, possibly two franchise type receivers, and Fitzgerald became Warner’s favorite target, making him the #1 receiver for that team.
No one is arguing that the Raiders don’t need to upgrade the talent at the WR position from last year, but my point is that it is more important to increase the talent generally, rather than attempt to bring someone in with the intention of having that player become the #1 receiver – the most talented and favorite target of the QB.
"I love being here. I love these players. I'm loyal to these players and this team, all right? I'm on the side of the players and the Raiders. And anybody who isn't on the side of the Raiders, then I'm not with them." - Randy Hanson, DB coach.
Performance
Yes and when your leading wide receiver has 366 yards and 4 TD’s, I’d say a major upgrade is in order.
Your team is your child...You love it no matter what.
by TheRaiderWay on Mar 1, 2009 11:36 AM PST up reply actions
did we watch the same superbowl teams?
the steelers don’t really have a TRUE #1 reciever, because you have pitt fans who will argue back and forth whether about which reciever is their #1.
and arizona had THREE count them THREE high calibre recievers, no real clear cut #1 either, some would say fitzgerald, but if you look at #’s boldin was the regular season #1 guy and fitzgerald just took over during the post season. philly who went to the nfc championship game has no true #1 reciever they have several guys, and they spread the ball out.
OUR superbowl run we didn’t have a clear cut #1, people will argue it was brown, some argue it was rice. did it matter which one was #1? no because we spread the ball around to all the recievers and TE’s and tailbacks.
Not the point...
Anyone of the current Raiders wide receivers would be no better than the 3rd or 4th receiver on those teams cited by you according to their depth chart. On the other hand, two to 3 wide receivers on each of the teams you mentioned would clearly be the Raiders #1 on their depth chart, regardless of how the ball is spread around. This is an issue of talent and the current Raider WR’s, though full of potential, are not “#1” caliber receivers. A true #1 demands double coverage, the current Raiders do not, that is the point.
Your team is your child...You love it no matter what.
I Chose Walker
You mentioned it RaiderWay. He has the experience to become a starter. Personally, I don’t want to give up on him yet. He was brought into a system run by punk ass Knapp who couldn’t even get a pass completed. Right when Cable took over, thinks started to flow, Unfortunately, Walker was injured when Cable came in so we just thought he sucked. This is just wrong. Give him one more year in a system that finally has structure. Also, fellow brother, LiveAdam, said in a nice way, look at positions to see how much better one player is than the rest of them. So, how much better is Crabtree than Maclin or Heywerd-Bey or even Robiskie. Is he really that much better than all the rest?
A New Spirit, A New Team, A New Coach, But Same Commitment.
I don’t think you should bring in a guy like Toomer to take up playing time over Higgins and Schilens. Those guys are the future. Toomer should be the slot receiver if you bring him in. The young guys need to play and develop.
I’m not opposed to drafting Crabtree because he is probably the best talent in the draft. He may just be too special to pass up.
I am not so sure that we can afford to bring in someone like a Laveranues Coles or a Nate Washington. With a lot of teams looking for wide receiver help, they could get more money elsewhere.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Mar 1, 2009 12:13 PM PST reply actions
R8R's #1 Reciever
I like Jeremy Maclin, He reminds me of Tim Brown. The kids got speed, agility and good hands, a real threat to score any time he touches the ball. Crabtree has great hands and is a very good route runner with a knack 4 getting open but is to slow for Mr. Davis’s taste buds.
okay if thats how you see it
why is Heywerd-bey not mentioned.
A New Spirit, A New Team, A New Coach, But Same Commitment.
With the 7th pick of the 2009 NFL Draft the Oakland Raiders pick....
Jeremy Maclin
JR’s #1 WR (( Coming to a bar near you April 25th 2009 ))
As for Javon, he needs to get his head right, be professional, and play football. We will find out if he can do those things this year, sorry Drew. If he does’nt I wont feel too bad because Maclin, JLH, Chaz, Miller Time, DMc, Bush and JR will.
<img src=" http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3122062"/>
What the hell is everyone talking aout?
It’s crazy to read these comments, it makes you wonder if there are more than 3 of you that actually understand football and if any of you ever played the game…
1. Yes ..we need new Wr’s ….Crabtree is over rated and not worth it..
2. Our O and D lines should always be the firstthing we fix…
3. #1 wr?!! really it doesn’t matter who we have at reciever we could have Tim Brown, Jerry Rice and Randy Moss all in their pime but without a better O line they won’t have time to get open or Russel willbe on his back before he can throw it.
4. It’s doesntmatter who the Wr’s are until Russell is protected and has time to for the wr’s and Qb to understand eachother.
5. Even if we do get wr’s and an O line it won’t matter cause our D doesn’t put enough pressure on any QB to stop them from scoring.
6. GET BACK TO BASICS…shut up about speed and hands and best talent inthe draft …doesn’t matter till we have the Line to protect our QB that is stil learning…and Ilove our team always have but seriously?? we arent goin to the playoffs we are rebuilding quit blowing smoke up your own asses..if we do mae the playoffs it’ll be a fluke and wont change the real team needs…WHICH IS NOT A EARLY ROUND WR….learn the game
7. Hard nosed tough football..not this buy the flashy player bullshit ..it hasn’t worked for us yet…we need people that wanna hit and be hit..
8. defense defense DEFENSE!…WE need soild run stoppers and serious pressure on the QB.
9. Al Davis(I respect what he once did) is a curse now a once great man has turned our nation into a laughing stock., SO it doesn’t matter Who is labeled the coach they aren’t our coach Davis is…we prolly won’t be shit till that bastard finally dies.
10. The smartest thing we could do this year draft O and D line spots early..look for Wr and linebackers in later rounds and pick up dependible Wr’s in free agency they will help Russell learn and have people he can depend on whiel we get the core of the team in order . we can get wr’s any year always alot but any real student of the game knows with a young QB and without our O and D lines and a strong D over all it doesn’t matter what Wr’s we have.
Wrong assumptions
No one ever said that there were not many needs besides wide receiver for the Raiders. What was asked, was who is going to be their #1 wide receiver for 2009? A #1 receiver is one who commands double coverage, the current Raiders do not have that. No one said that the Raiders will not address their other needs through free agency and the draft, which is exactly what they are in the process of doing right now. But to minimize the importance of a wide receiver that commands double coverage and assuming that they will just pick one up in free agency is naive.
You are harping on the Raiders offensive line as if it was the worst in the league. On the contrary, the Raiders ranked 9th worst in sacks allowed with 39. Not great, but certainly not as bad as you make them out to be. For that matter, the World Champion Steelers, ranked 4th worse with 49 sacks allowed.
What the Raiders did rank dead last in was passing offense. If the Raiders had better wide receivers that would be a threat on the field, making them less predictable, ones that knew how to run proper routes and get open and to separate, then they likely would give up fewer sacks and score more points.
Your team is your child...You love it no matter what.
drew carter?
We need to re-sign that man. It was dissapointing that he was hurt before the season started but HE CAN PLAY. He would make a great “possetion” type reciever. He has hands and put up decent #’s even while fighting steve smith for targets and delhome being out a season. Give him a shot , leave the first couple draft picks to the o and d line that are DESPERATE for help.
RRRRRRRrrAAAAaaaaaiiiidddeeerrrssss!!
injured couldabeens..
dude that is our problem we keep going after guys that could have been great if they weren’t hurt..or were great until they got hurt.. we don’t need anymore broken players. we need guys that are healthy and can stay healthy, otherwise it’s the backup that’s gonna be playing and depth is NOT something we have had in a while.
heh
spoken like a former lineman who did all the work and got none of the glory…
yes we need to shore up our o-line, though if you think about it we are still young in terms of using the zone blocking scheme and each year we get better at it. but a qb can have all the time in the world to throw the ball, and it doesn’t mean a thing if the wr’s can’t get open..that’s called a coverage sack. so while yes we need to upgrade the line, we need to upgrade the offensive weapons as well..
chill out dude, those who really played appreciate the work the hogs upfront do for those who lined up behind the LOS.
I chose "others from the draft"
I would love to draft a potential pro bowler, but I belive the raiders need to trade down from the number 7 to aquire an additional pickc(s).
There’s a lot of talent in this years draft, Philadelphia or Cleveland may be interested. Both teams have additional picks in the first two rounds and might be willing to trade for an impact player
"May the wind be at our back, here comes the Silver and Black "
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