Raiders Open Competition: Wide Receiver

I decided to do some slide shows on the open competition positions for the Oakland Raiders. Today I am doing one on the wide receivers. They are in no particular order but I have my opinion about each candidate competing. This will include last year's standouts, rookies from the draft as well as undrafted rookies plus any returning players or new acquisitions that were brought in. Head Coach Tom Cable is all about competition and when he says open competition, he means open competition—nobody is locked in as a starter.

Chaz Schilens

Chaz Schilens caught my attention last year more than any other WR on the team. He was a seventh round pick in 2008 and I had never heard of him until he showed up on the Raider's draft board. I saw that he was injured his senior year so his value went down to a seventh rounder. Tom Cable later promoted him to the starting WR ahead of long time Raider Ronald Curry for superb practices, but injuries slowed his progress. He did lead all receivers in our game against Baltimore catching three passes for 76 yards. Minor injuries and a lack of passing offense would slow his progress and he would not catch another pass until Week 15 against New England and it would only be for four yards. However, after injuries to Curry and former all pros Javon Walker and Ashlie Lelie would officially be placed on IR, Schilens would once again become a starter. He played a major role in defeating Houston in Week 16 catching three passes for 52 yards and his first career TD. The other two catches came on third down heading into opponent territory. The commentators could not believe that they actually called a completed third down pass since apparently they had been accustomed to calling overthrown and dropped passes. I don't recall Schilens ever dropping a pass that was within his arms reach. The only incomplete passes thrown his way were overthrown. As a matter of fact, he caught all passed thrown his way in the last two games—something no other Raider receiver can say. He is definately my favorite to be the No. 1 WR for the Raiders this year.

Johnnie Lee Higgins

Johnnie Lee Higgins led all Raider WRs with 22 catches for 366 yards and four TDs. He also made a major showing as a punt returner averaging 13 yards per return on 44 punts with three TDs. His 93-yarder against Miami in November ended a TD drought for the Raiders and was the second longest in Raider History behind Greg Pruit's 97-yarder against Washington earlier in October. He also recorded an 89-yarder against Denver giving him the third longest in team history as well. Higgins is a lock to make the team as the punt returner but Tom Cable wants the WR position to be stronger in depth so he can focus on returns and being used sparingly as a WR. But when he gets his chances at WR, he will be a factor.

Darrius Heyward-Bey

The Raiders have drawn lots of criticism for taking Darrius Heyward-Bey with the No. 7 overall pick over Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin, whose college receiving stats were without question higher. But I think Tom Cable did his homework on this draft pick. Crabtree and Maclin both came from spread offenses, which are non-existent in the NFL these days. Heyward-Bey came from a run-first offense which is what the Raiders offense is, so he's that much further ahead in learning the Raider offense. I'm trusting cable on this one because I kept hearing that DHB had issues with catching the ball, but Cable stated in his film study that he got better at catching the ball as his NCAA career progressed. He also believes that if he was in a spread offense in college, he would've had just as good of stats as Maclin and Crabtree. DHB has been limited in OTAs but in his last one he dropped several passes. Since then, he's been bothered by a hamstring injury which could slow his progress and risk the "bust" lable coming early. However, he is big on studying the playbook and knows that being a top 10 draft pick comes with high expectations. He is willing to step up to the challenge.

Louis Murphy

Here is a man that Tom Cable didn't expect to be a Raider until he was still available in the fourth round and decided that he couldn't pass on him. Louis Murphy was a No. 2 receiver in college, but could've easily been a No. 1 on a team that wasn't as good. He comes with a winning mentality and knows what it feels like to be recognized as a champion. When his name was still on the draft board, Tom Cable said "I didn't expect him to still be there and he's too good of a player to pass on this late." So far, Murphy has caught the eyes of the coaches in the OTAs being the second receiver behind Schilens as far as OTA stats go. He claims to be a hard worker and seems to be catching on to the Raider system very well for someone who came from a spread offense in college. I would look for him to be the steal of this year's draft.

Todd Watkins

Here is a man who's name comes up in practice a lot but can't seem to bring it on game day. He hasn't seen a lot of action, but does play on special teams.

Arman Shields

Arman Shields was a fourth round pick in the 2008 draft but was injured in training camp, so he's yet to see any NFL action. With the drafting of DHB seventh overall and Murphy being such a standout at OTAs, plus Higgins and Schilens coming on strong at the end of last year, Arman Shields has become a forgotten man. If what we saw in Schilens last year is any indication of what they might've seen in Shields when he was drafted, then he might become a secret weapon in our offense. Last year, the Raiders only carried five WRs on the roster and Cable says that he looks to carry six. However, I think where players fit into special teams will factor into that greatly. But I know they will carry five for sure and Shields will be battling it out with Watkins for that fifth WR spot. After what I saw in Schilens and Higgins last year versus what I saw in Curry, Lelie and Javon Walker, youth really seems to be the way to go. Shields is still recovering from his injury from last year, but when he's healthy, I would not be surprised if he becomes a stunner in camp.

Javon Walker

I was about to start going through the undrafted WRs as well as the free agents that were brought in, but then it occurred to me that this man, Javon Walker is still on our team. He was the biggest disappointment in all of our signings last year if you ask me. At first, he was expected to get released with Deangelo Hall eight games into the season. Then, at the end of the season, everybody we signed last year along with long-time Raider Ronald Curry was released and expected to be released shortly after that, but he wasn't; his contract was restructured. He did have one good game at home against the Jets in our OT victory (our second of the season) catching five passes for 75 yards and a TD which was a good bulk of his 15 catches for 196 yards and of course his only TD of the season. I won't be surprised if he retires in camp or gets cut, especially after the way the youth of Higgins and Schilens prevailed at the end of the season by demonstrating the ability to make critical catches (Schilens) and make big yardage after the catch (Higgins).

Undrafted Rookies: Nick Miller and Shawn Bayes

Shawn Bayes and Nick Miller signed with the Raiders as undrafted rookies after the draft. Open competition means open competition and some great players go undrafted to join a NFL team and prevail through hard work and dedication. These two guys cannot be counted out and will bring it in practice. Chances are that they will end up on the practice squad, but just might shine if given the opportunity.

Jonathan Holland

He was the last Raider pick in the 2007 draft and was injured that season. He was on the practice squad in 2008 and was called up after Ashlie Lelie's injury. He didn't get a pass thrown his way, so it will be very hard for him to make the team this year. He may end up back on the practice squad until called upon in 2009.

Free Agent Signees Sammie Parker and Will Franklin

Sammie Parker spent the last five years with Kansas City but not spectacular stats. He was brought in to stir up competition and might have a chance if he can overcome all the odds. He has career totals of 110 catches for 1529 yards and seven TDs

Will Franklin spent last year with the Chiefs as well, catching one pass for seven yards. He will compete and possibly be on the practice squad.