A Battle for Field Position: Who Will Be The Oakland Raiders Return Men?

Last year the Raiders return game was pretty much dead.

But it would seem as though the Raiders are looking to change that in an attempt to win the field position battle next year.

Here's a look at the players who will be competing for the opportunity to return kicks and punts for the Oakland Raiders in 2010.

Yamon Figurs

Yamon Figurs was drafted in the third round by the Baltimore Ravens after running the fastest 40-time in the 2007 combine.

He isn't the greatest receiver, in four seasons he has three receptions for 86 yards and one TD.

But catching the ball isn't his game he is more of a return specialist. As a kick returner he has averaged 23.1 yards totaling 1,851 yards and 330 yards as a punt returner.

He has an outside shot to make the team and will only make the roster if he beats out the other return men.

Jonathan Holland

Jonathan Holland was the Raiders main kick return man last year and averaged a team best 19.6 yards per return.

Aside from kick return he is yet to find his place in the NFL. His rookie year he played WR, last year he played CB and now he is making the move back to WR.

Unless he makes the team as a returner his chances of making the team again are very slim.

Marcel Reece

Marcel Reece is Jack of all trades. The Raiders picked him up as a WR/HB out of Washington and have been grooming him as a FB on the practice squad for the past two years.

When he was activated last year he saw action as a return man as well as lined up at TE, HB and FB.

As a returner he averaged 19.3 yards per return, second best on the Raiders.

If he doesn't make the team as a returner he still has FB to fall back on.

Rock Cartwright

Rock Cartwright was taken by the Washington Redskins in the seventh round in 2002. He holds their single season record for the most return yards in a season with 1,541.

Entering his 8th year in the NFL he has 5332 total return yards, 555 receiving yards and 889 rushing yards.

He is a jack of all trades as well and if he doesn't make the team as a returner he can still make the team as a FB or as the teams third HB.

Nick Miller

Nick Miller, like many of these players, was a great return man in college and is trying to continue that in the NFL.

Last year he had a great showing for the Raiders in preseason until he suffered an ankle fracture which would sideline him for the duration of the season.

This off-season he has been slowed with shin splints sitting out many of the Raiders voluntary workouts.

Like some of the others he will only make the roster if he earns a spot as a returner.

Jacoby Ford

Jacoby Ford was the fastest man in this years draft running a 4.28 prompting the Raiders to draft him in the 4th round.

In college he was a dangerous receiver amassing 143 receptions for 1,986 yards and 16 TDs. He totaled nearly 4,000 all purpose yards while sharing return duty and creating the deadliest return duo in college football along with CJ Spiller

Jacoby Ford is one of the fan favorites to return punts or kicks for the Raiders, chances are he will make the team regardless of whether he earns a spot as a returner.

Johnnie Lee Higgins

In 2008, Johnnie Lee Higgins was the most exciting thing the Raiders had, amassing over 1,700 all purpose yards as a punt returner, kick returner, receiver and rusher totaling seven TDs.

In 2009, not so much. He struggled mightily as both a returner and a receiver in 2009.

If Johnnie Lee Higgins doesn't return to his 2008 form and earn a spot as a returner he may not make the team this year.

Other options

Darren McFadden and Tyvon Branch were both dangerous returners in college and both have the speed and elusiveness to return kicks in the NFL.

The only problem is these players may be too valuable to risk on special teams. They will likely on see return duty in an emergency.