Early Predictions for Oakland Raiders' 2015 Training Camp Battles
Training camp is still a couple of months away, but there are some anticipated positional battles to look forward to throughout the Oakland Raiders' offseason.
The offense has a lot more questions than the defense in terms of who gets the nod in starting positions. Acquisitions during free agency like Trent Richardson and Michael Crabtree stress the point that head coach Jack Del Rio isn’t going to just hand out starting positions to the younger talent on the team.
Del Rio and general manager Reggie McKenzie have been clear on their collective message heading into the offseason about competing amongst each other to bring out the best in each player in preparation for the season.
Who will emerge victorious from these fierce position battles? We’ll offer a tale of the tape and anticipate key pieces of the starting lineup.
No. 2 Option at Wide Receiver
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| Player | Rod Streater | Michael Crabtree |
| Last Season | 9 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD | 68 receptions, 698 yards, 4 TDs |
| Best Season | 60 receptions, 888 yards, 4 TDs | 85 receptions, 1105 yards, 9 TDs |
This was phrased to indicate Derek Carr’s second option behind Amari Cooper. I stress the term second option instead of starting wide receiver because, in this particular case, the slot receiver will be the more productive pass-catcher.
According to Del Rio in a SiriusXM NFL Radio interview (h/t the team’s official website), the Raiders offense won’t dink and dunk methodically down the field as they did in 2014. No, Carr will sling the ball deep for chunks of yardage, forcing opposing defenses to cover deep down the field:
"He’s [Carr] been really good. This is a guy that’s really competitive. The kind of worker that you know you have to be to be successful at this position in this league. Just a tireless commitment to learning the offense, to spending time with his teammates, to doing things the right way, to leading with example and with words; really excited to work with him and surrounding him with some talent, have some guys he can throw to. I think he throws a great deep ball, and we didn’t throw that many here last year; we’re going to throw some this year, so you’re going to have to cover the field deep, and we feel like with a good defense and a run game, that has to help a young quarterback. We’re excited about what we’re putting together around him. We don’t want him to have to just carry us, but he’s a good, young player and we’re excited to work with him.
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Last season, Streater was limited to three games with a broken foot. When you hear Del Rio’s plan to unleash Carr’s arm, it’s clear Streater will have the opportunity to replicate his 2013 campaign.
Despite being the Raiders' No. 1 WR during that 2013 season, Streater took 47.3 percent of his snaps out of the slot and led the WR corps in targets 20 or more yards down the field. Look for the reemergence of that missing deep-threat component Del Rio spoke about in his interview.
Crabtree won’t be forgotten within the offense, but as a possession receiver, his production numbers won’t compare to Streater’s as a deep threat.
The sixth-year savvy veteran will pick and choose his spots on the field to move the chains, which is an overlooked skill. However, when addressing that second option behind Cooper, Carr will frequently look for the home run throw to Streater in the slot.
No. 4 Option at Wide Receiver
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| Player | Andre Holmes | Brice Butler | Josh Harper |
| Last Season | 47 receptions, 693 yards, 4 TD | 21 receptions, 280 yards, 2 TDs | N/A |
| Best Season | 47 receptions, 693 yards, 4 TD | 21 receptions, 280 yards, 2 TDs | N/A |
This is a footnote position during the regular season, but the winner of this battle could see extended playing time next season after Crabtree and Streater’s contracts expire at the end of the season.
One of those receivers will look for a starting job elsewhere. If neither Crabtree nor Streater return, there would be an open competition for the spot next to Cooper, making this a limited but pivotal spot this season.
We’re all now aware of Josh Harper’s past successes with Carr at Fresno State. The two are spending extended time together going over the playbook in preparation for training camp.
Harper will make the final 53-man roster, but he still has to prove that the collegiate rapport with his former teammate can translate to the NFL before earning the No. 4 spot.
If you communicate with Raider Nation, you’d know Brice Butler is a fan favorite. Here’s one Twitter comment following the release of WR James Jones:
"Hopefully Brice Butler gets a shot now.
— David (@DAR12321) May 4, 2015"
This isn’t a popularity contest, and Butler failed to impress with both Streater and Denarius Moore out of action for most of the 2014 season. In fact, Carr only targeted Butler with 34 passes over the course of 15 games played.
It’s difficult to envision the Raiders allowing Andre Holmes to fall off the radar after he led the team in receiving yards in 2014. It’s also worth mentioning that Holmes improved upon his first year with Oakland. He nearly doubled his receptions and increased his yardage by approximately 60 percent.
If I told you the Raiders could utilize a 6’4”, 210-pound receiver as a viable target in the red zone in addition to Cooper, Streater and Crabtree, there wouldn’t be a discussion.
Holmes didn’t set the world on fire in 13 starts last year, but he recorded nearly 700 receiving yards after only starting in four NFL games in his first three seasons. He deserves the opportunity more than Butler and should be the No. 4 receiver as well as the go-to passing target inside the opposition's 20-yard line.
Starting Running Back
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| Player | Trent Richardson | Latavius Murray |
| Last Season | 519 rushing yards, 3 TDs | 424 rushing yards, 2 TDs |
| Best Season | 950 rushing yards, 11 TDs | 424 rushing yards, 2 TDs |
Richardson and Latavius Murray are at very different stages of their careers at the age of 24.
Richardson enters his fourth season on his third NFL team. He’s likely fighting to keep his career alive at this junction. Murray only has three NFL starts on his resume and hopes to get an opportunity to carry the load at a position with a short career span.
This isn’t a pity party for Richardson. Del Rio has made it clear that nothing will be handed to him based on where he was selected in the draft or what he’s done in the past.
However, the coaching staff has aligned the stars for Richardson in terms of run scheme.
The former third overall pick is already familiar with the playbook and has a massive offensive line that's durable enough to accommodate the high volume of carries he needs to succeed.
Murray only carried the ball 20-plus times twice in 2014, sharing the ball with a rundown Darren McFadden and an ineffective Maurice Jones-Drew.
How could you expect him to steal carries away from a motivated Richardson with his career on the line?
The two RBs will split the load, but Richardson will set the table for the offense in the backfield. He’ll take over in short-yardage situations, on goal-line carries and obvious passing downs because of his solid pass protection.
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Starting Right Guard
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| Player | Khalif Barnes | Jon Feliciano |
| Age | 33 | 23 |
| Measurements | 6'6", 305 pounds | 6'4", 323 pounds |
Khalif Barnes played guard in the last two seasons in Oakland, and he played poorly. He’s a veteran lineman who’s better suited for a reserve role as a tackle.
Before the draft, Oakland knew it needed a starter at guard and unexpectedly went with Jon Feliciano out of Miami. It would be difficult to justify drafting a guard who's restricted to the sidelines. Unless Feliciano is injured during camp or has a major setback in the learning process, he should be expected to start in Week 1.
The rookie will endure growing pains as he fits into the offensive line, but I’d prefer a rookie’s struggles over the struggles of an 11-year veteran playing outside his position.
Starting Defensive End
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| Player | Justin Tuck | Max Valles |
| Sacks in 2014 | 5 sacks | N/A |
| Career Sacks | 65.5 sacks | N/A |
This is another rookie-versus-veteran battle, but in this case, the veteran should maintain his position.
Justin Tuck isn’t going to turn back the hands on the clock to relive his dominant days as a New York Giants pass-rusher, but he has enough left in the tank to teach while playing on the field. He’ll become Max Valles’ guide on how to strike fear into the minds of QBs and maybe land a Subways commercial or two.
Tuck still managed to lead the team in sacks (5) in 2014 and will serve as the edge-rusher opposite of Mario Edwards Jr.
Valles comes in as a hybrid who needs to find out exactly where he fits within the defense. All arrows point to DE, but he must learn how to translate his collegiate skill set to the professional level.
The best-case scenario for Valles would be substituting in for Tuck toward the end of the season on obvious passing downs.
You can follow Maurice Moton on Twitter for the latest Raiders and NFL chatter.
Advanced statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com and Pro Football Focus. Contract information courtesy of Spotrac.
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