Louis Murphy Catching a Case Of The Drops

  He had an awesome start to his career.  Louis Murphy was praised during training camp for his ability to catch the ball and he showed it in the season opener against the Chargers.  He racked up catches, yards and should have had 2 TDs but one was stolen by the refs but the other was an amazing 4th and long conversion that he took to the house.

  Then in a game at Houston, Murphy did something he hadn't yet done, drop a ball that was in his hands.  Another referree decision cost him a 1st down on the sideline and since then he has been unable to hang on to the passes that Russell is starting to throw with more accuracy. 

  Chaz Schilens return from injury combined with the option of Javon Walker could eventually bump Murphy from the starting line up.  The team has invested much more in DHB so if they both have trouble catching the ball, the Raiders will use the guy getting paid more to drop the ball. 

  Murphy may have saved his job by playing the way Tom Cable has asked his players to play.  Be fearless and fight from kickoff to the final whistle as he did on blocking 2 or 3 Eagles defenders on an 86-yard TD catch and run by Zach Miller.  I say blocked 2 or 3 because he blasted the first guy, screened off the second guy and then he turned around and tried to block a third guy but Murphy got knocked on his back although it did slow down the defender but I think Miller had the TD secure.

    If Murphy continues to be a team player and returns to the way he was earlier this year then he and Schilens should be the starting recievers with DHB in the slot.  If Murphy continues to struggle with his hands, maybe Johnie Lee Higgins can step up like he did late last year.