Youth rules in Raiders receiving corps

Injury cost DHB most of his rookie offseason workouts
(Photo by P. A. Patterson)

With the recent release of Javon Walker, the Raiders were left with an extremely young group of wide receivers. The new senior member of the group Johnnie Lee Higgins who will be in his fourth year.

The Raiders added Shaun Bodiford and Yamon Figures who are both in their second years, but both have seen only limited action. They were added as reserve/future contracts which are only offered to players on the fringes of the NFL.

Chaz Schilens who was expected to break out in 2009, before he lost half the season to a preseason foot injury is in his third year, as is special teams player Todd Watkins. Watkins filled in for Schilens during his injury absence and had only eight catches.

Last year's rookies Louis Murphy, Darrius Heyward-Bey, and Nick Miller have been joined by first year player Paul Hubbard who was on the Cleveland Browns practice squad.

No wide receiver on the Raiders roster has fifty catches for their career. Higgins is the active leader in receptions by Raiders with 47 catches. He is tied with Louis Murphy and Chaz Schilens for the career touchdown lead with four. This is not a group that is going to keep opposing offensive coordinators up at night, by any stretch of the imagination.

Johnnie Lee Higgins is the Raiders longtooth at receiver, and at times has shown flashes of playmaker potential, but he has not emerged with any consistency. He sustained a crushing hit in week one of the 2009 season, and he played tentative for the remained of the season. His return game was his strength in 2008, but that even floundered in '09.

Chaz Schilens, who is entering his third year, is a player for whom the Raiders have big expectations. When he has been healthy, he has been the best receiver in Silver and Black from the end of 08 through 09. He is something of a story having been a seventh round pick in 08 who managed to work his way into the starting lineup before the end of his rookie season. He is a big target and has shown surprisingly sold hands, and magnificent athletic ability. His low numbers are the product of missing half of 09, and not emerging as a starter until the last two games of 08. If he can stay healthy in 2010, he will provide a consistent weapon for whomever wins the quarterback competition.

Louis Murphy emerged in the 2009 season as a reliable target. He had some drops early, and had some catches lost on questionable overturns by the officials, but he got it done to lead the receivers in his rookie year. Like Schilens, he is not a blinding speedster, but he provides a solid target with run after the catch ability. He cemented himself in the hearts of Raider fans when he caught the last four passes from Bruce Gradkowski in their thrilling fourth quarter win in Pittsburgh.

Darrius Heyward-Bey was beyond disappointing in his rookie year after having been the seventh pick in the draft. He caught only nine balls in eight games, before he was shut down for the season. He was more known for his drops than anything else. In fact, his signature play from the 2009 season involved a pass from Bruce Grakowski ricocheting off of his hands, chest, and knee before it was brought down by a Kansas City defensive back to seal the game for the Chiefs.

Todd Watkins was the third receiver when Schilens was injured and Higgins was recovering from his opening week hit. He caught eight balls, and was a non-factor.

Nick Miller had a strong training camp to make the team as an undrafted free agent. He was kept on the roster as inactive for the first fifteen games before finally going on the disabled list. He will likely challenge Higgins in the return game, as well as an extra speedy receiver.

Shaun Bodiford, Yamon Figurs, and Paul Hubbard were brought in as camp legs. If any of the three impress during minicamp and OTAs, they will get an invitation to training camp.