Help wanted: Wide receiver needed by Oakland Raiders

August 28, 1:02 AMOakland Raiders ExaminerPatrick Patterson

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Todd Watkins looks to play an important role, despite his inexperience.
Photo by Patrick A. Patterson/TFDSsports.com

Opening: Wide Receiver

Duties: Get free from defenders and catch a thrown football. Must be able to evade defenders after the catch.

Qualifications: Must run a sub 4.6 40-yard dash and be able to catch the ball. Must understand route running. Must have NFL experience.

Pay: commensurate with experience and abilities.

Apply: Send resume and references to 1220 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, California and mark it attention: Al Davis

The front line receiving tandem of Walker and Curry do look good on paper. Curry has been the leading receiver on the Raiders for the past two years, and Walker has had success in the NFL with a 1000 yard receiving season. The problem is that both Walker and Curry have rather large question marks hanging over their heads to open the season, and no depth if either of those questions come back with negative answers.

Javon Walker has been an enigma since he had his best friend Darrent Williams die in his arms on New Year’s Day 2007. He has had injury problems and managed to talk his way out of Denver. This past June, he was found in a Las Vegas alley having been beaten and robbed. The questions continued with his lackluster showing in training camp, which culminated in his offering to retire and give back his multimillion dollar singing bonus. An offer that was rejected by Al Davis. There are questions regarding his health as he missed a significant portion of last season with a knee injury, and was said to need microfracture surgery this past offseason.

Ronald curry is one of the hardest working Raiders, having been a seventh round pick as a quarterback out of University of North Carolina and turned himself into a go to possession receiver. He has also had three achilles injuries in his career. One in college, and one each in 2005 and 2006. He was healthy in 2007 with the exception of a bone spur he played through. The question will always hang over him how well his surgically repaired ankles will hold up.

Beyond those two, the cupboard is rather bare. Johnnie Lee Higgins would likely be on the way out the door, if Tyvon Branch hadn’t hurt his hand and could take over the returning duties. Drew Carter’s injury makes it very likely that Higgins will make the team, and possibly be as high as third on the wide receiver depth chart.

Todd Watkins was a camp phenom early on, but fell off as the reports of the overall receiver play fell off. He was on the Cards’ and Falcons’ practice squads before being signed by the Raiders this past offseason. He has looked good on special teams, making several tackles and likely cemented his spot on the roster. The question will be whether he can emerge as a legitimate threat in the receiving game.

Chaz Schilens is a seventh round pick who is raw. He is an intriguing prospect with the size to create mismatches against defensive backs. He has made a couple of highlight reel type catches, but at other times has looked like he is not quite ready for prime time. He would have been a perfect candidate for the practice squad before Carter’s injury. Now he is likely the fourth or fifth wide receiver.

Chris McFoy and Jonathan Holland are the other two receivers on the roster. They have both had a year on the Raiders practice squad, with McFoy actually getting some time as an active Raider to show something and have not. McFoy has made at least a cameo appearance in this preseason, but Holland has not even managed that.

Arman Shields has spent the entire camp and preseason on the trainer’s table. He has been cleared to play in Seattle, but even if he has a breakout game, it will likely be too little too late.

The Raiders need some kind of veteran depth at wide receiver or things could get ugly fast. Last year taught that lack of depth at receiver could be a problem, but it looks like they may be ready to make the same mistake again. With the Raiders’ young signal caller, they need veterans that JaMarcus Russell can count on to be where they are supposed to be and haul in the catches.