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NFL Football Players Draft Injuries Rookies Season SuperbowlPublished: July 15, 2009
Friday I caught some NFL Total Access and noticed they were going to list the top five returners in the NFL on Monday. I am thinking that, “Johnnie Lee Higgins got snubbed from the Pro-Bowl; the guys over at the Network will notice his skills.” That was not the case.
Jamie Dukes, a former offensive lineman, was the one given the task to put a list together. Here are his top five return men…
(pr = punt return; kr = kick return)
5. Devin Hester: 32 pr/198 yds= 6.2avg yds 0 TDs; 31 kr/ 679 yds = 8.8 avg yds 0 TDs
4. DeSean Jackson: 50 pr/440 yds= 8.8avg yds 1 TDs; 1 kr/ 12 yds = 12 avg yds 0 TDs
3. Darren Sproles: 22 pr/249 yds= 11.3avg yds 0 TDs; 53 kr/ 1376 yds = 26 avg yds 1 TD
2. Leon Washington: 29 pr/303 yds= 10.4avg yds 0 TDs; 48 kr/ 1243 yds = 25.6 avg yds 1 TD
1. Josh Cribbs: 28 pr/228 yds= 8.1avg yds 0 TDs; 44 kr/ 1110 yds = 25.2 avg yds 1 TD
When you hear those names, you know these guys can return. Look at those stats. That is five “stud” returners and COMBINED they had four touchdowns via return last year.
What about Johnnie Lee Higgins?
JLH: 44 pr/570 yds= 12.9 avg yds 3 TDs; 36 kr/ 842 yds= 23.4 avg yds 0 TDs
He could have had some more yards/TDs but due to our receiver issue, this past year the Raiders added Justin Miller halfway through the year to contribute, and he did.
What about Justin Miller?
Justin Miller: 0 pr/0 yds= 0 avg yds 0 TDs; 32kr/ 794 yds= 24.8 avg yds 2 TDs
Both Darren Sproles and Leon Washington are mainly two running backs in their offense (to LT and Thomas Jones, respectively) yet maintain solid return averages. With all those hits, they take carrying the football; an injury is bound to handcuff these guys from doing both consistently.
DeSean Jackson was a solid returner in college and that leaked over to the NFL some. The Eagles kept him from returning kickoffs so he can concentrate on punts. I am sure they will keep him in that role since his receiving role should slowly expand.
Both Devin Hester and Josh Cribbs were pushed to play more at RECEIVER this past year, more than asked in 2007.
Hester went from a low-impact 2007 line as a receiver (20rec/229yds and 2 TDs) to an even better one in 2008 (51rec/665yds and three TDs). His average per catch dropped from 15.0 to 13.0, and had ZERO returns for TDs. Were those extra 31 catches and one receiving touchdown worth giving up awesome field position with an occasional TD? I do not think so.
Josh Cribbs has played very little on offense in both 2007 (3rec/37yds and zero TDs) and 2008 (2rec/18yards and one TD). That is one catch in two games all year…ouch; and he wants wide receiver money? Right … his return production went from 2,204 combined yards and 3 touchdowns in 2007 to 1,338 combined yards with one score.
We have seen what will happen when teams ask return specialists to concentrate more on receiving than returning. The outcome is not good. Their specialty is handicapped due to a lack of attention to detail.
Having Higgins and Miller returning kicks for the Raiders is HUGE. Getting the ball on the 40-50-yard line on kickoffs is awesome, getting the ball on your opponent’s side of the field off a punt is awesome, and the occasional touchdowns are even better.
When you have an offense like the Raiders that will feature Darren McFadden and Michael Bush, the field position game is huge. We are asking them to get 20-25 yards to get into Sebastian Janikowski’s kicking range.
I want to keep JLH as a returner and occasional receiver. Look at Hester; he had a higher receiving average when he would carry over the momentum from returns to his route running to returning. He showed the explosiveness last year doing both. His 84-yard slant to the house vs. Buffalo was a preview of what he had.
Having the taller guys out there in Darrius Heyward-Bey, Chaz Schilens, Javon Walker, and Louis Murphy with the occasional sprinkle of Johnnie “home run” Higgins will keep-up defensive coordinators late.
Justin Miller will hold on as our dime cornerback. His speed is very valuable. I hope that working alongside Nnamdi Asomugha and late bloomer Chris Johnson will help Miller improve his skills at the position.
Those players fitting in and contributing at those positions would be a plus, but, regardless, they are VERY valuable as returners and easily make up the best duo in the NFL. The numbers do not lie. They deserve some credit that they will receive as soon as the Raiders win; we all know winning solves everything.
Published: July 15, 2009
Friday I caught some NFL Total Access and noticed they were going to list the top five returners in the NFL on Monday. I am thinking that, “Johnnie Lee Higgins got snubbed from the Pro-Bowl; the guys over at the Network will notice his skills.” That was not the case.
Jamie Dukes, a former offensive lineman, was the one given the task to put a list together. Here are his top five return men…
(pr = punt return; kr = kick return)
5. Devin Hester: 32 pr/198 yds= 6.2avg yds 0 TDs; 31 kr/ 679 yds = 8.8 avg yds 0 TDs
4. DeSean Jackson: 50 pr/440 yds= 8.8avg yds 1 TDs; 1 kr/ 12 yds = 12 avg yds 0 TDs
3. Darren Sproles: 22 pr/249 yds= 11.3avg yds 0 TDs; 53 kr/ 1376 yds = 26 avg yds 1 TD
2. Leon Washington: 29 pr/303 yds= 10.4avg yds 0 TDs; 48 kr/ 1243 yds = 25.6 avg yds 1 TD
1. Josh Cribbs: 28 pr/228 yds= 8.1avg yds 0 TDs; 44 kr/ 1110 yds = 25.2 avg yds 1 TD
When you hear those names, you know these guys can return. Look at those stats. That is five “stud” returners and COMBINED they had four touchdowns via return last year.
What about Johnnie Lee Higgins?
JLH: 44 pr/570 yds= 12.9 avg yds 3 TDs; 36 kr/ 842 yds= 23.4 avg yds 0 TDs
He could have had some more yards/TDs but due to our receiver issue, this past year the Raiders added Justin Miller halfway through the year to contribute, and he did.
What about Justin Miller?
Justin Miller: 0 pr/0 yds= 0 avg yds 0 TDs; 32kr/ 794 yds= 24.8 avg yds 2 TDs
Both Darren Sproles and Leon Washington are mainly two running backs in their offense (to LT and Thomas Jones, respectively) yet maintain solid return averages. With all those hits, they take carrying the football; an injury is bound to handcuff these guys from doing both consistently.
DeSean Jackson was a solid returner in college and that leaked over to the NFL some. The Eagles kept him from returning kickoffs so he can concentrate on punts. I am sure they will keep him in that role since his receiving role should slowly expand.
Both Devin Hester and Josh Cribbs were pushed to play more at RECEIVER this past year, more than asked in 2007.
Hester went from a low-impact 2007 line as a receiver (20rec/229yds and 2 TDs) to an even better one in 2008 (51rec/665yds and three TDs). His average per catch dropped from 15.0 to 13.0, and had ZERO returns for TDs. Were those extra 31 catches and one receiving touchdown worth giving up awesome field position with an occasional TD? I do not think so.
Josh Cribbs has played very little on offense in both 2007 (3rec/37yds and zero TDs) and 2008 (2rec/18yards and one TD). That is one catch in two games all year…ouch; and he wants wide receiver money? Right … his return production went from 2,204 combined yards and 3 touchdowns in 2007 to 1,338 combined yards with one score.
We have seen what will happen when teams ask return specialists to concentrate more on receiving than returning. The outcome is not good. Their specialty is handicapped due to a lack of attention to detail.
Having Higgins and Miller returning kicks for the Raiders is HUGE. Getting the ball on the 40-50-yard line on kickoffs is awesome, getting the ball on your opponent’s side of the field off a punt is awesome, and the occasional touchdowns are even better.
When you have an offense like the Raiders that will feature Darren McFadden and Michael Bush, the field position game is huge. We are asking them to get 20-25 yards to get into Sebastian Janikowski’s kicking range.
I want to keep JLH as a returner and occasional receiver. Look at Hester; he had a higher receiving average when he would carry over the momentum from returns to his route running to returning. He showed the explosiveness last year doing both. His 84-yard slant to the house vs. Buffalo was a preview of what he had.
Having the taller guys out there in Darrius Heyward-Bey, Chaz Schilens, Javon Walker, and Louis Murphy with the occasional sprinkle of Johnnie “home run” Higgins will keep-up defensive coordinators late.
Justin Miller will hold on as our dime cornerback. His speed is very valuable. I hope that working alongside Nnamdi Asomugha and late bloomer Chris Johnson will help Miller improve his skills at the position.
Those players fitting in and contributing at those positions would be a plus, but, regardless, they are VERY valuable as returners and easily make up the best duo in the NFL. The numbers do not lie. They deserve some credit that they will receive as soon as the Raiders win; we all know winning solves everything.
Published: July 14, 2009
The Selection of Louis Murphy:
Louis Murphy, was selected with the 124th pick (fourth Round) of the 2009 NFL Draft. The Oakland Raiders had already chosen a WR the day prior as they picked Darrius Heyward-Bey with the seventh overall pick but couldn’t pass on Murphy.
At that point in the draft the Raiders still hadn’t pulled the trigger on a offensive lineman, a much needed cornerback or the blocking tight-end they wanted.
Murphy is a spread offense WR. That was one of the reasons that the Raiders passed on Jeremy Maclin and Michael Crabtree. Things change when you’re at pick #124 instead of #7, at #124 you need to get best available on your board.
They sure got value with this pick, he was projected as a third round pick. They have themselves a two time National Champion that found out how to win and what it takes to win at Florida.
Murphy’s College Years:
He was the 37th ranked WR by scouts.com in 2005 coming out of HS. He decided to go to Florida, good choice. Here he slowly went from no snaps and an occasional special teams player to a starting WR and a leader the Gators.
As a freshman, in 2005, he only played special teams. Then, in his sophmore season he mainly played special teams again getting a few snaps in at WR. He finally caught his first career college TD this year.
After watching Percy Harvin get all the attention in 2006, 2007 was the season when Louis finally got to start at WR opposite Percy. This year, he had 37 receptions for 548 yards and five touchdowns. This year ended in disapointment as they went 9-4 and lost to the Michigan Wolverines in the Capitol One Bowl.
Louis and the Gators rebounded in 2008 after a loss at home vs. Ole Miss they went on to run the table and win the National Title. Louis had 38 receptions for 655 yards and five touchdowns. His YAC increased from 14.8 (2007) to 17.2.
Measureables:
Height: 6′ 2″ Weight: 203lbs 40 Time: 4.43 (ran 4.25 while at Florida)
Bench Reps: 12 Vertical Jump: 34.5 Hand Width: 10″
Wide-Receivers on Team
As of now, the Raiders have a total of 12, that’s right, 12 wide receivers on the team heading into Training Camp.
Javon Walker, Chaz Schilens, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Arman Shields, Johnathan Holland, Todd Watkins, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Nick Miller, Sammie Parker, Shawn Bayes, Will Franklin and of course, Louis Murphy. Whew!
Out of everyone mentioned, Schilens, Heyward-Bey and Higgins are pretty much assured a roster spot.
Schilens has cemented the no. 1 spot on this team with his off-season improvement and hard-work shown during OTA’s. The Raiders are a run first team that needs a WR with size that can block, Chaz can do that just fine.
Now, with the no. 2 spot. Higgins should still have a prominent role as a kick-returner with an expanded role at WR. That role should be occasional slot WR.
Heyward-Bey and Walker are both nursing injuries and have everyone scratching their heads trying to figure out if they’ll be ready.
Out of the other guys involved, no one has played enough nor shown anything to break the starting line-up. Not Shields, Holland, Watkins, Miller, Parker, Bayes or Franklin. Majority of those guys will be cut slowly throughout the next six weeks.
Coach Approved
Tom Cable has been quoted as saying that Murhpy has been the most impressive out of the rookies these past OTA’s. He has loved his attention to detail and hard work.
Irving Meyer loved this kid. He commented as him being very coach-able and liked by both coaches and staff. He hasn’t had any ‘off-field’ issues even after winning alot in college.
He always has had a team first attitude and is known for his hard work and film study. He’s a fast guy that can help right away with his down field threat. This set would be nice, right?
QB: Russell RB: McFadden/Bush TE: Miller
WR: Schilens WR: Murphy WR: Higgins/Heyward-Bey
He has the frame of a sprinter who can add a few pounds to survive the bump and run coverage in the NFL. As soon as he hits that second gear, watch out because he’s gone.
His blocking isn’t anywhere near NFL ready but that’s something that will come with time. He has been known for having inconsistant hands and not going across the middle of the field. His route-running isn’t the sharpest nor has he gotten down the timing of snatching balls in the air.
With the attitude and work ethic he has, don’t be surprised if he makes the starting line-up. He is what the team is looking for in a young WR. Due to the injuries bothering both Heyward-Bey and Walker the door of oppertunity is open, will he walk through?
Published: June 18, 2009
Finally, Oakland Raider fans get to hear something we haven’t heard in Oakland since Rich Gannon left. JaMarcus Russell is gathering his teammates (wide receivers and tight ends) for a week of private work outs.
Here’s two links that repeat the information.
http://www.ibabuzz.com/raidersblog/2009/06/17/ota-news-and-notes/
http://www.contracostatimes.com/raiders/ci_12615729?nclick_check=1
We all know how well he handled the media and criticism last year: he did a great job. He never blamed teammates for missing assignments, or the coaching staff for being unstable and having three play callers in one season. That’s where it slowly began.
Once mini-camps and OTA’s began this year, it was highly noted that JaMarcus was off with his throws. He was seen hitting guys in the shoes, missing them by five yards, or getting deflections. It was May and early June though, so you can expect rust from most players.
He slowly began to show his displeasure when making mistakes. He’d yell out four letter words when he’d fumble a snap. You would be able to see the frustration in his body language when he’d make bad throws.
JaMarcus is a calm, laid back guy. He would never show any emotion when things were going bad. People took his laid back attitude as him not caring, which is not true. He doesn’t have to be the ‘ra ra’ guy like Phillip Rivers is in San Diego.
Tom Cable has asked JaMarcus to start working harder by coming in earlier and staying later. He went as far as to make comments at the Owners Meetings in March trying to encourage the hard work. This is a questions Cable was asked at those meetings.
Q: What kind of person is he? Does he want to be good?
A: “Oh yeah. He’s very driven. I think he’s a very passionate guy. He’s certainly very motivated to not be a failure, to not be the kid from Mobile that couldn’t get it done. All the hoopla, all the this and that, he doesn’t want to be that. He wants to be the guy, and he’s very driven.”
Paul Hackett was brought in to help JaMarcus with his footwork, and teach him how to be a better QB. Jon Gruden has praised Hackett as a great teacher, and we’ll find out if that is true during the year.
Fast forward to April, a couple of weeks later, to find out the Raiders signed veteran QB Jeff Garcia. It was always mentioned that he was here to mentor JaMarcus. Garcia is from Gilroy, Ca and this would be a perfect place for him to finish his career; close to home. He’s an insurance policy in case of injury.
With Garcia breathing down his neck during mini-camp and OTA’s we’ve seen JaMarcus answer back.
Time and time again fans write about how Garcia would be our best option to win. He’s 39, JaMarcus is 23; our future is JaMarcus. Heck, even a recently signed veteran safety (May 21, 2009) from the Dallas Cowboys said Garcia would be the teams best option, http://www.ibabuzz.com/raidersblog/2009/06/15/keith-davis-garcia-gives-us-best-chance-to-win/ .
It doesn’t really matter if one or all of these things combined were what caused JaMarcus to change, but it did. I’m excited, very excited.
They have a month to work things out, and a week to work with each other before the finished product is seen in July at training camp.
Beware Raider haters, JaMarcus is ready to show you why he was the No. 1 overall pick.
Published: June 10, 2009
We can pretty much see what the QBs in these draft classes will turn out to be. Raider haters out there love to throw dirt on JaMarcus Russell. It’s not fair.
We’ll glance through the QBs available and selected during the first two rounds in the 2006 and 2007 draft. This will show you why JaMarcus Russell will end up being the best out of these nine guys.
2006 NFL Draft
No.3 Vince Young
2006: 15 games, 2,199 yards, 51.5 pct, 12 TDs, 13 INTs….. (552 rush yards, seven TDs) QB Rating: 66.7
2007: 15 games, 2,546 yards, 62.3 pct, 9 TDs, 17 INTs….. (395 rush yards, 3 TDs) QB Rating: 71.1
2008: 3 games, 219 yards, 61.1pct, 1 TD, 2 INTs….. QB Rating: 64.5
This man has had to deal with an offensive coordinator change going from Norm Chow to Mike Heimerdinger. That hasn’t been his issue, the issue has been the much older (36) and experienced Kerry Collins taking control of the spot.
What direction are they headed in? Collins just got a two-year, $15 million deal with Young watching. This can be considered a wasted pick, since they’re doing more than holding VY’s hand, they’re holding him back.
No. 10 Matt Leinart
2006: 12 games, 2,547 yards, 56.8 pct, 11 TDs, 12 INTs….. QB Rating: 74.0
2007 & 2008: 9 games, 911 yards, 53 pct, 3 TDs, 5 INTs…. QB Rating: 61.9/80.2
Kurt Warner was basically ran out of NY so Eli Manning could play, decided to go to Arizona to play the same role for Leinart, but it turned out Leinart isn’t half as good as Eli.
Leinart has been pictured partying a lot, enjoying the lime light a bit too much and hasn’t put fourth the work needed to start. How else do you explain having two stud WRs, a rising third WR, and letting a 35-year-old QB at the time take his spot?
Warner is now 37 and still the starter in Arizona.
No. 11 Jay Cutler
2006: 5 games, 1,001 yards, 59.1 pct, 9 TDs, 5 INTs….. QB Rating: 88.5 (playing behind Jake Plummer)
2007: 16 games, 3,497 yards, 63.6 pct, 20 TDs, 14 INTs….. QB Rating: 88.1
2008: 16 games, 4,526 yards, 62.3 pct, 25 TDs, 18 INTs….. QB Rating: 86.0
This man has so far shown to be the most talented of the bunch, due to the stability in the Broncos offensive system. He’s got a cannon, he can throw on the run while being accurate and makes good decisions at times. The only issue hovering over him would be his attitude.
He had an offensive type of coach come in, Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Ryan Clady at LT, along with picks to upgrade the defense, and he bitched his way off the team. He should still do well in Chicago, but his numbers will be nowhere near what they could’ve been in Denver.
No. 64 Travaris Jackson
2006: 4 games, 475 yards, 58.0 pct, 2 tds, 4 ints….. QB Rating: 62.5
2007: 12 games, 1,911 yards, 58.2 pct, 9 tds, 12 ints….. QB Rating: 70.8
2008: 9 games, 1,056 yards, 59.1 pct, 9 tds, 2 ints….. QB Rating: 95.4
Travaris was hand picked by Coach Childress to be their QB. He’s shown flash while mainly struggling. The running game is set due to Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. They’ve got a solid offensive line, and yet that’s not enough. They have Berrian, Rice, Shiancoe as reasonable weapons and he couldn’t use them.
He instead lost the job last year and had that followed by the Vikings trading for Sage Rosenfels. For the No. 64 pick, they shouldn’t have expected much from him. Now he gets to sit behind Rosenfels or Favre.
2007 NFL Draft
No. 1 JaMarcus Russell
2007: 4 games, 373 yards, 54.5 pct, 2 tds, 4 ints….. QB Rating: 55.9
2008: 15 games, 2,423 yards, 53.8 pct, 13 tds, 8 ints….. QB Rating: 77.1
JaMarcus has had to deal with missing all camps and the preseason his rookie year (his fault) and the play-calling shuffle with three different play callers during his 2008 year. His throwing percentage isn’t nice due, to a crappy line and a lot of throwaways. He had no receivers and no time to throw.
With Darren McFadden, Michael Bush, and Lorenzo Neal leading the running game, that’ll take pressure off him. The improved offensive line, beginning with Mario Henderson watching his blindside, along Chaz Schillens, Javon Walker, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Louis Murphy, and Johnnie Lee Higgins competing for snaps, this should be a coming-out party for JaMarcus.
No. 22 Brady Quinn
07 & 08: 4 games, 563 yards, 49.5 pct, 2 TDs, 2 INTs….. QB Rating: 65.8
Quinn had bad luck with Derek Anderson blowing up his rookie year and thus taking his job. Instead of trading Anderson after his good year they decided to keep him and sit Brady Quinn another year.
With Mangini coming in, both QB’s are supposed to get a chance to compete for the job. Quinn should beat Anderson out and play good. His decision-making is pretty damn good, and with guys like Alex Mack coming in, WR’s like Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi to join Braylon Edwards will only help Brady make a name for himself.
No. 36 Kevin Kolb
2007: Played in one game and didn’t make a throw
2008: 6 games, 144 yards, 50 pct, 0 TDs, 4 INTs….. QB Rating: 21.8
In an interesting move, the Eagles made Kolb as the third QB taken. Even with McNabb at the helm and other positions needing to get filled. He got his one chance to replace McNabb and fell on his face.
Now that the Eagles have improved their offensive line with Jason Peters and the additions of Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy and Cornelious Ingram—along with talks of an extension for McNabb—Kolb will remain irrelevant.
No. 40 John Beck
2007: 5 games, 559 yards, 56.1 pct, 1 TD, 3 INTs….. QB Rating: 62.0
2008: Didn’t take a snap
Selected while Cam Cameron was their head coach, Beck didn’t impress. He was beat out for playing time by an old Trent Green and Cleo Lemon. In 2008, when Tony Sparano and Bill Parcells have took over, he never had a chance. The trade for Chad Pennington was made and in the 2009 Draft, they selected Pat White to run the wildcat.
Beck has now been released and signed on to compete as a back-up in Baltimore.
No. 43 Drew Stanton
2008: 3 games, 119 yards, 52.9 pct, 1 TD, 0 INTs….. QB Rating: 95.0
It doesn’t matter how well Stanton does, because unfortunately for him, all attention is on No. 1 pick Matthew Stafford. While Stafford gets ready, Culpepper will be taking the snaps. Stanton might look for a new home in the future if he wants a fair chance at starting.
Besides Jay Cutler’s success (he had the same system, coach, and stability during those years), no one has shown that they can or will be better than JaMarcus Russell.
Vince Young had an outstanding defense with Albert Haynesworth that would keep him from having to do too much and just manage the game but nothing.
Matt Leinart couldn’t use his ‘accuracy’ to get the ball to three stud WRs.
Travaris Jackson is SLOWLY progressing, but can be serviceable due to his agility and speed. Now that he’s got some weapons this year, we’ll see if he’ll be that.
Brady Quinn has been talked about in trade rumors for awhile, along with only getting involved in four games in two years. Are the Browns sold on him?
Kolb, Beck and Stanton have back-ups written all over them due to their situations and talent shown. Only time will tell if they’ll be successful. If they remain where they are, they won’t.
These are the two years we needed to go QB. If you ask me, the Raiders made the right choice. They could’ve traded up to get a Vince Young. They could’ve gotten Leinart instead of Huff (anything over Huff would’ve worked if you look at it now).
They could’ve taken Calvin Johnson No. 1 and looked for a QB in the second Round and so far, those guys have shown why they weren’t considered first rounders. Brady Quinn would’ve been a reach at No. 1 in that case also.
If you saw the way JaMarcus handled all the crap thrown his way, you’d understand why the Raider Nation feels we got the best QB available during those years. He never complained about the lack of time to throw. He never blamed the different play callers.
He never called out the lineman for holding or false starts. He has handled this pressure in a way you’d want your leader to handle it: calmly and letting it roll off your back
Watch out for 2009, Russell will show that he’s the top of this class!