Without a quarterback competition taking place, all eyes are on players like Trent Richardson and Michael Crabtree who are battling it out for positions on the team. The Raiders have Derek Carr in place, but there are lingering question marks about who will be his starting running back and premier receiving corps. With a week of OTAs in the books, nothing is clear for the offense, but players are making early impressions.
The Raiders signed Trent Richardson in the offseason, committed to giving him a second chance in the league after failed stints in Cleveland and Indianapolis. The pressure is on the former Alabama star to find the power rusher he used to be in college. According to ESPN.com, the pressure is on Richardson and so far he is performing to it. The Raiders are planning on letting the battle between Richardson, Latavius Murray and Roy Helu work itself out during camp with Bleacher Report predicting Richardson as the likely winner. However, Helu is making it clear that he expects to be a contender.
"I could have gone to any team and (the Raiders) showed enough interest where I felt really comfortable to play here," Helu Jr. said, via team's official website. "It feels nice to be wanted. I know that naturally leadership roles are given to people who play well and who are experienced. I think just with the four years I bring to the table, I bring a fun factor. Before we go out there, I just always try to remind the guys, before we start competing, to have fun."
The wide receiver rotation has been hard to get a read on considering Carr is out with injury. Christian Ponder has been operating as the starting quarterback in OTAs. Amari Cooper is already earning rave reviews according to Bill Williamson of ESPN, but that was a given. The real question mark rests over the heads of Crabtree, Rod Streater and Andre Holmes as the battle for position. Meanwhile the Raiders brought on Josh Harper who worked well with Carr in college. That could help determine the rotation if those two can rekindle the chemistry they had back at Fresno State.
The first week of OTAs was primarily focused on Cooper who has a lot of pressure to perform right away. Now having Carr certainly hurts that effort, but Ponder told the media that already he can see a star in Cooper.
"To be a top-10 pick as a receiver means that you're bringing a lot to the table," Ponder said via ESPN.com. "He is a guy that works hard. He is quiet, but you can tell that he is coming in to work hard and to learn a lot. He brings a lot to this football team."