Not everyone is having the best start to training camp. The Oakland Raiders are looking for a lot of improvement this year after making some strides last season and then bringing in some talent in free agency. Roster competition will highlight training camp as players are expected to rise to the added expectations of the year. One player struggling to do so is Trent Richardson who has a 50-50 shot at making the roster.
Richardson signed in the offseason after failed stints with the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts. He was on thin ice to begin with which is now apparently close to breaking. After failing the conditioning test, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport is reporting that Richardson is really at risk of being a training camp cut sooner rather than later.
"The reality is (Richardson) has some very real competition, thanks to some newfound depth on this roster," Rapoport said, via NFL.com. "He needs to do exactly what they ask on the field and off the field just to make this roster. ... It's possible at this point that Trent Richardson is the odd man out."
The Raiders have depth at the running back spot, more so than last season. Latavius Murray is coming in as a predicted starter while Roy Helu and Michael Dyer could give Ricardshon a real run for his money. Earlier in the offseason, head coach Jack Del Rio told the media that he was hopeful Richardson could become that rusher he was in college that earned him the right to be the No.3 draft pick. However, for whatever reason he has failed to find a place in the NFL and could be out once again.
One player really taking advantage of the position battles is Michael Crabtree who is an early standout for the offense. Crabtree is another player being offered a second chance by the Raiders after he struggled with the San Francisco 49ers and was not re-signed. With Amari Cooper penciled in as the leading receiver, Crabtree is expected to be the No.2 guy and so far he is showing that capability.
According to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle, Crabtree is an "early star" of training camp, making some flashy catches from quarterback Derek Carr. Crabtree and Cooper are expected to headline the offense for Carr as both players will be critical to the Raiders' improvement this season.