The Oakland Raiders are feeling very confident in their offense heading into the 2015 season. The team acquired running back Trent Richardson. They drafted Amari Cooper and signed Michael Crabtree to help out Derek Carr in his second year as the team's starting quarterback. However, it is a receiver that did not make the headlines that has head coach Jack Del Rio getting very excited.
The Raiders have had some success when it comes to undrafted free agents. Marcel Reece and Rod Streater were both undrafted and were production wide receiver additions for the Raiders. Now Oakland thinks they might have another one. According to Raiders.com, Oakland has signed Josh Harper who is coming out of Fresno State, the former college of Carr. The two had a very productive college tenure together and Oakland is confident that will continue in the pros. Harper is not guaranteed a roster spot, but his chemistry that is already built with Carr certainly helps his chances.
"I feel like the Raiders organization is headed into the right direction," said Harper, via Raiders.com. "Why not try to be a part of something that's going to be special down the road? It was a whole little packaged deal: the organization, Derek [Carr] being here because I know he's going to help me as much as I can, learning the playbook."
Oakland is very confident about the young team they have built. Last season they went with aging veterans on short-term contracts, but this year there is a youth movement on the roster which could either be extremely good or production another struggling season. Several players are looking for second chances including Crabtree and Richardson. Del Rio believes both players are in a unique situation to prove themselves. Crabtree admits he has a lot to prove while Del Rio told Richardson he wants him back to running like he did at Alabama.
"I really believe if he can recapture that then he has a chance to maximize that potential," Del Rio said, via the team website. "And that potential is great, but why worry about what it may turn into? Let's just work day to day, being a great teammate, being unselfish, working your tail off every day and see where it takes you."
According to CSNBayArea.com, Richarson and Cratree are not guaranteed starting spots. Cooper and Andre Holmes will be the top two receivers threating while Latavius Murray is also looking to start behind Carr in the backfield. The Raiders have some fun position battles heading into camp that could push the franchise into the right direction.
