Ford is battling back from an injury to the same foot that caused him to miss six games last season, and Moore has been nursing a hamstring since the very start of training camp. Criner has been limited in practice this week due to a sore ankle.
It’s a good thing Carson Palmer will be able to rely on his security blanket, Darrius Heyward-Bey, to do the heavy lifting in the passing game in Week 1 and beyond.
Heyward-Bey had a breakout year in 2011, with 64 receptions for 975 yards to go along with three 100-yard games. Far too many people assumed Moore would be the No. 1 target in Oakland, when the evidence may suggest Heyward-Bey was and will continue to be the go-to wide receiver.
Heyward-Bey can stretch the defense horizontally because he runs great routes and has learned how to use his speed to his advantage. Heyward-Bey can also beat press coverage, which is a skill necessary for Heyward-Bey, who lines up on the line of scrimmage and doesn’t get the added cushion that Moore is afforded on the opposite side.
The common criticism of Heyward-Bey is his hands, and although he may never look natural catching the ball, it’s hard to criticize the results. Heyward-Bey didn’t drop a lot of passes in 2011, and securing the catch and getting positive yardage is what the game is all about.
Fighting for the Deep Ball
Another criticism of Heyward-Bey has been his poor performance catching deep passes. According to ProFootballFocus, Heyward-Bey was targeted 22 times on deep passes last season and caught just three.
Heywa...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
