Oakland Raiders: 5 Keys To Success In 2015

Jun 9, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders receiver Amari Cooper (89) at minicamp at the Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

2. Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree must live up to expectations

For the first time in quite awhile, wide receiver is a position of strength for the Oakland Raiders. Last year’s leading receiver Andre Holmes is returning, and 2013’s leading receiver Rod Streater is coming back to the team after playing in only three games last year due to a foot injury. And now those two guys aren’t even the best receivers on the team.

In 2009, the league-wide consensus was that receiver Michael Crabtree would be picked by the Raiders as the seventh player taken overall. The Raiders, however, took Darrius Heyward-Bey with their first pick, causing Crabtree to slide down to the 49ers at pick 10.

Now, as Crabtree has accumulated roughly 2,000 more receiving yards in his career than Heyward-Bey despite starting 13 less games, the Raiders are giving Crabtree a chance. He’s had a solid career to this point in San Francisco, but is looking to recover from a 2014 in which he averaged the lowest yards per game he has in his entire career.

The Raiders need his production, and his experience. On a team that has not been to the postseason in 12 years, Crabtree’s eight playoff games including a trip to Super Bowl XLVII make him an experienced veteran. None of the Raiders other receivers have been a consistent starter for more than two seasons, and Crabtree will be relied upon to help this inexperienced group along.

One member of this inexperienced group of wide receivers is rookie Amari Cooper. Cooper was taken fourth overall in this year’s draft, and is expected by many to be dominant as a rookie. His NFL.com draft profile cites him as a complete receiver who can immediately elevate an offensive passing game. The Raiders are hoping he will do just that.

He’s an excellent route-runner and has outstanding hands, able to catch any ball thrown his way. He also is striving every day to get better:

"“His work ethic is second to none,” Carr said (via Eddie Paskal of Raiders.com). “I was throwing with him as soon as mini-camp was over so we can get more reps in, and our plan was to throw a couple more times, but he texted me that night. He said, ‘hey, let’s throw at least three more times. I need to get this one route right.’ Just him telling me that kind of stuff, it blew my mind.”"

If Cooper really is working as hard as it seems, he should be ready to perform in 2015, and is team sure needs him. After a 2014 season that saw one of the best rookie classes of wide receivers in NFL history, this year’s rookies have a lot to live up to. Cooper is leading this class of wide-outs. and hopes to lead his team as well.

With a very young quarterback in Derek Carr, it is very important that he can rely on his receivers. They need to be sure-handed, and be able to get open and give him some easy throws. They also need to be able to make plays themselves, taking some of the pressure off of their quarterback. Crabtree and Cooper have the talent to be one of the league’s top receiver duos, and if they can do this then their team will thank them.

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