My Michael Crabtree Blog

When analysing the Raiders selection of Darrius Heywaryd-Bey I choose to be more open minded about the selection than many in the Raider Nation have proved to be. My only beef with the Raiders concerning this pick is the fact that they could have traded down numerous spots to get Heyward-Bey so I greatly question his value at number 7 overall. However, in terms of all of these receivers coming into the NFL from college nobody and I stress NOBODY knows how this will all play out. This is the NFL not the NCAA and all the stats and TD's that Crabtree put up in college doesn't mean crap at this level. Let me repeat. All the stats Crabtree put up at Texas Tech do not mean CRAP at the NFL level. Just look at all the WR busts throughout the years in the NFL who were studs in college. Charles Rogers, Mike Williams, Troy Williamson, and Reggie Williams are just a few of the first round busts that come to mind. With that in mind I have researched Heyward-Bey and Crabtree and I truly believe Heyward-Bey will turn out to be the better NFL player and I am about to explain to you why.

During the past 10 years 4 receivers that have been taken in the Top Ten in the NFL Draft have turned into playmakers while the others have been busts. They are as follows:

Calvin Johnson (Detroit)

Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona)

Braylon Edwards (Cleveland)

Roy Williams (Dallas)

What traits do these receivers share? They are all 6'3" or better and they possessed at least better than average speed if not blazing. I am not seeing either out of Crabtree. For starters, nobody knows how fast Crabtree truly is. The only publicly recorded time of Crabtree running the 40 is 4.53 however that came from a site that also greatly exaggerated his height so how can you really believe them? Throw in the fact that Crabtree played in a spread offense at Texas Tech and also has a foot injury that numerous NFL GM's were concerned with and one has to wonder how fast Crabtree truly is. I have seen a bunch of his games in college and it always seemed that he would take the angle on DB's rather than blowing by them. Whether this was by choice in an effort to disguise his lack of speed in unknown but one thing is for certain: Crabtree is not going to be running the 100 meter relay anytime soon. Furthermore, his height has been exposed as well. Originally, Crabtree was listed at 6'3" but we all found out at the draft that he is only 6'1 1/4 so now essentially the 49ers have a short/slow receiver that they are banking on for the next 10 years.

By contrast Heyward-Bey is at least an inch or inch and a half taller than Crabtree and the speed factor is not even a question. Jeremy Maclin is close to his speed but Crabtree is not. When you examine what the Raiders are trying to do it becomes painfully clear why DHB was the selection. As I mentioned my only problem with it is that they didn't trade down to get him when that could have been an option. Perhaps the Raiders could have nabbed DHB and someone like University of Arizona tackle Eben Britton thus filling 2 glaring weaknesses. However, when analysing the measurables and all of the health variables as well you clearly see why the Raiders favored Heyward-Bey over Maclin and especially Crabtree and that is not even including personality or "character" traits. All you need to see is one interview from Crabtree for you to see that he is extremely arrogant.

Not confident. Arrogant. Arrogant to the point that I think he already has people working on his HOF bust before he has even run and NFL route yet. By contrast DHB is humble and has come to Oakland ready to work and I have liked every interview that I have seen of him to this point. People question DHB's production at Maryland as well as his hands but theses concerns are unjustified. First, unlike Crabtree DHB did not play in a spread offense in college and both Maclin and Crabtree played with far superior QB's at their respective schools than DHB did at Maryland. Everyone is saying that DHB is a bust and has Troy Williamson written all over him. I concede that there will probably be a bust at WR from this draft class but I differ by believing that Crabtree has a much higher risk for this distinction than DHB does. In summary: GIVE THE KID A CHANCE!!!!! You just might be surprised.

Cheers and Beers

Chris Limburg is the fanatical purveyor of gothicfootball.com: A Oakland Raider and fantasy football blog that provides commentary on everything that is the NFL and fantasy football. Sign up for my free newsletter at: [http://www.gothicfootball.com]

According to the Oakland Tribune, Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey had a practice that made his drop-filled opening sessions of a week ago seem like a distant memory. After taking a day off with a sore toe, Heyward-Bey caught everything that was thrown to him, including a difficult over-the-shoulder deep pass along the sideline from Charlie Frye that required a difficult in-flight adjustment.

"I thought maybe this was Darrius' best day in camp," Raiders head coach Tom Cable said. "Caught the ball well, caught everything, the underneath, the over the top, the big ball on the sideline, the one-handed catch. Those (help) his confidence. We want to keep that coming."

Hopefully DHB can continue to grow on his good day at practice and become the target that JaMarcus Russell will need this year for the Raiders to do well. By the way, how is Michael Crabtree coming along across the Bay? Did Al Davis know something that the rest of the NFL didn't when he picked DHB over Crabtree? As one fan puts it, "DHB has a fantastic work ethic and exactly the kind of attitude it takes to be a great player in the NFL."

All the flack that the Oakland raiders took for taking Darrius Heyward-Bey over Crabtree, and who is on the field? This move may turn out to be a very smart on considering that some sources have Crabtree sitting out the whole season.. Let's hope that Darrius Heyward-Bey proves "the critics" wrong and shows why he was selected in April's draft before Crabtree.

Written by Matt Loede from NFLGridronGab.com. NFL Gridiron Gab is your premier football blog, bringing you all the latest football news, predictions, tidbits and commentary.

The Raiders had the 7th overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft and many thought when Michael Crabtree was available, Oakland would select him. Instead they threw the football world a curve ball and selected wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey. Why might you ask; was it because as all the pundits claim that old Al loves speed, speed, and more speed and forgets to look at what sits under the helmet and shoulder pads. Or was it because Al wanted to pull a surprise and wanted to continue to be that crazy old uncle none of us acknowledge when they have one too many at every family gathering. Whatever the reason plenty of raider fans are counting on him being the difference maker on the outside with Russell and McFadden taking control of the rest of the offense.

No doubt this move brought on much controversy, as after all Crabtree was a two time Fred Biletnikoff award winner (only receiver in college history to receive this award twice). Hopefully no Raider fan has forgotten that Fred Biletnikoff is a NFL Hall of Famer and played for the Raiders for those of you that don't know. He was also the guy who when you needed that tough catch or that extra yard, Fred would deliver time and again.

I can only speculate that the Raiders choose Darrius because of their obsession with physically gifted athletes. When it comes to physical skills Bey clearly has those, with his 6'2, 210 pound frame and a 4.3, 40 yard dash time. But where have we seen this old song and dance before, hmmm have we forgot already about Fabian Washington, Michael Huff, or Stanford Routt.

So what has Darrius been up to? We hear he is having hamstring problems in camp already. Not what any Raider fan wants to hear right about now but Heyward-Bey is battling hamstring issues throughout camp. If he cannot stay on the field, then his productivity will go into the gutter, for his rookie year at least. When you draft 7th overall, that can't be the pattern. After all, Huff was selected 7th overall and another 7th overall pick was traded for Randy Moss, yes that Randy Moss. It can't be a swing and miss pick anymore.

I hope that Darrius can overcome this lingering problem, because Crabtree is playing for the San Francisco 49ers. If Bey turns out to be a bust, the Raiders are going to look very foolish. It will hurt even more if Crabtree becomes the great player, that many people project he will be. How painful would that be having the guy you passed on starring right across the bay. How much more can the raider fan's take.

Look for the Raiders to use receivers Jonnie Lee Higgins and Chaz Schilens, if Bey cannot stay on the field this season. Not exactly a dynamic duo who are going to scare anyone.

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