OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -Raiders coach Tom Cable thinks opening up the passing game will get Oakland’s stagnant offense moving, and Cable isn’t ruling out a change at wide receiver to make his point.
Cable acknowledged earlier this week he was considering shaking up the depth chart and reiterated that Thursday when he declined to say if Javon Walker and Ronald Curry would remain in the Raiders’ starting lineup.
“I don’t know that yet,” Cable said. “We like that group. It’s just that there’s some guys I feel need to play more and that’s kind of where we’re headed. We’ll get that sorted out pretty quick.”
Oakland’s receivers have been non-factors all season. Leading the Raiders in receptions are tight end Zach Miller, running back Michael Bush, fullback Justin Griffith and rookie tailback Darren McFadden.
ouchdown. Instead of providing the cornerstone targets for second-year quarterback JaMarcus Russell, Walker and Curry are struggling to get into the boxscore.
Both have been slowed by health issues and have had trouble hanging onto the ball when it’s been thrown their way – exactly why Cable is contemplating a change.
But Walker, who turned 30 on Tuesday, writes off Oakland’s problems throwing the ball as typical growing pains associated with a young quarterback.
“Obviously we’ll see how that evolves but a receiver is only as good as how fast his quarterback grows into a system,” Walker said. “You gotta grow and that’s what takes time. I’d love to be 21 again in the NFL growing with him. Everybody was in that position he was in right now at one point in time, especially at quarterback, so you know where he’s coming from. It’s going to happen sooner than later.”
Walker has taken the brunt of the criticism directed at the Raiders’ passing game and has been the poster boy for much of what has gone wrong. He signed a $55 million contract that included $11 million in guarantees last March, tried to retire and offered to return his signing bonus early in training camp, then missed the season-opening loss to Denver with a hamstring injury.
Since returning to the lineup, the seven-year veteran has averaged 1.5 catches a game and gone long stretches without getting a pass thrown his way.
“I don’t know that I would single Javon out more than I would single out anyone else,” Cable said. “We’re all responsible for it. Are we getting out of him what we expected? Not yet. I think I understand what he’s capable of and we’re putting him in those situations and we’ll give him more opportunity to do that.”
Cable wouldn’t say exactly what other changes he might make but acknowledged rookie Chaz Schilens will be more active in the passing game. Schilens has only three catches for 38 yards, but the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder is the biggest receiver on Oakland’s roster and has shown the ability to get open deep.
“Schilens is going to be involved more this week, that’s one thing I’m prepared to say at this point,” Cable said. “What we’re going to try and do is play guys a little more continuously and maybe not so much in and out.”
Notes: Sunday’s game against the Jets has been sold out and will be televised locally. It’s the Raiders’ seventh straight sellout.
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