Raiders TE Walford Enters Crucial Year 3: Now or Never
The Raiders’ talk of tight end Clive Walford becoming a staple of the offense was just that – talk. From then-offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, to quarterback Derek Carr and even Walford himself, the propaganda was as grand as expectations. In spite of such praise, Walford’s two years in Oakland haven’t lived up to organizational hopes.
The Raiders grabbed Walford in the third round of the 2015 draft. They expected a versatile tight end. General manager Reggie McKenzie saw a kid who could block and catch . With a modest 33 catches for 359 yards and three touchdowns last season, expectations disappointingly tempered. On the other hand, an off season ATV accident forced Walford to miss early workouts. Coupled with former OC Musgrave’s reluctance to use the tight end position, Walford played catch up all season.
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The inconsistency from both parties, Walford and the coaches relegated fans to extremely tiny glimpses. Those moments are enough evidence of what Walford is capable of doing if he captured consistency. A more concentrated effort from Walford’s end and new OC Todd Downing to get him the ball will do wonders.
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound 25-year-old has the ability to get open. Not to mention, increased targets alleviates the headache of not having a consistent No. 3 receiver. Attacking the middle of the defense, Walford can ease coverage on receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree. Walford is a willing and good blocker. Although he’s not on level with fellow tight end Lee Smith. Yet, Walford gives full effort to that aspect of his game.
This is not to say, the Raiders shouldn’t add much-needed depth the position. Especially on draft day. If they have Alabama’s O.J. Howard sitting there at No. 24 (highly unlikely). He’s also a rare prospect. And, ironically enough, Howard too was under-utilized.
“I have no idea, honestly man,” said Howard at the Senior Bowl. “It was kind of a question mark my whole career about that, but I never been able to give an answer to this day.”
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