TE Miller key to Oakland’s passing game in 2009

By Brad Wilbricht  |   Tuesday, June 30, 2009  |  Comments( 8 )

Oakland Raiders
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While many question marks surround the Oakland Raiders’ wide receiving corps, the tight end position is in good hands thanks to Zach Miller -- who proved to be one of quarterback JaMarcus Russell’s favorite targets a year ago and their relationship is expected to flourish even more during the upcoming season.

For a young and developing signal caller, having a dependable tight end is one of the most beneficial options in the passing game. Miller has proved to be extremely reliable during his first two NFL seasons and broke out last year with Russell under center. Miller reeled in 56 passes for 778 yards in 2008, improving on a solid rookie campaign that saw him compile 44 grabs for 444 yards.

Although Miller has progressed faster than expected, there are areas where he can show improvement. Miller has only four career touchdown receptions entering his third season and the mark of a great tight end is his success in the red zone. With Miller and Russell becoming more comfortable near the goal line, expect their performance to improve inside the enemy 20-yard line.

Behind Miller, the Raiders possess additional options at tight end. Backups Darrell Strong and incoming rookie Brandon Myers could develop into suitable second options and veteran Tony Stewart provides experience at the position. Utilizing multiple tight ends is becoming increasingly popular in the NFL and there’s a chance one of the aforementioned players will emerge in 2009.

Along with a capable group of tight ends, Oakland features three running backs who can catch the ball out of the backfield. Justin Fargas, Darren McFadden and Michael Bush have all totaled 20-plus catches in a season during their careers. Using tight ends and running backs in the passing game should help tremendously as the Raiders’ young wideouts attempt to find their identity as the season progresses.

Oakland’s aerial assault ranked dead last in the league last year, averaging a mere 148 yards per contest. Every aspect of the offense will need to do its part in order to improve that number, including the offensive line, running backs and wide receivers. Nonetheless, the tight end position has been a bright spot for an offensive unit that’s struggled through the air in recent years and is expected to thrive once again this season.
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About Brad Wilbricht

Brad Wilbricht covers numerous sporting events including the NFL, NFL Draft and college football. His analysis is simulcast through several media outlets across the country. Additionally, Brad is a regular guest on a variety of talk radio shows and can be frequently heard on the airwaves. To ...
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CommentsComments: 8  |  Sign Up  View all comments
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No.1
neil b		06:29 AM
07/01/2009
Just to go back to a point I made last week.This season Miller will have a new position coach.Kelly Skipper has moved over to RB ...
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No.2
neil b		06:35 AM
07/01/2009
............while I'm here.It can't be easy writing articles at this time of year and we've had plenty this week and ...
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No.3
tommyg		02:42 PM
07/01/2009
Zach Miller rocks. Russells' best hope for success is a strong running game and Miller as a safety valve. If we could develop a ...
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