Revisiting DHB vs. Crabtree

[Naphtali]

Part of what happened was that everyone was getting caught in all the Fitzgerald Hype during that post season, along with a crabtree college and somehow they started the comparrisons between the 2 and the raider fans got caught up in it

[Raider_Len]

Part of what happened was that everyone was getting caught in all the Fitzgerald Hype during that post season, along with a crabtree college and somehow they started the comparrisons between the 2 and the raider fans got caught up in it

I thinks it's more about the fact that Crabtree was universally considered the best receiver in the draft, and Al picked DHB, a late first round prospect so early in the draft, instead, therefore they will always be linked. I think that's all there is to it.

[cheapshotartist]

I thinks it's more about the fact that Crabtree was universally considered the best receiver in the draft, and Al picked DHB, a late first round prospect so early in the draft, instead, therefore they will always be linked. I think that's all there is to it.

Word, when DHB ran that 40 everyone knew Al (RIP) was going to use our 1st pick on him regardless to who the best WR was. Like it or not they will always be connected.

[Idaho Raider]

Correct. AND, this is in part my curiosity as to how things will shake out. When you compare Murphy, Moore or Ford’s FIRST season as a WR compared to DHB’s it’s night and day.

That is to say in 2010, Ford, in his FIRST year, looked better then DHB and statistically he outperformed him as well. When you compare Fords FIRST year in the league as compared to DHB it’s not even close.

The same goes for Moore and Murphy.

Moore had a way better first year in the league and Murphy had a better first and second.

For me, it’s kinda tough to gauge last year as Hue took over as HC so who knows what was going on behind the scenes and then there where the injures.

What goes through my mind now is... are Moore, Murphy and Ford who are all past there initial rookie seasons, and all healthy, are they as good if not better then DHB? Is DHB NOW to the point that he is as good if not better those guys?

And as noted previously in this thread how will they be used in the NEW scheme and how does the new brass view them? Every bit as important is how comfortable is Carson and DHB?

When you throw Criner and Streater in the mix whom by all accounts have been tearing it up in OTA’s it’s going to make for one interesting TC not to mention the competition to start or for that matter just get on the field!!!

You bring up a couple good points here.

With his size AND speed he certainly brings a different element to the table. DHB certainly is a big boy and if he had played in all 16 games he would have easily been a 1,000 yard receiver last year and who knows he may have racked up as much as 1,200 yards or more. Even at 1,100 yards that would put him in the top 15 WR’s last year.

Last year at 975 yards receiving, missing a couple games, one game with Boller, one game with Carson not knowing anything and a complete change of QB’s to boot what DHB accomplished along with the rest of the offense was remarkable.

I see Ford and Moore as speedy, shifty, WR’s that can track the ball very well and both have vacuums for hands. When I think of those two I remember the game IN San Diego. Ford got hurt early in that game but before that you could clearly see the havoc they where wreaking on the Chargers defense. They where pretty much helpless in trying to stop us.

This year give us a defense that puts our offense back on the field more often, OR, a LOT more often with a healthy team (Ford, Moore, Reece, McFadden, Murphy) and I think we could be a matchup nightmare to most any team out there.

DHB was on scholarship his first two years and should not have been on the field. What happens in training camp is going to be very interesting. Lots of questions at TE too.

[Imasmashu]

Crabtree played in the NFC championship game last season while DHB was at home. Not saying Crabtree is the next Jerry Rice but he plays for the 9ers so why are so many Raider fans concerned about what he does? Who gives a *uck about Crabtree? What are OUR WR's doing that's so great they we can talk about how bad Crabtree is playing? When was the last time we even had a winning season? 2002!

In the spirit of consolidation...not that the other posts aint relevant...but this is the realest sh!t in the thread.

[cheapshotartist]

DHB was on scholarship his first two years and should not have been on the field. What happens in training camp is going to be very interesting. Lots of questions at TE too.

I concur, lets see what happens with some real competition.

[heavyD]

I really, really hated the pick at the time as Al passed over some elite contributors in what has been a pretty solid first round in 2009. Combine that and the fact that DHB was thrust into a role he clearly wasn't ready for and I admit that I referred to him largely as DHBust for his first few seasons. However I have come to respect the man for never letting the criticism get to him and his willingness to bust his ass to get better. It's paid off as now the league is taking notice that the guy may be a player after all. I'm still concerned with his hands but I must admit I love his speed and physicality. He'll probably never be the best WR from the 2009 but it won't be for lack of effort which is all you can ask from any player.

[raiderArt]

Mike Wallace - drafted in the 3rd round, is 1000x better than both of them. Get over Crabtree he was extremely overrated.

[Raiders Baby!]

I really, really hated the pick at the time as Al passed over some elite contributors in what has been a pretty solid first round in 2009. Combine that and the fact that DHB was thrust into a role he clearly wasn't ready for and I admit that I referred to him largely as DHBust for his first few seasons. However I have come to respect the man for never letting the criticism get to him and his willingness to bust his ass to get better. It's paid off as now the league is taking notice that the guy may be a player after all. I'm still concerned with his hands but I must admit I love his speed and physicality. He'll probably never be the best WR from the 2009 but it won't be for lack of effort which is all you can ask from any player.

I know why DHB begs a comparison with Crabtree, but it's time we forget where he was drafted. If Al was so gung-ho on DHB, he should have traded down but he didn't and he made sure he got the player he wanted. Hopefully, the new administration will be more willing to work with the draft board, but at this point all you can say for DHB is he has worked incredibly hard to get to where he is now and as you say that's really all you can ask for. I remember reading an article about Jerry Rice where he'd invite players from around the league to work out with him and no one could keep up with his workouts. And these are professional athletes we're talking about. Talent is great, but in any industry there is no substitute for hard work.

[lix333]

Al could have traded down but not that far. Lets not forget that the NY Giants were going to take him at 17.

[Da Swami]

I concur, lets see what happens with some real competition.

Still hanging on to hope that he will fail huh?

Yeah, it was just a lack of serious competition....

Yeah that's it

[coogi]

Al could have traded down but not that far. Lets not forget that the NY Giants were going to take him at 17.

DHB is a raider and i support the guy because he works his butt off but Hakeem Nicks isnt exactly chopped liver...if Al traded down and NY grabbed DHB leaving us with Nicks i would have been fine with that...not to mention the extra pick we would have added to the second round..then instead of grabbing mike mitchell with our first 2nd rounder maybe we could have used the extra one...

[Raiders Baby!]

DOn't want to spend a top 10 on a project, but that was Al's philosophy scout a player 360 degrees, DHB had what you need at the NFL level, where as Crab lacked something critical in AL's eye...the ability to seperate at this level, and with a QB like Alex Smith thats not accurate well you get the picture

I have been a DHB supporter all year and I stick by it but to be honest this is the kind of play that worries me a little. This may sound surprising- trust me, that play is one of my favorites to watch in the 2011 highlight reel- but if that was Moore or Ford out there, Jano wouldn't have even come on the field and Carson would have had 14 TDs. DHB simply doesn't have phenomenal body control, and unfortunately that is not something that can be easily coached. His hands have shown improvement, but even in this aspect his body control is still just average. I love DHB for his work ethic and if anyone can overcome this weakness, it's him. But if he doesn't, he will never fully take the next step because he will never have the confidence and/or skill he needs to make the extremely difficult catches.


Edit: I quoted the wrong person, I meant to quote the poster that shared DHB's clutch catch in OT against KC. The video above is actually an example of what DHB does extremely well: carving you up underneath and turning medium range gains into homeruns.

[bleed4raiders]

I have been a DHB supporter all year and I stick by it but to be honest this is the kind of play that worries me a little. This may sound surprising- trust me, that play is one of my favorites to watch in the 2011 highlight reel- but if that was Moore or Ford out there, Jano wouldn't have even come on the field and Carson would have had 14 TDs. DHB simply doesn't have phenomenal body control, and unfortunately that is not something that can be easily coached. His hands have shown improvement, but even in this aspect his body control is still just average. I love DHB for his work ethic and if anyone can overcome this weakness, it's him. But if he doesn't, he will never fully take the next step because he will never have the confidence and/or skill he needs to make the extremely difficult catches.

but he was out there(too bad Carson missed him on the go ahead TD), but it was DHB that was out there really making plays(the fumble sucked) and trying to duke it out with Megatron

[cheapshotartist]

Al could have traded down but not that far. Lets not forget that the NY Giants were going to take him at 17.

I wish they would have taken him at #17 that would mean we took a football player at #7. Not hating on DHB just saying I'd rather have Raji, Matthews, Cushing, Nicks, Maclin, Harvin, etc. DHB was not a top ten pick IMHO regardless to how he turns out.