Friday’s final injury report for the Raiders had a surprise on it. Top pick and projected number one receiver Henry Ruggs III is OUT. Usually, that would be cause for some distress. And, understandably there has been some hand-wringing among fans about it. But the Raiders offense should be just fine. In fact, they could be better off.
Let’s be clear, I’m not suggesting anyone hope for an injury to any player. Not at all. And I am certainly not the kind of person to try and sugarcoat bad news. I’m saying at this stage, this isn’t terrible news. Allow me to explain.
The chemistry has not shown up yet between Derek Carr and his new rookie deep threat receiver. And according to his offensive coordinator, it could be a while before that happens.
“Again, we see the speed,” Greg Olson said of Ruggs. “I think it’s just a matter of time between he and Derek to get a chance to hit those full-speed routes together. We’re happy with where he’s at. I know there’s probably frustration out there, ‘Why’s this guy not getting more explosive plays?’ But they’ll come. It’s just time.”
This season, the two of them have connected on four of eight targets for 59 yards. Of those 59 yards, 45 of them happened on one play in which there was a broken coverage and Ruggs was wide open on a crossing route. And Carr underthrew that one, causing Ruggs to have to come back for it and was stopped short of the goal line.
That means of Ruggs’s remaining 3 catches, he has a total of 14 yards. He had just one catch for four yards Monday night against the Saints. And every one of Carr’s deep throws for him have either sailed over his head or were well covered and knocked down.
The team’s top pick at 12 overall ran a 4.27 40-yard-dash at the combine, so he’s got speed to burn. Carr’s inability to connect with him isn’t just a game thing either. He was unable to properly gage Ruggs’s speed in training camp either. Yes, they connected on a few passes here and there, but in most cases, either Ruggs had to slow up for the pass, or couldn’t catch up to it.
While Carr and Ruggs are still trying to get on the same page, Nelson Agholor has gotten just 27 snaps over the first two games. In those snaps, he’s been targeted just twice, catching both of them for 42 yards and a touchdown.
The first catch he made this season was a 23-yard touchdown in which he made the kind of catch everyone expected to see from Ruggs along with the kind of throw from Carr, hitting Agholor in perfect stride over his shoulder.
And as far as speed and time together, there’s also Rico Gafford who is entering his third season with the Raiders.
At this early stage, the team could be better served to have the veteran Agholor in there. That may not help Ruggs in his longterm development, but in terms of this week’s game in New England, the offense could be in a better position.
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