Fourth round: More of the same for S&B
Raiders continue to address needs with second receiver, rush linebacker
NEW YORK — If a position is a big enough need for the Oakland Raiders to address it once at the 2009 NFL Draft, it seems, it’s a big enough need to address it twice.
The Raiders had two picks in the fourth round, and went back to familiar territory with both, choosing wide receiver Louis Murphy of Florida 124th overall and linebacker/end Slade Norris of Oregon State 126th overall.
The choices came three rounds after Oakland chose wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey 7th overall and just a round after choosing end/linebacker Matt Shaughnessy 71st overall.
Murphy is another impressive size/speed package at 6-foot-2 and with a 4.35 40 time. Of course, he’ll have to battle Florida’s reputation for underachieving pro receivers (“Played in a spread offense that has not translated well to the pro game,” is how Pro Football Weekly put it), but he certainly has the tools.
In fact, his scouting report reads like a poor man’s version of Heyward-Bey, the Raiders’ first-round pick: The part-time track man has “rare straight line speed” but “appears to have stiff hands,” according to Ourlads’ Scouting Services.
Murphy was a two-year starter for the Gators, catching 37 balls in 2007 and 38 in 2008, and combining for a dozen touchdowns in the two seasons.
“Excellent speed downfield … fast off the line, getting to top speed quickly,” Lindy’s raves. “… In other offenses, Murphy could have been a 1,000 yard receiver.”
Indeed, the Sporting News blames Florida’s enviable depth for Murphy’s lack of notice. “Murphy has not gotten much attention because he has played alongside great Gator receivers Andre Caldwell (now with the Bengals) and Percy Harvin, but he has the physical tools to become a solid starter in the pros.”
“Needs developmental time, but is a good-sized target,” Ourlads’ sums up.
Norris, who projects as an outside linebacker at 245 pounds, started his Oregon State career as a walk-on safety, then bulked up to linebacker, and finally defensive end, according to an El Paso Times article. His 19 sacks in the past two years are good for fourth in Beavers’ history.
“His body has changed dramatically through the years,” coach Mike Riley told the Gazette-Times newspaper. “He’s one of our great developmental stories, from a safety to a linebacker to defensive end.”
Like Shaughnessy, he has a checkered injury history, missing most of the 2005 season, as well as part of his senior year in high school.
Both players also continue the “character” theme of this draft.
“Coach Urban Meyer has said Murphy improved as a player and a person as much as anyone he has coached,” Lindy’s said.
Meanwhile, Norris was Oregon State’s defensive scout-team MVP as a sophomore and earned a scholarship for his final two years.
“He’s been here long enough, and I think guys look up to him,” defensive line coach Joe Seumalo told the Gazette-Times newspaper. “He’s contributed enough that guys can look to him as a leader and a mentor. The young guys lean heavy on him.”
The Raiders originally owned the 108th overall pick in the fourth round, but swapped picks with Miami (getting the 126th pick) as part of the deal for center Samson Satele. They acquired the 124th pick from New England when they traded down in the second round. Miami selected wide receiver Brian Hartline of Ohio State 108th overall.
Oakland’s two picks in the round were sandwiched around the Atlanta Falcons at No. 125. Atlanta chose Lawrence Sidbury, a defensive end from Richmond.
During the round, a pair of Raiders fans, Rich from California and Andy from New Jersey, took part in the on-stage trivia contest. Unfortunately, Derrick Burgess jersey-clad Rich missed an Atlanta Falcons question. But Nnamdi Asomugha jersey-wearing Andy won a Razr phone later in the round by nailing a Baltimore Ravens question.
A challenging round:
The fourth round has not been kind to the Raiders in recent years: Of the nine players selected in the round since 1999, only two were on the active roster in 2008, with two more missing the season on injured reserve. In fact, the nine players have combined for only 45 games in Silver & Black, an average of five each, without a single start.
• Tyvon Branch, DB, 2008: 8 games in 2008
• Arman Shields, WR, 2008: 0 games (IR) in 2008
• Michael Bush, RB, 2007-2008: 15 games in 2008, 0 (R/PUP) in 2007
• John Bowie, CB, 2007-2008: 0 games (IR) in 2008, 2 in 2007
• Darnell Bing, LB, 2006: 0 games (IR) in 2006
• Carlos Francis, WR, 2004-2006: 0 games (IR) in 2006, 0 (IA) in 2005, 5 in 2004
• Shurron Pierson, DE, 2003: 6 games in 2003
• Junior Ioane, DT, 2000-2002: 6 games in 2002, 3 in 2001, 0 (IA) in 2000
• Dameane Douglas, WR, 1999: 0 games (cut) in 1999
The Raiders’ fourth-round woes are not a recent development. In fact, the team has not selected a true impact player in the fourth round since Greg Townsend in 1983.
