Raiders bolster receiving corps with second fifth-rounder
By Steve Corkran
Saturday, April 28th, 2012 at 12:35 pm in Oakland Raiders.
The Raiders selected Arizona wide receiver Juron Criner with pick No. 168, near the tail end of the fifth round.
Criner, 6-feet-3 and 220 pounds, caught 75 passes for 956 yards and 11 touchdowns his senior season. His stats were even more impressive his junior season, when he hauled in 82 passes for 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Criner gives the Raiders another attractive candidate to round out their receiving corps. He figures to compete for playing time with Louis Murphy and Eddie McGee, behind projected starters Darrius Heyward-Bey and Denarius Moore and No. 3 Jacoby Ford.
The lone knock on Criner is his speed. He was clocked at anywhere from 4.6-4.68 seconds in the 40-yard dash in pre-draft workouts.
He is viewed as a receiver with above-average hands, solid route-running and nice blockings skills.
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April 28th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
YoungAmerican Says:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Criner is a perfect compliment for Moore, Ford, and DHB.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Meh
April 28th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
Criner is a great hands guy for redzone and 1st downs. Quality pick Steeter has questionable hands.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:38 pm
I’ll take above average hands over blazing speed.
Heyward Bey
I’m looking at you kid.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Criener is a very good pick…Best value so far for our draft…
Some one on the WR could be azz out…
April 28th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
Criner is defeinitely a Greg Knapp pick THAT I gauarantee.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
I really like his size.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
The scouting report says that Criner was a 3rd round pick “at worst” but he had some kind of “murky” situation as a junior?
April 28th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
I think Murphy is gone this year. He is no longer fearless over the middle after he cracked his collarbone.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
The guy is big at 6ft 4inches.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Looks like he’ll take the Kevin Walter role in Knapps offense.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Raider Nation-Station
NOW!~ 04-28-12: NEWEST RAIDER DE: JACK CRAWFORD
Crawford’s injury and Off field distractions an Issue?
Not really…
http://www.raidernationstation.com/ones_to_watch
April 28th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
We have enough speed at the WR position, so we can afford to draft a big kid with good hands for short passes.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
http://mattwaldmanrsp.com/2012/03/15/juron-criner-trust-me/
April 28th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Picking a WR that DOESN’T have blazing speed? This is certainly a new era for the Raiders…
April 28th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Yeah
Murph turned into JLH
sad but it happens.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
not bad. big boy with good hands. like the pick
April 28th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
In all my years following the Raiders, I’ve never seen a Live shot of the Raiders War Room.
How refreshing to let the fans inside.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
last pick Jeremy Lane is a CB not a C like nfl.com says
April 28th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Here’s Stepehen Wisniewski on Jack Crawford, they asked him before the Draft about some of his former teammates and rivals:
“He has tremendous ability. He didn’t really play much until junior year and still hasn’t gotten to his full potential. He’s big (6-4 7/8, 274 pounds) and tremendously athletic.”
In a year, this could be the Left DE that allows us to move Houston and Bryant inside full-time, which is what I have wanted for a while.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
I was not expecting a WR in this draft, but with his size it makes sense.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
I like that they drafted a slow WR.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
How did they get another 5th rounder?
April 28th, 2012 at 12:45 pm
yeah bob, he’s definitely athletic. the guy have a very natural running motion. that bodes well for his durability, something weve lacked at the DE position.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:45 pm
Hebron Fangupo NT/DT BYU
Miles Burris, LB, S.D. St. GOT HIM ALREADY!
Billy Winn, DE, Boise St.
Alfonzo Dennard CB Nebraska charged with hitting cop recently, best in zone
Adrien Cole MLB La. Tech
Audie Cole, LB,
Edwin “Rock” Baker, RB
David Molk, C
Leonard Johnson, CB Iowa St
Chris Polk, RB
Keith Tandy FS-CB West Virginia
Trevor Guyton, DE, Cal
Travis Lewis, LB, Oklahoma attitude questionable to some
April 28th, 2012 at 12:46 pm
23.Albert Bigelow Paine Says:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
How did they get another 5th rounder?
They had their own 5th at 148, as well as a compensation pick at 168. They traded with Detroit to move down to 158 for Detroit’s 7th Rounder at 230
April 28th, 2012 at 12:46 pm
mcfadden20. Says:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
OK i want to ask one question ? WHo did we have that was a big Red ZOne threat on our roster? NONE .. SO great Pick up .. Now stfu already
April 28th, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Murph got better at the end of last year. He’ll bounce back. Was shaky but he was just returning from injury while everyone else was in midseason form. He’ll be good to go this year. Has his next contract to play for, whether it’s in Oakland or elsewhere.
Criner almost sounds like a TE conversion project factoring in his size, lack of speed and ability to catch the ball in traffic. Or just a posession type specialist in the mold of a Marques Colston.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:46 pm
horrordude0215 Says:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Picking a WR that DOESN’T have blazing speed? This is certainly a new era for the Raiders…
+++++++++
Times they are a changin’
April 28th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Sammy Brown, Leonard Johnson, Emmanuel Acho, Janzen Jackson..
April 28th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Any takers on Case Keenum or Kellen Moore to compete for a backup QB spot? Don’t think it’ll happen with the Leinart signing. A couple of interesting guys though.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Bob I’m telling ya’ Crawford is a very good pick. Yeah he’s a developmental guy but what do you expect where he was taken. They have to coach him up, the true test of a coaching staff is how well they develope talent. The best staffs get great raw material and develope it. That’s how we have to do it with this present situation we’re in.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:49 pm
Monte Poole @1MontePoole
Seen enough of #Raiders WR Juron Criner. Desire is only thing that stands between him and stardom. It’s his if he wants it.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
i gotta say, all this military propaganda is total bs.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
only 1 good pick so far…
April 28th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
Raider Riff Says:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
i gotta say, all this military propaganda is total bs.
============
Bothers me, too.
Had the misfortune of seeing that new Katy Perry video recently. Pretty disgusting.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
Guy reminds me of The Fred. Good hands and doesn’t need stick-um.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
chris in ny, my other most favorite contributor here to go along with raider o and bob marley, aig, jfb, and young american.
yeah, i’d normally take a shot at kellen but can we afford to waste the pick? i’d much rather get him as a udfa.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
I’m not too happy about the Crawford pick. Nothing but apologetic backhanded praise for him. We’ve endured enough developmental projects that may or may not pan out. It would not have phased me to take a flier on someone like Crawford in the 7th. But in the mid fifth with Massaquoi on the board?
But I like the Criner pick. There’s a big gaping hole in the middle of the field he can fill like no other wide receiver or tight end on our roster. Criner is going to have a Marcel Reece impact in his first year.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
“He is viewed as a receiver with above-average hands, solid route-running and nice blockings skills.”
sounds like D. Moore’s description from last year, minus the blocking skills i guess.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
Criner looks better than DHB to me.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
We’ve drafted WR’s with average speed many times. Freddie B. wasn’t a trackstar neither were Jerry Porter and some others. I think you have to have BOTH and in the old days we always had a possession guy and a speed guy. You Neophytes wouldn’t know that…
April 28th, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Guest, i hope you’re right. there’s a reason why guys like Jones dropped so far.. BigMac loves his sleeprs. if we get 2 solid starters in 2012 from this draft, mission accomplished.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Hellsbells Says:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
Is the niners coach on meth? Starting to look like a tweaker
April 28th, 2012 at 12:54 pm
I just watched the highlights on Criner playing against OR. Remember one thing, these were the Ducks, ##1 in the country.
Criner dropped one pass when he looked upfield before securing the ball.
Criner let another longer pass, the ball touching his hands, get by him, while 3 Duck defensemen were all over him.
Criner fumbled another ball while running, holding it with one hand only; the CB punched it out.
Other than that, in almost 20 plays he caught almost everything thrown his way, including many garbage throws by his QB who was being knocked down and sacked almost every play.
It wasn’t a bad showing.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Jerry Rice was not that fast either but he knew how to perfect his craft on running routes and he had great hands.Hopefully this kid can do the same.I think its a good pick.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:54 pm
slower than mcclain….
April 28th, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Yup, there are a lot of routes to be run…
April 28th, 2012 at 12:55 pm
I think Criner can do everything DHB can do but better. The only thing he’ll be inferior is yards after catch and explosion to the house skills that DHB has. But end of the 5th round? That’s an absolute steal.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:55 pm
Well….draft day is done for me today Nation. I gotz to get out and things done! Too nice outside.
Hope McK goes back to getting smart, productive hard working football platers in Round 6 and Round 7.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:55 pm
I recall another WR who’s only knock was lack of speed in the 40…Jerry Rice.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:56 pm
I have a cousin in afghanistan.. I like it when they give props to military guys.. Go USA!!
April 28th, 2012 at 12:56 pm
Freddie B. wasn’t a trackstar neither were Jerry Porter and some others
————
Priest, Jerry Porter ran the 40 at 4.34. Yeah he was a speed guy.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:56 pm
Hot Shot,
Sorry, u beat me to it.
Watch the tape on Criner….he’s a stud.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:56 pm
TIM BRONW WAS SLOW! nuff said.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:57 pm
*BROWN
April 28th, 2012 at 12:57 pm
No value in the 6th round?
Ever heard of a guy named Tom Brady?
April 28th, 2012 at 12:58 pm
Preist,
before insulting the rest of us “NEOPHYTES”, make sure you know wtf you’re talking about.
April 28th, 2012 at 12:58 pm
Steve Largeant?? Slow but the guy was money!
April 28th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
tim brown was slow? haha. thats funny.
aig still killing folks.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
didn’t he run in the 4.6’s ?
April 28th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
speed is overrated for WR’s.
hands 1
route running 2
durability 3
April 28th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
speed 4
April 28th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
DBs Jeremy Lane, Keith Tandy, Mike Harris, Justin Bethel, off board. Doesn’t look like much is left there…except for the guy who allegedly beat up a cop
Hebron Fangupo NT/DT BYU
Miles Burris, LB, S.D. St. GOT HIM ALREADY!
Billy Winn, DE, Boise St.
Alfonzo Dennard CB Nebraska charged with hitting cop recently, best in zone
Adrien Cole MLB La. Tech
Audie Cole, LB,
Edwin “Rock” Baker, RB
David Molk, C
Leonard Johnson, CB Iowa St
Chris Polk, RB
Trevor Guyton, DE, Cal
Travis Lewis, LB, Oklahoma attitude questionable to some
April 28th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
yeah seen some tape on the Guy he seems to catch really good and we need a big WR on our team for those rezone catches.That is if Barns can quit getting penalties in the red zone.Barns pisses me off.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
I think Jerry P ran a 4.43 we got him because Tim Brown was slowing down. But my point is Porter wasn’t a track star he had great hands. Marcus Allen ran a 4.55 Mike Bush ran a 4.6 some in here go nuts with the speed stuff. Every team loves speed just check the draft tracker………Whew!
April 28th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
it was the route running that mattered most with Brown and Rice .. not the speed. that’s the point here. Hakeem Nicks isn’t fast either .. neither is MegaTron. that’s the point.
Brown probably wasn’t slow, that was exaggerated, sorry.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:01 pm
# Raider Riff Says:
April 28th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
speed is overrated for WR’s.
hands 1
route running 2
durability 3
^^^^^^^
And having good atheltic ability and body control.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:02 pm
porter and brown slow? you guys are high
April 28th, 2012 at 1:02 pm
exactly Priest. speed means very little in most cases. its all about route running… which seems to be Crine’s strongest attribute.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:02 pm
Ever heard of a guy named Dan Marino?
Has nothing to do with anything just wondered if anybody has heard of him.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:03 pm
Ever heard of a guy named Carl Lewis?
April 28th, 2012 at 1:03 pm
Brown wasn’t a speed demon.. that’s the point here. of course he wasn’t a snail.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:03 pm
God Bless the Military. Our son just returned to Fort Hood, Texas after 1 1/2 years in Afganistan.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Crine is a good pick.. We were so used to getting fast guys that cant catch worth a crap.. we lost sight of getting real football players.. how cool is that..
April 28th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
No he did not run 4.43. Even if he did run a 4.43, that would still be quite fast. A quick google would verify for you he ran 4.34. Dude, you can make your point but dont insult others as “know nothing Neophytes” when your data is not correct.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Ever heard of a guy named Cliff Branch?
Well……..???
April 28th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
xraided Says:
April 28th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
it was the route running that mattered most with Brown and Rice .. not the speed. that’s the point here. Hakeem Nicks isn’t fast either .. neither is MegaTron. that’s the point.
Brown probably wasn’t slow, that was exaggerated, sorry.
*******
Brown could fly early in his career, probably 4.8 40 by the time he retired
Jerry Porter was in fact a sprinter in college. Not a national class guy, but he ran a few sprints, indoors I think
Megatron is damn fast for a big WR. Similar speed to Porter
April 28th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
74.. Tell your son .. Thanks for serving!! True Hero.. Glad he’s well!!
April 28th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Brown probably wasn’t slow, that was exaggerated, sorry.
——————————————-
Brown learned not to rely on speed but to run perfect routes after his injury.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:06 pm
DJ Johnny Says:
April 28th, 2012 at 1:02 pm
Ever heard of a guy named Dan Marino?
Has nothing to do with anything just wondered if anybody has heard of him.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yeah….fabulous stats…and never went to a Superbowl unless he bought a ticket.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:07 pm
Murphy will be gone.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Trade Murphy for a 6th or 7th.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
yea Megatron is a freak of nature. bad comparison.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Hope we get get tough, good, physical, smart football players who can be coached up from here on out.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
Crines will push Murphy to show up for more than 1 play a game. it’s possible McGee could be better than Murphy at this point. we’ll find out in a few months.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
Porter only cared about looking pretty. Waste of talent, showing that you really need guys who love football.
Don’t know if Criner does, but he’s not a 3rd round pick either, and questions about his committment are probably why.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
DK, i believe that’s what he was going for with these picks. like i said above, if Bergstrom and Crines are this years Wiz and Moore(doesnt have to be quite on that level, just solid starters), then mission complete.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
“Trade Murphy for a 6th or 7th.”
Unless you see a specialty player there that you know you can use in spots, it’s not wise to trade the known for the unknown.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
Murphy has not done crap since being here.DHB has done way more than Murphy has.Guys like Murphy is a dime a dozen.Get rid of mediocre players.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:16 pm
which is suprising, i thought he was going to be something when we drafted him in the 4th. he showed up more than DHB in the first 2 years IMO. as soon as he got that punctured lung, he took many steps back.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:18 pm
If Barnes gets another Penalty in the red zone time after time again cut his sorry azz.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:19 pm
Give me a WR with good hands and precise route running over speed any day. All 3 is better, but with a wr who runs good patterns the qb knows where to put the ball on timing routes.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
DHB will be getting better and better because of his work ethic and it showed this last year.Some of it had to do with QB not hitting him on stride with the ball he always had to stop and wait for the ball.He never got to use his speed.Now with Palmer he will get to show his speed now.Got to use the football players strengths cant have them doing stuff that they are not good at.Of coarse they will be a flop.
April 28th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
yes ladies and gentleman
just go by this moto when it comes to WR’s in the NFL:
IF DHB CAN DO IT, ANYBODY CAN!
that’s not knocking him, i’m done doing that. he made me eat a lot of crow .. just sayin, he was terrible(with a terrible team around him for the most part) the first couple of years, but even when the ball came any where near him or hits his hands, he couldn’t come down with it. now look at him..
April 28th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Maybe it’s only me, but Criner reminds me a lot of Keyshawn Johnson. Not fast, but runs routes and uses the body with strong HANDS to suck up those passes. We’ve no proven TE at all, so this guys works in that respect. Plus, as commentators noted, he has a sense of how to run pro routes. We need this right now, not later without a good TE.
April 28th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Ghostraiders Says:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:56 pm
I have a cousin in afghanistan.. I like it when they give props to military guys.. Go USA!!
*********************************************************
Agreed but it’s a little fuc*ed up when they’re trying to recruit kids 24/7 with CODesque commercials twice every commercial break. Kids def don’t have clue what theyre getting into. What they should be going on about is the total lack of care that these vet’s get when they come back, that isn’t too good for recruiting tho… At least we can say our tax dollars are going to sponsor something that we all can agree on the NFL!