Oakland Raiders’ Passing Game Looks Promising

Dec 8, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Rod Streater (80) scores a touchdown against the New York Jets during the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1 Receiver

Today’s No. 1 receiver is big with reliable hands so he can absorb contact over the middle and create a huge catch radius for his quarterback. He has speed to beat defensive backs deep and and body control to adjust to the ball and make circus catches. Then to top it all off, he runs good routes, knowing just where to be for his quarterback to get it to him.

That’s when you have a Calvin Johnson, Demarius Thomas or Julio Jones, who put up big numbers because they have their quarterback’s trust. The football world knows nothing about him but 2012 undrafted free agent Rod Streater is already that guy for the Raiders. He just didn’t have No. 1 receiver production because the Raiders didn’t have a good quarterback situation.

Streater almost had 1,000 yards last year, averaging 85 yards per game in nine games with then rookie Matt McGloin at quarterback. He had 854 yards with two games left to go but the Raiders closed the season with running quarterback Terrelle Pryor. That cost Streater his 1,000-yard season, leaving him with  888 yards but he showed No. 1-receiver ability.

Streater is 6’3″, 210 pounds and has that San Francisco Gate reported 4.37 speed that led GM Reggie McKenzie to sign him in the first place. Of his crisp route running, and reliable hands, McGloin told Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Gate , “He’s going to be at the right spot all the time. I trust him. I can throw opportunity balls and there’s a 50-50 chance he’s going to come down with it.”

Imagine what he’ll do with Schaub and-or Carr.