PFF Recap: Grading the Oakland Raiders in Week 4

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Oct 2, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Oakland Raiders tight end Clive Walford (88) cannot catch a pass while being hit by Baltimore Ravens safety Lardarius Webb (21) in the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

Clive Walford Hitting a Wall

With the injury to Lee Smith early in the second quarter, second-year tight end Clive Walford saw 44 of the Raiders’ 60 offensive snaps (73 percent); however, the increased role didn’t bode well for his performance.

Against Baltimore, Walford caught two of his four targets for just 23 yards, dropping one of the balls thrown his way.

Walford, the Raiders’ third-round pick in 2015 out the University of Miami, is struggling to create separation over the middle of the field and fails to meet expectations as a blocker.

Through four games, Walford has graded out as the 50th ranked tight end among the 57 eligible in the business, per PFF.com.

With rumors emerging that Smith’s injury could be significant, Walford will continue to see an expanded role in upcoming weeks, so if he is unable to turn the corner in terms of his route-running ability and dropping problem, both him and the Raiders could be in trouble.

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