Oakland Raiders can throw on Revis Island, New York Jets

Oct 25, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders tight end Clive Walford (88) catches a touchdown pass from quarterback Derek Carr (not pictured) during the second quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Tight end ready

With the teams the Raiders have been playing against believing in their corners, they leave them alone on him in the first half. Then they realize that their corners can’t cover Cooper and bracket him to slow him down in the second half. When that first started happening, Carr would just go to the other side to Michael Crabtree.

Defenses then started to bracket Cooper and Crabtree, daring the Raiders to beat them deep with a tight end. But neither Mychal Rivera nor Lee Smith have been able to do such a thing so far. But 2015 3rd-round pick Clive Walford, who’s missed a lot of time to an injury, looks like he’s fully integrated into the offense now.

He’s the Raiders’ vertical tight end, showing it Sunday with 2 catches for 42 yards and a 23-yards TD. The Jets don’t have a linebacker or safety that can cover Walford vertically. Plus according to Pro Football Focus, he has the best grade for run-blocking among Raiders tight ends too so it’s time to start him.

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