Oakland Raiders: 9 Biggest Winners and Losers of OTAs so Far

Is there such a thing as a winner or loser in non-contact practices? The short answer: Yes and no. It depends on the position.

NFL receivers and defensive backs don't wear much padding in regular season games, and there are rules against contact past five yards. The only thing absent might be press coverage, but nearly all of the other traits coaches are looking for in receivers and defensive backs can be measured in organized team activities (OTAs).

On the other hand, defensive and offensive lineman can't hit each other. How are these guys supposed to look good in OTAs? It's nearly impossible.

Then there are neutral positions like linebacker, running back and quarterback. Some things can be measured, but just as many can't be in OTAs.

There are other ways a player can be a loser in OTAs—The player could choose to not participate or be injured and find himself unable to. It's pretty hard to be a winner when you don't even play.

Just the same, there are other ways a player can be a winner in OTAs. Absent or injured players sometimes open the door for a young player to take reps with the first team. Depending on the player and position, getting reps with the first team can be an opportunity to win a key backup job.

With Marcel Reece not participating in OTAs until this week and backup and blocking fullback Manase Tonga out until training camp with a knee injury, the Raiders had to bring in a body at the position.

Owen Schmitt might have been the best available fullback for the Raiders. He thrives at blocking, which according to head coach Dennis Allen, is still a weakness for Reece. Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp coached Schmitt in Seattle in 2009, and he has played in the zone-blocking scheme for most of his career.

With Tonga out until training camp and Reece just starting to get up to speed, Schmitt has a very good chance to make the 53-man roster as a blocking fullback.

He will also contribute on special teams, which is usually vital for any backup.

The Raiders announced that Marcel Reece signed his exclusive-rights tender on Monday.

Reece missed several weeks and will have only participated in two weeks of OTAs when the team takes a break and doesn't report back until training camp at the end of July.

Dennis Allen said after practice Wednesday, "He’s behind a little bit but he’s working hard to get caught up in what we’re doing offensively."

It's not that Reece can't get caught up, but he'll probably have to work extra hard to get there.

Allen also took time to answer questions about how the Raiders might use Reece. Allen liked how Reece can create mismatches in the passing game and would consider giving him more carries after evaluating him. 

As has been the case for several seasons, it's Reece's blocking that will limit how often he is on the field. Getting a late start means Reece and the coaching staff have that much less time to help him improve as a blocker.

It will be interesting to follow how offensive coordinator Greg Knapp utilizes the talents of Reece this season.

It seems like every media report from OTAs includes something great about rookie Juron Criner.

"Criner has been nothing short of spectacular in the four practices accessible to the media," wrote Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times.

The reports have included one-handed grabs, catches in traffic and adjustments to poorly thrown footballs.

Did Reggie McKenzie strike gold in his first draft as general manager? Allen played it safe and simple and said Criner had made a few plays, but if the rookie receiver was shining during the four media-accessible practices, it's safe to say he's probably doing more of the same when the media isn't present.

If Criner continues to impress, the Raiders will have interesting depth chart choices to make.

Next step for Criner will be proving he can defeat the jam.

Louis Murphy missed some time with an injury and was able to practice for the first time during OTAs this week.

With Darrius Heyward-Bey, Denarius Moore, Jacoby Ford and Juron Criner virtually assured roster spots, Murphy will have to fight for the last one or two spots at the wide receiver position. 

Murphy will have to fend off rookie Rod Streater and the other receivers to secure a roster spot.

The former Florida Gator already knows how important OTAs and training camp can be. "It's a crucial year for me," Murphy said after practice Wednesday. "I've got a big chip on my shoulder and a lot to prove."

As a depth receiver, Murphy would still be a valuable asset and he's headed into his fourth season, which is when conventional wisdom says receivers breakout the most between years two and four.

When Dennis Allen has been questioned about rookies that have impressed him, the name Rod Streater keeps coming up.

Allen first mentioned Streater after the rookie mini-camp last month and mentioned him again after practice on Wednesday.

Streater is 6'2" 200-pound receiver and attended Temple after transferring from a junior college.

According to Vittorio Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle, Carson Palmer has also praised the work of Streater.

Tafur was also keeping a close eye on Streater during one particular practice and noted just one drop, but otherwise was plucking the ball smoothly.

Streater is certainly going to motivate Murphy, and if he keeps it up through the rest of OTAs and into training camp he has a legitimate shot at making the 53-man roster.

The emergence of rookies Juron Criner and Rod Streater has put Eddie McGee on the wrong side of the roster bubble.

McGee put in offseason work with Carson Palmer, Darrius Heyward-Bey, David Ausberry and Terrell Owens in Southern California, and it appeared there was an open roster spot with his name on it.

Fast forward a couple months and McGee must now beat out one or both of Louis Murphy and Rod Streater as well as the rest of the rookies for a roster spot.

McGee is a big receiver at 6'3" 210 pounds, and will try to use his size to his advantage once the Raiders get to training camp and can start incorporating more contact into the practices.

Coming into OTAs, many believed, including myself, that Brandon Myers would get more snaps after the release of tight end Kevin Boss.

Myers will still figure into the equation, but converted wide receiver David Ausberry added 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason, according to Paul Gutierrez of Comcast Sports Net Bay Area.

Ausberry now weighs 265 pounds and should be more physically capable of his blocking assignments as a tight end than he was at 250 pounds.

The tight end is not only an important blocker, but a key receiver in offensive coordinator Greg Knapp's passing game.

Knapp has never had his top tight end produce fewer than 35 receptions or 321 yards, and his starters' average season is 49 receptions, 594 yards and 4 touchdowns.

If Ausberry becomes the primary receiving option at tight end, don't be surprised when he produces a very nice statistical season.

Mike Mitchell missed the practice open to the media this week, according to Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times. Mitchell has been out with a knee injury.

Like Murphy, Mitchell is hoping to get healthy for training camp to put up a fight for his roster spot.

As it is, Mitchell has missed most of OTAs with the injury, and Curtis Taylor is making the most of his opportunities in his place,

Paul Gutierrez of Comcast Sports Net Bay Area has a nice article on Taylor's budding opportunity.

One of the notes to mention is Taylor's familiarity with Jason Tarver from his time in San Francisco and how comfortable he is in zone coverage. Mitchell looked lost in coverage at times last season, but still managed to excel covering tight ends man-to-man.

Mitchell needs to get on the field and prove he's still the best big nickel safety on the roster,

With Stefan Wisniewski out until training camp recovering from offseason shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder, Alex Parsons is getting the first-team reps at center.

Parsons was signed as an undrafted rookie out of USC in 2010. It's worth noting Tom Cable was the head coach at the time, and he is a big zone-blocking proponent.

Two years worth of seasoning on the practice squad and Parsons has a real shot to make the 53-man roster in 2012.

Position versatility is important for the backup linemen, and it kept Chris Morris on the roster for four years from 2006 to 2009. Morris could play guard and center, like Parsons.

Unless the Raiders want Jared Veldheer as the primary backup at center, they will needed to explore other options. At least for now, that other option is Parsons.

All the extra reps for Parsons could prove very valuable as he learns the zone-blocking scheme, and the extra reps give him the inside track to a roster spot.