With cornerbck Nnamdi Asomugha long gone, the Raiders have a new No. 1 corner. And the gap between Asomugha and Stanford Routt may not be as big as otherwise believed.
Paul Gutierrez of CSNBayArea.com explains that Routt and Asomugha each allowed 39.4 percent of the passes thrown their way to be caught. The difference? Routt was targeted 99 times; Asomugha had balls thrown his way only 33 times.
This year, Routt likely will be the guy who is picked on less frequently. Assuming he’s ready to take over.
Is he ready to take over?
“He don’t got no other choice,” Raiders defensive tackle Tommy Kelly said, per Gutierrez. “He’s the No. 1 man and he’s got to handle what a No. 1 man’s got to handle every week -- the best receiver on the offensive team.
“So, if he ain’t up for it, he better get up for it.”
With a three-year, $31.5 million deal and $20 million guaranteed, the Raiders believe that Routt is indeed up for it.