After losing Nnamdi Asomugha to free agency this off season, the Raiders have had a ton of questions with their defensive secondary. In week two, Chris Johnson, the number two corner on the team, was borderline humiliated by the Bill's star wide receiver Stevie Johnson. However, unfortunately for the Raiders, behind Johnson on the depth chart is nothing but a whole lot of inexperience.
After Johnson and Stanford Routt, the Raiders have only three other corners. Second year player Joe Porter, who spent last season on the practice squad, and two rookies, Demarcus Van Dyke and Chimdi Chekwa. Up to this point, Van Dyke has received most of the focus after the two starters. Many saw Van Dyke as a potential starter for the Raiders at some point in the future.
However, due to injuries sustained by Chris Johnson, Demarcus Van Dyke and Michael Huff (who does spot duty as a corner when needed), Chekwa was given the opportunity to show what he could do in a game against a team with three very good receivers. The Jets boast three recievers who could be starters on almost any team in the league with Santonio Holmes, Derrick Mason and Plaxico Burress.
Despite not seeing any playing time with the first team defense in the preseason or regular season, Chekwa did not disappoint. Not only was he able to hold his own against some great receivers, his break up of a pass intended for Burress on a 4th and 2 play was one of the more impactful plays of the game.
Chekwa certainly did not appear to be nervous or in awe of playing against some of the bigger names in the NFL and likely has earned himself more playing time in order to show whether or not he can earn a spot as the nickel back, or potentially even overtake Chris Johnson as the number two corner in Oakland. Either way, it looks as though the Raiders may have found more than one late round contributor in the 2011 draft.