Jerry McD is attending these practices, I will post what he's been observing... my favorite quote from day 1: <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Robert Gallery said, “ We know what we’re doing now. There’s a program in place.”</div> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Training camp, Practice 1 By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer Thursday, July 24th, 2008 at 7:54 pm in Oakland Raiders. Some quick hits from Thursday’s first practice, followed later by highlights of interviews with Raiders players that include JaMarcus Russell, Javon Walker, Nnamdi Asomugha, and believe it or not, even Tommy Kelly: – Early drills found offensive coordinator Greg Knapp lecturing one of the members of the support staff who was throwing passes from close range to tight ends during a drill. “Give it a little more. Give it a little more. There’s a kid named JaMarcus who throws the ball. He’s faster than that.” – Big difference in watching the Raiders the past couple of years after the Aaron Brooks-Andrew Walter competition of 2006 and then the three-headed Josh McCown, Walter, Daunte Culpepper competition of a year ago. Russell has not only been anointed the starter, but is easily the sharpest of the three quarterbacks. – Russell, Walter and Marques Tuiasosopo got plenty of work in with Sam Keller and Jeff Otis having been released earlier in the day. One of those players could wind up coming back, or another camp arm, could be headed toward Alameda soon, Kiffin said after practice. – Wide receiver Arman Shields, who missed much of the offseason with a hamstring pull, wasted no time making up whatever ground he lost to fellow Chaz Schilens and others by making several nice catches. “That’s the same guy we saw for the few days we had him,” Kiffin said following practice.“Really quick and really fast and stuck out in the group a couple days we had him before he got hurt. We were really excited about him then he got hurt and we never got him back again. He’s going to be one of the things you really want to watch throughout camp and throughout the preseason.” – Running back Darren McFadden made some nice runs from scrimmage, showing his burst of speed, but dropped at least two easy passes on short dumpoffs. McFadden said afterward he was running before he caught the ball. – An example of the precision the coaches staff insists on during camp _ wide receivers coach James Lofton urging wide receiver Todd Watkins to run his route just a shade farther. “I need fifteen-and-a-half,” Lofton said. “I need that extra half-yard.” – Kiffin said the practices were focusing mostly on first- and second-down, and most of the Raiders plays run during team sessions were timing passes and quick release plays. – No big hits with players urged not bring their teammates to the ground in a padded practice, although linebacker Isiah Ekejiuba on one play stood up left tackle Kwame Harris and drove him two yards back. – Running back Michael Bush looked excited and eager to take a few hits, although defenders did not wrap up. Bush said afterward he enjoyed the experience, but was really looking forward to taking on a defender during the first preaseason game. – Russell did drop one nice deep touch pass some 40 yards downfield into the hands of Johnnie Lee Higgins along the right sideline. – Center Jake Grove got much of the first-team work at center, as the Raiders seem eager to find out once and for all if he can be the center they drafted in the second round in 2004. – Kalimba Edwards had his share of decent pass rush attempts against tackles Harris and Seth Wand. The Raiders ran effectively on two stretch plays to the left behind Harris, once with Justin Fargas and later with McFadden. – Consultant Paul Hackett was on the field with the Raiders, but his duties this year will be confined to scouting upcoming opponents. Kiffin noted that Hackett most recently coached in the NFC South (with Tampa Bay) and the AFC East (the New York Jets), two divisions the Raiders play this year. – Linebacker Thomas Howard made a nice play against McFadden when he broke into the backfield and an outside run and collared the runner without bringing him down. – With the gloves off in terms of bump and run coverage, Raiders defensive backs and wide receivers weren’t shy about mixing it up. Cornerback Darrick Brown drew the praise of assistant Willie Brown for roughing up Todd Watkins and throwing off a route which Russell threw incomplete. “Hey, that’s what happens when you beat the (bleep) out of him on the line,” Willie Brown said. – Running back Oren O’Neal, healthy after a hamstring pull in the offseason, caught a safety-valve pass from Andrew Walter against the defense of Sam Williams and made his way down the left sideline. – Strong safety Gibril Wilson caused an incomplete pass from Russell to Zach Miller with tight coverage over the middle. – Asomugha broke on a Walter pass, the only one thrown at him during the practice, and intercepted it in stride, heading for the end zone. – Defensive end Greg Spires missed practice with a hamstring pull resulting after the morning conditioning session. Linebacker Grant Irons left practice with a hamstring pull. – Kelly was credited by Kiffin for what he said would have been three sacks in a live drill, although his eyes must have been sharper than those watching from the sideline. – Kiffin operated mostly in a stealth mode, in contrast to his tornado act during last year’s training camp. “That’s the way it should be,” guard Robert Gallery said. “ We know what we’re doing now. There’s a program in place.”</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Training camp, Day 2 (A.M. practice) By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer Friday, July 25th, 2008 at 12:42 pm in Oakland Raiders. Quick hits from Friday morning’s training camp practice: – The defense had the offense frustrated for much of the padded session, putting the ball on the ground six times _ three times on the center exchange alone. Two of the center-quarterback fumbles were with Jesse Boone at center and Marques Tuiasosopo at quarterback. The other fumble was by Andrew Walter, who, reminiscent of last year, didn’t go after the loose ball. He escaped the wrath of the coaching staff however. “We went through practice one with no problems and I didn’t say anything, and (offensive coordinator Greg) Knapp says something to the offense about what a good job we did and he jinxed us,” coach Lane Kiffin said. “So we came out today and two of them were on the ground right away within 10 plays.” Other fumbles were by wide receivers Jonathan Holland and Javon Walker, and running back Adimchinobe Echemandu. – Strong safety Greg Wesley missed practice with back spasms. Those who didn’t practice also included Greg Spires (hamstring) and Grant Irons (hamstring). Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly took the practice off and worked on the cardio machines in the field house. Wide receiver Ronald Curry was scheduled to take the practice off but came out on his own and practiced for a few sessions before removing his pads. – Strong safety Gibril Wilson is already making his presence felt through two practices and may be the most significant of the offseason acquisitions when all is said and done, an idea I’ll explore in an upcoming Web exclusive column. – Running backs were isolated in blocking drills against linebackers without an offensive lineman in front of them _ a drill which favors the defense. Running backs coach Tom Rathman watched closely as Darren McFadden allowed linebacker Malik Jackson to get past him after a quick engagement. “Get your face on him on that pad, then strike and re-direct him,” Rathman said. Jon Alston made a quick spin move during one turn to race past fullback Oren O’Neal, while Justin Fargas successfully slowed Sam Williams by taking the offensive and getting into his body. Echemandu successfully attempted the same tactic, with Williams escaping and Rathman urging the running back to “recover.” – When Thomas Howard blew past running back Michael Bush, linebackers coach Don Martindale barked, “That’s what we’re going to bring this year.” What, the Raiders are going to blitz? At the drill’s conclusion, linebackers and running backs shook hands as if it were the end of a hockey game before moving on to a team session. – Kiffin lauded the play of the defensive line, which made things difficult for JaMarcus Russell in terms of having time to throw the ball. Left tackle Kwame Harris, the free agent aquisition counted up on to start, had two false starts and some difficulty with end Kalimba Edwards. – Tight end John Madsen has gained four more pounds. After seeing him drop a catchable ball from Russell on the sideline, you wonder if he could be another Randal Williams, the wide receiver who became a tight end and became to muscular to be a successful receiver. – Holland made a nice diving catch of a low fastball by Russell for a big gain in a seven-on-seven drill. Jim Fassel, the former Giants head coach observing at the invitation of Kiffin, immediately asked his son John, “Who is that guy?” Said John, a Raiders quality control coach: “Jon Holland. Second year, drafted him in the seventh round last year.” – Who says the Raiders don’t know how to market? Players have been made available for interviews with a KTLA reporter _ an area the Raiders still consider to be their property. – Sideline visitors included former Raider defensive tackle John Parrella, who brought some of his coaching staff and players from Valley Christian High School in Dublin. Valley will play a junior varsity schedule this year and add varsity next season. Parrella is being assisted by former Raider end Josh Taves. Both men appear to have lost fifty-plus pounds since their playing days. – Running back LaMont Jordan remained on the roster through the morning session but Kiffin said he expected a move to be made in the near future. The Raiders practiced again with three quarterbacks, with punter Shane Lechler throwing a few passes to defensive backs in drills.</div>
I think the guys I'm most interested in seeing from the Raiders are Russell and Bush. Bush was a 1st/2nd round type talent before the injury. He and McFadden could make an excellent tandem.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Training camp, Day 2 (P.M. practice) By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer Friday, July 25th, 2008 at 9:31 pm in Oakland Raiders 334 Comments » Some quick hits from Friday night’s second practice: – Coach Lane Kiffin got the extra arm he desired when the club re-signed Jeff Otis, who was released Wednesday, to take the roster spot vacated by the release of running back LaMont Jordan. Otis arrived just in time, because, as it turned out, Andrew Walter did not practice with a right wrist injury sustained by taking a snap in the morning workout. Walter was on the field initially, but before the club got seriously into drills he adjourned to the field house and did not return. Otis took only a few snaps, handing the ball off. – Maybe my judgment is skewed after watching some truly bad quarterback play the last two training camps from a revolving door that included Aaron Brooks, Andrew Walter, Josh McCown and Daunte Culpepper, but the Raiders had a truly outstanding passing performance in Friday night’s second session. JaMarcus Russell put on a a display which rivaled the average days of Jeff George and the best days of Kerry Collins, two noted practice passers. George is the best practice passer I’ve ever seen. Admittedly, that’s a little like watching a Barry Bonds batting practice, but it’s at least comforting to know your quarterback can put the ball where it belongs on a consistent basis with no real pressure. (Rich Gannon was more a technician and not a jaw-dropping passer in practice situations _ his strength was leading a team and moving the chains in games. The best pass I ever saw Gannon throw in practice was when became angry over a few blown routes, turned sideways and rifled a ball over the fence and into Redwood Middle School). Russell stepped up under a rush and threw a strike to Drew Carter. He rolled to his right and dropped a soft pass to tight end Tony Stewart in stride. He broke to his left with receivers covered in a seven-and-seven and hit Ronald Curry with a laser beam. On one play during a team session, Russell even dropped back and victimized Nnamdi Asomugha, with Arman Shields gathering in a perfectly thrown rainbow that probably traveled 50-plus yards in the air. Asomugha took some grief from offensive coordinator Greg Knapp on that one, with Rob Ryan urging the cornerback to get the score back on the next play. Most every receiver who found himself open caught a pass from Russell, including Johnnie Lee Higgins, Chris McFoy and Jonathan Holland. – With Russell being the top pick in last year’s draft, having an impressive passing performance maybe wasn’t all that surprising _ even if it was fun to watch. The surprise came when Marques Tuiasosopo, a solid runner and notoriously inconsistent thrower, also had a sharp evening session. Tuiasosopo did his usual thing of cutting up underneath the rush of Jay Richardson for big yardage, but also made the most of the extra work available because of the absence of Walter. He found Chaz Schilens with a throw to his backside through a tight window which would have been knocked down had he led the receiver with the pass. He dropped a nice pass from medium range into the hands of Todd Watkins. There were several other short and medium distance throws which were also on the money. Tuiasosopo will need to play well in the preseason to have a chance to become the backup, and that has been a problem in the past. He has made big mistakes even when faced with vanilla defenses. But Friday night was encouraging in terms of passing skill which has been spotty in the past. –Defensive end Greg Spires returned to practice after suffering a hamstring pull during the conditioning run and was working on the second team defensive line along with Terdell Sands, Josh Shaw and Kalimba Edwards. – Edwards is getting a lot of work with the second team and and with the first team unit, with the Raiders hoping he can become the nickel rusher to replace Chris Clemons. It’s unclear at this point whether Edwards could be a find or if the Raiders tackles are struggling as much as they appear to be struggling. – Competition? The Raiders were fielding punts in a variety of down-and-distance scenarios for more than 15 minutes to open practice and had exactly one return man _ Higgins. – Early in the second session, special teams coach Brian Schneider was presiding over a drill in which gunners attempted to down balls inside the 10-yard line. They wouldn’t run the full distance of the punt, but would start some 20 yards and run when instructed. Chris Johnson caught one punt inside the 5-yard-line, but on another drill, with Holland and Shields operating outside, Holland let the ball hit the ground and took a short-hop into the end zone. “You can catch it, it doesn’t have to fall,” Schneider said. “ I don’t care if it’s at the 5 or the 4.” – Defensive end Fred Wakefield missed practice with what a Raiders official said were “flu-like symptoms.” – Wide receiver Javon Walker sat out the evening session as scheduled, as did center Jake Grove. Jarrod Cooper worked in some special teams drills and took the rest of the practice off. – The Raiders have a single practice session Saturday at 3 p.m.</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Training camp, Day 3 By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer Saturday, July 26th, 2008 at 7:00 pm in Oakland Raiders 37 Comments » Quick hits from the Raiders’ lone practice Saturday: – It was probably to be expected after the aerial display featuring JaMarcus Russell the previous evening, but the Raiders came back to earth Saturday afternoon in a snappy practice that was wrapped up in under an hour and 40 minutes. Things were much more difficult for the near-rookie, as Russell mixed in some nice balls with several that were broken up and nearly intercepted, as well as one badly thrown pass late over the middle that free safety Michael Huff read perfectly and snared on a dive. Coach Lane Kiffin said he was more interested in watching Russell convert the routine plays than the sort of Star Wars show he put on Friday night. “We’re not going to coach those special throws that he makes where he’s running over there and he throws back and makes those great throws. That’s who he is and very few people can do that,” Kiffin said. “But those happen one time a game, maybe two times. We’ve got to get him to do everything right, the little things, the little completions and the timing of everything. “That’s all the stuff that wows the fans and people watching but that’s not what makes you a good quarterback. A good quarterback plays with great discipline, he takes care of the ball and he throws things on time. We’re going to have to get that going with him. He’s continuing to improve on it. We’re giving him a lot of reps. We’re wearing him out on purpose for conditioning, not just his arm but his body.” Said Russell about what was important: “The small detail things. When you pay close attention to that, then things will be better for you instead of being Superman all the time.” – During one seven-on-seven sequence, Russell was nearly intercepted by DeAngelo Hall while looking for Johnnie Lee Higgins along the sideline _ a pass that could have been a defensive touchdown. His next pass, intended for tight end Tony Stewart, was tipped in the air and nearly intercepted by Sam Williams. – Two plays later, Marques Tuiasosopo, who also threw well Friday night, was intercepted by linebacker Robert Thomas on a pass intended for Jonathan Holland. – In a team sequence, Russell fared better when on back-to-back throws. Drew Carter made a difficult, physical catch with Chris Johnson draped all over him on a 12-yard out, and Russell followed it up with a touch lob for 20-plus yards to tight end John Madsen in stride. – Early in practice, with the running backs breaking out of one drill and heading toward another at the horn, Kiffin threw a high pass which nearly caught an unsuspecting Darren McFadden right in the face guard, with McFadden reaching up at the last second to knock down. At the conclusion of practice, Kiffin was talking to an assistant coach only to be nearly struck by a Shane Lechler skyscraper. It was caught by Rashad Baker. “Was that Shane or the JUGS machine?,” Kiffin asked as he went to the podium to speak to reporters. When told it was Lechler, Kiffin said, “Don’t think he didn’t do that on purpose.” – Rookie receiver Arman Shields, who has had some impressive moments through the early sessions, incurred the wrath of offensive coordinator Greg Knapp for a half-speed route. “C’mon rook. Break on it,” Knapp barked. “When you break on it, you might want to go toward the ball and not off the field. You’ve got to focus when you’re tired.” – Running backs coach Tom Rathman was instructing running backs how to stop in their tracks in the middle of a zone then break outside to get open underneath. He used Justin Griffith to demonstrate how it was done before turning to second-year fullback Oren O’Neal and McFadden. O’Neal ran the route well enough, but didn’t look up in time and Russell’s pass glanced off his hands. “Gotta have it, `O,’ ” Rathman said. Next was McFadden, who ran into the middle and then peeled off without stopping first. “No, sit first. You’ve got to sit first,” Rathman said. – Left tackle Kwame Harris missed practice with a sore lower back and is expected back Sunday morning. In his place, Paul McQuistan, who has been seeing time at left guard, moved outside to tackle. Also playing left tackle were Seth Wand and Mario Henderson, who is competing with Cornell Green on the right side. Raiders tackles have had difficulty slowing the charge of Derrick Burgess (almost always on the left side, a few snaps on the right) and Kalimba Edwards from the outside. Kiffin conceded it is that area where Harris will need to get up to speed. “He’s been a better run player for us so far,” Kiffin said. “We got some things in the pass protection going back to the left side — he hasn’t been there for a while — that we’ve got to work out, that (Tom) Cable’s working on with him. We got a lot of hopes for him, and we’re going to need him.” – The Raiders appear to be running the ball well and crisply with Justin Fargas, McFadden and Michael Bush, although until they face a team in a different uniform, it will be tough to tell how good they really are. – Linemen who false start have been told to take laps around the field, with McQuistan and Brandon Robb among those to make the circuit Saturday. – Rookie end Trevor Scott has had some difficulty disengaging and making his presence felt a pass rusher. A converted tight end, Scott is listed at 6-foot-5, 255 pounds and actually looks smaller out of uniform. One one play, with Louis Rankin breaking free, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan yelled, “C’mon Trevor, you’ve got to hold that edge!” “It’s definitely something that takes getting used to,” Scott said. “Coming from college to the NFL, there’s really no comparison. Guys are just phenomenal, and the O-linemen have great feet, and that’s where coach (Keith) Millard is really telling me to hone in on my techniques and trust my technique and have my technique beat theirs. Use agility and quickness and try to get around them.” – Huff, sometimes invisible while lost in among the bigger players at strong safety, has been conspicuous not only with his playmaking, but his enthusiasm for playing free safety. “I’m out there running around, having fun, make Gibril (Wilson) take on all the tackles and guards and fullbacks and all that,” Huff said. “I can stay back there and make plays.” Huff is doing a good job reading the offense, but is having a hard time figuring out his weight pattern. He said he tried to bulk up to last year and finished the season at a skeletal 193 pounds. Now that he’s a free safety, he is up to 205. “I know it’s strange, but I feel quick out there, real fast,” Huff said. – If Tommy Kelly is as good as the Raiders seem to think he is, that $18.125 million guaranteed won’t seem so bad after the $22 million guaranteed Glenn Dorsey got from the Kansas City Chiefs. It was just a day or two ago that Chiefs exec Carl Peterson was spouting his usual nonsense about Dorsey’s contract demands, only to cave in and pay what the market demanded he pay. – Kelly has been putting in overtime on the cardio machines after practice, working on getting his weight down. He has been one of the last players to leave the field house. – Safety Greg Wesley (back spasms) and linebacker Grant Irons (hamstring) missed practice and are day-to-day. Defensive end Fred Wakefield (flu-like symptoms) was back at practice and even played a few snaps inside at defensive tackle. – If Al Davis is the kind of guy who worries about these things, he hates the idea of LaMont Jordan joining New England, where he could join Randy Moss and show up the Raiders by putting up big numbers, and even warned his agent to make sure he went somewhere else. More logically, Davis is pleased to see Jordan wind up in a place where he is buried behind Lawrence Maroney and Kevin Faulk, putting him only one rung above the Fargas-McFadden-Bush mountain he faced in Oakland. – The Raiders have a double session today with the first practice at 9 a.m. and the second at 7 p.m.</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Training camp, Day 4 (A.M. practice) By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer Sunday, July 27th, 2008 at 12:55 pm in Oakland Raiders 106 Comments » Quick hits from Sunday morning’s Raiders practice: – Defensive end Derrick Burgess continues to be perhaps the most impressive player in camp, and not just as a pass rusher. He blew up a running play, getting Darren McFadden in the backfield. – Lap runners for false starts or offsides Sunday morning included tackle/guard Paul McQuistan, tackle Mario Henderson and defensive end Fred Wakefield. – Running back Michael Bush found himself stacked up on a short-yardage play by linebackers Edgerton Hartwell and Jon Alston, along with defensive end Greyson Gunheim. Bush has shown promise as a runner and receiver, but it remains to be seen if he will be an effective short-yardage back. Bush has prototype size at 250-pounds, but his pad level is often high, which allows defenders stop him in tight quarters. Zack Crockett, utilized as the Raiders short-yardage back when they Raiders were three-time winners of the AFC West, looked for a crack and got low to gain the necessary yards. – JaMarcus Russell and Andrew Walter both had fumbled snaps with John Wade as the center. – Strong safety Greg Wesley (back spasms) returned to practice and had a nice stop of Adimchinobe Echemandu on a running play. – Not sure how much it’s going to help against the 49ers Aug. 8, but defensive coordinator Rob Ryan attempted a pass to linebackers coach Don Martindale amidst several defenders before one drill. Amazingly, Ryan’s wobbler found its target. Martindale couldn’t hold it. – Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly and wide receiver Javon Walker were out of practice as scheduled and were to return for the evening session. Left tackle Kwame Harris missed his second straight practice with a sore lower back and said he hoped to return in the evening. Grant Irons is still out with a hamstring pull. – Tackles Seth Wand and Mario Henderson continued to get work on both the left and right sides. – Todd Watkins made a nice snag of a Russell bullet on a slant pattern during a team session. – During one team session, the Raiders were blitzing the offense on every play, simulating what the team is likely to face as opponents go after Russell. Russell made some nice hot reads during the session, with one of the best going for naught when tight end Darrell Strong dropped a pass with Tyvon Branch in coverage. – McFadden had his second consecutive practice where he didn’t look sure of himself as a receiver, seeming surprised as the ball arrived. “He’s had some inaccurate hand placement on some catches, which is a surprise because we didn’t see much of that in the camp before,” Kiffin said. “He’s got so much going on right now and so much pressure on him and so many different plays so we’re going to keep pushing him and then there will come a time when we pull back. His attitude’s phenomenal.” “Inaccurate hand placement” is Kiffinese for not being ready to catch the ball. – Stanford Routt had an interception of a Russell pass intended for Drew Carter in a 7-on-7 drill. – Defensive tackle Terdell Sands, after some pre-play urging from Kiffin, pushed through the middle of the offensive line and and ruined an offensive play, drawing praise from his defensive teammates when he came off. – Russell, who was forced to pull down the ball and run several times the previous evening, had fewer instances where in game situations he would be putting himself at risk. Kiffin has made it clear he wants Russell to err on the side of caution in running situations and get down. If Russell knows how to slide, he hasn’t shown it yet in practice, instead realizing defenders aren’t going to bring him to the ground. – Another tough day for punter Shane Lechler and place kicker Sebastian Janikowski. They headed back to the field house at 9:16 a.m. and didn’t return until 10:36. Return specialists practicing at the end of the workout were using a machine. – Return specialists were attempting to field two kicks shot a few seconds apart from an apparatus like a pitching machine at the close of practice. They would catch one ball, toss it aside, then try and catch the second if they could reach it. Among those fielding kicks were Chris Johnson, Rashad Baker, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Michael Waddell, Drisan James and Branch. Kiffin placed Higgins in the lead to return punts, Branch for kickoffs. – The most hotly contested position might be strongside linebacker, where Sam Williams, Robert Thomas and Ricky Brown are getting a look. Irons was also in the mix but a hamstring pull put him behind the field. Williams has the ideal size at 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, but has been beset by injuries since Al Davis traded up to get him out of Fresno State in 2003. He started well last year but was sidelined by a stinger, and never reclaimed the job from Thomas. Rather than bemoan his bad luck and get a fresh start somewhere else, Williams re-signed with the Raiders instead of becoming a free agent. “I know what I can do. They know what I can do, and I’m going to have this be my year where I show the world what I can do, so it wasn’t a mistake getting me,” Williams said. “We love everything about him, the way that he goes about special teams, the way he prepares,” Kiffin said. “We just need him to stay healthy, and he was playing well at the beginning of the year last year before he got hurt, and we just need to continue to build on that.” – The Raiders practice again tonight at 7 p.m.</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Training camp, Day 4 (P.M. practice) By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer Sunday, July 27th, 2008 at 9:37 pm in Oakland Raiders 23 Comments » Quick hits from Sunday night’s Raiders practice: – Tackle Mark Wilson, a practice squad player signed to the active roster following the season, sustained a left leg injury, was taken off the field on a cart, and was sent to the hospital for X-rays. – Left tackle Kwame Harris (lower back) returned to practice after missing the previous two sessions. He moved well and at one point fared well in a pass blocking opportunity against Kalimba Edwards. – For the first time, no offensive or defensive lineman had to run laps for committing a false start or jumping offsides. – Wide receiver Ronald Curry and center Jake Grove took the workout off, as scheduled. John Wade got the majority of the snaps with the first team offense in Grove’s absence. Defensive end Fred Wakefield, battling a stomach ailment, did not practice after practicing in the morning session. Safety Greg Wesley (back spasms), who returned to practice in the morning, missed the evening session. Grant Irons is still out with a hamstring pull. – Al Davis made his first appearance at practice, watching from a golf cart between the two fields. – During kickoff drills early in practice, running back Darren McFadden was deep and running kickoffs hard up the middle. Kiffin mentioned McFadden as a possibility for return duty on occasion. Interesting McFadden would get his most work in that area in a practice Davis attended. Whether or not McFadden returns kickoffs will almost certainly be a decision made at the top. Davis resisted the idea of having Charles Woodson play offense or return punts, although part of that probably had to do with Woodson’s history of nagging injuries. – Expect McFadden to be utilized only in crucial situations, in games where the Raiders need a strike at the end of a half or game, or when they are struggling on offense and need a momentum switch. To use him at all in that role in the preseason would be a questionable use of a major investment. – McFadden had a much better practice catching the ball out of backfield than he did in the earlier session, when Kiffin expressed concern over his “hand placement.” Guess he figured out they had to be somewhere near the ball. – Other players returning kickoffs were cornerback Chris Johnson, wide receiver Jonathan Holland and safety Tyvon Branch, who Kiffin said earlier in the day is the current leader for that role. – Rookie wide receiver Chaz Schilens was taken to task by receivers coach James Lofton for not coming back hard enough to catch a pass. – The offense spent one session running plays apart from the defense, meaning the opposing “defense” consisted of second- and third-line offensive players. McFadden, fortunately looked to be a rock when it came to pass blocking against blitzing Ivy League quarterback Jeff Otis. If the 49ers play their second-line offense as a defense against Oakland, the Raiders look to be in business. – Johnnie Lee Higgins would seem to have a roster edge since he is the leader to be the punt return specialist, but in terms of catching the ball and making plays as a receiver, Holland appears to be staying right with him or even outplaying him. – Nnamdi Asomugha perfectly diagnosed a JaMarcus Russell slant pass in a 7-on-7 drill, jumped the route and ran for a would-be touchdown. – Linebackers Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard are so adept at pass coverage that the defense they refer to as the “dime” _ which in most cases utilizes one linebacker and six defensive backs _ has both men on the field. It is distinguished from the nickel by the positioning of the backs. – Wide receiver Todd Watkins had one drop of a Russell pass over the middle and later a juggle which he managed to retrieve, but ended practice on a strong note, catching a deep out from Marques Tuiasosopo with an impressive leap and grab as three horns sounded to end the session. – Following Watkins’ grab, the team met in the center of the field, but Kiffin dispatched Janikowski to attempt a 57-yard field goal. Usually in those instances, something is on the line _ extended curfew, reduced meeting time, etc. Janikowski, who had nailed a pair of 43-yard kicks in an end-of-game drill earlier in practice, this time missed wide right. – The Raiders practice once Monday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>If the 49ers play their second-line offense as a defense against Oakland, the Raiders look to be in business.</div> Did you guys hold a scrimmage?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vintage @ Jul 28 2008, 08:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>If the 49ers play their second-line offense as a defense against Oakland, the Raiders look to be in business.</div> Did you guys hold a scrimmage? </div> It's the first preseason game for Oakland, what he's referring to.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jacoby_Ellsbury @ Jul 28 2008, 08:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think the Raiders are going to be a surprise this year.</div> Potentially. A lot is going to ride on Russell. If he plays well enough that he can lead scoring drives....with the defense Oakland has, they could surprise people. If the offense is as bad as it was last year, they won't. A great defense can carry you far...but your offense still needs to score to win games. Good news for Oakland fans is ..... between Fargas (proven) and a highly rated prospect in McFadden, their run game should be pretty good next year, which will alleviate some pressure from Russell too.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Training camp, Day 5 By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer Monday, July 28th, 2008 at 6:49 pm in Oakland Raiders 31 Comments » Quick hits from Monday’s Raiders’ practice: – A few Napa Valley restaurants cashed in Monday night thanks to Sebastian Janikowski. Janikowski nailed a 43-yard field goal at the end of practice, giving the players a one-night respite from the healthy diet instituted in camp this year by coach Lane Kiffin and strength and conditioning coach Brad Roll. “That just made their coaches have to buy them dinner,” Kiffin said. “We kind of changed the menu a lot. It’s wearing on them. It’s extremely healthy, whole wheat pasta, and they’re getting a little worn out by it. “Myself and Brad Roll sat down and put a menu together with the chefs here. It’s really good. It’s helped our guys and we’re the best shape we’ve ever been in. And we’ve changed our food at the facility, too. But they needed a little break and we’re hoping he could make it.” Defensive end Jay Richardson promised to research the most expensive restaurant available. Guard Robert Gallery was dubious as to whether Tom Cable would splurge. The previous evening, again with a potential fat-laden meal on the line, Janikowski missed from 57 yards. “They had to eat whole wheat again,” Kiffin said. – Mark Wilson, who had played both guard and tackle, sustained a broken left leg and Kiffin said he was probably “done.” Fred Wakefield, who came to the Raiders as a blocking tight end who could play offensive line in a pinch, only to be moved to defensive end, found himself playing right guard. He even got in a few snaps with the first team. Three seasons ago, Wakefield started four games at guard and three at tackle for the Arizona Cardinals. Wakefield said changing positions as well as position coaches is not too much of a strain. “Once you’ve been in a system, you kind of know how it all works, what the concepts are and how things are supposed to go,” Wakefield said. “It’s just a matter of learning terminology more than anything.” Kiffin conceded that in the NFL, it’s unlikely a player would make a 53-man roster on the basis of playing on both lines given the time devoted to each. Wakefield doesn’t look at the constant shifting as a curse. “I’m one of those people, I really enjoy coming out here, I really enjoy being around these guys . . . but as long as I get a chance to play and do something, I’m not really too concerned how it shakes out,” Wakefield said. “Coach Kiffin this morning, he pretty much asked me if I could do it. He said, ‘I know that you will, I want to know if you can.’ I’m like, ‘It’s not a problem.” – Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha missed practice to attend a funeral in the Bay Area and is expected to be back for Tuesday’s double session at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Safety Greg Wesley (back spasms), and linebacker Grant Irons (hamstring) did not practice. – An inconsistent day for quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Included among a handful of excellent throws was an overthrow intended for John Madsen which was stolen by safety Rashad Baker. During a seven-on-seven drill, Russell failed to notice strong side linebacker Ricky Brown dropping into coverage and threw the ball directly to him for another pick. – During one sloppy exchange from beginning to end, Russell bobbled a center snap, then managed to get a shaky handoff to Louis Rankin, who was immediately met by Thomas Howard and Gibril Wilson in the backfield and somehow managed not to fumble. Russell gave way to Andrew Walter and was seen flexing and shaking his left hand. He returned later and seemed fine. – Brown, competing with Sam Williams and Robert Thomas, is making a case for himself as the starting strong side linebacker. He also stopped Michael Bush in his tracks on an inside run. – Cornerback Michael Waddell, victimized regularly since the start of camp, actually grabbed the shirt of Johnnie Lee Higgins so the receiver couldn’t get away, with the ball sailing incomplete. “Nice coverage,” defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said. – Quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo found Chris McFoy for a 17-yard touchdown in a seven-on-seven drill between an apparently blown bracket, with neither cornerback DeAngelo Hall nor free safety Michael Huff getting to the play on time. – Walter rolled to his right on one play and ended up throwing the ball out of bounds, but was given time to throw the pass when fullback Oren O’Neal buried defensive end Greg Spires, riding him to the ground with a block. – Marcel Reece, the undrafted free agent from Washington with intriguing size (6-foot-3, 240 pounds), lined up at fullback for a few plays and has been working with the running backs on occasion during drills, possibly to see if he can be an H-back. – Although he has virtually no chance to make the 53-man roster if Justin Fargas, Bush and McFadden remain healthy, undrafted Washington free agent Louis Rankin has had a solid camp and could end up on the practice squad or perhaps be claimed by another team with a strong preseason performance. – What might have been the best catch of training camp so far came from undrafted rookie free agent tight end Darrell Strong from Tuiasosopo. Running across the middle from right to left, Strong reached back and pulled the ball in with his left hand, transferring it to his right, before falling to the ground and holding on. – Raiders receivers were running a drill in which they ran under a metal archway less than 6-feet tall, caught a quick pass, then maneuvered through a series of cones. Rookie Chaz Schillens struck the bar with his helmet the first time and dropped a pass. The second time he made under and dropped it again. Both times, the response from receivers coach James Lofton was the same: “It’s a catch drill, 84.” – Rookie defensive end Trevor Scott is still having trouble getting free from offensive lineman, getting manhandled on one rush by right tackle Mario Henderson. – It is conceivable that none of the 30 or over veterans brought in this offseason _ linebacker Edgerton Hartwell, Spires, Wesley and Wade _ will make the team based on how the first seven practices have played out. Hartwell and Spires have made few plays to speak of, Wesley has missed considerable time with back spasms, and the Raiders appear to be giving Jake Grove every chance to win the starting job at center. Chris Morris would be the more likely choice as the backup because he can also play guard, while Wade is strictly a center. – No chance Grady Jackson returns to the Raiders. He decided to go back and play in Atlanta. Probably wouldn’t have liked the “healthy” diet in Napa, anyway. – Kiffin came to the post practice press briefing to discover a new podium. “And they said we were out of money,” Kiffin said.</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Training camp, Day 6 (A.M. practice) By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer Tuesday, July 29th, 2008 at 1:33 pm in Oakland Raiders 114 Comments » Quick hits from Raiders practice Tuesday morning: – The morning after players went on a calorie binge with the blessing of coach Lane Kiffin, the Raiders had their most physical practice of training camp. By Kiffin’s count, there were 85 plays in the full team sessions, easily the most since camp opened. “I thought they responded well and were very physical,” Kiffin said. “It was great to see (Oren) O’Neal show up in short-yardage and really go after our linebackers today.” The Raiders have high hopes for O’Neal as a lead blocker, and he had once nice catch of a swing pass which gained yardage. Don’t bother asking him about it, though. “He doesn’t say a word. He’s never going to say a speech. He’s never going to talk to the guys. Sometimes he doesn’t talk the whole day,” Kiffin said. “He lets his play do the talking and he’s valuable to us on special teams as well as fullback.” Kiffin conceded on Day 1 his demeanor has changed a little with a program in place, but he can still bring a little intensity when warranted. Very early in practice, during a kick coverage drill, Kiffin barked, “ Trevor Scott is offsides! Do things right. Practice the way you’re going to play.” Then Kiffin spiked the kicking tee. – Drew Carter, working much of the day with the No. 1 unit at wide receiver along with Javon Walker, continued to impress. He did draw the criticism from offensive coordinator Greg Knapp during one drill for not being decisive enough following a reception. “You’re dancing with the stars,” Knapp said. One of Carter’s better plays was a tough catch for a touchdown on a Russell pass in tight quarters against DeAngelo Hall and Michael Huff. – Tight end Zach Miller, who made a bobbling catch in the end zone while he was unguarded, also heard it from Knapp. “One catch per ball. Let’s go,” Knapp said. – Miller worked the middle seam for several nice catches during the course of the day and has gone from a rookie to taken for granted in one year. Kiffin believes Miller would have caught more than 44 passes last season (the highest total for any tight end among NFL rookies) had he not had to pass block so much. With the Raiders’ situation at tackle, it remains to be seen whether Miller will be freed up any more this year. – Walker is not making the kind of plays one might expect considering the amount of money the Raiders paid to get him. On one pass, when quarterback JaMarcus Russell threw behind Walker, receivers coach James Lofton criticized Walker for being four yards off on his pattern. “We continue to try to put him in situations,” Kiffin said. “We’re working on a lot of press coverage versus him. We told our corners to get up and press him to really challenge him. We need him and JaMarcus to understand when guys are pressed out there we have to go at them. We need it to be a mentality we develop and those two develop.” – Kiffin said Andrew Walter and Marques Tuiasosopo are in competition to become the backup quarterback to Russell, with fewer turnovers likely the deciding factor. Neither turned the ball over Tuesday morning, but Walter had the better day passing. He was particularly adept at finding John Madsen and Miller on touch routes 15 to 20 yards down field. Madsen made a diving grab which was the session’s best reception, drawing applause from a Raiders booster club which was invited to the closed session. – The Raiders are experimenting with defensive end Derrick Burgess, using him on occasion on the right side. They even had him working with linebackers during seven-on-seven sessions for a brief time Monday. “You’ve seen Derrick out there on both sides, and we’re looking at a number of different things keeping him on the open edge, keep him away from tight ends and be able to rush the passer more and play on the split end side,” Kiffin said. Said defensive end Jay Richardson: “Last year teams slid protections to him, double-teamed him, chipped him with backs and he still got eight (sacks).” A grand idea, but what about the seven-on-seven drills? “He went to seven-on-seven because we’re standing (him) up a little bit, looking at some open things where he’s dropping so we’ve got to see how well he can do that,” Kiffin said. Burgess in pass coverage instead of rushing the passer? Perhaps they shouldn’t overthink this one. – Jarrod Cooper unloaded on Madsen on one play over the middle, nearly a helmet-to-helmet blow that Kiffin seemed to think it was OK because it was a high hit. A second hit, low against tight end Darrell Strong, had Kiffin and defensive backs coach Darren Perry both talking to Cooper about being more careful. “I probably shouldn’t have tackled the rookie, but first of all, he’s a rookie so I’m not worried about him,” Cooper said. A good line, but not one he would have used had the rookie been named Darren McFadden. – Adimchinobe Echemandu, who earned a roster spot last year because of his training camp performance, is having a rough go of it this time around. He fell and fumbled on one carry, and it isn’t the first time he has gotten his feet tangled and gone down without contact. – Johnnie Lee Higgins made the sort of leaping catch against Stanford Routt that Raiders coaches want to see more of. – Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha made two perfectly-timed breakups, including one in which he raced back on a play-action pass and broke up a Russell post intended for Walker. Walker appeared to have a step on Asomugha, and for one of the few times in camp, Russell’s pass wobbled and allowed Asomugha the chance to make up the difference. – Linebacker Jon Alston closed off a draw play to Justin Fargas and stopped the running back in his tracks, drawing praise from Rob Ryan. Alston has also assumed Stuart Schweigert’s role as the personal protector for Shane Lechler on punts _ an indication he has a good chance of making the team again. – A double-standard for lap runners? After a false start by Kwame Harris, Seth Wand was dispatched to take his place at left tackle but never took the field as Harris stayed in. When Paul McQuistan did the same thing, he was off and running. McQuistan has been the Raiders’ most frequent jogger for false starts. – Speaking of double standards, it seems the defensive line got the best end of the deal Monday night after Sebastian Janikowski’s 43-yard field goal freed them from their healthy Napa diets. The defensive line dined at Cole’s Chop House, a high-end, expensive steak house. Running backs went Italian in downtown Napa. Defensive backs went to a popular restraurant in Yountville. There was some good natured grumbling among the offensive linemen and linebackers, who went to a Cantina-style Mexican restaurant down the road from the hotel. “My stomach is still feeling it,” one lineman said. “Defensive linemen were telling me what they got last night and I said, `I don’t want to hear it.’ ” Linebackers coach Don Martindale was unapologetic. “The defensive coordinator and the linebackers coach love Mexican food,” Martindale said. “Can’t you tell?” – A second practice is scheduled for 7 p.m.</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Quarterback JaMarcus Russell sat out Tuesday night’s practice with a sore elbow, but it sounds as if it is premature for there to be panic on the streets of Raider Nation. Russell was seen shaking his right arm during the morning session, and when Kiffin said, “He’s fine,” without elaborating. Following practice Tuesday evening, during which Russell spent part of the time with an ice bag wrapped around his right elbow, Kiffin came directly over to reporters. “He did nick his elbow a little bit today on the back of (Darren) McFadden’s helmet and we didn’t foresee it as an issue because when we checked him out after practice he was fine,” Kiffin said. “He came out, warmed up, threw the ball, and it just stiffened up a little bit on it so we erred on the side of safety and pulled him out at that point. If it were a game he could have very easily played. I don’t see it as an issue at all.” Kiffin said he expected Russell to practice Wednesday in the lone session at 3 p.m.</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Training camp, Day 6 (P.M. practice) By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer Tuesday, July 29th, 2008 at 9:52 pm in Oakland Raiders. Quick hits from Tuesday night’s Raiders practice: – The absence of JaMarcus Russell with a sore elbow meant plenty of work for Andrew Walter and Marques Tuiasosopo. Walter had another excellent practice, finishing his best passing day of camp. – The Raiders hired officials for the first time this training camp, and pre-snap penalties continued to be a problem. Tuesday night joggers included Kwame Harris (false start), Cornell Green (false start), Trevor Scott (lining up in the neutral zone), Robert Thomas (offsides) and Darrell Strong (false start). During one sequence, with the loud music playing to simulate crowd nose, there were three flags in four plays. – One of Walter’s big plays was a completion to Chaz Schilens in which Nnamdi Asomugha was in position to make the play and even lost his shoe on his leap, only to have Schilens catch a deflection. Late in practice, he dropped a perfect deep throw along the left sidelines into the hands of Drew Carter. – Defensive end Jay Richardson, a decent run defender last year, stopped McFadden in the backfield. – Cornerback DeAngelo Hall has had a habit of jumping routes in hopes of getting interceptions going for touchdowns but arriving late and giving up the completion. It happened against Carter in a team session and against Oren O’Neal in a seven-on-seven. On the latter, defensive Rob Ryan was imploring Hall to “make a house call.” Later, Hall was a fraction late on a pass from Walter to Drisan James. Hall was also beaten on a deep out by Johnnie Lee Higgins. – Wide receiver Todd Watkins ran a streak into the end zone that appeared to be broken up by the oft-torched Michael Waddell on a pass from Tuiasosopo, only to catch the ball Waddell thought he had batted away. – When it was suggested by a teammate that Jarrod Cooper could have made a play on a pass, Cooper responded, “Hey, I don’t catch the ball, I knock (expletive) down, OK?” – When H-back Marcel Reece shifted out of his position in the backfield and moved toward the line, Kiffin screamed, “This has got nothing to do with you. Get back in the I.” Reece dutifully moved back into position. – Cornerback John Bowie, who injured a knee in the morning practice, missed the evening session and Kiffin doesn’t expect him to practice Wednesday afternoon. Safety Greg Wesley missed another practice with back spams, and wide receiver Javon Walker, center Jake Grove and guard-tackle Fred Wakefield also sat out the session as scheduled. Defensive end Derrick Burgess and running back Justin Fargas did some work in individual drills but were rested in the team sessions. John Madsen, who took a blow to the head from Cooper in the morning, watched in a baseball cap in the evening. – The Raiders went through drills at a fairly leisurely pace for more than an hour before picking up the intensity for the second hour.</div>
Training camp, Day 7 By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer Wednesday, July 30th, 2008 at 7:01 pm in Oakland Raiders. Quick hits from Wednesday’s training camp practice: – The Raiders spent the latter part of practice in teams sessions working on specific situations. Two that were included: offense is down by two points with 1:19 left and one time out, trying to work for a field goal from its own 36. Offense gets one play from the 12-yard-line. Score or lose. The drills were largely dominated by the defense, although a medium-deep pass from Marques Tuiasosopo to Zach Miller set up a 54-yard field goal attempt, which Sebastian Janikowski hammered dead center at least halfway up the uprights. In a later drill, Janikowski connected from 37 yards to the south end zone _ one that struck a pine tree and bounced back onto the grounds of Redwood Middle School when it looked as if it would travel over a senior center and on to Redwood Road. Janikowski missed wide right from 48 yards after Walter connected on three consecutive passes to McFadden, bringing the offense from its own 32 to the 33 of the defense. The completions came after a McFadden drop, with the rookie starting to run before securing the ball. – DeAngelo Hall intercepted an Andrew Walter pass intended for Tony Stewart during a drill which the offense had no time outs and needed to throw to the sideline, which was followed in close order by Gibril Wilson’s interception off Walter. – McFadden and Derrick Burgess are getting double duty. McFadden worked during some seven-on-seven drills as a receiver, Burgess in pass coverage as a linebacker. With McFadden, it is all part of the crash course he is getting in as many areas of the offense as possible. “That’s probably close to unheard of for a guy to be at two different positions in individual that’s a rookie, to go to running back individual, then receiver individual and go back to running back.,” Kiffin said. “He’s handling it great.” Burgess said he is fine with flopping sides and working as a linebacker on occasion if it can reduce the amont of double-team and chip blocking he receivers rushing the passer. Playing without his hand down is more of an adjustment. “That (bleep) makes me tired man,” Burgess said. “No, it’s cool. The only thing different about that is it’s all these different sets and everything. But it’s cool. It’s nothing. I’m an athlete man. ‘ – Steve Wisniewski ran a marathon once. Paul McQuistan may be next, or so it seems. He was forced to run another lap for a false star, something that seems to happen at least once every practice. – During one drill with the offense inside the 20 and out of time outs, Tuiasosopo threw to Chaz Schilens, who stayed inbounds rather than immediately step out, drawing a swift rebuke from the quarterback. Schilens later jumped offsides and was sent running by Kiffin. Schilens took it upon himself to run around both fields, rather than just one. – Some rough moments for Ronald Curry and Javon Walker during a routine drill with James Lofton throwing passes into the corner of the end zone from 30 yards away. Curry dropped two balls, while Walker dropped one, then turned the wrong way and whiffed an other. Lofton by the way, throws a nice ball. – Drew Carter came down with a difficult catch along the sideline in which he tumbled to the ground with Nnamdi Asomugha. Carter briefly went to the sideline to be checked but was fine; Asomugha came out briefly and returned. – Jake Grove continues to take reps as the starting center, and has taken to being the first to arrive, leading the rest of the linemen, when the unit moves from their drill area to the team area. – Ricky Brown continues to work with the first team at strong side linebacker, and even stayed fairly even with McFadden on one pass that fell incomplete, moments after Sam Williams failed to turn around in pass coverage in a play which would have resulted in pass interference. – Wide receiver Arman Shields missed practice with a sore knee. “We probably could’ve pushed him, but he’s been working really hard,” Kiffin said. “He goes through all the special teams stuff, too, and it’s just wearing him down a little bit.” – Cornerback John Bowie, who injured a knee Tuesday night, missed practice and Kiffin termed him “day-to-day.” Safety Greg Wesley (back) and linebacker Grant Irons (hamstring) missed practice. – Word is the defensive line ran up a bill of more than $2,500 on dinner and drinks at a local steak house Monday night when freed for an evening from the “healthy” diet instituted by Kiffin and strength coach Brad Roll.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Training camp, Day 8 (A.M. practice) By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer Thursday, July 31st, 2008 at 1:29 pm in Oakland Raiders, Preseason (2005), Raiders features. Quick hits from Thursday morning’s practice: – He may not have had his best fastball, but JaMarcus Russell was felt good enough to rejoin practice and make due with off-speed stuff, choosing to simply flick his wrist rather than unleash the full power of his $60 million right arm. In his first team session, Russell completed two of five passes, one a short pass to Johnnie Lee Higgins and a dump-off to fullback Oren O’Neal. Michael Huff broke up a sideline pass intended for tight end Darrell Strong, a screen to Louis Rankin fell incomplete and Derrick Burgess pressured him into an incomplete pass. In Russell’s second team session, there were two more short completions. During seven-on-seven drills, Russell was the victim of a perfectly-played pick by Nnamdi Asomugha, who stole a pass intended for Arman Shields in stride and ran the other for what would have been a touchdown. “You can see a little bit of a velocity issue with him right now, different from normal,” Kiffin said. “I think that will go away here pretty soon.” Kiffin said the staff watched Russell closely and that trainer Rod Martin gave the go-ahead to continue. Russell acknowledged he wasn’t 100 percent but wasn’t comfortable watching from the sidelines. “I just wanted to get out here today just so I could get back in practice,” Russell said. “I don’t really like sitting out and watching guys bust their behinds when I can be out there doing something. Just anything out there I can help.” – Right guard Cooper Carlisle and right tackle Cornell Green were given the morning session off, with the Raiders reshuffling their line to accomodate the absence of two starters. Seth Wand got some work at right tackle, Chris Morris at right guard, and Mario Henderson has been working on both sides. – Speaking of Henderson, it sounds as if Kiffin’s patience has about run out on the first of three third-round picks in the 2007 draft. During the offseason, Kiffin said the Raiders were working on Henderson’s lack of aggression and his passion for football. It sounds like Kiffin and line coach Tom Cable haven’t made much headway. Rather than shift into coach-speak when asked if Henderson was challenging Green at right tackle, Kiffin was blunt and to the point. “No, he’s not pushing him. We’ll continue to move Mario around to both sides,” Kiffin said. “Mario is not improving the way we’d like him to so we’ll just continue to push him. But it’s not close right now.” When asked if Henderson needed to shore up a particular area, Kiffin said, “No, it’s everything right now. Unfortunately.” – Sounds like Javon Walker, the free agent aquisition whose salary suggests he is the No. 1 receiver but whose practice play has been so-so, will begin getting some extra work starting Monday. Kiffin said Walker and Fred Wakefield, rehabbing from a knee injury, would begin working twice per day Sunday when the 49ers visit Napa. When asked if Walker was making progress, Kiffin said, “There’s progress being made. I wouldn’t say as much as I’d like at this point so we’re going to continue to push them. I think pushing him back into two-a-days will help him.” – Defensive tackle Gerard Warren missed with a thigh injury sustained Wednesday night. Kiffin said he didn’t think the injury was as serious as one that hampered Warren last year and said he was day-to-day. Tommy Kelly sat out as scheduled and should practice tonight. Cornerback John Bowie (knee) did not practice. Safety Greg Wesley (back spasms) was back at practice but did little of note. – Defensive tackle Terdell Sands, who has avoided speaking with reporters for the first week of camp for reasons that ranged from a team meal to a team meeting to a doctor’s visit, stopped and chatted for a few minutes. He conceded to being in better condition this year and was affected last season by the death of his mother. “I lost my mother last year, so that was very big,” Sands said. “You lose anything like that, some things take tolls on you. You lose things that are aspects of life right there. That’s behind me. I’ve got to push on this year.” Sands said he takes responsibility for the Raiders’ run defense in 2008. “I take it all, because they look for me to be a big part of it,” Sands said. “And like I say, I wasn’t mentally in it, so I did some gap responsibility and all my true effort wasn’t out there. I thought I was. But when I watch film, it really wasn’t like I was the year before. So I take responsibility and put it on myself.” Sands declined to specify how much he weighed last year and how much he weighs now. – Kiffin has taken to visiting with members of the Raiders’ personnel department occasionally during practice sessions. Wednesday it was Bruce Kebric, Thursday it was Kent McCloughan. – Defensive tackle William Joseph was worked over by Chris Morris and Jesse Boone on consecutive plays during a blocking drill. Kwame Harris buried Kalimba Edwards on another. – McFadden was fielding kickoffs along with Hiram Eugene, Rankin, Adimchinobe Echemandu and Tyvon Branch, prompting Kiffin to be asked whether the Raiders’ biggest off-season investment might be utilized on that role. “He’s such an explosive player that it’s something we have to look at,” Kiffin said. “Part of that will be determined by how the other returners do. Let’s say Branch in preseason is returning great. Then it’s not worth it. If you have a great return situation to put Darren out there that may not be worth it. If we’re struggling, then it becomes more valuable to us.” Said McFadden, who has been in camp eight days and has had a sunny and agreeable disposition for every one of them: “I don’t know if they’re going to use me back there or not but I’m always prepared for it.” – Practice joggers for pre-snap violations included Harris, Robert Gallery, tight end Chris Wagner and defensive end Greyson Gunheim. Gunheim, an undrafted free agent from Washington, actually protested his lap, telling Kiffin that Henderson had first moved his leg, drawing him offsides. Gunheim was right, by the way.</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Training camp, Day 8 (P.M. practice) By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer Thursday, July 31st, 2008 at 9:17 pm in Oakland Raiders. Quick hits from Thursday night’s practice: – Lane Kiffin isn’t a stickler regarding practice wardrobe. He usually has no problem with players wearing shorts even in padded sessions. He deviated from the norm for the second practice, with players donning full uniform pants in a physical padded practice featuring short yardage and goal line sessions. All the contact helped instigate the first training training camp fight, with center Jesse Boone and defensive tackle Josh Shaw squaring off at 8:27 p.m. The two scuffled inside, with Shaw then taking a second run at Boone before it was broken up. Neither is a stranger to scuffles. Boone got into it with Warren Sapp on his first day as a Raider last training camp, and Shaw once exchanged physical unpleasantries with Justin Fargas. – Quarterback Andrew Walter took the evening practice arm to rest a tired arm, the result of all the extra throws necessary the previous two days because of the JaMarcus Russell’s bruised elbow. Russell threw with more velocity in the evening practice than in the morning session, including some deep rainbows during drills with receivers. Wide receiver Javon Walker, working to regain his burst, was excited enough to catch one of those deep balls during a routine drill that he spiked it out of bounds. He wasn’t as enthusiastic earlier in the practice when he and Drew Carter lined up inproperly. “Give me a new X and a new Z,” Kiffin barked. “Go learn the formation.” Johnnie Lee Higgins and Arman Sheilds jumped in as the replacements. – Another practice, another interception from Nnamdi Asomugha, this one a perfect read on a rollout pass by Tuiasosopo intended for Jonathan Holland. – Moments after chastizing Tuiasosopo for taking too long in the huddle, Jarrod Cooper sent Chris McFoy sprawling with a high hit along the sideline. McFoy caught Tuiasosopo’s rollout pass and was headed upfield and was nearly sent into the hydraulic lift the Raiders use to elevate practice cameras. – Strong side linebacker Sam Williams closed off at least two running plays, by holding his edge and not letting runners get outside. – Defensive tackle William Joseph, a free agent and former first-round pick of the New York Giants, made his most impressive play of camp when he blew up what was supposed to be an outside run to the left by McFadden, getting to the running back three yards deep. “That’s good (bleep), Joseph,” yelled defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. – During a third-and-short drill midfield, the offense converted four of seven opportunities. The wins came on an inside run by Michael Bush, a pitch to the left to Darren McFadden, a pass from Russell to Oren O’Neal and an inside run by McFadden. Defensive wins came when a Russell-to-Carter completion came up short, another Russell-to-Carter attempt was broken up by Michael Huff, and a nice play-fake by Tuiasosopo resulted in a deep pass just out of the reach of Higgins. – During the goal line session, the offense won five of eight snaps, with the ultimate indignity coming when the score was 5-2 and Kiffin sceamed out to the defense, “Hey, they’re going to run the ball!” Armed with the call, the middle of the defense stopped McFadden short of the goal line. Another stop came when Bush was stopped with a thunderous hit in a mass of humanity in the middle of the line (sorry, didn’t see who actually made the tackle). Offensive scores came on a run by Fargas, a run by McFadden, another run by Fargas to the right in which O’Neal caved in the right side of the line, and a pass from Tuiasosopo to tight end Darrell Strong. – Defensive tackle Gerard Warren missed his second practice and was day-to-day. Center Jake Grove and guard-tackle Fred Wakefield sat out as scheduled. Tommy Kelly practiced after missing the morning session, and Greg Wesley practiced twice in a row for the first time. – The Raiders will practice once Friday at 3 p.m., twice Saturday at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. and will take Sunday off before practicing with the San Francisco 49ers twice on Monday at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.</div>
