Training Camp News...

[CrossBones]

Training camp starts July 24th.

Let's try and keep all the news related to the Raiders' training camp, photos, cuts, injury reports and signings here in this thread!

Football is in the air! :D

[RaiderIVlife]

Sounds good & thank the football gods that camp is almost here !!!

[Angry Pope]

Raiders, 49ers and the NFL

Thursday, July 20 - 5:31p.m.
Napa: No place for wimps

According to a recent column on ESPN.com, the NFL has become a kinder, gentler league when it comes to training-camp workload. Apparently, Art Shell didn’t get the memo.

The Raiders’ resuscitated coach continues to establish his old-school credibility, most recently through a camp schedule circulated by the team. While the Cincinnati Bengals, for example, are slated to train exactly 14 days (at Georgetown College in Kentucky), with only four two-a-day sessions, the Raiders will hearken back to the days of tear-away jerseys and straight-on placekickers.

Oakland’s camp in Napa, which officially kicks off Tuesday, is slated for a comparatively epic 30 days, including games and travel days. There will be 11 two-a-day sessions, the majority of them in the first two weeks. Here’s another way to frame it: Most teams have adopted a 1-2-1 cycle, with one practice on the first day, two the next, then back to one. On the fourth day, the cycle begins again. Using this system, the Raiders’ first four days go 2-2-2-2.

Another trend, according to the ESPN piece, is away from intra-team contact. Coaches believe the injury risk is too high. But Shell said via conference call Thursday that on four of the first five days of camp, the Raiders will wear pads during BOTH practices. That was unthinkable in the last two Oakland regimes.

I’m not a big law-and-order guy. I think the move toward shorter and less violent training camps generally makes sense, especially from the standpoints of injuries and late-season conditioning. But it seems to me Shell’s approach is right for this team. The Raiders have been doomed in part by their own apathy and lack of discipline the last three years. Shell is installing a heavy dose of accountability, and that must be the first step to restoring what Al Davis likes to call the Greatness of the Raiders.

Anyway, the Napa Valley Marriott has masseuses and a swimming pool for weary bodies.

[Plunkett16]

Raiders | Huff not a starter heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:24:34 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders rookie S/CB Michael Huff is not listed as a starter as the team gets ready to start training camp.


Raiders | Williams a starter heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:23:53 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders LB Sam Williams is listed as the team's starting strongside linebacker heading into training camp.


Raiders | Howard a starter heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:22:48 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders rookie LB Thomas Howard is listed as the team's starting weakside linebacker heading into training camp.


Raiders | Morrison a starter heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:22:15 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders LB Kirk Morrison is listed as the team's starting middle linebacker heading into training camp.


Raiders | L. Walker a starter heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:21:35 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders OT Langston Walker is listed as the team's starting right tackle heading into training camp.


Raiders | Grove a starter heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:21:02 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders OC Jake Grove is listed as the team's starting center heading into training camp.


Raiders | Sims a starter heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:20:30 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders OL Barry Sims is listed as the team's starting left guard heading into training camp.


Raiders | Gallery a starter heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:19:46 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders OL Robert Gallery is listed as the team's starting left tackle heading into training camp.


Raiders | McQuistan a starter heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:17:47 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders rookie OL Paul McQuistan is the team's starting right guard heading into training camp. Head coach Art Shell said he had no qualms about starting a rookie. "He's a smart kid, one of the smarter kids on this team. We look forward to him working hard, continuing his growth and being part of what we expect will be a pretty doggone good offensive line."


Raiders | Team discussed signing G. Jackson
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:16:42 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders head coach Art Shell said there were discussions about signing free agent DT Grady Jackson (Packers), but that nothing materialized. "We feel good about the guys we have now," Shell said.


Raiders | Brooks No. 1 heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:15:32 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders head coach Art Shell confirmed that QB Aaron Brooks will be the starting quarterback going into training camp. "Still, there's nothing etched in stone," Shell said. "We're still going to take a look at what we have. You've got to have somebody start out, so he's the guy who's starting out."


Raiders | Clark not listed as starter on initial depth chart
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:08:02 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders LB Danny Clark, the team's leading tackler the last two seasons, is not listed as a starter on the team's initial training camp depth chart. "Danny is an integral part of this football team," head coach Art Shell said. "We are looking at players. Nothing is etched in stone. We don't know where we'll end up for sure. We have a long ways to go through training camp."


Raiders | Team showing interest in D. Smith
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:02:54 -0700

Mike Triplett, of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, reports free agent S Dwight Smith (Saints) said several teams already have shown interest in him. He mentioned the Oakland Raiders as one of those teams.


Raiders | Team to have 11 two-a-day sessions at camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 05:49:46 -0700

Matt Maiocco, of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports the Oakland Raiders training camp is set to last 30 days with 11 two-a-day sessions. The first four days of camp are all two-a-day sessions. Oakland Raiders head coach Art Shell said via conference call Thursday, July 20, that on four of the first five days of camp, the Raiders will wear pads during both practices.

_________________
Its no fun when the rabbit has the gun.

[CrossBones]

I read that about Huff. That's BS. He better be in there on September 11th or I am going to be very upset.

Don't worry. He'll be the starter.

[RaiderIVlife]

Bones - Huff will be a starter once the season starts. I suspect that the Raiders are going to move him around between SS & FS (possibly CB as well) to see where he fits best.

Remember that Gallery wasn't listed as starter initially either.

I think it's a non-issue.

Re: Art Shell - I LOVE IT !!!!!

[Angry Pope]

Nice idea, Bones.

[Angry Pope]

Embarassing training camp experiences...

NFL Training Camps Get Started

Friday, July 21, 2006

By Jim Wyatt

Over 25% of the league's teams will have someone new starting at the quarterback this season. The New Starters: Chargers (Philip Rivers), Dolphins (Daunte Culpepper), Jets (Patrick Ramsey or maybe Chad Pennington), Lions (Jon Kitna or Josh McCown), Raiders (Aaron Brooks), Ravens (Steve McNair), Saints (Drew Brees) and Titans (Billy Volek).

When you head out to the various practice facilities remember the essentials: You'll need sunscreen, lot of water, a cushion to make your seating comfy and a Sharpie in order to have your favorite player sign the football you brought.
Fans wait with baited breath for

To see if Reggie Bush can shine in the NFL as he did in college.

To see what the fan reaction will be for Randy Moss as he returns home to Minnesota in the preseason's first Monday night game.

To see if a number of big name players can return after recovering from injuries - especially Big Ben, Drew Brees, Chad Pennington, Carson Palmer, Daunte Culpepper, Takeo Spikes, DeShaun Foster and Roman Oben. The Seattle Seahawks had 14 players that were unable to participate in the final mini-camp due to injuries or recovering from off-season surgeries.

Embarrassing Revelations From Past Training Camps:

Arizona Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin was asked who he thought was the laziest player on their team: "Fitz (Larry Fitzgerald) has to be the laziest. You don't ever see Fitz. He's always late to meetings, sleeping in meetings. Late to workouts. He brought a golf cart with him last year. It broke down every day. He ended up shipping it home after the first week."

Atlanta Falcons RB Warrick Dunn was asked about the most disgusting thing he'd ever seen in training camp. "T.J. Duckett threw up so much last year on the first day that he lost something like 15 lbs. His mouth was like a faucet. Worst hygiene? Nobody can top Warren Sapp, at least that's how it was when I played with him. He wanted to go out there and be as funky as possible so nobody would want to touch him."

Baltimore Ravens OLB Bart Scott: Worst roommate experience? Terrell Suggs. He is young and doesn't go to sleep. He stays up all night, either playing PlayStation, talking on the phone or watching old movies. Laziest player? Terrell Suggs. Let me repeat that. Terrell Suggs. He only gives what he has to give. There are no coverages, just blitzes."
Buffalo Bills LB Mario Haggan: "Worst hygiene? Angelo Crowell's feet. About two weeks into camp, you catch Angelo with a lot of foot spray because the skin on his feet starts peeling. One year we had to put up a sign marked 'Hazardous' around his locker."
Cincinnati Bengals DT John Thornton: "Strangest thing a player has brought to camp? Bryan Robinson brought this hyperbaric chamber. To watch him and his wife carry it from their van to our room…it looked like a big coffin. All the guys wanted to get in after about a week."
Cleveland Browns CB Daylon McCutcheon: "Worst hygiene? Brodney Pool has the nickname Dirty Pool. They say he doesn't take a lot of showers."
Houston Texans CB Dunta Robinson: "Most disgusting thing I've seen? I've seen a guy wear the same underwear every day."
Indianapolis Colts WR Aaron Moorehead: "Strangest thing brought to camp? It's (Dwight) Feeney getting steaks made for him every single day for every meal."
Jacksonville Jaguars MLB Mike Peterson: "Strangest thing brought to camp? One guy (who was married) brought his girlfriend to camp, let her stay in his room and even let her watch practice on the field."
Kansas City Chiefs RE Jared Allen: "Strangest thing brought to camp? I bring my blanket. I still have my baby blanket from when I was little. You've got to be comfortable when you go to camp."
Miami Dolphins WLB Channing Crowder: "Most disgusting thing I've seen? Some guys pee down their leg out there practicing. Hell, I do it."
Minnesota Vikings CB Antoine Winfield: "Most memorable rookie hazing? We got a little carried away with shaving someone's head one day, and we got his eyebrows. You don't see many people walking around with no eyebrows."
New England Patriots Punter Josh Miller: "Most disgusting thing I've seen? I had a guy's tooth fall out when he asked me for an autograph. Just fell right out on the paper. He picked it up and said: 'Happens all the time.' I'm thinking, 'Not to me it doesn't'"
New Orleans Saints CB Fred Thomas: "Worst roommate experience? Waking up every morning and all you hear when you wake up out of your sleep are sounds from a porno. Loud, so everybody could hear it. Down the hall, some of the guys would say, 'Turn it down!'"
New York Giants G Rich Seubert: "Most disgusting thing I've seen? Worms under my pillow. Somebody thought that was a good prank."
New York Jets LG Pete Kendall: "Worst hygiene? I'll go days wearing the same shirt and shorts, four or five days in a row."
Oakland Raiders OLB Sam Williams: "Worst roommate experience? One time I woke up at 3 or 4 in the morning because I felt someone standing over me. I jumped up and was ready to fight when I discovered it was my roommate sleepwalking. He was getting ready to jump in my bed because he thought he was at home and his girlfriend was in bed. That was bizarre."
San Diego Chargers LT Roman Oben: "Strangest thing brought to camp? I brought a cat one year. I got it from my girlfriend; she was going to be out of town the first week of camp. They'd come and clean the rooms in the dorm, and I had to put up a sign that said, 'Do not let the cat out.'"

Seattle Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander: "Strangest thing brought to camp? Some guys bring stuff their girlfriends give them, like a stuffed animal and they try to hide them. I can't tell you names. It's a safety thing…my safety."

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Chris Simms: "Laziest player? Joey Galloway. But it's different for a guy like that. He's a cheetah, and you can't run a cheetah like you would a long-distance horse every day, so they give him his time off."
Tennessee Titans TE Erron Kinney: "Most disgusting thing? We had a trainer one time that had a friendly bet with another trainer that he could drink a bottle of Gatorade (concentrate) and hold it down. It all came out. All of it. The only good thing about it is it smelled like Gatorade instead of puke."
Washington Redskins TE Chris Cooley: "Most disgusting thing I've seen? After every practice, we have a bug trough that's filled with cold water and ice. That gets pretty disgusting after five or six offensive lineman have been sitting in it."

What you can expected at this year's British Open at Hoylake

First of all don't go looking for a lake, there isn't any. Scores are certain to be mighty low. How low? Try record lows. The last time the Open Championship was held at the Royal Liverpool in 1967, there were 12 players that finished under par. That was the year Argentine Roberto De Vicenzo beat Jack Nicklaus by two shots. Locals are predicting the players will have to break par just to make the cut as this old time course meets up with the players of today hitting with all the advancements in equipment. Although Hoylake would appear formidable by the numbers - 7,258 yards (course length), it has quite a few doglegs which can be cut and the fairways are so hard balls in the fairway will get a lot more roll. In other words, if you are a straight hitter, you should be hitting most greens in two.

Humor in Sports

Reid Spencer: "On the Beatles' home golf course (Royal Liverpool), the gallery will oooh and aaah on great shots and Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da on the lipped-out putts."

[Angry Pope]

From SI...

Oakland Raiders

Projected starting lineups

Offense

No. Player Pos. No. Player Pos.

84 Jerry Porter WR 83 Courtney Anderson TE
76 Robert Gallery LT 66 Langston Walker LG
64 Jake Grove C 70 Brad Badger RG
65 Barry Sims RT 18 Randy Moss WR
2 Aaron Brooks QB 34 LaMont Jordan RB
32 Zack Crockett FB 11 Sebastian Janikowski K

Defense

No. Player Pos. No. Player Pos.

56 Derrick Burgess DE 93 Tommy Kelly DT
99 Warren Sapp DT 98 Bobby Hamilton DE
52 Kirk Morrison LB 55 Danny Clark LB
54 Sam Williams LB 27 Fabian Washington CB
21 Nnamdi Asomugha CB 24 Michael Huff SS
30 Stuart Schweigert FS 9 Shane Lechler P

2006 Draft

No. Player Pos. School

1 Michael Huff DB Texas
2 Thomas Howard LB UTEP
3 Paul McQuistan T Weber State
4 Darnell Bing LB USC
6 Kevin Boothe T Cornell
7 Chris Morris C Michigan State
7 Kevin McMahan WR Maine

Outside the Huddle

Mind your manners

Once again, the Raiders led the league in penalties last season. To that end, new coach Art Shell is working on instilling more discipline and attention to detail so that the Raiders don’t hurt themselves so much with penalties.

Knock someone’s block off

Oakland’s offensive line play was a problem area for most of last season. The arrival of Shell and fellow Hall of Fame offensive lineman Jackie Slater portends a heavy emphasis on Oakland’s offensive linemen using proper technique and playing better as a cohesive unit.

We’ll be back

“We will come back. I say to the Raider players, to the Raider fans, to the Raider ex-players and even to the press, we’ll get that back. It may take us a short while but we’ll get that nastiness of the Raiders back. That’s one of the reasons I’m going to depend on the great Art Shell to help us get that done.” — Raiders managing general partner Al Davis in introducing Shell as the team’s coach

Catch that ball

The Raiders intercepted only five passes last season. That broke the league record for the fewest interceptions in a non-strike season.


Art Shell started his coaching career in 1983. Coincidentally, the Raiders won the third of the franchise's three Super Bowl titles that season. That came on the heels of his having been a player on the first two teams that won it all.

So, perhaps it's no surprise that Raiders managing general partner Al Davis turned to someone who knows what it takes as a player and as a coach to capture a Super Bowl title.

And why not? The Raiders enjoyed success under Shell's guidance as head coach from 1989-94, and they haven't won a Super Bowl since the 1983 season.

"The greatness of the Raiders is in its future," Shell said upon his hiring in February.

Yet, some say that Davis hiring Shell only offers more evidence that the Raiders are stuck in the past.

Not so, Davis says. It's just time to bring back good ol' Raiders football, the kind that won so many games in the 1960s, '70s and early '80s.

"We will come back," Davis said in introducing Shell as the replacement for deposed coach Norv Turner. "It may take us a short while, but we'll get that nastiness of the Raiders back."

The Raiders won only four games last season and 13 the past three combined. Shell is going to need players such as wide receiver Randy Moss and defensive tackle Warren Sapp to affect the mindset of a team that has grown accustomed to losing.

If not, more and more people will be heard saying Shell and Davis are past their primes.

Quarterbacks

Aaron Brooks is Oakland's third different opening day starting quarterback in three seasons, following Rich Gannon and Kerry Collins in a string of veterans burdened by numerous question marks about their ability.

The Raiders think enough of Brooks that they bypassed Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler in the draft and anointed him the starter ahead of sixth-year player Marques Tuiasosopo and 2005 draft pick Andrew Walter.


Running Backs

The Raiders last season found the workhorse back they coveted in LaMont Jordan. Now it's a matter of getting the desired production from their lead back.

Jordan rushed for a team-high 1,025 yards and caught 70 passes in his first year as a full-time starter in his fifth NFL season. However, he averaged only 3.8 yards per carry and (unofficially) dropped 12 passes.

Jordan showed last season that he can carry a sizable load. He figures to get even more carries this season and fewer balls thrown his way as the Raiders strive for a more balanced offensive attack.

The Raiders are so confident in Jordan's ability that they shied away from drafting any running backs or signing any in free agency. That means the return of Justin Fargas and Zack Crockett, with Fargas the primary backup to Jordan and Crockett the lead option on short-yardage and goal line plays.

Receivers

The Raiders managed to bring back all seven of their receivers as well as their two tight ends from last season's team. Now, if they can just keep them healthy.

There's no telling just how explosive Oakland's offense can be given a receiving corps that features Moss with Jerry Porter, Ronald Curry and Doug Gabriel in supporting roles.

Moss has recovered from groin, rib and pelvic injuries that hampered him for most of last season.

Offensive Linemen

It's going to take more than the addition of Hall of Fame offensive linemen Shell and Jackie Slater to the staff to fix the myriad problems that plagued Oakland's offensive line last season.

Right guard Ron Stone is gone. The second overall pick from 2004, Robert Gallery, has been moved from right tackle to left tackle. That's just for starters. Shell intends to tinker with the dozen or so offensive linemen he has beyond Gallery in an attempt to find a unit that works.

Jake Grove is expected back at center, with Langston Walker the odds-on candidate to return to left guard after missing most of last season with an abdominal injury that necessitated surgery. Veterans Barry Sims and Brad Badger are the logical choices at right tackle and right guard, respectively.

Defensive Linemen

Defensive end Derrick Burgess emerged last season as a Pro Bowler thanks to a league-high 16 sacks. He credited defensive tackles Ted Washington, Ed Jasper and Warren Sapp for freeing him up to make so many big plays.

Washington and Jasper left for the riches of free agency. Sapp is recovering from surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder. That leaves the Raiders somewhat thin and inexperienced in an area where they can least afford a drop in production.

On the bright side, the Raiders signed sack-specialist Lance Johnstone for his second stint with the team that drafted him.

The Raiders need Sapp back at full strength and youngsters Tommy Kelly, Terdell Sands and Anttaj Hawthorne to fill the void created by the departures of Washington and Jasper.

Linebackers

This unit once again is the biggest unknown entering the season. Only this time, the Raiders are making a serious attempt to turn a weak spot into a strength.

They drafted Thomas Howard in the second round, converted strong safety Darnell Bing in the fourth, and fourth-year player Sam Williams is expected back from a serious knee injury. That gives the Raiders three legitimate candidates to fill the gaping hole opposite outside linebacker Kirk Morrison. Danny Clark, now in his seventh season, remains the mainstay in the middle.

Defensive Backs

The Raiders lost arguably their top two defensive backs in Charles Woodson and Renaldo Hill to free agency. However, there is plenty of reason for optimism. That comes in the form of returning starting cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Fabian Washington, free safety Stuart Schweigert and promising youngsters Chris Carr and Stanford Routt. Also, the Raiders selected playmaking safety Michael Huff in the first round and signed veteran corners Duane Starks and Tyrone Poole from New England.

Huff is expected to beat out veteran Derrick Gibson at strong safety and assume the hybrid role Woodson played last season, playing close to the line of scrimmage, lining up on slot receivers and tight ends and roaming all over the field.

The Raiders recorded a league-low five interceptions last season, so there will be an emphasis on being more aggressive and making things happen, rather than reacting to what the receivers do.

Specialists

Punter Shane Lechler, kicker Sebastian Janikowski, punt/kick returner Chris Carr, long-snapper Adam Treu and key coverage man Jarrod Cooper all return. That gives the Raiders hope for getting an edge in field position. It will be up to Janikowski to regain the smooth kicking motion that made him so consistent from 2002-04 and for Lechler to find the consistency he enjoyed during his Pro Bowl season in 2004.

Coaching Staff

All eyes are on Shell and offensive coordinator Tom Walsh to see how they handle being away from the Raiders, in Shell's case, and the NFL, in Walsh's case, since 1994.

Shell has coached for long enough and enjoyed enough success that he shouldn't have a problem picking up where he left off. Walsh hasn't been around the pros for 12 years, so he faces a transition period, though he can't afford to learn as he goes.

For Shell, he needs to gain the respect of his players and get them to buy into his philosophy of instilling more discipline and toughness to a team that lacked both under Turner.

Walsh's main task is getting more out of an offense that seemingly has all the necessary players to develop into one of the league's highest-scoring units.

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan enters his third season and has a firm grasp of what it takes to be the front man. He knows what his players are capable of doing and which schemes work best for them.

[Angry Pope]

Raiders camp facts

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

• COACH: Art Shell

• WHEN: Monday through Aug. 23.

• WHERE: Napa Valley Marriott

• PRACTICE SCHEDULE: From 8:45 a.m.-11:15 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.-5:30 p.m. on most days, with a few exceptions.

• WHO CAN WATCH: All practices are closed to the public.

• EXHIBITION SCHEDULE: Aug. 6 vs. Philadelphia, 5 p.m., Chs. 3, 11; Aug. 14 at Minnesota, 5 p.m., ESPN; Aug. 20 vs. 49ers, 5 p.m., Chs. 2, 5; Aug. 25 vs. Detroit, 7 p.m., Ch. 36; Aug. 31 at Seattle, 7 p.m., Ch. 2

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

• QUARTERBACK AARON BROOKS: He went from the 3-13 New Orleans Saints to the 4-12 Raiders in the offseason. Even so, he gets a clean slate, a starting job and several million dollars to make people forget about the Kerry Collins era.

• COACH ART SHELL: He's back after an 11-year absence as a member of the Raiders organization. He already has garnered more respect from his players than either of his predecessors did in two full seasons each.

• STRONG SAFETY MICHAEL HUFF: He patterns himself after former Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson. That's fine with the Raiders, so long as Huff mimics the Woodson who earned Pro Bowl selections his first four seasons and not the one who made off with millions of dollars for mediocre play his final four seasons.

Quarterbacks (5)

No. Player HT WT D.O.B. College How acquired

2 AARON BROOKS 6-4 220 3-24-76 Virginia FA-'06

8 Marques Tuiasosopo 6-1 220 3-22-79 Washington D2-'01

16 Andrew Walter 6-6 230 5-11-82 Arizona State D3A-'05

14 Kent Smith 6-5 215 9-5-83 Central Michigan FA-'06

17 Reggie Robertson 6-2 200 1-28-82 Cal FA-'06

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

Comment: Brooks is the projected starter. Walter views himself as being ready for the starting job. Tuiasosopo still is waiting for the chance that didn't come his first five seasons. But, hey, isn't it great to be done with Kerry Collins? That's what the Raiders are hoping with Brooks at the helm. He is more mobile than Collins, has a stronger arm and appears a better fit for Oakland's offense. Tuiasosopo might not be the long-term answer, but he is well-versed in Oakland's offense and a capable fill-in should Brooks get hurt. Walter's role this season is to learn as much as possible, with an eye toward competing for the starting spot next season.

Running backs (11)

No. Player HT WT D.O.B. College How acquired

34 LAMONT JORDAN 5-10 230 11-11-78 Maryland FA-'05

32 ZACK CROCKETT (FB) 6-2 240 12-2-72 Florida State FA-'99

20 Walter Williams 6-1 215 9-8-77 Grambling FA-'06

25 Justin Fargas 6-1 220 1-25-80 Southern Cal D3B-'03

28 DeJuan Green 5-11 205 5-13-80 South Florida FA-'04

35 J.R. Lemon 6-1 225 6-6-83 Stanford FA-'06

39 Rod Smart 5-11 205 1-9-77 W. Kentucky FA-'06

42 ReShard Lee 5-10 220 10-12-80 Middle Tennessee St. FA-'06

45 Zach Tuiasosopo (FB) 6-2 245 12-19-81 Washington FA-'05

48 Joe Hall 6-2 290 11-3-79 Kentucky FA-'06

49 John Paul Foschi (FB) 6-4 270 5-18-82 Georgia Tech FA-'05

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

Comment: Jordan did a solid job rushing and receiving in his first season as an NFL starter. However, the Raiders envisioned more than solid when they heaped upon Jordan a mega-contract last year. Jordan figures to be the workhorse once again, with Crockett, Foschi and Fargas playing complementary roles. Shell feels as if Fargas is ready to realize his potential and help Jordan carry the load. If so, that would relieve pressure from Jordan and keep him fresher for the latter part of games.

Wide receivers (13)

No. Player HT WT D.O.B. College How acquired

18 RANDY MOSS 6-4 205 2-13-77 Marshall Trade-'05

84 JERRY PORTER 6-2 220 7-14-78 West Virginia D2-'00

4 Burl Toler 6-2 185 4-7-83 Cal FA-'06

5 Kevin McMahan 6-2 200 3-2-83 Maine D7B-'06

7 Jayson Boyd 6-4 200 9-29-83 UTEP FA-'06

10 John Madsen 6-5 220 5-19-83 Utah FA-'06

13 Will Buchanon 6-3 185 4-5-83 Southern Cal FA-'06

15 Rick Gatewood 5-11 190 8-3-83 Montana State FA-'06

19 Johnnie Morant 6-4 215 12-07-81 Syracuse D5-'04

82 Carlos Francis 5-10 190 1-03-81 Texas Tech D4-'04

85 Doug Gabriel 6-2 215 8-27-80 Central Florida D5-'03

87 Alvis Whitted 6-0 185 9-4-74 North Carolina St. FA-'02

89 Ronald Curry 6-2 210 5-28-79 North Carolina D7-'02

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

Comment: Moss remains the standard bearer among NFL receivers. Porter, Curry and Gabriel are talented enough to be No. 1 receivers for other teams. In other words, the Raiders are as deep at receiver as any team. Oh, and they have a handful of youngsters vying for playing time, as well. The key is Moss. He remains the league's most explosive receiver. Now it's time for the Raiders to find a way to get him more involved in the offense than he was last season, when he spent most of his time as a decoy. Curry's return from a ruptured Achilles tendon figures to boost the corps overall depth and production.

Tight ends (6)

No. Player HT WT D.O.B. College How acquired

83 COURTNEY ANDERSON 6-6 270 11-19-80 San Jose State D7-'04

43 O.J. Santiago 6-7 265 3-4-74 Kent State FA-'06

46 Derek Miller 6-7 270 6-10-83 Maryland FA-'06

47 James Adkisson 6-5 230 1-11-80 South Carolina FA-'03

86 Randal Williams 6-3 235 5-21-78 New Hampshire FA-'05

88 Marcellus Rivers 6-4 250 10-26-78 Oklahoma State FA-'06

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

Comment: Anderson and Williams figure to be even better now that they have another year's experience to call upon. Veteran Santiago gives the Raiders another dependable blocker and veteran leadership. None of the aforementioned trio is a Pro Bowl-caliber player, but the Raiders aren't concerned about that as long as they perform to the level expected, especially as blockers.

Offensive line (17)

No. Player HT WT D.O.B. College How acquired

76 ROBERT GALLERY (T) 6-7 325 7-26-80 Iowa D1-'04

65 BARRY SIMS (G) 6-5 300 12-1-74 Utah FA-'99

64 JAKE GROVE (C) 6-4 300 1-22-80 Virginia Tech D2-'04

79 PAUL MCQUISTAN (G) 6-6 315 4-30-83 Weber State D3-'06

66 LANGSTON WALKER (T) 6-8 345 9-3-79 Cal D2-'02

60 Roderick Green (OL) 6-5 290 4-26-82 Arkansas-Pine Bluff FA-'05

61 Chris Morris (C) 6-4 305 2-22-83 Michigan State D7A-'06

62 Adam Treu (C) 6-5 300 6-24-74 Nebraska D3-'97

63 Shaun Rose (G) 6-6 325 7-17-80 East Carolina FA-'05

67 Kevin Boothe (G) 6-5 315 7-5-83 Cornell D6-'06

69 Kelvin Garmon (G) 6-2 350 10-26-76 Baylor FA-'06

70 Brad Badger (G) 6-4 320 1-1-75 Stanford FA-'02

71 Corey Hulsey (G) 6-4 325 7-26-77 Clemson FA-'03

72 Jabari Levey (T) 6-6 315 7-16-84 South Carolina FA-'06

74 William Obeng (T) 6-7 325 4-14-83 San Jose State FA-'06

75 Brad Lekkerkerker (OL) 6-7 330 5-8-78 UC-Davis FA-'04

78 Chad Slaughter (T) 6-8 340 6-4-78 Alcorn State FA-'02

cont'd...

[Angry Pope]

cont'd...

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

Comment: Grove is the lone player returning to his primary position from last season. The biggest moves involve Gallery switching from right tackle to left tackle, and Sims moving from left tackle to left guard. The presence of three former outstanding offensive linemen on the coaching staff figures to make the transitions less painful. Rookie McQuistan shined in offseason workouts and camps and offers proof that Shell is serious about playing the players he feels are best suited to perform at a high level.

Defensive line (14)

No. Player HT WT D.O.B. College How acquired

56 DERRICK BURGESS 6-2 260 8-12-78 Mississippi FA-'05

93 TOMMY KELLY (DT) 6-5 300 12-27-80 Mississippi State FA-'04

99 WARREN SAPP (DT) 6-2 300 12-19-72 Miami FA-'04

91 TYLER BRAYTON (DE) 6-6 280 11-20-79 Colorado D1B-'03

51 Lance Johnstone (DE) 6-5 250 6-11-73 Temple FA-'06

73 Michael Quarshie (DT) 6-2 295 11-13-79 Columbia FA-'05

74 Javon Nanton (DE) 6-5 255 1-25-83 Miami FA-'06

75 Donnell Washington (DT) 6-6 330 2-6-84 Clemson FA-'06

77 Anttaj Hawthorne (DT) 6-3 310 11-15-81 Wisconsin D6A-'05

90 Terdell Sands (DL) 6-7 335 10-31-79 Tennessee-Chattanooga FA-'03

92 Bryant McNeal (DE) 6-4 250 7-13-79 Clemson FA-'06

94 Kevin Huntley (DE) 6-7 270 4-8-82 Kansas State FA-'06

97 Rashad Moore (DT) 6-3 325 3-16-79 Tennessee FA-'06

98 Bobby Hamilton (DE) 6-5 285 7-01-71 Southern Mississippi FA-'04

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

Comment: The loss of veteran defensive tackles Ted Washington and Ed Jasper, as well as Sapp's return from a torn rotator cuff, makes this the unit with the most glaring question marks. Youngsters Kelly and Sands appear poised to replace Washington and Jasper. The addition of veteran pass-rush specialist Johnstone gives the Raiders a nice complement to reigning NFL sack champion Burgess.

Linebackers (11)

No. Player HT WT D.O.B. College How acquired

52 KIRK MORRISON (OLB) 6-2 240 2-19-82 San Diego State D3B-'05

55 DANNY CLARK (MLB) 6-2 245 5-09-77 Illinois FA-'04

54 SAM WILLIAMS (OLB) 6-5 265 7-28-80 Fresno State D3A-'03

41 Ricky Brown 6-2 235 12-27-83 Boston College FA-'06

43 Timi Wusu 6-3 210 6-10-83 Stanford FA-'06

50 Isaiah Ekejiuba 6-4 240 10-5-81 Virginia FA-'05

53 Thomas Howard 6-3 240 7-14-83 UTEP D2-'06

57 Ryan Riddle 6-2 260 7-5-81 Cal D6B-'05

58 Robert Thomas 6-0 235 7-17-80 UCLA FA-'06

59 Darnell Bing 6-2 230 9-10-84 Southern Cal D4-'06

96 Grant Irons 6-6 285 7-07-79 Notre Dame FA-'03

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

Comment: The Raiders drafted Howard in the second round, selected Bing in the fourth and moved him from safety, and they signed former first-round draftee Robert Thomas. Needless to say, the Raiders identified the linebacking corps as an overall weakness. Clark and Morrison offer a nice foundation, in addition to the return of injured veteran Williams.

Defensive backs (14)

No. Player HT WT D.O.B. College How acquired

21 NNAMDI ASOMUGHA (CB) 6-2 210 7-7-81 Cal D1A-'03

30 STUART SCHWEIGERT (FS) 6-1 210 6-21-81 Purdue D3-'04

24 MICHAEL HUFF (SS) 6-1 200 3-6-83 Texas D1-'06

27 FABIAN WASHINGTON (CB) 5-11 185 6-9-83 Nebraska D1-'05

4 Dennis Davis (CB) 5-10 190 11-24-82 Georgia Tech FA-'06

22 Duane Starks (CB) 5-10 175 5-23-74 Miami FA-'06

23 Chris Carr (DB) 5-10 180 4-30-83 Boise State FA-'05

26 Stanford Routt (CB) 6-1 195 7-23-83 Houston D2-'05

29 Raymond Washington (CB) 6-0 210 6-2-83 Fresno State FA-'06

31 Hiram Eugene (DB) 6-2 200 11-24-80 Louisiana Tech FA-'05

36 Derrick Gibson (SS) 6-2 215 3-22-79 Florida State D1-'01

37 Alvin Nnabuife (DB) 6-1 205 4-3-83 SMU FA-'06

38 Tyrone Poole (DB) 5-8 190 2-3-72 Fort Valley State FA-'06

40 Jarrod Cooper (S) 6-0 215 3-31-78 Kansas State FA-'04

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

Comment: Charles Woodson and Renaldo Hill are gone. Huff, Starks and Poole are in. Starting cornerbacks Asomugha and Fabian Washington haven't reached their primes yet. Same goes for Schweigert. The secondary has the potential to go from a work-in-progress to a strength by season's end. None of the projected starters has more than five years' experience, and backups Routt and Carr are second-year players. The switch from a 4-2-5 alignment figures to help keep the backups fresher than they were last season.

Kickers/punters (5)

No. Player HT WT D.O.B. College How acquired

9 SHANE LECHLER (P) 6-2 225 8-7-76 Texas A&M D5-'00

11 SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI (K) 6-2 250 3-3-78 Florida State D1-'00

1 David Kimball (K) 6-1 205 1-13-82 Penn State FA-'06

3 Glenn Pakulak (P) 6-3 220 4-9-80 Kentucky FA-'06

5 Tim Duncan (K) 6-1 210 6-12-79 Oklahoma FA-'06

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

Comment: Janikowski and Lechler are as talented a kicking duo as there is in the league. However, they showed last season that talent is only part of the equation. They both need to regain their consistency. To that end, the Raiders for the first time in recent memory have brought in some competition to drive home the point that no jobs are guaranteed.

[Angry Pope]

Something old and sort of new
Shell returns to Raiders with same work ethic

By Jason Jones

Published 12:01 am PDT Sunday, July 23, 2006




ALAMEDA -- Someone forgot to tell Art Shell football had passed him by.
In an era when coaches are shunning two-a-day practice sessions and going full contact sparingly, Shell is supposed to follow suit because antiquated methods such as full gear on multiple days don't work with today's player.

Shell didn't get that memo.

Shell hasn't been a head coach since 1994. But he doesn't plan to alter his methods when his Raiders players report to training camp in Napa on Monday and take the field Tuesday morning.


He still believes players want to work hard, a mind-set that will be tested by a group that is 13-35 over the last three seasons.
"I believe in working as hard as we need in order to get them ready to play," said Shell, 59. "That's what I know. That's what I'm accustomed to."

Now it's time to put the old-school approach into practice.

Some coaches complain about playing four exhibition games. Shell wanted the fifth one the Raiders have, the Hall of Fame Game, especially with his former coach, John Madden, being inducted.

"I've always liked the idea of the fifth game," Shell said. "It gives us a chance to look at our players."

As expected, Shell is using his football mentor's blueprint for success, hoping what won him two Super Bowl titles as a player can work today, especially on offense, where the results have been especially disappointing in recent years.

"This is an Al Davis system," Shell said. "I grew up with this system. This is a system that allows us to attack from anywhere on the field."

The Raiders want to run the ball consistently and take what they want in the passing game.

"We don't want to be a team that's sitting back waiting for you to dictate what happens," Shell said. "We don't want to be a passive team. We want to be an aggressive team."

Shell said what he wants to do is no different than what Pittsburgh, New England and St. Louis did with Super Bowl-winning teams in recent years.

So while it might seem as if he and offensive coordinator Tom Walsh are relics, they aren't exactly running the wishbone.

"This system is in football," Shell said. "It's been here. It's been utilized."

And perhaps Shell being set in his ways will be good for the Raiders. After all, he is stubborn enough not to believe in a rebuilding season.

He plans to hold the team to high expectations and has been talking Super Bowl since he was rehired in February.

"Strange things can happen in this league, and we look forward to turning this thing around," Shell said. "Why not us? We can do this."

[Angry Pope]

Raiders training camp preview
FIVE CONCERNS TO ADDRESS

By Jason Jones
Published 12:01 am PDT Sunday, July aff Writer23, 2006




Art Shell isn't afraid to shake things up.
Whether it's playing rookies, changing players' positions or letting a veteran know his place, Shell has put his imprint on the Raiders.


After a 13-35 record over the last three seasons, it's hard to argue change is needed.

"These guys are tired of losing," Shell said. "Their work ethic this offseason has showed me that."

And as players report to training camp Monday, there's still plenty for Shell to sort out before his talk of championships can seem feasible.

Shell, 59, can't wait to get going.

"I'm excited about giving the Raider fans something to be proud of because they deserve it," Shell said.

That begins Tuesday, when Shell sees if he has the players the Raider Nation can be proud of while pondering these issues:


1 WILL AARON BE THE ANSWER?

Shell spent the offseason saying the starting quarterback job wasn't settled, but former New Orleans starter Aaron Brooks is atop the depth chart as camp begins. "He's excited about the system that we have here … the freedom that it allows him to have," Shell said. If "freedom" means improvising and finding Randy Moss downfield, Brooks will be the unquestioned leader by time the Raiders break camp in August.

2 LOOKING TO KNOCK SOMEONE AROUND

Rookie offensive lineman Paul McQuistan came to his first minicamp in May with a surly on-field attitude that Shell can only hope infiltrates the unit. The third-round pick's nastiness earned him the starting right guard spot entering camp after he played left tackle at Weber State. The Raiders need left tackle Robert Gallery, right tackle Langston Walker, left guard Barry Sims and center Jake Grove to show their collective mean streak .

3 YOUTH MOVEMENT ON DEFENSE

Veterans beware. As of now, second-round pick Thomas Howard is a starting outside linebacker with Sam Williams. Second-year pro Kirk Morrison is playing middle linebacker, meaning Danny Clark, who led the Raiders in tackles in 2004 and was second last year, isn't a starter now. First-round pick Michael Huff also could push for a starting safety spot before camp ends and force former first-round pick Derrick Gibson to the bench.

4 RUNNING WITH LAMONT

It's hard for any team to depend on one running back, and that's what Oakland did last year. LaMont Jordan's 1,025 yards accounted for 74.9 percent of the Raiders' rushing attack -- and he didn't play in the last two games. Jordan said he plans to be more durable this season, but it's also time Justin Fargas proves he can stay healthy and become a dependable second option since Zack Crockett is at fullback.


5 LOOKING TO HELP SAPP

Warren Sapp returned to defensive tackle full time last year and had five sacks in 10 games before his season ended because of a shoulder injury. The development of Terdell Sands, Anttaj Hawthorne or another defensive tackle to join Sapp and Tommy Kelly in the rotation would help keep Sapp healthy. "I think we have a chance to have an outstanding group," Shell said. "Warren showed me in the minicamps if he can stay healthy he's going to have an impact."

CAMP FACTS

• When: Monday to Aug. 23.

• Where: Napa Valley Marriott, 3425 Solano Ave., Napa.

• Practice sessions: Closed to the public.

• For fans: Raider Nation Celebration -- Aug. 27 at McAfee Coliseum, noon to 4 p.m.

• Key additions: QB Aaron Brooks (released/New Orleans); LB Henri Crockett (free agent/ Minnesota); OLB Thomas Howard (second-round pick/UTEP); S Michael Huff (first-round pick/Texas); DE Lance Johnstone (free agent/Minnesota); CB Duane Starks (released/New England).

• Key losses: QB Kerry Collins, DB Renaldo Hill, DT Ed Jasper, LB Tim Johnson, G Ron Stone, CB Denard Walker, DT Ted Washington, CB Charles Woodson.


2005 TEAM STATISTICS

• Record: 4-12 (fourth in AFC West)

• Total offense: 309.4 (21st)

• Rushing: 85.6 (29th)

• Passing: 223.9 (10th)

• Total defense: 330.8 (27th)

• Rushing: 128.1 (25th)

• Passing: 202.7 (18th)

[Angry Pope]

NO FUN IN THE SUN FOR 49ERS, RAIDERS
OAKLAND: New school is old school

David White

Sunday, July 23, 2006



When Raiders coach Art Shell was their age, the story goes, NFL training camp meant two-a-days were better than one. Doubled-over players staggered around some remote location with scorch always in the seven-day forecast. Uphill, both ways, if it could be arranged.

Today's Raiders won't have to take his word for it. Shell is going to run his outfit as old school as his last training camp as Raiders coach, back before Al Davis fired him after the 1994 season.

"I believe in working as hard as we need to," Shell said. "That's the model for us. That's what I think will be successful for us. That's what I'm accustomed to."

In other words, eat it, Shell says. It's good for you.

Morning workouts will be chased by afternoon practices. Full pads make the opening-week dress code, whether it's a.m. or p.m. And, don't forget to pack a canteen when the Raiders report for training camp Monday in Napa, where they will drop sweat on a middle-school backyard through Aug. 23.

This, at a time the NFL trend has more teams staying home for training camp, shaving practice time and chilling in air-conditioned film rooms in the heat of the day.

"When you're a player, you're excited about being with your teammates," said Shell, a Hall of Fame tackle with three decades of camp war stories. "Of course, after three days, you're (ticked) off at each other. ... I'm a firm believer in getting away, binding together, getting that camaraderie going, so that when we break camp, we're ready to roll.

"I like that idea."

Anything has to be better than the course Oakland has stayed the past three years. Last year's 4-12 stink bomb cost Norv Turner his headset. The Raiders have exactly 13 victories in three seasons since they reached Super Bowl XXXVII.

Shell's job is to figure out how to patch together a winning team using pieces carried over from a losing team. And, no, they aren't calling it a rebuilding job because no one drops the r-word in these parts.

"In the NFL, you can turn things around in a hurry," Shell said. "One year, you can be down, and next year you can be on top of the world. You retool, you add to what you have, and we've done that."

To catch everyone up to speed, here are some positions to watch from now until the Sept. 11 season opener against San Diego:

Quarterback: Aaron Brooks is strong-armed and mobile, unlike his predecessor Kerry Collins. But, like Collins, he's coming off a terrible season. His QB rating was so bad, even the homeless Saints benched him, and he threw five more picks than Collins.

Brooks is the starter heading into camp, with Andrew Walter considered the quarterback of tomorrow. If Brooks struggles (read: can't hook up with Randy Moss), Walter will get his chance. Don't expect Walter to fumble it like Marques Tuiasosopo did last year.

Offensive line: This group gave up 45 sacks and couldn't create holes. Shell's answer is to bring in two assistants, Jackie Slater and Irv Eatman, and rearrange the furniture with four position swaps.

Rookie Paul McQuistan of Weber State is penciled in to start at right guard, which shows Shell is open minded for solutions. These guys had better settle in because the Raiders want to run between the tackles first, and lob play-action passes downfield second.

Defensive line: Tackle Warren Sapp is finally a "go" after missing the end of last season with a rotator cuff tear, Shell says.

Outside Sapp, there is little experience and even less depth among the interior linemen. The Raiders need to extract one more Pro Bowl season out of the 12-year veteran, or teams will run wild inside.

The bright idea to run a 3-4 defense last year is out, Shell says. He endorses a 4-3 base defense that shifts Kirk Morrison inside to middle linebacker.

Morrison's outside linebacker job will go to second-round draft pick Thomas Howard. First-round draft pick Michael Huff, a strong safety, could also be a rookie starter.

"(Offseason workouts) were like putting the parts together," Shell said. "Now, we've got to fine-tune those parts and get them ready to go.

"Why not us? We can do this. You can't talk about getting it done, you've got to go out and do it."



Napa camp

Monday: Players report to camp at Napa Valley Marriott. All practices closed to public. First workout is Tuesday.

Aug. 23: Break camp, return to team facility in Alameda.

Aug. 27: Nation Celebration for fans at the Coliseum, with players and coaches. Noon. Free admission.

Aug. 29: Roster cut to 75 players.

Sept. 2: Final roster cut to 53 players.


Preseason schedule

Date Opponent TV/Radio

Aug. 6 vs. Eagles Channel: 3 Channel: 11 /560 AM

Aug. 14 at Vikings ESPN/560

Aug. 20 vs. 49ers Channel: 2 /560

Aug. 25 vs. Lions Channel: 36 /560

Aug. 31 at Seattle Channel: 2 /560

[Angry Pope]

Raiders hungry for some respect

Dismissed team looks to get sneer back under new coach Shell

Bill Soliday



NAPA — The Oakland Raiders have an instant advantage going into this season. Hardly anybody expects much from them.

That contrasts to last year when nobody was sure what might happen if Kerry Collins was tossed in with Randy Moss and LaMont Jordan. At least potentially the team looked scary.

It turned scary all right — a 4-12 finish after a 4-6 start, Moss injured, Collins booed out of town and Jordan making do with subpar blocking.

Jump to today as the team reports to Napa for a month-long training camp. There's a new coach, a new quarterback and assorted other trinkets but no wholesale change.

So after three years of futility (a league worst 13-35 record) if there is fear involving the Raiders it is that they might wind up in intensive care.

Al Davis saw the withering state of respect for his Raiders and was disturbed. When the owner tabbed Art Shell to return as coach he promised, if nothing else, a return to Raider football.

"It may take us a short while, but we'll get that nastiness of the Raiders back," Davis vowed.

Snickers followed in Denver, Kansas City and San Diego where the Raiders are 2-16 against AFC West foes since 2003. Given that, how could they possibly take the Raiders seriously?

It should be a Raider advantage.

What would pass as achievable improvement? There are even optimistic fans who say 8-8. To Shell, that is minimalistfrom Sports 1 thinking.

"We have some good football players on our team, we really do," Shell said. "But we have to have more than just talent. We have to develop it, get them to the point where they know how to win and understand what it takes."

Five things that will go a long way toward getting the Raiders out of the No Fun House.


1. Buckle down, start fast, stay hungry.

Training camp will be tough. Shell promises trial by fire to root out those who lack the will: there will be two-a-days in pads for the first week.

He knows success is there for the taking early in the year. The first six games (San Diego, at Baltimore, Cleveland, at San Francisco, at Denver, Arizona) create a scenario where they could be a confident 4-2 entering the critical five-game juncture of the season (Pittsburgh, at Seattle, Denver, at Kansas City, at San Diego).

Then there is the matter of finishing strong, something the Raiders haven't done the last three years. They have finished 1-5, 1-4 and 0-6, a cumulative 2-15. That says something about the culture something that must change.


2. Fix the offensive line.

After the line had a poor year, Shell said "that is the group we've got to get going this year."

He shuffled the deck: Robert Gallery going from right to left tackle, Barry Sims going one spot over to left guard, Langston Walker shifting from left guard to right tackle and rookie Paul McQuistan starting at right guard. Center Jake Grove is the only player still at his old position.

Gallery is the key.

"I told him 'You're too good a football player not to be mentioned to the Pro Bowl,'" Shell said. "He's accepted that challenge. His potential is way out there. He can be as good as he wants to be."


3. Start forcing turnovers.

Although there was scant statistical evidence, Oakland was better on defense last year. There was one flaw: just five interceptions. At least 10 possible picks were dropped.

Even with cornerback Charles Woodson gone, four former first-round picks remain in the secondary, including top draft pick Michael Huff. Picks come from pressure, and returning NFL sack leader Derrick Burgess is joined by Lance Johnstone and a smallish but quick tackle tandem in Tommy Kelly and Warren Sapp. It should happen.


4. Keep the three irreplaceable players healthy.

Injuries are always a key, but three players the Raiders simply cannot afford to lose are Moss, Jordan and Sapp. All missed time in 2005.

Last year Moss played hurt for three-quarters of the season and was a shadow of what he had been. If Jordan goes down again, who fills the gap? Sapp missed the final six games with a torn rotator cuff. The team lost all six.


5. The quarterback.

There is pressure on Aaron Brooks, but the goal is just the opposite.

Benched in New Orleans for erratic play, he's getting a fresh start in a new system. The key is not to place the entire burden on him. If the Raiders run effectively as planned, Brooks needn't pass often. And when teams learn to respect the run, Moss and Jerry Porter should be open deep.

Some of the best Raider football in Shell's playing days came with the quarterback throwing 15-18 passes a game. If Brooks has to throw 30-35 times a game, watch out.

[Angry Pope]

Change of guard, linebacker
Rookies McQuistan, Howard head into camp as first-teamers; Huff waits

PHIL BARBER




A couple of rookies are poised to step into starting roles for the Raiders, and they may not be the ones you expected. On a Thursday conference call that served as prelude to the 2006 training camp, coach Art Shell revealed that guard Paul McQuistan, a third-round draft choice, and outside linebacker Thomas Howard, a second-rounder, will be getting repetitions with the first team when camp opens Tuesday in Napa.

"Nothing is etched in stone," Shell said.

And indeed, much can develop during a monthlong camp. But the fact that the two rookies ascended to the top of the depth chart this quickly has to be viewed as a surprise.

That's especially true of McQuistan. A tackle at Weber State, McQuistan was considered something of a reach when the Raiders took him with the 69th overall selection, but he raised eyebrows at the May minicamp, planting several Oakland defensive linemen on the turf.

"When you studied him in college, you saw the aggressiveness on the tape," Shell said. "Then when he came here, all the things that we saw on film we started seeing - of course, we don't have pads on - but we saw it in the workouts and in the camps. And he's a smart kid."

Brad Badger had been the de facto right guard. Badger's versatility has served the Raiders well the past three seasons, when he has started 31 games, but he was seen more or less as a placeholder at the position. McQuistan's development made it possible to return Badger to a backup role.

Now Shell, a Hall of Fame offensive tackle who didn't start until his third NFL season, seems ready to hand the job to an unproven rookie.

"I want the best football players out there," Shell said. "In this league, you can play with young guys if (they have) the talent. They'll make some mistakes, but you can live with 'em if they'll make 'em aggressively. ... So I would feel comfortable if Paul McQuistan can continue to grow as a football player for us and continue to learn the nuances of pass protection and run blocking in this league."

Howard's elevation to first team is less of a surprise, because of his solid résumé at UTEP and because the Raiders are so thin at linebacker. The twist here is the odd man out - Danny Clark, who was team's defensive player of the year only two seasons ago. Shell said the current configuration has Sam Williams at left and Howard at right outside linebacker, respectively, and second-year pro Kirk Morrison sliding to the middle.

That would give the Raiders a fast and athletic three-man linebacker corps with exactly 19 cumulative NFL starts. And it would send one of the team's most popular players to the bench.

"Danny Clark is an integral part of this football team," Shell said. "But we're looking at players."

With the Raiders apparently willing to go with rookies on either side of the line, the biggest shock might be that Michael Huff has yet to crack the first team. Many expected Huff, whom Oakland took with the seventh overall pick, to swiftly secure a starting job at safety. Shell, however, was hesitant to separate him from the pack.

"You got (Stuart) Schweigert, you got (Derrick) Gibson, you got Huff, you got (Jarrod) Cooper, you got all these guys working," he said. "But I don't say anybody's a starter. We're going to work 'em all, and we'll come out of training camp with a starter."

If that starter is Gibson, Shell should expect a small revolt among the Black Hole faithful. They are fed up with Gibson's inconsistencies and are eager to see what the fast, sure-tackling Huff can accomplish. Most are desperate for any sort of change after three consecutive losing seasons. And you can etch that in stone.

EXTRA POINTS

Shell confirmed that Aaron Brooks enters camp as the Raiders' starting quarterback.

The coach said DT Warren Sapp (torn rotator cuff in November) should be at full strength, but WR Ronald Curry (torn Achilles tendon in September) will be evaluated by coaches and training staff.

Individual game tickets went on sale to season-ticket holders Wednesday. They will be available to the general public on Aug. 2 at 10 a.m.

The team announced a new interactive area for kids, the Raider Rookie Zone, on the east side of McAfee Coliseum, on the concourse between sections 335 and 355. Children can throw passes, attempt field goals, try on a Raiders uniform or jump in an inflatable bounce house.

[Angry Pope]

Raiders set to open first camp after Shell's return

By JOSH DUBOW


ALAMEDA, Calif.
Before the Oakland Raiders even arrive at their first training camp in Art Shell's second stint as coach, it's clear that few jobs are safe.

Shell has already penciled in two rookies as starters - second-round pick Thomas Howard at outside linebacker and third-round pick Paul McQuistan at right guard - and first-round pick Michael Huff is also in the mix at safety.

After three straight losing seasons for the first time in Al Davis' more than four-decade tenure with the team, Shell knows changes are necessary.

"I want the best football players out there," Shell said. "In this league you can play with young guys if the guy has talent. They're going to make some mistakes, but you can live with them if they make them aggressively.

The Raiders report to their training camp in Napa on Monday with two-a-day practices in pads in the heat of wine country set to begin the following day. Shell has been pleased with his team's offseason workouts and wants to carry that attitude over into the season.

Shell, who coached the Raiders previously from 1989-1994, had a 54-38 regular-season record his first time around, leading the Raiders to the AFC championship game following the 1990 season. The team has had only three winning seasons since Shell was fired - one less than he had in five full seasons as coach.

"These guys are tired of losing and want to be part of a winning program," Shell said. "The work ethic this offseason shows they are on board and want to win. That's what they are here for."

The Raiders went 4-12 last season, leading to coach Norv Turner being fired after two seasons. One of the biggest problems last season was on the offensive line, which couldn't open up holes for the running game, failed to give the quarterback enough time to make big plays to Randy Moss downfield and committed too many penalties.

Robert Gallery, the No. 2 overall pick on 2004, is being moved from right to left tackle, where Shell believes he can develop into a dominant blocker.

"I think it's a good fit," Shell said. "He played it for a number of years in college. I think he can be outstanding at it. I think it's time for him to arrive as a Pro Bowl-type player."

Barry Sims is slated at left guard, Jake Grove at center, Langston Walker at right tackle and McQuistan at right guard ahead of veteran Brad Badger. McQuistan, a four-year starter at Weber State, impressed the Raiders on film and in offseason workouts and will be tutored by two Hall of Fame linemen in Shell and offensive line coach Jackie Slater.

"There are rookies starting in this league every year on the offensive line," Shell said. "I'd feel comfortable if Paul McQuistan continues to grow as a football player for us and learns the nuances of pass and run blocking."

With Howard tentatively on the outside, Kirk Morrison has moved to the middle to replace former starter Danny Clark.

"Danny is an integral part of this football team," Shell said. "We are looking at players. Nothing is etched in stone. We don't know where we'll end up for sure. We have a long ways to go through training camp."

Free-agent Aaron Brooks enters camp as the No. 1 quarterback replacing the released Kerry Collins, but Shell said he'd like to give backups Andrew Walter and Marques Tuiasosopo some time with the first team.

"Right now Aaron Brooks is the guy," Shell said. "He's starting at the No. 1 spot going in. We're still going to take a look at what we have. You've got to have somebody start out, so he's the guy who's starting out."

Defensive tackle Warren Sapp, who missed the last six games last season with an injured right shoulder, is healthy for the start of camp. Receiver Ronald Curry, who tore his left Achilles' tendon in the second game last season, is not quite up to full speed yet, Shell said.

Curry will compete for the No. 3 receiver spot behind Moss and Jerry Porter. Moss struggled with injuries and chemistry with Collins in his first season with Oakland.

But with Shell returning the Raiders to the deep-strike offense that Davis prefers, the coach expects a big year from Moss.

"With Moss being healthy, I expect he will be a healthy, great football player and can make a lot of big plays," Shell said. "Just hearing Randy talk, you can tell he's excited about this system. He likes this system and is excited about what he can do in the passing game."

[Angry Pope]

Shell brings old-school feel to Raiders

JASON JONES



Last Updated: July 24, 2006, 05:37:44 AM PDT


ALAMEDA — Someone forgot to tell Art Shell that football had passed him by.
In an era where coaches are shunning two-a-day practice sessions and going full contact sparingly, Shell is supposed to follow suit because antiquated methods like full gear on multiple days doesn't work with today's player.

Shell didn't get that memo.

He hasn't been a head coach since 1994 but doesn't plan to alter the way he does things when players report to training camp today in Napa and take the field Tuesday morning.

Shell still believes players want to work hard, which will be tested by a group that is 13-35 over three seasons.

"I believe in working as hard as we need in order to get them ready to play," Shell said. "That's what I know. That's what I'm accustomed to."

Now it's time to put the old-school approach into practice.

Some coaches complain about playing four exhibition games. Shell wanted the fifth preseason game the Raiders have by playing in the Hall of Fame game, especially with his former coach, John Madden, being inducted.

As expected, Shell is using his football mentor's blueprint for success. He hopes that what won him two Super Bowl titles as a player can work today, especially on offense, where the results have been especially disappointing in recent years.

"This is an Al Davis system," Shell said. "I grew up with this system. This is a system that allows us to attack from anywhere on the field."

The Raiders want to run the ball consistently and take what they want in the passing game.

"We don't want to be a team that's sitting back waiting for you to dictate what happens," Shell said. "We don't want to be a passive team. We want to be an aggressive team."

Shell said what he wants to do is no different than what Pittsburgh, New England and St. Louis did with Super Bowl-winning teams in recent years.

So while it might seem like he and offensive coordinator Tom Walsh are relics, they aren't exactly running the wishbone.

"This system is in football," Shell said. "It's been here. It's been utilized."

And perhaps Shell being set in his ways will be good for the Raiders. After all, he's stubborn enough not to believe in a rebuilding season.

He plans to hold the team to high expectations and has been talking Super Bowl since he was rehired in February.

"Strange things can happen in this league, and we look forward to turning this thing around," Shell said. "Why not us? We can do this."

[CrossBones]

Great stuff AP.

Thanks.

[Angry Pope]

Shell says players are eager: 'They want to get it done'

David White

Monday, July 24, 2006

The moving vans showed up at the Napa Valley Marriott last week, loaded with Raiders video equipment and practice gear.

Next up are the tricked-out SUVs driven by NFL players -- think Randy Moss in last year's purple-mobile -- when the Raiders report today for the first Art Shell-coached training camp since 1994.

Players must check in by 3 p.m. The first of two-a-day practices begins at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday.

"(Players) are excited," Shell said. "Just listening to them, they say, 'We'll be glad when we get to camp, coach.' I'll tell you what, listening to that kind of talk makes me feel good because they want to get it done."

The Raiders have two weeks before opening the exhibition schedule against the Eagles in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6 in Canton, Ohio.

Waiting on Curry: Fifth-year wide receiver Ronald Curry's status remains undetermined for the start of camp, Shell said.

Curry is attempting to return from two Achilles tears. He had two catches in the first two games of the 2005 season before sustaining a season-ending tendon injury.

In a breakout season in 2004, he had 50 catches for 679 yards before missing the final four games with a tendon tear.

"We're still looking at Curry to see where he is and make sure he's capable of doing it," Shell said. "We'll listen to the trainers. They'll give us direction on that."

Briefly: The Raiders will host three international coaches throughout camp: Patrick Esume of Germany, Radames Carrillo of Mexico and Tang Hai-yan of China. This is the third year the Raiders have invited coaches from other countries to observe preseason workouts. ... The Raiders cut linebacker Roger Cooper, defensive end Jeff Green, linebacker Shawn Morgan and offensive guard Cameron Spikes. ... The Raider Rookie Zone will debut this regular season at McAfee Stadium. Located between sections 335-355, children can play in a bounce house, throw or kick a football, try on a gameday uniform and play in other activities.

[UtahRaiderFan]

Huff signs with us don't have the link but I think it's on nfl.com ?

But the mufster should have it for us



anyway I think this is great news keep'um coming AL

[Plunkett16]

here you go utahraiderfan
\
and welcome to the forum


Huff's deal foretells of Oakland's future


By Adam Schefter
Special to NFL.com


(July 24, 2006) -- When the Raiders rookies report to work on July 24, first-round pick Michael Huff will be there with them.

Huff and the Raiders reached an agreement on a five-year deal that will be worth between $22.5 to $26.5 million dollars, including $15 million in guarantees, sides close to the deal confirmed.


The Raiders think taking a chance on Michael Huff at No. 7 in this year's draft will pay off.
Should Huff go on to become the superstar that the Raiders envision, the contract contains enough language that the former University of Texas standout could earn up to $43 million, making it an even more lucrative contract than the one that Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed recently signed with Baltimore. But Huff would have to become a premier safety to achieve such levels of pay.

Nevertheless, the Raiders will have their first-round pick in camp on time, and Huff is expected to win the starting safety job, paired opposite Stuart Schweigert to give Oakland a young and talented safety tandem.

Huff's big deal is expected to be one of two in the AFC West that gets done July 24. The San Diego Chargers also are closing in on a deal with their first-round pick, former Florida State cornerback Antonio Cromartie. With Chargers rookies due to report by the night of July 24, Cromartie is not expected to be late.

And with the Kansas City Chiefs signing Pro Bowl cornerback Ty Law, the quality of defensive backs in the AFC West has been dramatically upgraded.
__________________

[Seraph24]

MM aka AP and Plunkett both bringing some good shit to the table. thanks alot. making the stories at that other site with the "spicyman special" news seem a little dry.:o

also i didnt know we signed LB henri crockett. nothing special, but good vet depth if he can make the roster.

[Plunkett16]

this may not be training camp news


Raiders | Tuiasosopo entering contract season
Sun, 23 Jul 2006 19:45:58 -0700

Steve Corkran, writing for the Sporting News, reports Oakland Raiders QB Marques Tuiasosopo is entering a contract year. He is tired of being passed over for a shot at the starting quarterback job. Look for him to force the Raiders to trade him before long or else wait until season's end before seeking employment elsewhere.

[Seraph24]

i honestly say trade Tui. i think its the best case scenario for us honestly as far as getting something in return..

[CrossBones]

i honestly say trade Tui. i think its the best case scenario for us honestly as far as getting something in return..I kinda agree. I have no idea what he would bring but his value isnt gonna get any higher.

It looks like (and has for a long time) that the Raiders have given up on Tui ever being the man in Oakland.

[RZ]

NFL Network just reported that both Curry and Gallery were placed on the PUP List.

KFFL reports that Gallery was placed on the PUP because he pulled a quad muscle during weight training according to head coach Art Shell.

This fucking sucks!

[RaiderIVlife]

"fucking sucks" indeed. I say let him get the rest he requires. Hopefully he can return by the 3rd preseason game. Why do I already sense "nagging injury" for the year? Damn.

[Rupert]

i honestly say trade Tui. i think its the best case scenario for us honestly as far as getting something in return..
There's one BIG problem with that scenario. We've got to have veteran depth. It's the Raiders way. And who exactly do we have behind Brooks and Walter? Yeah, that's who I thought. Who expects a backup QB for backup QB trade? Ain't happening. This ain't baseball where minor leaguers are traded for scenery changes.

[CrossBones]

It doesn't sound like the Gallery thing is serious but you never know with these nagging injuries.

Better to let the guy be 100% before trying to rush into anything. I've seen these things be season long lingering problems when not allowed to heal up properly.

We really don't need this.

[Seraph24]

There's one BIG problem with that scenario. We've got to have veteran depth. It's the Raiders way. And who exactly do we have behind Brooks and Walter? Yeah, that's who I thought. Who expects a backup QB for backup QB trade? Ain't happening. This ain't baseball where minor leaguers are traded for scenery changes.
let me ask you this. How much of a legit veteren is Tui? I mean he has never played an extended amount of plays. he's just a veteren practice guy. he looks more a rookie than walter did last year.:o

[CrossBones]

let me ask you this. How much of a legit veteren is Tui? I mean he has never played an extended amount of plays. he's just a veteren practice guy. he looks more a rookie than walter did last year.:oSadly I kinda agree with this. Tui for all his pro experience is a badic bust. He hasn't been able to get it going when called upon and I doubt having his as our vet QB is gonna give the Raider Nation much confidence at ths point in time. I'd move him if I could get a 6th round pick for him. That's about all he's worth iMO.

[RaiderIVlife]

We've all probably heard the various rumors about Jerry Porter being traded. I'm basically sick of this guy's act and I've been in his corner for some time. I think irregardless of the cap hit, we should dump this dude into the NFC at the first opportunity.

The MESSAGE is more important than the cap space IMHO. This franchise needs to change everything about the way it practices, plays, etc. and the last thing we need is a cancer. Perception inevetibly becomes reality and the reality IMHO is that Porter isn't worth the hassel.

Besides, Gabriel, Morant, Curry (healthy) and possiby Mr. Irrelevant would be more than capable in filling the marginal void that Porter would leave behind.

[Rupert]

let me ask you this. How much of a legit veteren is Tui? I mean he has never played an extended amount of plays. he's just a veteren practice guy. he looks more a rookie than walter did last year.:o
I guess you're a new Raiders fan and don't remember how well he performed against KC all those years ago. Yeah, it was only one game, but Walter never looked that good in a regular season game. So dis him and pan him all you want, Tui is a veteran presence on the bench. How much real experience did David Humm have when he was brought back to be veteran depth? You either don't really understand the concept or how the Raiders use it.

Does Tui really fit it? Barely, just barely. But the fact still remains that we're unlikely to find someone who fits it better before we can trade Tui. So the strongest likelihood is that Tui is here for the remainder of the season.

But I do have to consider the Art Shell factor, which says that he's rebuilding on the fly this season (some of us call this reloading). He expects to win, but he's not planning on holding onto guys that don't bring anything to the table. So if he thinks Tui is as much of a dead end as you and others do, Tui won't make the cut.

[CrossBones]

I guess you're a new Raiders fan and don't remember how well he performed against KC all those years ago. Yeah, it was only one game, but Walter never looked that good in a regular season game. So dis him and pan him all you want, Tui is a veteran presence on the bench. How much real experience did David Humm have when he was brought back to be veteran depth? You either don't really understand the concept or how the Raiders use it.

Does Tui really fit it? Barely, just barely. But the fact still remains that we're unlikely to find someone who fits it better before we can trade Tui. So the strongest likelihood is that Tui is here for the remainder of the season.

But I do have to consider the Art Shell factor, which says that he's rebuilding on the fly this season (some of us call this reloading). He expects to win, but he's not planning on holding onto guys that don't bring anything to the table. So if he thinks Tui is as much of a dead end as you and others do, Tui won't make the cut.I diagree with this.

Tui is a backup. And he's proved he's not a very good one either. They're a dime a dozen. Remember when we brought in Rick Mirer? So what?

If Brooks and Walter go down we're screwed anyway. Tui no longer has value for this team and he'll be gone next season to be buried on somebody else's bench. So in that case if we could get a sixth rounder for him I'd do it.

[Seraph24]

I guess you're a new Raiders fan and don't remember how well he performed against KC all those years ago.
I'm sure you're way off on your take of me. I saw the game and its value is not worth squat now. Maybe you're one of those selective memory raider fans, But i remember Tui not knowing his head from his ass in the preseason last year or the jets game. I remember Tui having no legitimate threat of a deep arm. Is this off pace?

Yeah, it was only one game, but Walter never looked that good in a regular season game.
He never played in one. But his mechanics, poise, reads, and his arm looked better than tui's ever did. its funny that you skip the jet game to point to an old kc game where he came in mid game with the defense having no real scouting report on him. Walter has never looked utterly shitty against a 2-14 team. So is he the next stabler now?:rolleyes: Thats a flawed equation to say bad playing is better than not playing before.

What Tui did in 1 1/2 quarters a few years ago doesnt hold much weight to what he couldnt do last year. If you think he's a vet, good luck with that. Because i'd put my money on walter doing better checkdowns, reads, and having more poise like a vet.

How much real experience did David Humm have when he was brought back to be veteran depth? You either don't really understand the concept or how the Raiders use it.
Way to go obscure:o . but i dont remember him bringing Veteran Leadership on the bench. But he was pretty irrelevent, so i cant say i remember much about his "comeback" besides him sucking.

lets try something a little less obscure. how about vince evans, kerry collins, rob johnson, rick mirer, Wade Wilson, and jay scroeder. Those were veteran backups. Tui has no role of leadership at all on this team. so making him an automatic vet in any format on general principle is a stretch i think.

Does Tui really fit it? Barely, just barely. But the fact still remains that we're unlikely to find someone who fits it better before we can trade Tui. So the strongest likelihood is that Tui is here for the remainder of the season.
though i dont see him getting moved either, i think it doesnt have squat to do with fitting. theres nothing else available is more likely the truth. If you want to call Tui an Raiders organization Vet, fuck it he can have that useless label. Just don't act like what he did in kc years ago means more than what he did last year(which was nothing at all). Walter ouplayed him easily last preseason and they both got to play against second/third units. Tui has to prove himself valuable or he's 3rd string poo worth dumping IMO.

OT: Why do older football heads think they are a gospel and that you're "new" if you don't see things as they do? Bad assumption and a silly theory. JMHO

[Angry Pope]

RAIDERS GO BACK TO WORK
Morrison's speed, youth displace a worker bee

By Bill Soliday



NAPA — Two years ago, middle linebacker Danny Clark was the Raiders' most valuable defensive player, their leading tackler and one of the most dedicated team players on the squad.

Tuesday when the Raiders held their first two practices of the 2006 season, he was a second stringer.

With all due respect to Kirk Morrison, the local kid who replaced him, a lot of people wondered why and how it came about that Clark, whose nickname "Hammerhead" had earned him legions of fans, came to be in this position.

If there was one thing about the Raiders defense that made sense, it was that Clark — perhaps more than anybody else — never left anything on the field. He always gave it his all.

If two words suffice to answer the question, those words would be "speed" and "youth." It's a change the Raiders felt they needed.

Not even Clark will dispute that.

"It's the fastest I've seen," he said. "And probably (the fastest) in this league. Some of the young guys can move. Kirk can move. Myself, I've lost a couple of pounds so I'm moving well. I'm excited about what we can do this year."

When he announced the change, coachArt Shell made it clear to say Clark remained an integral part of the team. Furthermore, first unit designations in July were not carved in granite.

That is how Clark is approaching his status.

"I look at it as very temporary," he said. "This is not a different role, it's just some adversity that every athlete goes through, and at the end of the day, I see myself as a starter for this football team.

"You've got to be a professional, and I speak of myself in that (vein). I want to go out there and compete. That's what I have done since Day 1 in this league, and that's going to persist throughout."

There have been instances where players have learned of their demotion the hard way, without explanations or warnings. Not so with Clark, a player the team clearly respects.

"They did a good job letting me know what's going on," he said. "But this is business ... a big business. I'm going to go out and put my best foot forward. I'm just going to be me. I'm not going to change for anyone. I'm a leader, on and off the field, first, second or third (string)."

That said, Clark praised the play of Morrison, who




lined up as an outside linebacker his rookie season last year and must now make adjustments in taking over the Mike position.

"He's doing good, really good," Clark said, adding that he would help Morrison any way possible, even though they are in competition for the same job.

"We're a team, first and foremost," Clark said.

Morrison acknowledged there was no rift between he and Clark, two who held the linebacking corps together when the team played a Big Nickel (two linebackers) alignment last year.

"We still talk," Morrison said. "Everything is on the up and up."

However, he admits circumstances have been a bit awkward.

"I think one of the biggest things is we already had a great relationship," the Oakland product who attended Bishop O'Dowd High said.


"We understand the opportunity was presented for me to play that position. The fact is he's really a team guy and understands everyone has a role on the defense."

There had been rumors, which predated the change in the depth chart, that Clark, who turned 29 in May, was considering making this his final season in football and was ready to pursue other interests.

"Not at all," Clark said. "That's wrong. This is what I do."

However, he realizes that even though the Raiders may say they are planning for him to be an important element of the team, there is precedent for that to change. He could suddenly wind up elsewhere before the season starts. It's what happened to Greg Biekert, another Raider starting middle linebacker just prior to the 2001 opener.

"Anything could happen, and I understand that," Clark said. "But I will put my best foot forward and know what I can control — what I put on tape. I'm going to come out with a bright smile and make plays. This is a production-based business for coaches and players. I'm going to go out there and produce and at the end of the day, let the ball bounce where it may."

[Angry Pope]

Madden gives thumbs up to Shell

By Steve Corkran

Top pick Huff little late to practice
Madden gives thumbs up to Shell


NAPA - Former longtime Raiders coach John Madden got a first-hand look at the 2006 team during an unannounced visit to the team's training facility Tuesday. Already, he sees the ingredients for the kind of success that was a staple of his 10-year tenure and that has been missing of late.

Madden's view from afar doesn't guarantee success for first-year coach Art Shell's troops, but it differs from the one he has had in recent seasons of a franchise that combined for only 13 victories the past three seasons.

"They're on the right track," Madden said, only 11 days before his enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his success as the Raiders coach from 1969-78.

Tom Flores inherited Madden's job and held the post through 1987. Mike Shanahan, Shell, Mike White, Joe Bugel, Jon Gruden, Bill Callahan and Norv Turner followed, with none lasting for as long as six seasons.

None of the coaches after Flores guided the Raiders to a Super Bowl victory or posted winning records in each of his seasons at the helm. All 10 of Madden's teams won more games than they lost. Eight of those teams qualified for the AFC Playoffs.

It's not difficult to understand why the Raiders won only four games in 2003, five in '04 and four last season, Madden said.

"They haven't been good blockers and they haven't been good tacklers," among other things, Madden said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Those are some of the things that Shell has stressed in the five-plus months since he replaced Turner. Discipline, fundamentals and accountability.

To Madden's delight, he said, he sees a Raiders coach stressing the proper things and making sure his players do more than pay lip service to the things essential to winning games.

In the past, "Maybe they became more talkers than doers," Madden said. "They have to get back to doing it. You're not tough if you say you're tough. You're tough if you play tough. You're fundamental if you play fundamental, not say it."

For years, the Raiders have said that they have as much talent as any team in the league. Madden said the problem runs deeper than that talent not being realized or maximized.

Like many teams, he said, the Raiders have been too concerned with taking it easy on their players during practices and exhibition games for fear of sustaining injuries at key positions.

"That's giving guys an excuse not to do the things that have to be done," Madden said. "Someone has to get up and say, 'This is a violent game.' You got to hit and you're going to be hit."

As a result, the starters don't get enough time to practice the very things that they need to do once the regular season starts, he said.

"I don't think they're ready," Madden said. "You have to get ready for the second half of a game, which is where games are won and lost. You have to get ready for the fourth quarter. You have to get ready for short-yardage and goal-line in the fourth quarter. And they don't."

Madden had a reputation for being a player's coach. That is, he let them behave in the manner they preferred so long as they performed as expected in games.

Still, he said, players still yearn for discipline as long as it's not misguided or too overbearing. For instance, he added, he didn't care about his players' weight as long as they did their jobs in games. But players were held accountable when it came to things such as their committing "stupid penalties."

"I just hated those," Madden said.

Shell has said that he intends to let his players do their jobs without his imposing too many restrictions. Be on time, respect others, listen to the coaches and do your job. Plain and simple.

He said he has seen ample evidence that his players are willing to do whatever it takes to get the Raiders back to respectability, if not the Super Bowl, this season.

"They want to get better and they're willing to pay the price to do it," Shell said. "We talked (Monday) night about how it's going to hurt, how you're going to get tired, it's going to get hot out here, but you've got to push yourself through. Good football teams, great football teams, do that, and our guys will do that."

Madden is watching.

[Angry Pope]

Top pick Huff little late to practice

He misses the opening workout while the league office reviews his contract
notebook

NAPA -- Strong safety Michael Huff's Raiders debut took a little longer than expected.

Huff agreed to a five-year contract Monday morning and reported on time, as did the six other players the Raiders drafted in April. However, Huff's decision to wait until Monday night to sign the contract meant he had to wait until Tuesday for the league office in New York to open so that his deal could be reviewed and approved.

That precluded Huff from practicing in the morning. The green light from the league office came Tuesday afternoon, in time for Huff to join his teammates for the second practice.

"I was bored in my room," Huff said after his first practice. "This morning when everyone was out here I was just wishing I was out here. But I'm out here now."

Huff showed off the versatility as a cover man, blitzer and extra defender in run support that led to the Raiders selecting him in the first round (No. 7 overall).

The former Texas Longhorn spent most of his time working with the second-team defense, though he figures to be the starter in the regular-season opener. Veteran Derrick Gibson played with the first-team defense.

Keeping busy

Receiver Ronald Curry and left offensive tackle Robert Gallery worked out on their own while their teammates took part in team drills. This is in keeping with a league rule that prohibits players on the physically-unable-to-perform list from participating in full-scale practices.

Curry said he was surprised to hear that he had been placed on the PUP list Monday, when he reported to camp at "100 percent" after recovering from surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon.

"(Trainers) say no more than a week," Curry said. "Hopefully, it will be shorter. ... It's minor."

Gallery sustained a strained quadriceps last week, coach Art Shell said, and appeared fit enough to do the drills asked of him Monday.

"When you weigh this much and you're that explosive, it happens," Gallery said in mock seriousness.

Beat the heat

Shell halted the morning and afternoon practices about an hour in and mandated his players take a five-minute break in deference to the intense heat. That is something that hasn't been done at Raider camps in the past and something the players welcomed, by all accounts.

"Put 'em in the shade, and let them shut it down a little bit," Shell said. "It's good for them. When they come back, they're ready to finish up practice."

Extra points

Running back LaMont Jordan returned from a funeral Monday in time to participate in the first practice. Shell excused him from reporting on time Monday night so Jordan could take his time getting here. ... Cornerback Stanford Routt was excused from practice so that he could recover from an illness that caused him to lose five pounds Monday, Shell said. ... Quarterback Andrew Walter worked with the No. 2 team behind starter Aaron Brooks. Marques Tuiasosopo was the backup to Kerry Collins last season.

[Angry Pope]

Raiders' top pick joins drills
MADDEN PROVIDES POSITIVE REVIEW

By Steve Corkran



Among the new faces at Oakland Raiders training camp were first-round draft pick, safety Michael Huff, who agreed to a five-year contract monday morning and reported on time as did six other players the Raiders selected in April.

Strong safety Michael Huff's Raiders debut took a little longer than expected Tuesday, though it was through no fault of his own.

Huff, the team's first-round draft pick, agreed to a five-year contract Monday morning and reported on time, as did the six other players the Raiders selected in April. However, Huff's decision to wait until Monday night to sign the contract meant he had to wait until Tuesday for the NFL office in New York to open so that his deal could be reviewed and approved.

That precluded Huff from practicing in the morning. But Tuesday afternoon, he joined his teammates for the second practice.

``I was bored in my room,'' Huff said. ``This morning when everyone was out here I was just wishing I was out here. But I'm out here now.''

Coach Art Shell said: ``It's great to have Huff signed and part of the mix. We got 'em all out here now. We can go to work.''

Huff spent most of his time working with the second-team defense, though he figures to start in the season opener. Veteran Derrick Gibson played with the first-team defense.

The Associated Press reported that Huff, the No. 7 overall pick in the draft, signed a $22.5 million, five-year contract that guarantees him $15 million.

Madden's view

Former Raiders coach John Madden visited camp and said he believes the team is on the upswing.

``They're on the right track,'' Madden said, 11 days before his enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his success as Raiders coach in 1969-78.

``It's not difficult to understand why the Raiders won only four games in 2003, five in '04 and four last season. They haven't been good blockers and they haven't been good tacklers, among other things.''

Shell has stressed discipline, fundamentals and accountability in the five-plus months since he replaced Norv Turner.

To Madden's delight, he said, he sees a Raiders coach focusing on the proper things and making sure his players do more than pay lip service to what's essential to winning games.

In the past, ``Maybe they became more talkers than doers,'' Madden said. ``They have to get back to doing it. You're not tough if you say you're tough. You're tough if you play tough. You're fundamental if you play fundamental, not say it.''

Like many teams, he said, the Raiders have been too concerned with taking it easy on their players during practices and exhibitions for fear of sustaining injuries at key positions.

``That's giving guys an excuse not to do the things that have to be done,'' Madden said. ``Someone has to get up and say, `This is a violent game. You got to hit and you're going to be hit.' ''

As a result, the starters don't get enough time to practice the things they need to do once the season starts, he said.

``You have to get ready for the second half of a game, which is where games are won and lost,'' Madden said. ``You have to get ready for the fourth quarter. You have to get ready for short-yardage and goal-line in the fourth quarter.''

• Receiver Ronald Curry and left offensive tackle Robert Gallery worked out on their own while their teammates took part in team drills. This is in keeping with a league rule that prohibits players on the physically unable to perform list from participating in full-scale practices.

• Cornerback Stanford Routt was excused from practice so he could recover from an illness that caused him to lose five pounds Monday, Shell said.

• Quarterback Andrew Walter worked with the No. 2 team behind starter Aaron Brooks. Marques Tuiasosopo was the backup to Kerry Collins last season.

[Angry Pope]

Tuesday Training Camp Notes

Mike Wagaman

Date: Jul 25, 2006

Michael Huff's first day of professional training camp didn't exactly get off to the kind of start the Raiders' first-round draft pick expected. While the rest of his teammates went through the rigors of the opening workout, Huff sat alone in his hotel room waiting for the final details of his contract to be ironed out.

''I was bored in my room, wondering what everyone else was doing,'' Huff said. ''I wanted to be out here with the team.''

Huff didn't have to wait long. By the time Oakland was back on the field for the afternoon practice, the former Texas defensive back was in uniform and working out alongside the rest of the Raiders, a good sign for head coach Art Shell.

''He can go to work full-boat now,'' Shell said after the Raiders completed their first full day of camp. ''

Huff's absence from the morning workout was the result of a clerical issue, more than anything. On Monday, he and the Raiders reached agreement on a five-year deal worth $23 million -- including $15 million in guaranteed money. Huff expected to sign the deal late Monday night but the final contract was not sent to the NFL offices in New York until Tuesday, meaning Huff had to be held out of the morning practice.

''Just little stuff, dotting I's and crossing T's,'' Huff said. ''All the little stuff. Nothing big.''

Huff did not work out with Oakland's starting defense and instead spent most of the afternoon standing on the sidelines talking with coaches. Once the regular season begins, however, all indications are that the former Texas defensive back will be in the lineup.

''It felt good just to get out there,'' Huff said. ''Just to get out there and run around with the pads on.''

Wide receiver Jerry Porter was held out of the afternoon practice due to a strained calf muscle. Defensive back Stanford Routt did not take part in either session because of a ''throat sickness,'' according to Shell, who added the second-year player has lost five pounds as a result of the illness.

Tackle Robert Gallery worked out with a trainer while rehabbing from a strained quad muscle in his left leg. Gallery was placed on the physically unable to perform list Monday but was not notified of the move until he received a phone call from his father in Iowa.

''It's day to day, nothing to worry about,'' Gallery said. ''There's no use coming in at 90 percent or 80 percent or whatever it is I am and having it hurt all camp. It's better to sit out now than in the season.''

* Part of Shell's plans for the Raiders include having the team get back to the basics. That included having the offensive linemen practice recovering fumbles, a drill also employed by Oakland's linebackers and defensive line. That was something neither Norv Turner nor Bill Callahan's teams did. Not surprisingly, the Raiders were among the league's worst teams at generating turnovers last season.

The team has also instituted a 100-yard run penalty for anyone jumping offsides or getting called for a false start in practice. Twelve players were guilty Monday and ran.

* Veteran defensive back Tyrone Poole is getting work at the nickel back slot.

* Brad Badger, the starting right guard a year ago who has been displaced by rookie Paul McQuistan, split time at right tackle with Langston Walker.

* Quarterback Aaron Brooks threw one of his better passes of the day in the afternoon, only to have wide receiver Randy Moss bobble the ball. Second-year cornerback Fabian Washington trailed Moss and grabbed the loose ball out of the air. Earlier in practice, Moss beat Washington deep and hauled in a 40-yard TD pass from Brooks.

[Angry Pope]

Madden Shows At Raiders Training Camp; Huff Signs

(CBS 5 / AP) NAPA Oakland Raiders training camp got underway Tuesday morning, and the biggest surprise in camp wasn't who didn't show but rather the legend that did.

John Madden came to support his former player, coach Art Shell, at his first practice.

"I knew he would be a good coach," Madden said. "Art belongs in the NFL as a head coach and he belongs with the Raiders."

New quarterback Aaron Brooks is penciled in as the starter, but second-year man Andrew Walter looked impressive.

On Tuesday, first-round pick Michael Huff signed a $22.5 million, five-year contract with the Raiders that guarantees the safety $15 million.

Huff agreed to the parameters of the deal Monday night, but didn't sign it until minutes before Tuesday's afternoon practice.

"This morning when everyone was out here I was just wishing I was out here," Huff said. "But I'm out here now."

The Raiders are very satisfied to have the No. 7 overall pick in camp on the first day of practice. Huff is being counted on to fill the hybrid role Charles Woodson played last year: blitzing,
covering slot receivers and playing deep safety. He's even wearing Woodson's No. 24.

Huff played every secondary position at Texas, making 318 tackles in a career that ended with the Longhorns' 41-38 victory over unbeaten USC in the Rose Bowl for the national championship.

"He's a very athletic guy, a very smart guy, you can give him a couple of different things, and he picks them up very well," coach Art Shell said. "We don't see it as a problem. He can play free
safety, he can play strong safety, he can play corner. He can do all those things. That's a plus for us in the secondary."

Huff admits he has plenty to learn about the NFL game, and will lean on the Raiders' veterans to get up to speed. He begins camp as a second-team player, backing up Derrick Gibson and Stuart
Schweigert at safety.

But Shell has said Huff will have every chance to earn a starting role in training camp.

"I'm comfortable with that because there are a lot of great experienced guys ahead of me that I can learn from," Huff said.

"So I'm going to go out there and learn and get better every day and be the best player I can be. Whenever it's my time to be on the field, that's where I'll be."

Huff started every game the past two seasons at strong safety and made a career-high 109 tackles in 2005, including 10 for loss.

He caused four fumbles, recovered two and ran one of those back for a touchdown. He also deflected 14 passes and made two interceptions.

The Raiders will be counting on him and fellow rookie Thomas Howard at linebacker to add speed to a defense that was last in the NFL with five interceptions and tied for 27th with only 19
turnovers caused on defense.

"You can see it on film. The eye in the sky never lies," defensive tackle Warren Sapp said. "You put guys out there like Howard and Huff and some of the guys we have got moving around now
and it's pretty fast. We just have to be able to swarm to the ball and make it pay off for us."

In other news, Shell said a few players were slowed with the temperature in the 90s in Napa, with some cramping up and others forced to briefly leave practice to vomit. Shell gave the team
water breaks after about an hour of each practice.

Offensive tackle Robert Gallery and receiver Ronald Curry missed practice because they are on the physically unable to perform list.

Curry is recovering from a torn left Achilles' tendon sustained in the second game last season and expects to be practicing next week.

Gallery strained his left quad running on July 16 and also expects to be back practicing soon.

"It's nothing to worry about. It's something that can bother you and get worse. It's better now than in the season," Gallery said. "When you weigh this much and you're that explosive this can
happen."

Defensive back Stanford Routt also missed practice with an illness, and receiver Jerry Porter missed most of the afternoon practice with a calf injury.

[CrossBones]

I'm sure you're way off on your take of me. I saw the game and its value is not worth squat now. Maybe you're one of those selective memory raider fans, But i remember Tui not knowing his head from his ass in the preseason last year or the jets game. I remember Tui having no legitimate threat of a deep arm. Is this off pace?


He never played in one. But his mechanics, poise, reads, and his arm looked better than tui's ever did. its funny that you skip the jet game to point to an old kc game where he came in mid game with the defense having no real scouting report on him. Walter has never looked utterly shitty against a 2-14 team. So is he the next stabler now?:rolleyes: Thats a flawed equation to say bad playing is better than not playing before.

What Tui did in 1 1/2 quarters a few years ago doesnt hold much weight to what he couldnt do last year. If you think he's a vet, good luck with that. Because i'd put my money on walter doing better checkdowns, reads, and having more poise like a vet.


Way to go obscure:o . but i dont remember him bringing Veteran Leadership on the bench. But he was pretty irrelevent, so i cant say i remember much about his "comeback" besides him sucking.

lets try something a little less obscure. how about vince evans, kerry collins, rob johnson, rick mirer, Wade Wilson, and jay scroeder. Those were veteran backups. Tui has no role of leadership at all on this team. so making him an automatic vet in any format on general principle is a stretch i think.


though i dont see him getting moved either, i think it doesnt have squat to do with fitting. theres nothing else available is more likely the truth. If you want to call Tui an Raiders organization Vet, fuck it he can have that useless label. Just don't act like what he did in kc years ago means more than what he did last year(which was nothing at all). Walter ouplayed him easily last preseason and they both got to play against second/third units. Tui has to prove himself valuable or he's 3rd string poo worth dumping IMO.

OT: Why do older football heads think they are a gospel and that you're "new" if you don't see things as they do? Bad assumption and a silly theory. JMHOUmmmm.... REP!!!! :D

[Seraph24]

Defensive back Stanford Routt did not take part in either session because of a ''throat sickness,'' according to Shell, who added the second-year player has lost five pounds as a result of the illness.
yikes, that sounds fucked up.:o

The team has also instituted a 100-yard run penalty for anyone jumping offsides or getting called for a false start in practice. Twelve players were guilty Monday and ran.
cool.:D

[Angry Pope]

From Art...

Coach Shell: July 25
July 25, 2006


Oakland Raiders Head Coach Art Shell spoke to the media at the conclusion of Tuesday morning's opening practice for Training Camp 2006. According to Coach Shell, he is encouraged by what he sees so far. "They want to learn, they want to get better, and they're willing to pay the price to do it," Coach Shell said. Check out the Tuesday Q&A.

Q: How does it feel?

Coach Shell: The ball is rolling, I feel good. I thought the practice was pretty good this morning, except for some things, which are to be expected early, like if you jump offsides, if you false start, things like that. Other than that, I thought practice went well, the guys were into it, it's a little warm, but that's to be expected.

Q: Do you think you have an advantage because you put so much of your playbook in already. Is it as full go as you could imagine?

Coach Shell: Sure it's full go. When coaches were installing the same things last night, players already know what it is. So, repetition is very important to what we do. Right now, you're ahead of the game because guys know the system already.

Q: You've had a couple of OTAs as you said, but does it feel a little different now?

Coach Shell: It's all good. You come out here and smell the grass...you can't ask for a better situation. I'm having fun with it. They're ready to go. If they continue to do what they're doing and work towards the goal that we have, then good things can happen for us.


Q: When we saw rookie safety Michael Huff in the May mini-camp, you threw him right out there in a bunch of different positions and gave him a lot of responsibilities. How has he been responding to those various roles?

Coach Shell: He's responded well. He's a very athletic guy. He's a very smart guy, so you can give him a couple different things and he picks them up very well. He can play free safety, strong safety, he can play corner. He can do all those things so that's a plus for us in the secondary.

Q: Art, if you could just share with us your emotions as you walked out for the first practice and essentially just rolled the ball and said hey, lets go play.'

Coach Shell: Well, you don't just throw the ball out there, you say hey, let's go to work.' The meeting last night was great...the atmosphere is great for success. They want to learn, they want to get better, and they're willing to pay the price to do it. We talked last night about it, how it's going hurt and how you're going to get tired. You're going to get warm out here, but you got to push yourself through. Good football teams, great football teams, do that and I think our guys will do that.

Q: How much flexibility does rookie LB Thomas Howard give you?

Coach Shell: Thomas is an outstanding football player. In college, he had played strong safety at one time. He has the ability to play in coverage and do those types of things and we just want to again, like all the young kids, we just want to keep working with them and give them a chance to grow as football players.

[Seraph24]

Howard is the Prototypical weakside LB you look for with speed, coverage, height, solid pass rushing skill. we just have to get him nfl ready mentally.

[Angry Pope]

Top pick Huff finally signs deal

By Jason Jones
Published 12:01 am PDT Wednesday, July 26, 2006

NAPA -- Raiders first-round draft selection Michael Huff signed his contract "15 to 20 minutes" before Tuesday afternoon's practice.
The defensive back from Texas said he planned to sign Monday night, but that was held up while "little stuff" was addressed.

Because he hadn't yet signed, Huff didn't attend meetings Monday night and wasn't on the field Tuesday morning.

"(I was) bored in my room," Huff said of missing the first practice. "This morning when everyone was out here, I was just wishing I was out here. But I'm out here now."

The deal is reported to be for $22.5 million to $26.5 million over five years with $15 million guaranteed.

Huff is expected to challenge for a starting job at strong safety, but he has worked at strong and free safety and cornerback during the offseason.

Huff worked with the second-team defense in the afternoon. Derrick Gibson is ahead of him at strong safety, the position Huff likely would play as a starter.

"I'll try to do it all," Huff said. "Whatever they draw up, I'll try to do."


Raiders camp report

Quote of the day: "I've got to do that, man. They've got my speed on Madden at like 14 out of a hundred. Realistically it's about 98," backup running back Rod Smart said about why he joked with former Raiders coach John Madden about his EA Sports Madden video game.
Player watch: Linebacker Thomas Howard. The rookie out of Texas-El Paso looked good in one-on-one pass-rushing drills, easily beating backup tackle Chad Slaughter on one play. Howard also showed the speed the Raiders desperately need at outside linebacker and covered space well. He's a projected starter at outside linebacker, and the Raiders are counting on his athleticism to help counter tight ends such as Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez and San Diego's Antonio Gates, in addition to covering running backs.

Highlight of the day: There was an interception. Two, in fact. Cornerbacks Fabian Washington and Hiram Eugene each picked off a pass during the afternoon. The Raiders hope that can continue for a few months. The Raiders set an NFL record for fewest interceptions in a season with five in 2005.

Injury report: Wide receiver Ronald Curry expects to be off the physically unable to perform list in about a week. He is back from a second torn left Achilles' tendon in two years.

• Left tackle Robert Gallery said he is day-to-day with a left quadriceps strain.

• Cornerback Stanford Routt didn't practice because of illness. Coach Art Shell said Routt had lost 5 pounds but is expected to be on the field today.

• Wide receiver Jerry Porter sat out the afternoon scrimmages with a calf strain.

[Angry Pope]

Shell putting emphasis on playmaking, not schemes

John Clayton

NAPA, Calif. -- Systems come, systems go. The Raiders? They've been through the system gauntlet in recent years.


Art Shell was 54-38 in his first stint with the Raiders.Just when owner Al Davis was about to reach into either the college coaching ranks or the NFL assistant circuit, he received one of his many phone calls from coaches agent Danny Moore. For years, Moore called Davis and others to sell the steady leadership of Art Shell, who still wasn't sure why Davis let him go with a 56-41 record from 1989-94.

Since then, Davis had hired five different head coaches. Only one, Jon Gruden, registered an overall winning mark. Systems recycle in the NFL, and if you wait long enough, old-school systems can become new-school again. Davis consented to a Shell interview, and the two came to a conclusion -- believing in a system or a concept is better than the imagination put behind it.

"You still have to believe in what you believe in," Shell said. "What we believe in has been here for years."

Old school is new school at Raiders camp. Shell is re-educating a new generation of Raiders about "Commitment to Excellence" and the "Greatness of the Raiders." His approach is old-school. Gone is the West Coast offense and its progressions, replaced by the return to the "Vertical Stretch." After seven seasons of the restrictions of the West Coast offense, quarterback Aaron Brooks loves the freedom Shell gives him in an offense that allows him to go against script and throw to Randy Moss or Jerry Porter if they get open ahead of the progressions.

Shell is taking the Raiders back to their roots. He's stressing playmaking instead of play scheming. Sure, the playbook is just as thick as any other NFL team's. What changed is that the Raiders will forgo the trickery for simple execution. Shell, a Pro Football Hall of Fame blocker, is reaching back into his Raiders past to rekindle a lost concept. He wants players believing in themselves and believing in the Raiders.

"I believe that all the players want the same thing; they want direction," Shell said. "They want to know they are going in a certain direction. That's what I believe in. Players want to be held accountable. If you give them that, you have a chance."




It helps that Shell is a Raiders legend and a winner. As a former player, he speaks in a voice that players respect. His messages are clear. Tired of the endless false starts and offsides penalties, Shell installed an automatic rule. Mental mistakes such as offsides force a player to run after practice. A dozen Raiders lapped the practice field Tuesday morning for their mental blunders. Players yelled and laughed at the first site of an infraction, assigning accountability for mistakes. It was fun to watch.

"We made too many mistakes last year," said defensive end Derrick Burgess, who played for three years in Philadelphia before joining the Raiders last season. "He wants to eliminate the penalties and be mentally strong. The key is winning, and in Philadelphia, the Eagles played team football. That was the biggest thing. You have to go out there and count on the offense and they have to know, they could count on us on defense. For an offsides in practice, it's a 100-yard run. With this heat, you are going to pay attention."

Raiders camp under Shell will be hard. The Raiders have more double sessions than virtually any team in the league. The plan is for more padded practices. Shell isn't trying to punish his players or wear them out, but he's trying to make a point.

"When you get the pads on, I am looking for people who are willing to attack, make contact and do it on a consistent basis," Shell said. "We want to be a tough football team, and part of that is making physical contact."

The Rams went old school in the late 1990s when they talked Dick Vermeil out of retirement. His 2½-3-hour practices provoked near-mutiny, even though Vermeil weeded out many malcontents in his first season. Vermeil adjusted only slightly, but the team jelled and eventually won a Super Bowl. Joe Gibbs brought back the hard-work ethic to practice, and now the Redskins are back in the Super Bowl hunt.

"He's bringing back discipline, and I think it's needed," wide receiver Ronald Curry said. "If you're winning and everything is good, you don't worry about it. But we haven't been winning, and a lot of bad has been coming out of it."

The interesting sidebar to the Shell story is how secure he is in the organization. Forgotten and neglected for a dozen years, Shell is expected to run the football operation once he decides to retire the coaching whistle. Those who don't answer to Shell as a coach could eventually face him as the personnel man in the organization years from now. Players have to respond if they want to remain Raiders.

"He told us, "If a problem gets to me, it's going to be all bad, and you don't want to find out what I will do because nothing good is going to come of it,'" Curry said.

Shell's imprint on this team -- in terms of personnel and technique -- was visible during his first practices. Third-round choice Paul McQuistan, a massive 6-foot-6, 315-pound mauler of a guard with red hair, emerged from the offseason as the starting right guard. Speedy linebacker Thomas Howard, the second-round choice, is the starting weakside linebacker. First-rounder Michael Huff is penciled into the starting lineup at safety once he completes the paperwork on his new contract.

"When I studied the team from last year, I was looking at the talent, and I was trying to figure out what kind of talent we had on this team," Shell said. "Based on what I saw, I saw that we had enough talent that we could build upon, and if we teach them what we want to teach them, then we could have a chance to be successful. Finishing games is something that has been taught to me for years. You've got to preach that."

For whatever reason, Raiders players didn't believe. As one player noted, figuratively, the Raiders didn't leave the team bus in about five games last year. They were finished before kickoff. Shell played on teams that had amazing comebacks and knew how to close out games strongly. He had similar success as a head coach. Old-school Raiders believed. They believed under Gruden, too.


"Consistent is the word I'll use for him," defensive tackle Warren Sapp said of Shell. "He has certain things he wants us to do, and he harps on them every day. That's the sign of a good man as I understand them from my days of being in the league. If you don't harp on the things you want done day in and day out, you won't do them. Somebody once told me in this game that you become what you do repeatedly. If you repeatedly go over the good things and correct your mistakes, you become a good football team."

Shell established his authority early. Shell blew up at Porter this offseason and kicked him out of the office. The story wasn't supposed to go public, but Shell's tirade was so loud those in other offices heard his lecture.

"That's part of the business," Shell said. "You are going to have some differences of opinion. You don't have time to stay with those differences. You move forward. I've got a whole football team to be concerned about. Our football team is looking forward to having success."

His offensive line is young. Four of the five starters are 27 or younger.

"If we do well, you guys will say we are young and athletic, but if we suck, you guys will say we are young and inexperienced," tackle Langston Walker said.

The defense has a young look to it, too, with two rookie starters, and a younger, faster linebacking corps. Shell isn't afraid to test the youth to see what he has.

Shell believes.

"I want to get this organization back to where it belongs," Shell said. "The Raiders organization is great for football. This team deserves to win. The owner deserves to win. He's a football man, and he loves the game. This organization deserves to be up there."

Al Davis learned something. Systems are great and can be updated. But football is a game of players making plays. Shell's hiring brought the Raiders back to its roots. Though there is no guarantee of immediate success, Shell is restoring the faith. He's bringing back the commitment. In time, he plans to bring back the excellence.

[Angry Pope]

Wednesday, July 26 - 9:23a.m.

Doug Gabriel, beware

Al Davis has always been big on conversions. He has moved a lot of guys from halfback to tight end (Billy Cannon, Todd Christensen, Ethan Horton) over the years. More recently, the Raiders have converted John Paul Foschi from tight end to fullback, and guys like Randal Williams and James Adkisson from wide receiver to tight end.

The latest project is John Madsen, a rookie free agent. Madsen signed as a wide receiver, but learned Tuesday that he is now officially a tight end. He quickly found himself hitting dummies with the other tight ends while the receiver ran routes.

Madsen has never played tight end before. Then again, he hasn’t suited up much at any position. He didn’t play football until after high school, first at Snow College, then at Utah. At 6-5, with a vertical leap of 37½ inches, Madsen is an intriguing athlete. But he broke his fibula and dislocated his ankle last fall and is only now getting back to 100 percent.

He’s a true long shot, though his odds are probably better at tight end than receiver, where the Raiders are stacked. Madsen’s first goal is to put on weight. He currently weighs 236 pounds, his highest ever, and his coaches want him to get up to 245 or 250.

Ultimately, his greatest challenge will be learning to block down on big defensive ends, something he never had to do as a wide receiver. He’s confident he can adapt. “My coaches at Utah were real strict about blocking,” he said. “I know the technique. Now I’ve just got to use it.”

[Angry Pope]

Training camp video...

Hit it here... (http://youtube.com/watch?v=j_2H1sfNy64&search=raiders)

[RaiderIVlife]

Who is playing LT in place of Gallery?

Chad Slaughter?

[CrossBones]

Now this is a breath of fresh air after listening to the great Jerry Porter run his mouth and disrupt things...

LB Kirk Morrison, who led the team in tackles as a rookie last season, says that his role has certainly changed.

``...Right now I am just trying to earn a spot. The Raiders can expect me to play hard, know my position and help everyone out," Morrison said. "I am always asking questions and always learning. We have been trying to learn our defense like we did in the OTAs, mini-camps and the off-season program. We had the chance then to watch film and see how you could be better. Pretty much everything is new, a new set of quarterbacks, new coaches and there are a lot of new faces. We are really excited, they guys are really into it right now and we are having fun."

[Angry Pope]

Camp Notebook: July 26

July 26, 2006



The Oakland Raiders hit the field at their Napa Valley training complex Wednesday for two practice sessions on Day 2 of Training Camp 2006. The Raiders have made a fairly smooth transition from the off-season program to the rigors of camp. Head Coach Art Shell says he is encouraged by what he sees so far and the players are excited to be on the field getting ready for the 2006 season.

"The first day is always a tough day for players. Some of them are hyper and excited about it, and they get tired very quick," Coach Shell said. "This morning I thought the tempo was much better. The excitement was there and the energy level was there. We just have to keep that going and I believe our guys can do that."

LB Kirk Morrison, who led the team in tackles as a rookie last season, says that his role has certainly changed.

"Right now I am just trying to earn a spot. The Raiders can expect me to play hard, know my position and help everyone out," Morrison said. "I am always asking questions and always learning. We have been trying to learn our defense like we did in the OTAs, mini-camps and the off-season program. We had the chance then to watch film and see how you could be better. Pretty much everything is new, a new set of quarterbacks, new coaches and there are a lot of new faces. We are really excited, they guys are really into it right now and we are having fun."

Rookie offensive lineman Paul McQuistan out of Weber State is in a very similar situation as Morrison was this time last year. McQuistan, also a third round draft choice, says that there is a big difference between the college and pro game.

"The difference is in speed and size. Back in school you could come across one or two guys who were good but here everyone is good," McQuistan said. "It is overwhelming, here we work on techniques and positions. You need to spend more time picking up on things that other people are doing. They don't waste anytime here, we are having fun and it is going good."

Throughout the course of the day, many players expressed that they are looking forward to getting the pre-season started as the Raiders take on the Philadelphia Eagles at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, in the 2006 Hall of Fame Game. They also mentioned that they can't believe that the game is just 11 short days away.

[Angry Pope]

Rookie McQuistan gets shot at right guard

By MARTY JAMES
Thursday, July 27, 2006 1:15 AM PDT

This is a summer of adjustment and change for Paul McQuistan.

A third-round draft pick, McQuistan is making the jump from Weber State, an NCAA Division I-AA school that plays in the Big Sky Conference, to the NFL’s Oakland Raiders.

He’s switching positions, moving from tackle to guard, and is already lining up with the first-team offense across from seasoned veterans each day in training camp at Redwood Middle School.

“Whatever I can do to help the team I’ll do that,” McQuistan said Wednesday. “I’m just trying to get better each snap, each play, and go from there. I’ve got to learn to get my body in a better position right away to go to battle. I want to refine my technique, stay healthy and keep going hard. I want make a difference and not be a letdown to the team.


Rookie lineman Paul McQuistan runs through drills during the first day of Oakland Raiders training camp at Redwood Middle School in Napa on Tuesday morning. Greg Hess/Register


“To get the opportunity to play at this level is huge. You’ve got to look forward to it.”

When he’s not practicing twice a day — which involves hitting blocking sleds, working on his run and pass blocking, scrimmaging against the defense, and spending time developing the technique that’s required to play on the offensive line — he’s either studying the playbook or in the film and meeting room with his position coaches, going over his individual performance that day and how he can go about getting better.

Signed to a four-year contract on Monday, McQuistan is also getting familiar with a new system and an organization that thinks very highly of him when it comes to his talent and potential.

“He’s a smart kid,” said Raiders head coach Art Shell. “We’ve got some good, young kids on our football team and he’s one of the smarter kids on this team. We look forward to him working hard, to continuing his growth and being a part of what we expect to be a pretty dog gone good offensive line.”

McQuistan, who played 42 games at left tackle in college, made such an impression in offseason mini-camps and organized team activities that the Raiders moved him to the starting right guard position for training camp, which began Tuesday. He’s not only getting coaching from Jackie Slater and Irv Eatman, the co-offensive line coaches, but also Shell, a former tackle who’s in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Shell said he’s looking for McQuistan, who is listed at 6-foot-6, 315 pounds, to become consistent with everything he’s doing. Oakland wants to shore up its offensive line play, as the team experienced problems running and passing the ball last year.

“Like all rookies, he struggles,” said Shell. “It’s different for him. You’ve got to understand, playing tackle and then moving inside, things happen a lot quicker inside than they do outside. When you’re inside, things are happening very fast. But he’ll adjust.”

McQuistan, who is from Lebanon, Ore., comes to the Raiders after a very successful college career. He was named as a First-Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association, Sports Network and the NFL Draft Report as a senior. He was also named First-Team All-Big Sky as he helped Weber State average 372.8 yards per game. He was credited with 60 knockdowns and eight touchdown-resulting blocks while allowing four sacks and two pressures.

[Angry Pope]

July 26th, 2006

Bill Soliday

NAPA _ The offense continued to struggle Wednesday, failing to score in a two-minute drill and hitting paydirt only twice in roughly a dozen cracks at the goal line.

In the first part of the two-minute drill, with Aaron Brooks at quarterback, a complete pass to seventh round pick Kevin McMahan was allowed to count even though defensive line coach Keith Millard shouted “that was a sack.'’
Sacks are in the eye of the beholder since no contact is allowed. On this particular play, Brooks was completely surrounded by four defenders.

One play later, Brooks threw a sideline pass caught well out of bounds that was counted.

On the portion of the two-minute drill with Marques Tuiasosopo at quarterback, the offense got to fourth down twice before maintaining the drive

Defenders continued to complain that the offense was getting favorable treatment from the timekeeper.

“This is the longest minute and eight seconds in the history of the world,'’ defensive tackle Warren Sapp said. “Who is running that (obscenity) clock?'’
Tuiasosopo got his unit as close as the 17 but with 0:03 seconds left, his pass to Carlos Francis, who would injure a hamstring in the afternoon practice, was incomplete, nearly intercepted by cornerback Alvin Nnabuife.

A day after Stanford Routt missed practice due to a viral infection that caused him to lose five pounds, he was back on the field and during a 7-on-7 drill he intercepted a pass.
Despite the offense’s struggles, there was a standout in FB John Paul Foschi who had two sparkling plays back-to-back.

On the first, the Raiders threw a wide receiver screen to Randy Moss on the right side. Foschi, who had run a short downfield route, came back and picked off a defender about to make a tackle with a crushing block.
A play later, Foschi gathered in a 10-yard pass on the opposite sideilne from Tuiasosopo.
Defensive end Kevin Huntley, a sixth round pick by Baltimore last year, is making an impression and is getting a good portion of duty with the first unit.

“He’s a very strong young man,'’ Shell explained. “He’s got long arms. He can get on a tackle and stack him up at the line of scrimmage and has pretty good pass rush ability.'’

Linebacker Danny Clark promised he would make an impression to try to win back his job as the starter in the middle, but one he made Wednesday came close to being the wrong kind.

On a goal line play, after failing to find an open receiver, Brooks tried a late quarterback draw. As he dove for the goal line, he was smacked by Clark, resulting in oohs and ahs from teammates.

Quarterbacks wear red jerseys, meaning they are not supposed to be tackled but Shell did not feel the need to reprimand Clark.

“You don’t want to see that happen but accidents do happen,'’ Shell said. “He (Brooks) just happened to fall the wrong way and Clark was coming just to wrap him up. If it was something I thought was intentional then I would have said something but it was nothing.'’

Brooks, meanwhile, uncorked an impressive 60-yard spiral downfield in the direction of WR Alvis Whitted but it fell incomplete when Whitted failed to make an adjustment to the post and continued running an up down the sideline.

Sebastian Janikowski connected on a 56-yard field goal.
Good thing because Shell said whenever Janikowski missed, the offense had to run a lap.

[Angry Pope]

Training camp photos...

Reporting to camp.... (http://www.raiders.com/fanzone/galleryPhoto.jsp?contentId=26146)


Day one of camp... (http://www.raiders.com/fanzone/galleryPhoto.jsp?contentId=26197)



Day two of camp.... (http://www.raiders.com/fanzone/galleryPhoto.jsp?contentId=26259)

[Angry Pope]

Art on NFL Total Access.....

Hit it here.... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQeae3jSz38&search=raiders)

[Seraph24]

http://www.raiders.com/uploads/photos/perm/main/PHPMEDKNKJLF/072606gallery21.jpg

Look how everybody is watching to see if jano misses(which would mean sprint for everyobody right?):p

[Angry Pope]

http://www.raiders.com/uploads/photos/perm/main/PHPMEDKNKJLF/072606gallery21.jpg

Look how everybody is watching to see if jano misses(which would mean sprint for everyobody right?):p

LOL...poor Seabass, the butterflies must have been murder.

[Angry Pope]

Training Camp Update

Mike Wagaman

Date: Jul 27, 2006

The Raiders potentially have one of the deepest wide receiving corps in the NFL but that depth is being challenged. One day after Jerry Porter pulled up lame with a calf injury, Carlos Francis had to be helped off the field with a possible hamstring tear.

Porter did not participate in either practice session Wednesday, even though head coach Art Shell had hoped the wideout would return in the afternoon. Porter received treatment on his injured calf in the morning but was noticeably absent from the field during the second practice of the day.

Francis was hurt in the afternoon while diving for a ball thrown downfield by quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo. The third-year receiver, who missed much of training camp in 2005 with a similar injury, appeared to make the clean catch but the ball slipped out as Francis rolled on the ground. Francis immediately unbuckled his helmet and flung it 15 yards away before being helped off the field by trainers.

The usually cordial Francis walked gingerly with a noticeable limp and declined to speak to reporters afterward but indicated he was being taken to a local hospital for an MRI test. ''He was stretching for a ball down the middle and felt a twinge or whatever it was, so it was an unfortunate thing,'' Shell said. ''Carlos has worked hard this offseason and the last couple of days. Hopefully, it’s not too serious.'' ''He felt a twinge or whatever it was,'' Shell said. ''It's unfortunate because Carlos has been working hard.''

The loss of Francis isn't a big blow to the Raiders offense. Primarily a special teams player, Francis was buried on the depth chart behind Randy Moss, Porter, Doug Gabriel and -- when healthy -- Ronald Curry.

Porter's absence, though, is more intriguing. His injury comes at a time when his future with the team is questionable. An ongoing rift with Shell -- which began in the offseason -- apparently hasn't cooled and the talented receiver reportedly has asked the team to trade him.

Porter told a reporter on Tuesday that he hasn't spoken to his head coach since the offseason incident and reiterated his desire to be traded, though he added he intends to play out the remaining two years on his contract. Porter declined to talk on Wednesday when approached by reporters. Shell, too, preferred not to discuss the subject.

''That's a non-issue as far as I'm concerned,'' Shell said. ''I'm more concerned about getting our football team ready to play.''

Asked if he could keep a player on the roster who doesn't want to be there, Shell replied, ''I want anybody that can help us win football games. I can live with anybody that can help us win football games.

''There's guys every year that might not want to be on a team. But hey, part of this business is you pay with who you've got. If we have somebody on this team that's here (and) said he wants to be here or not, if he's doing what he's supposed to do, then we'll go to work.''

* Tight end Randall Williams was held out of the afternoon practice because of a sore back. Shell said the team will continue to limit Williams -- who made a brilliant 40-yard reception in the morning practice -- to one workout a day until his situation improves.

* Cornerback Stanford Routt returned after missing the first day. A second-round pick last year, Routt played on Oakland's nickel defense in both practices Wednesday.

* Kicker Sebastian Janikowski had an up-and-down day. Janikowski nailed a 56-yard field goal to cap a hurry-up offense drill, then connected on four straight field goals shortly thereafter, two from 20 yards out and one apiece from 28 and 33. Janikowski shanked his next three attempts from 38, 43 and 48 yards before sending another 48-yard kick down the middle.

''I told him every time he misses the team runs, so that's the pressure that he has. But Sebastian's in good shape. He came to camp with his weight down where it needs to be. He's got a very strong leg, as you know. We just have to work to get him on a consistent basis from every yard line area. So every zone that he misses, I looked at the stats from last year and I saw where he really had some problems so we just have to improve that area and keep the good areas up and we'll be fine.''

* Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was unhappy over the direction of his defense in the morning practice and let loose with a profanity-laced tirade that would make any sailor proud. ''Wake the (bleep) up,'' Ryan shouted to the first-team defense. ''Let's get the (bleeping) thing done right. This ain't no (bleeping) session.''

[RaiderIVlife]

My guess is that Francis' number has just been pulled and his time in Oakland is about done. Morant, Whitted and Mr. Irrelavent will get more PT. (shrug)

I read somewhere that b/u OT, Brad Lekkerderer (spelling?) has retired. I believe the only true OT's on the team are Robert Gallery (PUP list), Langston Walker (perpetually obese) and Chad Slaughter (project player). I guess that's why we're giving Brad Badger time at RT.

McQuistan must have the RG spot all but wrapped IMO....

[CrossBones]

Francis is done IMO. He's way to fragile for this game at this level.

Cya.

[Angry Pope]

I think that I agree with that...kind of frustrating not to be see what he has got.

[Angry Pope]

The penalty phase

July 27th, 2006
Jerry McDonald

NAPA _ It’s training camp for officials, too,and there’s no better place for an offical to get his arm in shape than at an Oakland Raiders training camp.

An NFL officiating crew arrived Thursday for a three-day visit with the league’s most penalized team.

It was all very low key, in contrast to the officials visit in 2002 when the Raiders walked out on a presentation by the officials in protest to Walt Coleman’s call on the “Tuck Rule'’ in an overtime playoff loss to New England.

“I told them, anything you see, throw the flag or walk up to the player and tell him what he’s doing wrong,'’ coach Art Shell said.

Other than a couple of minor instances, Shell said he got a good report following the morning practice from the men in stripes.

Reducing penalties is a recurring theme in Raiders history. The Raiders have led the league in penalties three years running (147 in 2005, 134 in 2004 and 134 in 2003). They were second in penalty yardage last season (1,132), fifth in 2005 (1,013) and first in 2003 (1,120).

The last time the Raiders didn’t lead the league in either category was 2002 _ but even in the year they won the AFC title, they were third in penalties (129) and second in 1,094).

Shell doesn’t expect to work miracles, but he wants an end to the pre-snap violations for things like illegal motion, encroachment and false starts which can cripple drives before they begin.

“That’s free money, giving away those yards,'’ Shell said.

Running back LaMont Jordan is hoping the spirit of cooperation between officials and players Thursday carries into the season.

“I have to be careful with my words here,'’ Jordan said. “I’m hoping that this year as players we’ll be disciplined and officials will be consisten with the way they call the games, whether it’s the Raiders playing or the Pittsburgh Steelers playing.'’

Some bits and pieces from Thursday’s practice sessions:

– An extremely shaky offensive offensive performance in the second session.

Although Marques Tuiasosopo hit tight end James Adkisson with a pair of red zone touchdown passes early, things regressed as the workout went on.

Aaron Brooks underthrew a deep ball to Randy Moss in triple coverage, with Nnamdi Asomugha breaking up the play. Tuiasosopo overthrew a sideline pass which was intercedpted by Hiram Eugene.

Andrew Walter left a pass short for Randal Williams which was broken up and nearly intercepted by Michael Huff, who is gradually beginning to make plays on the ball with more frequency.

Other offensive difficulties included three outright drops by wide receiver Johnnie Morant, false starts by Langston Walker and O.J. Santiago.

– Special teams coach Ted Daisher, working with the kick return unit, was not getting the sort of response he needed but managed to keep his language in check.

“Our listening skills are not very fricking good,'’ Daisher said. Yes, he really said fricking, and he later cut loose with a “Dang.'’

– Tight ends coach John Shoop appears to be chasing his morning coffee with Red Bull. Perhaps it’s changing from quarterbacks to tight ends, but Shoop may be the most animated coach on the field, running about with a Grudenesque intensity.

– Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly and wide receiver Randy Moss were among the morning joggers for mental errors following the morning session.

– Wide receiver Doug Gabriel, who worked almost exclusively in the slot last season, was seen lining up in the slot Thursday afternoon. Make of that what you will regarding Porter and his absence.

Porter is the most natural slot receiver on the roster. Moss runs occasional plays from the slot but rarely catches balls in the 10 to 12-yard range and Morant is constantly a source of frustration of coaches on the field in terms of assignments.

– Tackle Robert Gallery remained on the Physically Unable to Perform list but is working with no sign of a limp with a pulled quadriceps. Gallery remained in good humor, joking with reporters, “Don’t worry guys, I’ll be back out there in a couple of days.'’

– The practice pace could still best be described as deliberate, with players coming in and out of huddles and to the line at less than a breakneck pace. Coaches will occasionally stop the play before it starts to make a few points.

Jordan said things were more deliberate “because there’s a lot of teaching going on.'’

[Angry Pope]

Shell goes old school with Day 3 'pit drill'

Jason Jones
Published 12:01 am PDT Friday, July 28, 2006




NAPA -- Art Shell had a little surprise in his old-school bag.
Shell introduced the "pit drill" to a new generation of Raiders on Thursday morning.


Shell said he, along with former Raiders coaches Tom Flores and John Madden, each ran the pit drill on the third day of training camp. It's physical confrontation that can leave some, such as defensive tackle Warren Sapp, yelling for Advil.

The drill, also known as Oklahoma, pits offensive linemen and tight ends against defensive linemen and linebackers in helmet-to-helmet collisions while a running back tries to escape downfield.

It's common among high school teams and some colleges, but most Raiders said they hadn't done the drill as pros. And it turns out they like it.

"You get in there, and it's all about coming off the ball and one-on-one," guard Barry Sims said. "And that's what this game is all about, finishing your man. It was fun. I had a good time."

Shell needs the offensive line to win the one-on-one battles. Their struggles last season made it tough to run and set up downfield play-action passes to receiver Randy Moss.

Shell liked the fire he saw in what he called "one of the toughest drills there is in football."

"When you can do it in that particular drill -- play defense or play offense as a lineman or a linebacker or a tight end -- then you can do it in the regular situations," Shell said.

It also tests players' mettle. It's easy to be embarrassed in a drill while the entire team watches.

"A drill like that, we're not fooling anybody," center Jake Grove said. "There's no chance we're going to pass the ball. The defense knows exactly what's coming. It's coming right downhill behind them. … It shows a lot about the character of the guys and who wants to hit and who doesn't."

The offensive line found itself going backward too often last season, and the running game has suffered the past two seasons.

The Raiders were last among 32 NFL teams in rushing yards in 2004 and 29th last season. Part of changing that is the offensive line playing with a chip on its shoulder.

"I think the past few years we haven't had that mean streak that you need to be successful and pound the ball in this league," Sims said.

With much of the camp talk about getting back to basics, it made sense to use a drill that dates back to many players' early days as a learning tool.

"It's one of those drills that reminds me of high school and college," running back LaMont Jordan said. "But it also lets you know the type of mindset that coach Shell wants, and that is physical football."

Though the spirit was high during the drill, the Raiders will have to wait until next summer before they return to the pit.

"Just once," Shell said. "Once a year, the third day of training camp. It's always been that way."


Raiders camp report

Quote of the day: "Randy runs on his own, but he did have a motion penalty yesterday. And even though he ran on his own yesterday after practice, he had to pay the bank this morning. He made a deposit." - Coach Art Shell, on why wideout Randy Moss runs a lap after every practice with players who committed penalties during drills.

Player watch: Kevin Huntley is a 6-foot-7, 270-pound defensive end. He made plays during May's minicamp with his wide wingspan and athleticism as a pass rusher, and that hasn't changed. He has taken snaps with the first- and second-team defenses and has been impressive in one-on-one pass drills. Huntley played at Kansas State for two seasons, but a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee following his senior season in 2004 left him undrafted and rehabilitating at K-State.

Highlight of the day: Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Burgess challenged the tight ends during the pit drill, only to find himself on the grass after tussling for a few seconds with Courtney Anderson. Teammates on offense jeered Burgess, while the defenders called for a holding penalty from officials observing practice. "He tackled me, man," Burgess said. "I got him two yards in the backfield, and he just (threw me). But it's cool, though. I like to give my young tight ends some work."

Injury report: Wide receiver Carlos Francis suffered a Grade 2 strain of his left hamstring and will be out one to two weeks.


Rookie cornerback Raymond Washington sat out with a strained hamstring suffered on the same play Francis was injured.

Fullback Zack Crockett didn't practice with a sore back.

LaMont Jordan left the afternoon practice after banging his right knee. The injury isn't considered serious.

Center Jake Grove's right knee was rolled on during the afternoon, but he returned.

Wide receiver Jerry Porter (calf), tackle Robert Gallery (calf) and receiver Ronald Curry (Achilles) continue to do side drills during practice with no date for their return.

[Angry Pope]

'Pit Drill' turns into a huge hit at camp

Jerry McDonald



NAPA — It's long been known in the trenches as "Oklahoma."
In the glory days of the Green Bay Packers under Vince Lombardi, they called it "The Nutcracker."

To Oakland Raiders coach Art Shell, it's "The Pit Drill," and it livened up training camp Thursday morning with its simplicity and brutality.

It was football at it's most basic — a quarterback hands the ball to a running back behind a single blocker, with the runner navigating a narrow gap and attempting to beat a single defender.

"That's one of the toughest drills there is in football because the defense knows you're coming downhill at them," Shell said. "The offense knows that the defense is going to hunker down and make it tough to block them."

On the first day of camp, John Madden asked Shell if there would be a pit drill. Shell said Raiders tradition is to do it on the third day.

Unlike most training camp drills, the entire team stands and watches the pit, with offensive and defensive players chiming in with timely encouragement or good-natured insults.

"It's toughness, man, that's all it is. Whoever comes hardest, wins," said defensive end Derrick Burgess, who found himself on the ground courtesy of tight end Courtney Anderson. "Basically, it's still a game, and to have straight-up competition with your teammates is good."

Of course, determining the winner depends on which side you're on. Burgess claimed he was the victim of an Anderson hold.

"That wasn't a hold," Anderson said with a wide smile. "Everybody saw the play. It was a clean pancake."

Anderson likened it to a high school or youth football drill. Center Adam Treu said he hadn't done one since high school, and defensive tackle Warren Sapp said it was the first of his football career — high school, college or pro.

"You enjoy it any time you have a one-on-one situation," Sapp said. "It's offense vs. defense, and it's going to get a little heated and excitable, plus give us a little comic relief at the same time."


SAPP ON PORTER: Jerry Porter missed both practices Thursday with a calf strain, at one point running sprints with no sign of a limp ahead of injured left tackle Robert Gallery.

In an interview on Sirius Satellite Radio with Jerry Rice and host Tim Ryan, Sapp, in his typically blunt, stream-of-consciousness



fashion, had a few things to say about Porter's desire to be traded and unhappiness with the new Raiders coaching staff:

- "I think we all just kind of said, 'Let Jerry do his thing.' Because one guy don't make a football team. No matter how good, how great ... you think you are, one guy is not going to break down what we got going right now. And we're going to go on, and if he don't want to come with us then so be it."

- "People talk about football being a family. It's not a family. It's a brotherhood of men. Because in a family, if the baby is lagging behind, everybody stops and waits for the baby to catch up. We can't wait for the baby to catch up. We've got to go ... if he's not going to be a part of what we got going some kind of way we've got to find a way to make him happy. Trade him or whatever he wants because you can't have a malcontent on a team where on Sunday we're going to be looking for you to make plays."

-"I mean, he just got a brand new contract from us, didn't he? Let's go perform for the money that you got. Give me the Jerry Porter from the last six weeks of last year, the dude was out catching balls, catching touchdowns, making a difference on the field. All this riff-raff and this talking, that's not going to get anything done for anybody."

EXTRA POINTS: RB LaMont Jordan banged his right knee against the knee of Thomas Howard and missed the last session of Thursday afternoon's practice, but Shell said Jordan appears to be fine. ... C Jake Grove was down briefly but returned to action. ... FB Zack Crockett did not practice because of a lower back problem. ... WR Carlos Francis, out with a left hamstring injury, described it as "Grade 2," which according to an on-line sports medical journal is a partial tear. ... TE Randal Williams, who missed the first practice session with a sore back, returned for the afternoon practice. ... NFL officials worked both practices, and will do so through Saturday.

[Angry Pope]

Huff sits out morning practice

Bill Soliday


NAPA — First-round draft pick Michael Huff promised to be there for the first practice of the season. He wasn't.
Huff missed the morning workout because of a holdup in signing a contract he said had already been agreed upon Monday, the day the team reported to camp.

"It was just little stuff," Huff said after finally putting his signature on the deal and joining the team minutes before the afternoon workout. "Dotting I's and crossing T's. Nothing big."

"You know how these things are," coach Art Shell said. "You've got to read every little piece of the contract and make sure everything is right. His agent has to be satisfied, we have to be satisfied and the league has to be satisfied."


TO PUP OR NOT TO PUP: When receiver Ronald Curry was on the field at practice, eyebrows shot up in surprise. He was supposed to have been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, meaning he couldn't practice.

Senior personnel executive Michael Lombardi explained that although a PUP player is not permitted to take part in actual team drills, he was allowed to be on the field for individual work.

Curry said the previous day that he had been fully healed from Achilles' tendon surgery for a month and a half and expected to practice.

"Basically it's just warm up and watch," Curry said. "It's kind of a setback, but it's minor. If it's up to me, I'd be going, but I guess we learned a lesson last year and kind of pushed it too hard. I don't think it's not that I'm ready. It's just caution. Doc knows best."


THE WET BULB REPORT: With temperature readings in the mid-90s, the Raiders got the go-ahead to practice.

Some paid a price.

"We got some guys cramping up, and a couple of guys went inside and came back out after throwing up," Shell said. "We've just got to be careful with them."

The wet bulb temperature, according to trainer Rod Martin, was 73. A reading of 82 is considered in the danger zone. Martin said two days earlier the wet bulb reading was 81.

There were planned water breaks. The morning practice was crisp. In the afternoon, things got sloppier. The tempo was not good, particularly on offense.

"It's more the quarterback getting up and getting it going," Shell explained. "When you come to the line of scrimmage, defenses are waiting for you to get to about six seconds left on the clock before they shift. It screws up your blocking schemes. You don't have time to do anything. We've got to work with getting the quarterback to the line with as much time as possible so we can get going in a hurry."


MADDEN ON BOARD: Hall of Fame inductee-to-be John Madden was one of those present to watch Shell's first practice session and lend moral support.

"I am sure Art has been waiting a long time for this opportunity to come and it all starts here today," Madden said. "That was one of the reasons I wanted to be here today for this first practice. Art was one of my guys."



EXTRA POINTS: Receiver Jerry Porter and cornerback Stanford Routt did not participate in full drills on the first day. Porter has a strained calf, and Routt was ill and unable to practice after losing five pounds Monday. ... WR Randy Moss was one of those made to run laps after practice for making mistakes. DT Warren Sapp said it got the players' attention. "I'll tell you one thing, it's going to be on your mind," he said. "This afternoon when you come back out, if you don't eliminate (mistakes) you're going to be dead. That's not something you want to do on a day in, day out basis. I guarantee it." ... LT Robert Gallery could be back within a week after being on the PUP list with a strained left quad. Saying he'd rather have it happen in training camp than during the season, he noted he had suffered such injuries in the past. "When you weigh this much (320) and are that explosive, that happens sometimes," he cracked. ... Andrew Walter worked as the second string quarterback ahead of Marques Tuiasosopo. Said Shell: "That could change down the road ... it's where we are right now."

[Angry Pope]

Voila! Fargas has a role

Little-used Raiders running back getting chance to 'carry the load' under new coach Shell

Jerry McDonald

NAPA — From the first carry in the first drill of training camp, the Oakland Raiders running game had a different look.
Quarterback Aaron Brooks took the snap, and handed the ball to Justin Fargas.

Then he handed it Fargas again.

And again.

No one knows whether Fargas, in his fourth year with the Raiders, will become a viable option in what coach Art Shell promises will be a much-improved running game.

It is clear the Raiders intend on finding out.

"It's important that we have more than just LaMont Jordan carrying the ball," Shell said Thursday. "Justin is a guy we're looking at to see if he can carry the load."

So far, so good. Fargas is healthy, with no sign of knee, hamstring or toe injuries which slowed his progress for three years.from Sports 1


He is running hard, flashing a good burst of speed and securing the ball tightly to his body.

The first few days of camp brought at least one Raider, wide receiver Jerry Porter, who was displeased with the new regime. Fargas, by contrast, is delighted.

"Mentally, and physically, this is the best I've felt in a long time," Fargas said. "I'm looking forward to an opportunity to play in games to show the organization and myself what I can do in this league."

The wait has tested the patience of not only Fargas, but of the Raiders and their fans. Much of the Raider Nation was aghast that there was no attempt to either draft a backup running back or acquire one through trade or free agency

Jordan, with 1,025 yards last season in 14 games, accounted for 81.5 percent of Oakland's rushing yards in the games he played. No other team relied so heavily on a single runner.

The Raiders, 32nd in rushing in 2004, moved up to 29th in 2005.

Former coach Norv Turner had the workhorse runner he coveted, and it didn't make much difference to the bottom line. Fargas carried only five times for 28 yards — his third straight season of declining numbers.

About the only time Fargas was in the spotlight came when he was leveled on an incomplete sideline pass by Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown in a Week 3 loss to Philadelphia.

As a rookie, Fargas had 216 yards in the preseason, the second highest total in the NFL. He rushed for 203 yards as a rookie, but only 126 in his second season.

He understands there are skeptics in the media and in the stands.

"I can assume what people believe about me just from the way the last three years have gone," Fargas said. "I can't worry about that stuff. I know the best is yet to come from me and for this team."

Fargas' outlook brightened the moment Shell called him into his office and promised him chance to prove himself.

"It feels good to know you're a part of the plan," Fargas said.

Running backs coach Skip Peete told Shell during minicamps and off-season workouts that Fargas looked like a new man.

"He's made vast improvement from a year ago, and it's almost like he's a different guy," Peete said. "He's different in his demeanor, in everything he does. He's a lot more confident."

Running back Zack Crockett thinks Fargas has grown into an NFL player.

"His maturity is taking over right now," Crockett said. "When you first come in, you're young, you've got money in your pocket, and you're at the highest level. You think you've arrived. Then you learn it's your job and you need to study your craft and be a pro. He knows what he needs to do, and he's doing exceptionally well out there."

Jordan, who supplied valuable supplemental yardage to Curtis Martin as a member of the New York Jets, said getting Fargas going could result in a 1-2 punch similar to Pittsburgh's use of Willie Parker and Jerome Bettis.

He also had a different slant on Crockett's "money in the pocket" theory.

"I think Justin realizes that it's time," Jordan said. "When you get to the end of your contract, you want to get out and have your best season. Justin has looked good. He's looked very good."

During Thursday's second session, the need for a second threat was driven home when Jordan went knee-to-knee with linebacker Thomas Howard in pass protection.

"The training staff said he's fine, so that's what I'm going by," Shell said afterward.

While Jordan was on his back, being examined by a trainer, Fargas, as if on cue, took the next handoff and broke free up the middle.

[Angry Pope]

Jordan is finding reason to smile

Running back, in his second year with team, supports Shell's power game
notebook

NAPA -- One doesn't need a telescope to see the sunny disposition on the face of LaMont Jordan these days.

While he set NFL career highs last year in rushing yards (1,025), receptions (70), receiving yards (563) and touchdowns (11), it was no secret that Jordan's first season with the Raiders was a frustrating one.

But in speaking with reporters Thursday for the first time since training camp opened, Jordan appeared confident and refreshed.

"I'm going to leave last year with last year. I'm happy with what I see this year," Jordan said after the morning workout.

Much of that happiness stems from the power running mind-set of new coach Art Shell.

"This offense is definitely geared more toward my running style," said Jordan, who was a backup with the New York Jets for four seasons before signing with the Raiders as a free agent in March 2005. "Last year we did a lot more running sideways, which I didn't like nor did the linemen like. This year you can tell Coach Shell's mentality is downhill power football."

He may be returning to the style of running that he enjoys, but he's well aware that the results need to come on the field.

"I still don't think I've proven myself as a starting running back in the NFL yet," Jordan said. "Sure, I caught 70 passes and did what I did last year, but I think this organization expects more out of me, and I definitely expect more out of myself."

Jordan's upbeat persona may have taken a hit during the afternoon practice when he bumped knees with an oncoming rusher in pass protection. He spent as much as five minutes on the ground as the trainer examined his right knee. He later got up and walked around gingerly, but never returned to drills.

"The trainer said he's fine, so that's what I'm going on," Shell said.

It's the Pit

The morning workout became highly animated and very physical as Shell ran what he calls the "Pit Drill." The drill, which has been a third-day-of-camp tradition for Shell since his days as a player, involves a pair of offensive players lining up one-on-one with two defensive players. The quarterback then hands the ball to a running back, who runs straight up the middle. "It's just competitive," Shell said. "And that's one of the toughest drills there is in football. Because the defense knows that you're coming downhill at 'em, offense knows that the defense is gonna hunker down and make it tough for 'em to block 'em."

Extra points

NFL referees were on hand during the workouts to help alert players of potential infractions. Shell said the officials will be in camp through Saturday...Wide receiver Carlos Francis got the MRI results on his left hamstring and said it was a "Grade 2" strain, indicating a partial tear. Shell said he could miss "a week, maybe two." ... Center Jake Grove had a player roll up on the back of his leg during the afternoon session. He sat out momentarily but returned to action. Fullback Zack Crockett sat out both practices with a sore back, as did cornerback Ray Washington (hamstring) and wide receiver Jerry Porter (calf).

[Angry Pope]

Raiders' defense getting up to speed
Additions of Huff and Howard bring another dimension to the team

By Chace Bryson


NAPA - After one of his first days of NFL training camp, Raiders No. 1 draft pick Michael Huff was asked if he'd noticed a difference in the speed of the game.

"Especially playing with the Raiders, where there's nothing but speed," the rookie defensive back out of Texas said Thursday. "Luckily, I'm a little fast myself, so I kind of fit in easily."

Speed seems to be the buzzword from players and coaches during the first three days of camp, not that it should take anyone by surprise. Speed has been among the defining characteristics of the Raiders' top two choices in each of their past two drafts.

In 2005, it was defensive backs Fabian Washington and Stanford Routt. Washington, their top pick that season, ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, clocking a blazing 4.29 seconds. Routt ran a 4.46.

The Raiders' top two choices in April, Huff and UTEP's Thomas Howard, were also highly regarded for their speed. Howard was the fastest linebacker at the scouting combine after clocking 4.35. Huff ran a modest 4.45.

Take these four players and put them on the same field as second-year cornerback Chris Carr and second-year linebacker Kirk Morrison, and the word "speed" can get thrown around pretty easily.

"You can see it on film," defensive end Warren Sapp said. "The eye in the sky never lies. You put guys out there like Howard and Huff and some of the guys we have got moving around now, and it's pretty fast. We just have to be able to swarm to the ball and make it pay off for us."

The Raiders are hoping it will pay off sooner rather than later. They allowed 330.8 yards a game last season to rank 27th (out of 32) in total defense. The defense finished 25th in rushing yards allowed, giving up 128.1 per game, ranked 10th in sacks with 36, and dead last in interceptions with just five.

The improvement in overall team speed on defense should help with some of those numbers.

"We've got speed all around, from the D-line all the way up to the secondary," Morrison said. "We just want to be able to get there and make plays, make interceptions, turnovers. We've got the speed to get there, we just want to make something happen."

After three days of work, the speed is certainly being felt among the players on the field.

"As a linebacker, it's a race for the tackles," Morrison said. "Because if you slip, there is going to be another guy on that play. That's the kind of competition we have."

Coach Art Shell has been quick to notice, as well.

"We've added speed and quickness and explosion to our football team," Shell said. "Those kids are able to play ... (And we can) have 'em play in the secondary, deep, and then come up and play up in the front there. ... It gives a lot of flexibility to what you can do."

And though speed is great, veteran defensive lineman Bobby Hamilton was quick to point out where that speed was coming from.

"Everybody's fast," Hamilton said. "But this is also one of the youngest teams in the league. If you take me, Sapp and (Lance Johnstone) off the defense, it's very young."

Three-year safety Stuart Schweigert added a similar sentiment, stressing there's still a learning curve that has to accompany that speed.

"Speed is definitely an asset in the NFL," Schweigert said. "Now we have to get the guys out there to know exactly where they are gonna be going to each time. Hopefully, as a defense we can help each other out and get everything together."

Sapp may have summed it up best after the first day of workouts.

"It should bode well for us, but it's just day one."

[Angry Pope]

Sapp ready to return to form

Posted 7/27/2006 9:51 PM ET
By Jarrett Bell

NAPA, Calif. — The noise pierced through the steamy air near the end of an Oakland Raiders practice this week, coming from way back on the sideline, by the water coolers.
It was a heckler in full pads, playfully yelling at a teammate across the field.

And the voice was plenty familiar.

Warren Sapp was roaring, just like old times.

"I'm still having fun," the locquacious defensive tackle says as he prepares for his 12th NFL season. "I've never not had fun playing this game."

Sapp, 33, spent the final six games last year on injured reserve, undergoing surgery to repair a torn right rotator cuff. That was as miserable for him as watching paint dry, cutting short a fine comeback season wrapped with the despair of a 4-12 bottom line.

"It's good to be healthy. Watching the last six weeks of the season might have been the worst six weeks of my life," Sapp says. "It was the most helpless feeling I've ever had. But I've spent the last six months working my shoulder to where it's the strongest it has ever been. I just really grinded at it. I didn't even take a vacation this offseason."

Not even a weekend getaway to some island hot spot?

"Hey, I had six weeks off," he said. "Six weeks at home with the wife and kids. And you know how that is. That honey-do list gets pretty long."

Sapp is fired up by the presence of new coach Art Shell and the direction of the Raiders. Playing next to defensive end Derrick Burgess, who led the NFL with 16 sacks last year, Sapp is out to show that he still has the bite with his bark.

"If everything works the right way, I ain't coming back for too many more," Sapp says.

"And if I'm going out, I'm going with them hating me again. Everybody hates the big, bad bully on the block. I want to get my game back to that. That's what I felt like I was doing last year. I had a good season going, then for it to be unplugged on me man, I'm dying to get back on the field."

This mind-set has not gone unnoticed.

"I think he's got something to prove," says receiver Randy Moss, one of Sapp's closest teammates. "We're kind of in the same boat. He wants to get back to that all-pro level again, where he's making the difference as a dominant player."

In 2004, when Sapp came from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a seven-year, $36.6 million free agent contract, he was the proverbial fish out of water as an end in a 3-4 scheme. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan switched the scheme to a 4-3 last year, which helped Sapp regain some of the punch that earned him seven Pro Bowl appearances in a similar alignment as a Buccaneer.

In the 4-3, Sapp, 6-2, 300, lines up closer to the quarterback and over guards that are smaller than the mammoth tackles faced on the outside. He is better able to use his quickness to win matchups and create havoc in the pocket. After posting just 2½ sacks in 16 games in 2004, he had 5½ sacks in 10 games last season. During a five-year stretch beginning in 1996, he was the NFL's best inside rusher with 55½ sacks.

"The alarm clock went off and I've awakened from the nightmare," Sapp says. "I'm playing 4-3 again, boss. If you want me, come and get me. I'm at home."

Shell was impressed with Sapp during offseason minicamps. He told Sapp that he is relying on him s impact as a performer and leader for a unit that ranked 27th last season and is light on experience.

"If Warren can stay healthy, he's going to have an impact," Shell says.

Where Shell's message has been seemingly rejected by disgruntled receiver Jerry Porter, who has asked to be traded and missed practices this week with an apparent calf injury, Sapp bought into the new program from the start.

"There's just been a whole change in the mentality," Sapp says. "You can smell it. Art is not going to accept any excuses. There's accountabilty across the board. He's tough and he's fair. That's the one thing you always want from a leader and that's what we're building right now. I feel good about it."

Sapp is also bullish about his off-the-field projects. He has invested in a fledging venture to place cyber-game cafes in urban areas, called Hip-Hop Soda Shops. He expects the first franchises in Tampa and Orlando will open within three months, and envisions others in Harlem, Miami and Jacksonville.

"That's my baby right now," Sapp says. "These will allow kids a safe environment, where we give them an alternative to standing on the corner," Sapp says. "They will have Internet access, and you can play a video game with someone online in London. It will create jobs in the black community. And where I'm putting them, what else do you have to do?"

High-technology has struck a nerve with Sapp, who says he wasn't exposed to computers until he attended college. Mindful of educational gaps, he says he funded a computer lab in Orlando, with 30-35 computers that are used by underprivileged students. He is actively seeking to expand the concept.

"I don't want the next generation of the less-fortunate to go without," Sapp says. "If I can build a computer lab and this kid goes in there and it triggers something, he might become the scientist to cure cancer. You never know the influence you can have.

"That's something that was unfathomable to me, for a kid who grew up without air conditioning, a computer, caller ID or any of that fancy, schmanzy (stuff) that goes on these days. I watch my little girl work a computer better than I can. She's 8 years old. You want to be able to help the young ones develop."

Of course, Sapp's football dreams remain intact. Especially this time of year.

"I really like this ballclub," he says. "This team has a young influx of speed and a love for the game. Every piece fits with the other. I can't help but think we've got a shot."

[Angry Pope]

Turf war is rough fun
Pit drill at Raiders' campreduces game to basics


RON AGOSTINI


Last Updated: July 28, 2006, 05:15:46 AM PDT


NAPA — Divider pads were laid out on the field about five feet apart. Between those pads, the Oakland Raiders fought, one-on-one, for that sliver of turf.
Tyler Brayton vs. Chad Slaughter. Barry Sims vs. Robert Thomas. Adam Treu vs. Ryan Riddle. Courtney Anderson vs. Derrick Burgess.

Behind them, running backs LaMont Jordan or Justin Fargas received a handoff, read the action in front of them and tried to slide through the opening, but this wasn't about the guys with the ball. The defender tried to work past the blocker to the ball. The offensive lineman tried to clear ground the width of a closet.

Football 101. Collision City. The game reduced to its base.

"The mentality this year is downhill power football," Jordan summarized.

One of the means to that end is called the pit drill, or the Oklahoma drill, a bit of old-school brought back to the Raiders by new coach Art Shell. He remembered it well because John Madden and Tom Flores, his coaches with the Raiders, always broke out the pit drill on the third day of preseason camp.

"John asked me when he was here, 'You guys do the pit drill anymore?'" Shell said.

Thursday marked the third day of the Raiders' preseason camp. Pit Drill Day.

"It's one of the toughest drills there is because the defense knows you're coming downhill at him, and the offense knows the defense is going to hunker down and make it tough for them," Shell said. "When you can do it in that particular drill, defense or offense, linebacker or tight end, you can do it in a regular situation."

For a condensed version of the toughness Shell is trying to instill in his old team, please refer to the pit drill.

"I definitely had a bit of a headache afterward," Brayton admitted. "There was a clear-cut winner every time. I was batting about .500. He (Shell) is bringing football back to the game. It's got to be physical."

As Brayton spoke, a small smile creased the corner of his mouth. The fourth-year defensive end liked the feel of the pit drill — its physical simplicity and importance to the outcome of each play.

Brayton also knows something else: The Raiders need the pit drill. They need the fresh dose of discipline and want-to Shell apparently has stacked high in the shelves of his office. The Raiders, 13-35 over three seasons and an ego-nuking 2-16 in the AFC West, are starving for a new mind-set, one that puts their shoulder pads to better use.

Can anyone remember the last time the Raiders ran laps in camp for blown assignments or other miscues? It's happening every day at Camp Raider. An everyday punishment at the high school level has returned like a golden oldie to an NFL camp. No less than Randy Moss logged a few laps after the morning practice.

"Randy runs on his own, but he did have a motion penalty yesterday," Shell said. "He had to pay the bank."

The pit drill belongs in the same category as the lap-running. See, the Raiders always talk tough but, in fact, they haven't been tough in years. They've also paid scant attention to detail and always seem to be beaten to the spot, the decisive places where passes are caught, blocks are executed and tackles are made.

Shell, a Raider for nearly three decades, believes his team must sharpen its edges the right way. It follows that Al Davis reached the same conclusion months before he rehired his Hall-of-Fame left tackle.

Shell, who lets his coaches do the sweaty work, didn't display much emotion during the pit drill. Meanwhile, the Raiders stoked the workout with screams, howls and cheers. Nearly the entire roster surrounded the drill's epicenter, where elementary manhood was on the line.

"It's good because it's competitive. You know the guys are cheering for each other," Shell said. "It's all about fun and having fun doing it."

True enough, but there was more than fun riding on these butting of heads. At one point, John Shoop — a tyrant-like tight ends coach who's about half the size of the people he guides — yelled, "Have some dignity!"

The Raiders pushed toward dignity via an approach Amos Alonzo Stagg would have OK'd. Tight end Anderson pancaked linebacker Burgess, a move tantamount to Dwyane Wade "postering" Carmelo Anthony on a slam dunk. Guffaws echoed off nearby walls.

"He tackled me, man," Burgess argued. "But it's cool. I like to give the tight ends some work."

The Raiders no doubt enjoyed the new touch. To them, it is new, a back-to-the-future idea from a coach who either doesn't know better or understands the old system still has value.

Said Shell, "It's ingrained in me."

[Angry Pope]

Coach Shell: July 27

July 27, 2006


Oakland Raiders Head Coach Art Shell spoke to the media at the conclusion of Thursday morning's practice session on Day 3 of Training Camp 2006.
Q: Practice ran a little short today. Was there are reason?

Coach Shell: Sure. We have to take care of our guys. It has been warm the last couple of days, today it is cold. Yesterday after practice I took a look at the schedule, and it worked out a little bit. They came out this morning and they had fun.

Q: Was that the "Pit Drill" we saw? One-on-one, is that what you call the "Pit?"

Coach Shell: Going down in the "Pits." Some people call it "Oklahoma." We have been calling it the "Pit" for many years. You go down in the "Pit" and you get dirty. It is competitive. It is definitely one of the toughest drills in football. Defense knows that you are coming down-hill at them, and offense knows that the defense wants to get around; they will make it tough for them to block them. If you can do it in that particular drill: play great defense or offense as a lineman, linebacker or tight end you can do it in a regular situation. It is always the third day of training camp. It has always been that way. It is good because it is competitive and guys are cheering for each other. You get a lot accomplished in that drill.

Q: How is LB Kirk Morrison doing?

Coach Shell: Kirk is doing well, he's doing real well. He's running around out there and making plays, he's making it tough for the linemen to get to him, and he's doing well. He is calling the defenses and doing a good job of getting guys into position.

Q: You have a lot of guys that are playing on a different spot on the [offensive] line this year from last year, how difficult is that?

Coach Shell: It's hard, but it was easy to move [Robert] Gallery, because Gallery had played that position for many years in college, and it was easy to move Langston [Walker] because Langston is a natural tackle, so it's easy to move him to right tackle, and Barry Sims at one time had played some guard, so that was a no-brainer. So now we just take the rookie [Paul McQuistan], moving him from tackle to guard and see what he can do there. He's making the adjustment, taking a step forward and sometimes two steps backwards. Once he gets to the point where he really begins to understand what we are trying to do from the guard position, he'll do fine.

Q: What kind of uphill battles do [undrafted free agents] face trying to make the final cut here for the NFL?

Coach Shell: It's an uphill battle for everyone if you didn't get drafted of course, but like I tell them when they first get here, 'you're here for a reason, because we think you have the qualities to play for The Oakland Raiders. So don't think because you're free agents, that you won't get the chance to make this football team.' I've seen it happen many times where free agents come in and they show what they can do to catch the coaches' attention and continue to grow, and we find a place for them. Good football players, we'll find a place to put them on the team.

[Angry Pope]

FARGAS HOPES HE'S A SMASH
Back has inside track as No. 2

David White

Friday, July 28, 2006


Raiders running back Justin Fargas grabbed a screen pass, faked right and felt the breeze created by an empty-handed linebacker whirling by.

So, what's his prize for making this wonderful move at training camp in Napa? Try a hand-me-down nickname.

"Way to go, 'Huggy Bear,' " a teammate yelled.

Huggy Bear was a TV character played by Antonio Fargas, who's still remembered for his role in the '70s TV show, "Starsky and Hutch."

Justin Fargas is his son, and everyone keeps reminding him.

"I mean, I've heard it my whole life, so I'm used to it," Fargas said. "Doesn't really make a difference. I'm proud of my dad and everything he's done in his career. I'm just trying to make the most of mine."

Fargas, 26, is entering his fourth NFL season with the Raiders. His contract expires after this season. If Fargas is finally going to be known as someone other than Huggy Bear's son, this is a good time to speak up.

"I think Justin realizes that it's time," said running back LaMont Jordan, who left practice with a right knee injury Thursday that isn't expected to be serious. "When you get to the end of your contract, you want to go out and have your best season."

Jordan did that in 2004 with the New York Jets, where he backed up starter Curtis Martin with a career-high 93 carries for 479 yards. He parlayed that into a free-agent deal with the Raiders and ran up 1,000 yards as the featured back last year.

Fargas is the new second-team running back behind Jordan, and he's one tweak away from the No. 1 job. Keep in mind that Jordan also missed a few plays Wednesday with an aching knee, giving Fargas a chance to make his stop-and-go catch with the first-team offense.

"It's important that we have more than just LaMont Jordan carrying the ball," Raiders coach Art Shell said.

"I told (Fargas), 'I expect good things out of you. I watched you when you first came into this league. You were exciting and you did a lot of good things, and then you just disappeared. You'll have a chance to show that you can play this game, that you can carry the load.' "

By exciting, Shell meant Fargas' 40 carries for 203 yards in 10 games as a rookie. The vanishing part referred to his five carries and one catch all of last season.

The Raiders want to power their running backs inside between the tackles. The point is to run straight ahead. Last year's offense hardly used a backup and used more side-to-side running plays, producing the fourth-fewest rushing yards in the NFL.

Players get banged up running between all those linemen, so Shell wants Jordan to have a viable backup. Fargas could get five carries a game for much of the season.

In one open-field catch, Fargas used his speed to reach the first-down marker untouched. In a goal-line stand, he churned through a small crack in the left side and fell forward for a touchdown.

If he does that this season, who knows? People might see Antonio Fargas on a TV rerun and say, "That's Justin's dad."

"No time better than now to show myself, my team and this league what I can do," Fargas said. "I know what I'm capable of. Now, it's about becoming one of the top backs in this league.

"All you can ask for is a chance. Greatness comes with an opportunity."

[Angry Pope]

Shell, discipline return to the Raiders
No-nonsense coach brought back for second tour of duty

As a former Raiders player and coach, Art Shell clearly carries a mandate from owner Al Davis that former coaches Bill Callahan and Norv Turner did not, Gary Peterson writes.


By Gary Peterson

Updated: 8:36 p.m. PT July 27, 2006


Gary Peterson


Jerry Porter has run this route before. Chafing under a no-nonsense Raiders head coach. Wishing out loud for a change of scenery.

In fact, he was but a rookie the first time he suggested he might be better off somewhere else. When that suggestion reached the ears of then-Oakland head coach Jon Gruden, wow, was Chuckie cheesed.

"That's fine," Gruden said through a clenched jaw. "Then he can try to go play in the USFL, the XFL, the CFL or whatever (expletive)FL he can find."


Porter stayed put, of course. But he didn’t much like playing for Gruden, for whom he caught just 20 passes in two seasons. He's liked Oakland much better recently, where he has averaged six touchdowns for each of the past four seasons. In 2004 and 2005, he came within a broken tackle of 1,000 yards receiving.

The increased playing time has been one reason for the spring in Porter's step. Another is that, since Gruden left, he hasn't had to deal with a head coach who would stand up to him. No Raider has.

Now they do. No-nonsense Art Shell was brought back in February for a second tour of duty with the Raiders. According to published reports, Shell and Porter almost went to throwing hands in their introductory, hey-howya-doin' meeting. Hours into training camp, Porter was asking out.

This is wonderful news for Raiders fans.

Not necessarily because Porter is a stiff. He isn't. He has all the physical gifts a pass-catcher could want. He isn't the prime-of-life Rice, Brown or even Cliff Branch. But he can be a force.



And it's not because the Raiders haven't had high-maintenance pop-offs before. For years, Brown was the classy, ubiquitous face of the team. But he rarely held back in a situation that called for a tart take.

Moreover, the Raiders would take a significant salary cap wallop should they divest themselves of Porter at this point in the pre-preseason. So why is this good news?

Because it's the first sign of spine from a Raiders head coach since Gruden left for Florida after the 2001 season.

For the past four seasons, the Raiders have reverted to their “whatever” ways. The voices of Bill Callahan and Norv Turner wafted in one ear hole and out the other. There was no fear factor on the part of the players, no perception that the head coach had the authority to discipline, much less coach.



Shell seems intent on reinstating that fear factor. As a former Raiders player and coach, he clearly carries a mandate from owner Al Davis that Callahan and Turner did not.

And yes, now that you mention it, this whole Shell-Porter contretemps does carry the faint whiff of premeditation. A shouting match in the first meeting between player and coach? It's almost as if Shell was looking for a loose canon he could bolt to the floor as an example to the other loose canons in camp.

You know what? That's fine, too. Porter is visible. He has been productive. He has been a distraction. He showed up for his first training camp wearing a jersey bearing the No. 1 — his not-so-subtle way of saying he, and not kicker Sebastian Janikowski, should have been Oakland's first-round pick in the 2000 draft.

Last summer he showed up for camp dressed as a UPS driver. Because he delivers. Get it?

In between he has clamored for time and touches, professed to be happy playing for Gruden, enthusiastically ripped into Gruden the week before Super Bowl XXXVII, hinted he would leave Oakland after his contract expired at the end of the 2004 season, signed a new five-year deal that could fetch him as much as $15 million, and generally reacted to the team's recent short-comings as if they were the residue of someone else's incompetence.

That attitude has pervaded the Raiders' locker room the past four years. It has been especially ruinous since the departure of players/cops Brown, Rich Gannon and Jerry Rice.

Thus, Shell, like any coach charged with changing the culture of an organization, has found himself in need of an attention-getter. And in Porter he has the perfect prop — the one nail standing just a little taller than the others.

That pounding you hear is Shell getting started on his extreme team makeover. Six weeks before the first official false-start penalty, it's already been a good season for the Raiders — regardless of how it turns out for Jerry Porter.

[Angry Pope]

And justice for none

Anyone who has covered pro football for a season or more gets a little jaded to the realities of the business. You know good guys get hurt, upstanding coaches get fired and stone jerks often wind up with the touchdowns and the big bucks.

But once in a while, something has enough power to gall even the most callous among us. Such is the current situation affecting a pair of Raiders receivers.

On one hand is Ronald Curry, laid low not once but twice, in consecutive seasons, by tears of his Achilles’ tendon. Curry has gone through what must be a brutally slow rehabilitation both times, and now is itching to play. But the Raiders won’t let him. Burned by his premature return to action last year, they are being extra cautious with him this time around.

So Curry goes out to practice in his 89 jersey every day, waiting to be cleared for action. “They won’t let me go out to the field in shoulder pads,” he told me Thursday, “and I have to take my helmet off when the drills start.”

One time Curry tried to sneak into a receivers-vs.-defensive backs drill, and his position coach, Fred Biletnikoff, nearly shot him dead with a glare.

On the other hand you have Jerry Porter, who got a $15 million signing bonus in 2005 and is ticked off at coach Art Shell because the Raiders wanted him to train in Oakland this offseason. Porter doesn’t seem to have much of a limp when he walks or runs, but is out of commission with a calf strain. If last year is an indication, he’ll probably miss most of training camp with the injury.

Players sometimes talk about “the football gods.” But if they really existed, Porter would be traded to Arizona for a sixth-round draft choice, and Curry would be immediately removed from the PUP list and inserted into his role as Oakland’s slot receiver.

[Seraph24]

I appreciate Art's belief in fargas. Its good to know fargas will get a "real" chance this year.

[Angry Pope]

Raiders plan to take a step forward -- and quickly

By Chace Bryson



NAPA - After one of his first days of NFL training camp, Raiders No. 1 draft pick Michael Huff was asked if he had noticed a difference in the speed of the game.

``Especially playing with the Raiders, where there's nothing but speed,'' said the rookie defensive back out of Texas. ``Luckily, I'm a little fast myself, so I kind of fit in easily.''

Speed seems to be the buzzword from players and coaches during the first three days of training camp, not that it should take anyone by surprise. Speed has been among the defining characteristics of the Raiders' top two choices in each of their past two drafts.

In 2005, it was defensive backs Fabian Washington and Stanford Routt. Washington, the Raiders' top pick that year, ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, clocking a blazing 4.29 seconds. Routt ran a 4.46.

The Raiders' top two choices in April, Huff and Texas-El Paso linebacker Thomas Howard, were also highly regarded for their speed. Howard was the fastest linebacker at the scouting combine after clocking 4.35. Huff ran a modest 4.45.

Take these four players and put them on the field with second-year cornerback and return specialist Chris Carr and second-year linebacker Kirk Morrison, and the word ``speed'' can get thrown around pretty easily.

``You can see it on film,'' defensive tackle Warren Sapp said. ``The eye in the sky never lies. You put guys out there like Howard and Huff and some of the guys we have got moving around now, and it's pretty fast. We just have to be able to swarm to the ball and make it pay off for us.''

The Raiders are hoping it will pay off sooner rather than later. Oakland allowed 330.8 yards per game to rank 27th (out of 32) in total defense last season. The defense finished 25th in rushing yards allowed, giving up 128.1 per game, ranked 10th in sacks with 36, and last in interceptions with five.

The improvement in overall team speed should help with some of those numbers.

``We've got speed all around, from the D-line all the way up to the secondary,'' said Morrison, who led all rookies with 112 tackles in 2005. ``We just want to be able to get there and make plays, make interceptions, turnovers. We've got the speed to get there, we just want to make something happen.''

After three days of work, the speed is certainly being felt among the players on the field.

``As a linebacker, it's a race for the tackles,'' Morrison said. ``Because if you slip, there is going to be another guy on that play. That's the kind of competition we have.''

Coach Art Shell has been quick to notice as well.

``We've added speed and quickness and explosion to our football team,'' Shell said. ``Those kids are able to play (And we can) have 'em play in the secondary, deep, and then come up and play up in the front there. It gives a lot of flexibility to what you can do.''

And though speed is great, veteran defensive lineman Bobby Hamilton was quick to point out where that speed was coming from.

``Everybody's fast,'' Hamilton said. ``But this is also one of the youngest teams in the league. If you take me, Sapp and (Lance Johnstone) off the defense, it's very young.''

Three-year safety Stuart Schweigert added a similar sentiment, stressing that there's a learning curve that has to accompany that speed.

``Speed is definitely an asset in the NFL,'' Schweigert said. ``Now we have to get the guys out there to know exactly where they are gonna be going to each time. Hopefully as a defense we can help each other out and get everything together.''

Sapp may have summed it up best after the first day of workouts.

``It should bode well for us, but it's just Day One.''

[Angry Pope]

Here are some photos from yesterday's camp...

July 27th photos... (http://www.raiders.com/fanzone/galleryPhoto.jsp?contentId=26312)

[Angry Pope]

Camp Notebook: July 27

July 27, 2006


The Oakland Raiders got a break from the sun this morning, as they took the field at 9:00 a.m. with foggy skies overhead and temperatures in the upper 60s as opposed to the upper 90s like they were earlier in the week. And though the weather was not hot, things got heated on the field as Head Coach Art Shell brought back the old school, by having the defensive lineman and offensive lineman go one-on-one in 'pit' drills.

When legendary Raiders head coach and Hall of Fame electee John Madden visited camp Tuesday, he asked coach Shell where the pit drills were, and on Day 3 the pit drills were the highlight of the morning practice, as everyone watched these two groups face off against each other. The players were excited to participate in the drills and the "trash talking" between lines could be heard from anywhere on the field. For rookie linebacker Thomas Howard, it was his first time lining up like this against his new teammates and he enjoyed the old school approach. "The pit drill is an old school drill. It's a good physical contact drill. Defensively it's good for you to upend the offender and be able to get the runner so, I mean it works, and it was a good drill," Howard said. "As the drill kept going on and on guys started getting a little riled up, we're all football players, we all want to win, no matter what we do, so we were having fun at the end."

As both the defensive linemen and offensive linemen came out of the looker room after the morning practice, it seemed that this drill was one of the main topics of discussion amongst the media and the players. When offensive guard Brad Badger was asked about the drill, he responded by saying, "One guy wins one time, another guy wins another. It's just good competition for us to get in camp and get us ready for the season."


Getting ready for the season is what Coach Shell has been emphasizing every day here. The start of the pre-season is just 10 days away and every practice until then is extremely important. For every mistake the players must "pay the bank," as Coach Shell says, even if you are WR Randy Moss. "Randy is running on his own, but he did have a motion penalty yesterday, and even though he ran on his own yesterday after practice, he had to pay the bank this morning. He made a deposit," said Coach Shell during this morning's media session.

This is a new team. It is new school football, with an old school approach. Players are learning more about the history of the team and the significance of being an Oakland Raider, as well as what it takes to become successful in the NFL as a team. Raiders defensive end Bobby Hamilton is ready to show the fans the new, old school attitude of the Raiders. "We want to show the fans what the new Raiders are all about," Hamilton said.

This team is excited about their new coach, it's a new season, and we are only a week-and-a-half away from game one of the pre-season in Canton, Ohio, where Raider Legend John Madden's induction into the Hall of Fame will take place. Until that day, be sure to log on to Raiders.com as we will have continuing coverage of each day here in Napa, Calif., at the Raiders training facility.

[Rupert]

I diagree with this.

Tui is a backup. And he's proved he's not a very good one either. They're a dime a dozen. Remember when we brought in Rick Mirer? So what?

If Brooks and Walter go down we're screwed anyway. Tui no longer has value for this team and he'll be gone next season to be buried on somebody else's bench. So in that case if we could get a sixth rounder for him I'd do it.
I think you missed the point entirely. The Raiders want a veteran QB, period. They want him for how he prepares for the game.

I certainly remember Mirer and seriously disliked the acquisition. Mirer was worthless. So naming Tui in the same context doesn't say I think anything of his future with the team or in the NFL. It simply states what the team has historically required on their bench. Not that they expect for that player to be able to do anything when put in the game.

Remember the context was trading Tui away for a crate of dry Gatorade (or a future pick). I don't ever see that happening.

[Rupert]

I'm sure you're way off on your take of me. I saw the game and its value is not worth squat now. Maybe you're one of those selective memory raider fans, But i remember Tui not knowing his head from his ass in the preseason last year or the jets game. I remember Tui having no legitimate threat of a deep arm. Is this off pace?

He never played in one. But his mechanics, poise, reads, and his arm looked better than tui's ever did. its funny that you skip the jet game to point to an old kc game where he came in mid game with the defense having no real scouting report on him. Walter has never looked utterly shitty against a 2-14 team. So is he the next stabler now?:rolleyes: Thats a flawed equation to say bad playing is better than not playing before.

What Tui did in 1 1/2 quarters a few years ago doesnt hold much weight to what he couldnt do last year. If you think he's a vet, good luck with that. Because i'd put my money on walter doing better checkdowns, reads, and having more poise like a vet.

Way to go obscure:o . but i dont remember him bringing Veteran Leadership on the bench. But he was pretty irrelevent, so i cant say i remember much about his "comeback" besides him sucking.

Quickly read what I just posted to Bones and you'll understand the context I put Tui in. Just for the record, I missed the entire pre-season last year. And Collins had looked much better before he got behind last-year's line too, so worrying about how bad Tui looked behind last year's CRAP line is senseless in my opinion.

This isn't a question about how well you think a player will perform. It's a question about what the team wants as a backup at QB, whether it's 2 or 3 is irrelevant. Just as with Humm, they didn't expect him to do anything but know how to act during practices and be prepared for everything the team was doing. Rookies aren't as good at this as veterans. They aren't as familiar with the routine. Rooks still think they have something to give as a starter. They've got pie in the sky dreams. It's the long-term vet that brings a professional approach every day. Say what you will about Tui, but he's done that his entire NFL career, even when he thought he should start, or at least be given a shot.

lets try something a little less obscure. how about vince evans, kerry collins, rob johnson, rick mirer, Wade Wilson, and jay scroeder. Those were veteran backups. Tui has no role of leadership at all on this team. so making him an automatic vet in any format on general principle is a stretch i think.

though i dont see him getting moved either, i think it doesnt have squat to do with fitting. theres nothing else available is more likely the truth. If you want to call Tui an Raiders organization Vet, fuck it he can have that useless label. Just don't act like what he did in kc years ago means more than what he did last year(which was nothing at all). Walter ouplayed him easily last preseason and they both got to play against second/third units. Tui has to prove himself valuable or he's 3rd string poo worth dumping IMO.

OT: Why do older football heads think they are a gospel and that you're "new" if you don't see things as they do? Bad assumption and a silly theory. JMHO
Well, of you're "less obscure" backups, only one was a viable starter when we acquired them. And only Collins had anything of note under his belt before we acquired him.

All you're ranting demonstrates is that you think less of Tui than I do, but you understand, only a little in my opinion, what the organization wants in a veteran backup. And you aren't exactly sure what that means in practice or on the sidelines.

Not once did I say Tui has to be 2nd string, but you assumed it. Not once did I say Tui was a viable starter, but you assumed it. It's obvious you are strongly opinionated. It's why I wanted to discuss it more, to see what else you know. It's why I challenged you with the "new" label, to get you to demonstrate you're knowledge. You don't NEED to have the same opinion I do, but I'd prefer it was based upon more knowledge rather than less. And challenges to my opinions be based upon what I write and not what you think I mean.

[Seraph24]

You're right. We don't ever in our lifetime have to share the same opinion. Of course i never said we did. It was in fact you acting like your "opinion" was Raider gospel. If your angle is gonna be"I know more because you disagree with me", then my proper answer will be to call you a "stuck in your own world" person who couldnt know anything with that attitude. No offense intended, but is a silly angle and a cop out in any discussion. Especially when you're the only one saying it.

And Collins had looked much better before he got behind last-year's line too, so worrying about how bad Tui looked behind last year's CRAP line is senseless in my opinion.

no Colllins didnt, he was up and down much like he was this year. but i'll let you continue to make excuses for tui's bad games and praise the couple quarters of 2003 where he played well. have fun with it. you are in your own world where anybody who disagrees isn't on your knowledgable raider level. Thank goodness Tui doesn't make as many excuses as you this summer. I do like that about him. But either way move on. Its a waste of time talking about this with you. Because you know alot less than you're willing to admit and that just hurts the coversation. Its not a big enough deal to drag this any further anayways(i think we can both agree on that). ;) :)

[Angry Pope]

Taking the offensive

July 28th, 2006
Jerry McDonald

NAPA _ It’s only eight practices into training camp, and history reminds us that what we see on the field in July is not necessarily what we when the regular season begins in September.

Take 1997, for instance. Jeff George was performing daily miracles in a red jersey, throwing medium range strikes to Tim Brown, rainbows to James Jett and passes so accurate even Rickey Dudley held on.

If there were a Hall of Fame for practice, George would be in on the first ballot.

Fast forward two years, and Rich Gannon, who is having an erratic early camp, is scrambling from the pocket. He throws what appears to be an ill-advised throw to a receiver who isn’t remotely expecting a pass. It falls to the ground, and Gannon is ranting and raving like a lunatic.

After practice, when Gannon’s decision to throw the ball is brought up to coach Jon Gruden, the coach explains that his quarterback is simply trying to teach his receivers to never give up on a play. The poor pass was done on purpose to make a point.

This response was greeted with a roll of the eyes from the assembled beat writers. Surely, the Raiders had blown it and overpaid a journeymnan quarterback. Gruden was covering for him.

George had great stats in 1997, but also made killer mistakes and had virtually no leadership skills. The Raiders went 4-12.

Gannon in 1999 directed an efficient offense which would later deliver three consecutive division titles.

In both cases, the training camp snapshots were deceiving.

Using those instances as a backdrop, and realizing that seeing is not necessarily a reason to believe or disbelieve, the Raiders offense can be summed up in one word so far in 2006:

Awful.

During one two-minute drill, first team offense against first team defense, Jerry Porter broke free on a crossing route, called for the ball, and Aaron Brooks delivered the pass.

Batted down by Tyler Brayton.

On second down, Brooks throws the ball behind Courtney Anderson on a deep ball down the right sideline.

On third-and-10, slot corner Tyrone Poole comes free on a blitz and knocks the ball from Brooks’ grasp before he has a chance to throw. Poole picks up the ball and races toward the end zone.

The second team came in, and the only completion came when Andrew Walter ducked under a rush and completed a medium-range pass to Johnnie Morant for a first down on a broken play.

The Raiders eventually trotted out Sebastian Janikowski to push a 52-yard field goal attempt wide left.

There wasn’t a well-executed pass play in either series.

The rest of the morning session wasn’t much better. Last season, Moss was performing daily miracles. His big plays have been few and far between this year. The afternoon practice was an improvement, in particular when all three Raiders quarterbacks had success finding virtually every tight end on the roster.

Overall, you’d be hardpressed to find anything extraordinary from the Oakland offense.

One moment Marques Tuiasosopo is running for his life from defensive tackle Terdell Sands, the next Brooks is wrapped up by Warren Sapp, who could have delivered a nice body slam if it wasn’t for Brooks’ red jersey.

On one play, Justin Fargas was hit in the backfield by an overly aggressive Danny Clark. Fargas, one of the camp’s early surprises, reacted by throwing the ball at Clark and starting a minor skirmish _ the first of camp.

That earned Fargas a rebuke from offensive coordinator Tom Walsh for retaliating in a way that would have certainly earned a personal foul.

It certainly doesn’t help that Robert Gallery (quadriceps pull) hasn’t practiced yet and Langston Walker appears to be struggling in his return to right tackle.

The fact is, the Raiders have changed their offensive system under Walsh. Coach Art Shell didn’t dispute the theory that the Raiders, more familiar on defense with the concepts of Rob Ryan, are farther along on defense.

“It takes time for our offense to catch up with the defense,'’ reasoned Shell., “We have our spurts. The offense will have its spurts when its looking good for a while and all of a sudden the defense catches up and shuts it down. But we’ll be fine. As long as both sides are competing and guys are getting after it, those things will work themselves out. We’ll be OK.'’

One offensive player conceded, “The defense is defeinitely beating us to the punch. We’ve got to pick it up.'’

You wonder if the Raiders are attempting to restore an old offense which has fallen too far behind the times.

In a preseason conference call, when Shell was asked about Walsh’s offense he responded with a correction, calling it the “Al Davis system.'’

He explained that the Davis system will enable the Raiders to run downhill and attack from anywhere on the field. They will look deep first, and underneath second. He compared it to championship systems run by the Rams, Patriots and Steelers.

There are no indications that Shell is overly concerned about how things look after eight practices. He probably didn’t expect the Raiders to look anything like the old Raiders, the Rams, Patriots or Steelers in early July.

But he had to hope it would look better than this.

Bits and pieces from Friday:

— Jerry Porter, who returned to practice after missing two days with a calf injury, was seen huddling NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw following the morning session. Upshaw said it was nothing more than NFLPA business. Porter is the Raiders’ union rep.

In an ESPN.com column on its Page 2, it was reported Porter, while at a charity basketball event July 7 in Venice Beach, was venting his frustration with what he believes is an antiquated offensive system.

“I’m furious,” Porter said. “They might as well trade me. I wanted Mike Martz as my coach and a real offense that’s proven in today’s NFL. Not something dusted off from a bed and breakfast in God knows where.”

— Autograph seekers were allowed to stand along a temporary fence as the Raiders made their way from the fields to their hotel rooms, pleading with players to stop and sign _ which many did with a smile on their face.

While there was no outright heckling, the pleas for Porter took on a slightly more hostile edge. Porter kept right on walking.

While Porter wasn’t wearing his now-famous dollar-sign belt, he did have on a T-shirt which featured two hands _ one with the middle finger extended and the other with the index finger pointing directly at anyone who happened to be looking at it.

— According to the Raiders public relations department, Walsh, who ran a bed and breakfast in in Swan Valley, Idaho, may be available to the media in a day or two.

— LaMont Jordan made his way slowly from the field house following the second practice after missing both workouts with what Shell called a right quadriceps injury. Jordan spent some time on the stationary bike but did no running. He didn’t want to comment on his availability.

“It’s OK. Talk to the training staff. Talk to Art,'’ Jordan said with a smile. “You know the deal.'’

— Coincidence or not? With Jordan sitting out of practice, Fargas was running with the first team. After Fargas threw the football at Clark in anger, Rod Smart was taking snaps with the first team.

Fargas was back with the first team during the second session.

— Randal Williams, who returned Thursday afternoon and Friday morning to practice with a sore back, was down briefly late in practice and was seen walking from the field house with a bandage around his right knee.

— When James Adkisson said during minicamp that the Raiders new offense is more tight-end friendly, he wasn’t kidding. During Friday’s second practice, Courtney Anderson, Marcellus Rivers (twice), Adkisson, John Madsen and O.J. Santiago all had catches for big gains. Later, Derek Miller got into the act.

Adkisson and Madsen are both converted wide receivers.

— Thomas Howard briefly flashed the coverage skill the Raiders hope he has when he shadowed tight end Anderson on a play up the field.

“Great job not putting your hands on him,'’ shouted linebackers coach Don Martindale.

— Cornerback Fabian Washington, who missed the second practice sessions due to personal reasons, had a spectacular one-handed interception during a drill in the first session.

— Somebody get a long-distance microphone. After Friday’s second practice, Shell, Gene Upshaw, George Atkinson and Willie Brown were huddled together, laughing uproariously.

“Just telling old war stories,'’ Shell said.

— Friday morning’s practice brought it’s largest invited crowd, with the Raiders flagship station KSFO (560-AM) and advertisers in attendance. Also on hand was top fuel drag racer Larry Dixon a Raiders fan who makes an annual visit to camp.

— The Raiders will scale things back the next two days, with only a single morning session Saturday and a single afternoon session Sunday.

[Angry Pope]

Players receive a talking-to

By Jason Jones
Published 12:01 am PDT Saturday, July 29, 2006

NAPA -- The Raiders have led the NFL in one category for the last three seasons.

The team built on pride and poise hasn't displayed much in leading the league in penalties since 2003.

NFL officials have been in town since Thursday at practices and letting players know when they commit a penalty.

The Raiders would be wise to pay attention.

Oakland's 147 penalties topped the 134 miscues it had in both 2003 and 2004. The Raiders are 13-35 over that span and often have complained about the officiating.

Coach Art Shell makes players who commit transgressions such as false starts run a lap around the field following practice as punishment.

The Raiders tied for the sixth-most false start penalties in 2005 with 34.

"There are penalties that are just because of aggressive play," former Raiders coach John Madden said this week. "That's OK. Don't lose your aggressiveness. And then there are stupid penalties. And you have to eliminate the stupid penalties. Lining up offsides, going in motion, jumping, those kinds of things. I just hated those."

Peter Morelli, an NFL official for 10 years, showed the Raiders a video Thursday about new rules and which penalties would be emphasized. One new rule prohibits defenders from hitting quarterbacks below the knees when the contact is avoidable.

Though the tape showed Raiders defensive tackle Warren Sapp rolling into Dallas quarterback Drew Bledsoe last season, the most notable recent incident would be former Pittsburgh lineman Kimo von Oelhoffen's hit on Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer during the playoffs.

Palmer still is recovering from a torn left anterior cruciate ligament, damaged medial collateral ligament and dislocated kneecap.

Officials also will watch more closely for offensive line holding and false starts. Taunting penalties will be enforced, and the time for replay reviews has been cut to 60 seconds.

"This way we can immediately make a decision and announce it," Morelli said. "We're no longer waiting for TV (timeouts) to make our announcement."

Taunting and excessive celebrations will be monitored. Bengals wideout Chad Johnson's Riverdance is fine, but lying on the ground and posing is not.


The Raiders' mystique

With Shell in charge, more Raiders from the franchise's glory days are coming around.

NFL Players Association executive director and Hall of Fame guard Gene Upshaw attended Friday's practices. He spoke with wide receiver Jerry Porter, one of the Raiders' player representatives, and came out to watch the end of the afternoon practice.

Afterward, Shell, Upshaw, former standout safety George Atkinson and Hall of Fame cornerback Willie Brown, the Raiders' defensive backs coach, shared some laughs about their days in training camp.

Camp report

Quote of the day: "(Thursday) it was coming out of … I'll leave that alone … I was going to say it was coming out of both ends." -- Coach Art Shell on safety Derrick Gibson, who missed practice because of a fever. Gibson was the third Raiders player in four days to have flu-like symptoms.

Player watch: Fourth-year running back Justin Fargas went from 40 carries for 203 yards as a rookie to five for 28 yards last season. The Raiders need Fargas, who has battled injuries, to have a productive camp and prove to be a solid backup to LaMont Jordan. Fullback Zack Crockett was the team's second-leading rusher last season. The Raiders don't want to Jordan to wear down by season's end. Fargas showed some fight in the first minor scuffle of camp. After running the ball, linebacker Danny Clark shoved Fargas at the end of the play. Fargas threw the football in Clark's face. Clark went after Fargas but was pulled away by teammates.

Highlight of the day: Cornerback Tyrone Poole stripped the ball from quarterback Aaron Brooks, scooped it up and ran for about 30 yards before being pushed out of bounds.

Injury report: Jordan (quadriceps) sat out both practices. He injured himself when he banged knees with a defender Thursday afternoon.

• Tight end Randal Williams suffered a bone bruise on his right knee during the morning practice and did not return. Williams said the injury is not serious.

• Wide receiver Jerry Porter (calf) returned after missing five practices.

• Crockett (back) did not practice for a second consecutive day. Shell said he wants to monitor Crockett's reps and that there is no worry the injury will linger.

[Seraph24]

— Thomas Howard briefly flashed the coverage skill the Raiders hope he has when he shadowed tight end Anderson on a play up the field.

“Great job not putting your hands on him,'’ shouted linebackers coach Don Martindale.
A William Thomas/Eric Barton type with youth and speed?:D But we got him for his coverage skill. So it would be good to see him live up to that in a division where a LB like that who can blitz too is valuable.

[Angry Pope]

Grateful Walker back in comfort zone

Starting right tackle is happy to be toiling in training camp after sustaining a season-ending stomach injury last October


NAPA -- Langston Walker dropped his helmet to the turf and took a knee while the rest of his Raiders teammates huddled around the water cooler for a quick respite Friday morning in Napa.

He then wandered over to the sidelines and shared some laughs with a nearby photographer.

"You got some pictures of me, right?"

There may be nothing glamorous about training camp, but it doesn't take much to lift Walker's spirits these days. Especially given the shape he was in just nine months ago. After sustaining a season-ending stomach injury, Walker is back in his comfort zone as Oakland's starting right tackle. More importantly, he's healthy and eagerly awaiting his chance at a fresh start.

"It's been a long time coming," Walker said. "Everything's fine."

That certainly wasn't the case last October when Walker, a former Cal standout, was rushed to the emergency room for what the doctors originally deemed appendicitis. A routine procedure became anything but when surgeons realized Walker was bleeding internally from a hemorrhage in his stomach.

"It started slowly and got worse over time," Walker said. "Nobody knew what it was. They went in and saw the appendix was fine, but then they saw the blood. That made the whole thing worse."

Walker, 26, was confined to a hospital bed and unable to eat solid food for over a week. The player who last season made six consecutive starts at left guard had to be fed intravenously and consequently dropped nearly 40 pounds from his hulking, 6-foot-8, 345-pound frame.

But things are now looking up. Walker is in shape and no longer hampered by the injury. What's more, the only reminder of the medical scare is the six-inch scar along his abdomen.

"I don't want to jinx myself," Walker said with a smile. "It was difficult to get back in there. I think the hardest part was just getting my stomach stronger.

"It's camp, so you never feel 100 percent, but I did coming in. Here at camp, you're going to get worn out. That's just the nature of it."

Precautionary measures

Running back LaMont Jordan attended Friday's double-day but did not practice. Instead, he rode the stationary bike and did some light jogging around the edges of the field. Jordan, who last season rushed for 1,025 yards and scored 11 touchdowns, suffered a bruised quadriceps during Thursday's practice, but Raiders coach Art Shell said the injury is not serious and didn't require an MRI.

"The trainers just backed off a little bit," Shell said. "It's early in camp and we didn't want to push anything."

Porter practices

Wide receiver Jerry Porter returned to the field after missing two full days of practice with a strained calf. Porter created a stir earlier in the week when he told local media he wanted to be traded after a falling out with Shell.

Porter didn't speak to reporters Friday, though Shell said he was happy to have him back. "That's a good thing," Shell said. "He's here to work, and we're working."

Early-morning tussle

The Raiders are only four days into training camp, and already things are starting to heat up. The action reached a boiling point midway through the morning session when Justin Fargas took a handoff and was shoved to the ground by linebacker Danny Clark. Fargas took exception to the maneuver and let Clark know it by hurling the football at Clark's face. The two had to be separated by teammates.

"It's about that time of week," Shell said. "You go three or four days and the guys get irritable. It's nothing to panic about."

Extra points

NFL referee Pete Morelli was on hand to explain upcoming rule changes for the 2006 season. Instant replay was one of several topics discussed. Starting this season, officials now have 60 seconds to review a play, down from 90 seconds a year ago, and no longer have to wait for TV timeouts to make a decision. "We felt there was a lot of dead time in the stadium," Morelli said. "It was delaying the game too much." ... Safety Derrick Gibson was out sick and suffering from flu-like symptoms.

[Angry Pope]

Shell's old school approach delights fullbacks

Posted: 7/29/2006


NAPA, Calif. -- Zack Crockett sat out his second straight day of practice Friday because of lingering back pains but it was more precautionary than anything else. With a renewed emphasis from head coach Art Shell on a power running game, the Oakland Raiders aren't willing to take chances with their veteran fullback.

Unlike in years past, though, Crockett can understand the wisdom of what the coaching staff is doing. After four years of being used primarily as a decoy and occasionally as a lead blocker, the fullback's role in Oakland's offense is taking on a significant new look this season.

"This is maybe one of the best positions you can be in," said Crockett after getting treatment on his sore back. "You're going to run the ball, you're going to back the ball and you're going to block. I love it."

While many other teams around the NFL have been slowly phasing the fullback out of their playbooks -- instead opting to use an extra tight end or offensive lineman -- Shell has made it a priority to do just the opposite.

It's yet another reminder how Shell, a Hall of Fame offensive lineman, is reaching into his past to try to help Oakland's future.

When Shell played from 1968-82, fullbacks played a big role in the Raiders' success. Marv Hubbard led the team in rushing 1971-74, while Mark van Eeghen did it from '76-80.

Crockett and John Paul Foschi, the top two fullbacks on Oakland's current roster, aren't going to lead the team in rushing any time this season, but they will have a more prominent role in the offense crafted by Shell and coordinator Tom Walsh than they have in the past.

"I don't know how many carries our fullback will get ... (but) he'll get a few carries," Shell said. "But he's going to be a blocker and he's going to be a pass receiver out of the backfield. We've always done that.

"Now, do you fit a square peg in a round hole? No, you don't do that. If a guy can't catch the ball you're not going to force the issue. But we'll put people in position to make those type of plays that we're looking for."

Oakland's offense struggled to make many plays at all in 2005, beset by a running game that ranked 29th overall. The Raiders averaged just 85.6 yards a game and only had 361 carries on the season, fewer than every team except Atlanta (360).

When Shell was hired in the offseason to replace the fired Norv Turner, he made fixing the running game a top priority.

Part of that was revamping the offensive line. Robert Gallery, the second overall pick in the 2004 draft, was moved from right to left tackle. Barry Sims moved inside from left tackle to left guard. Langston Walker, a guard in 2005, is now at right tackle while third-round draft pick Paul McQuistan is taking the reps at right guard.

Getting more production out of the fullback is the next step.

"One of the biggest differences is that we'll be playing more," Foschi said. "A lot of teams use two tight ends or have their H-back as their lead blocker, but here (the fullback) isn't being phased out."

That's music to Crockett's ears. When Jon Gruden was the Raiders' coach from 1998-2001, Crockett was the team's designated short-yardage specialist. In the four years since Gruden left, however, Crockett's role diminished.

Now he's is ready to go back to work.

"That's the style that I love, it's catered toward my game," Crockett said. "This is a copycat league. The game changes (based) on who's winning. But eventually it goes back to old school football, hitting somebody in the mouth, mano y mano. That's the type of football we're going to play."

[Angry Pope]

Camp Notebook: July 28

July 28, 2006


The Oakland Raiders were back on the field Friday at their Napa Valley training complex for two practice sessions as Training Camp 2006 continues. The team welcomed many special guests today, including flagship radio station KSFO 560 staff members, sponsors and guests, NHRA top fuel drag racer Larry Dixon, and Raiders Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive guard and NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw.

Although today's practices lacked yesterday's "Pit Drill," the sessions were spirited and lively with the team taking part in a variety of drills, scrimmages and special teams work.

"It takes time for the offense to catch up with the defense. We have our spurts. Offense will have their spurts when they would do something good for a while, and all of a sudden the defense catches up and shuts it down," Raiders Head Coach Art Shell said after this morning's practice. "We will be fine. As long as both sides are competing, and guys are getting after it, those things will work themselves out."

During the first few days of training camp, the coaching staff spends quite a bit of time teaching, emphasizing fundamentals and reinforcing the lessons taught during the off-season program. QB Aaron Brooks, who was acquired as a free agent back in March, has had the opportunity to work with and grow with the new people around him.

"Everything is pretty much new, from that aspect there's a lot of new learning. There are different coaches, different styles and just trying to adapt to that makes it a whole lot different," Brooks said. "I have to get the timing down with the receivers and understand the protections and what's going on out there on the football field."

One of the receivers who is not only working on his skills, but also trying to adapt to life as a professional football player is rookie WR Kevin McMahan. The final selection in the 2006 NFL Draft appears to be taking it all in stride.

"It's been great. It's a big learning experience for me not having a whole lot of a football background. I love coming out every day, twice a day and being able to learn," McMahan said. "It's definitely taxing on the body and tough but I look at it like it's two opportunities every day to learn and get better. All the vets are here so I'm able to learn from everybody."

McMahan, who played his collegiate football at the University of Maine, says that he is adjusting well to the pro game and the competition among the Raiders receiving corps. "I think all of us are out there battling real hard. I think I have a good opportunity; I work hard and come to work everyday. It's definitely a tough situation being a wide receiver here regardless," McMahan said. "There are a lot of good guys, everybody is back from last year, and all the guys know the system very well. I just come and work everyday and let them know that I'm working on it. If they look at me as a project and what I'm capable of down the road then they'll hang on to me."

According to the 23-year-old, 6'2", 200-pound McMahan, he relishes the opportunity to learn from his legendary head coach. "What I like about Coach Shell is that everything he says means something," McMahan said. "I love that after practice or during practice, if he stops it and says something, it's something you should take to heart and it's great. I love listening to him."

Another Raider who is seems to be enjoying the start of Training Camp 2006 is fourth-year RB Justin Fargas. The former University of Southern California tailback says that the Raiders have a new attitude.

"It's definitely a new beginning for us as a team and as an organization and for me individually," Fargas said. "It feels good to be out here with a fresh start with a new coach and staff and I like the direction we're going."

With the first week of Training Camp 2006 nearly in the books, the team will turn their attention to gearing up for the Hall of Fame Game match-up with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, August 6th at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, in the pre-season opener for both teams.

[Angry Pope]

Players briefed on new rules of engagement

David White

Saturday, July 29, 2006


Aaron Brooks' knees can rest a little easier.

A league officiating crew sat down with the Raiders, the most penalized team in the NFL last season, and went over rule changes for this season at their training camp facility in Napa.

High on the list is protecting quarterbacks against hits from the knee down when they have one or both feet on the ground. The NFL's Competition Committee also adopted rules that shorten instant replay reviews and crack down on collar tackles from behind and individual celebrations.

Raiders coach Art Shell said the quarterback rule is necessary to guard against serious knee injuries.

"It makes it safe for the players," Shell said after two-a-days Friday. "(They're) not going to allow you to make an extra effort to hit the quarterback from the waist down."

The rule focuses on the sort of play that knocked Cincinnati's Carson Palmer out of the playoffs last season. He tore numerous knee ligaments when Pittsburgh's Kimo von Oelhoffen dived at his knee from the ground.

Exceptions to the rule are when defenders are blocked into the quarterback and can't avoid contact, or when the quarterback is throwing the ball while in the air.

Violators are penalized 15 yards for roughing the passer. Stricter guidelines have increased roughing the passer calls from 35 in 1990 to 127 last season.

An abbreviated guide to other key changes:

-- Referees have 60 seconds to review instant replays on the sideline, down from 90 seconds. They also no longer have to wait until the end of a television timeout to announce their decision.

"They felt it was delaying the game too much, and this little bit of time could help speed up games," NFL referee Peter Morelli said. "There was a lot of dead time in the stadium ... you wait and wait, and fans are kind of anxious to hear what's going on."

Replays averaged 1 minute, 7 seconds last year, the longest since it was first used in 1999. Overall game delays averaged 3:16.

Officials can now review fumbles when the player is ruled down by contact.

-- Collar tackles, where defenders grab a ball carrier from behind by his jersey, collar or pads, and pull them down immediately, are prohibited.

Exceptions are quarterbacks in the pocket and runners in the tackle box. The penalty is 15 yards.

-- Individual players cannot have prolonged or excessive celebrations, and they cannot celebrate on the ground or use props, including the ball. Previous rules applied to two or more players celebrating together. This also incurs a 15-yard penalty.

Briefly: Running back LaMont Jordan missed practice with a bruised quad. He did sideline sprints during practice. ... Wide receiver Jerry Porter (strained calf) practiced for the first time since Tuesday. ... A flu bug sidelined safety Derrick Gibson, making him the third player to miss time with a fever this week. ... The Raiders will slow down with single practices today and Sunday.

[Seraph24]

Poole (if healthy) could be a pretty big help as a nickel back. plenty of int's out there and if they line up a star receiver in the slot, he can play well there.

[Angry Pope]

Upshaw gushes over 'his Raiders'

Union leader, though, was in camp on business, meeting with Porter

Bill Soliday



NAPA — The parade of Raiders alumni to visit and praise Art Shell's first training camp in 12 years continued Friday when players' union executive director Gene Upshaw arrived in Napa.

While he gushed over what he saw of "his Raiders," Upshaw had to perform a union duty — holding a meeting with disgruntled Raiders wide receiver Jerry Porter that had curious onlookers craning their necks, wondering what was being said.

As it turned out, it was union business, not Jerry Porter business.

"Jerry wanted to know how and why did we agree to a holdout fine going from $5,000 to $14,000," Upshaw revealed. "He said he thought that was a lot."

Along with Zack Crockett, Porter is the Raiders player union representative. So there is clearly more on his mind than a trade.

The topic of Porter's dissatisfaction did come up, however. After Upshaw commented on how impressed he was that this year's Raiders seemed determined to sweat to return to their winning ways, he revealed part of his conversation with the wide receiver.

"I come to training camp and look at these guys every year," Upshaw said. "When I walked out on this field, I noticed the atmosphere here this year is completely different than it was when I was here a year ago." Upshaw said he didn't know if it is Shell, the structure, the players buying into the program or the enthusiasm of the coaches, but it's different.

"But you see these guys working," Upshaw said. "No one is running out of here to get to the chow hall or go lay down and rest. They are all working out, and that says a lot. It makes me feel good to see it because everybody else in the league is doing it. The Raiders didn't do this a year ago.

"Even Jerry Porter was just telling me, 'I do ab(dominal) work after every practice. I am going to go do some now. Whatever issues I have, I am here to play football, and I am going to play. I have a contract. Shell and I have had some issues, but I am here to play. It's not about money.'"

That said, Upshaw praised the return of Shell, who lined up on Upshaw's left for more than a decade. Even though he represents all NFL players, Upshaw has never hidden his affection for his former team.

"I am hoping it (the hiring of Shell) takes this franchise back to the glory days," he said. "It's sort of been wandering around in the wilderness the last few years."

He also expressed delight in the selection of his former coach, John Madden, to the Hall of Fame.

"We're all pleased," he said. "I didn't know what he was going to have to do to get there. I thought he was going to have to come back and coach and win some more games.

"Here is a guy who got to 100 wins faster than anyone in



NFL history, had great success, brought the Raiders their first Super Bowl they ever won. No one deserves it more than John. I am so pleased for him."

On the topic of union business, Upshaw also revealed that he would not follow commissioner Paul Tagliabue into retirement as had been speculated following the adoption of a new collective bargaining agreement this spring.

"I will be there," he said. "I could not leave the same time Paul left. It wouldn't be fair to either side. I put it in place that you have to be out of there (the union) by the age of 65, and I am 60. So I will stay. And don't forget, they have an opening in this deal in 2008. They can decide if they want the (agreement) to end 11/2 or 2 years sooner."

Now the NFL must choose Tagliabue's successor. Upshaw said he heard from players who feared he might be thinking of vaulting to the other side and making a bid for commissioner himself.

"I am not," Upshaw said. "I told (players) that their voting procedure is too hard for me. When you have to have three-fourths vote to get anything done, that makes it very difficult. At least with this one, they only need 22 votes (to elect a commissioner)."

Upshaw said he had been asked to help put together specifications for the job. He also said he expected the list of finalists to consist of an outsider and a minority in addition to the usual league insiders.

"That said, I don't know who the guy is going to be," Upshaw said while noting that he thinks Roger Goodell would make an ideal commissioner. He is currently NFL executive vice president and chief operating officer.

"He was involved in (the CBA talks) and we have a great relationship. He knows how to get things done."


EXTRA POINTS: Porter participated in his first on-field practice session, his sore calf having been cleared by the team medical staff ... RB LaMont Jordan has a bruised quad and did not practice because, as Shell said, "we didn't want to push anything" ... Rookie DB Michael Huff practiced with the first team at SS when Derrick Gibson was sidelined by an illness ... TE Randal Williams hyperextended a knee but is expected to return today ... After a particularly hard hit, RB Justin Fargas fired the football at LB Danny Clark, sparking some pushing and shoving. "It's about that time," Shell said. "Upshaw used to fight on the fourth day. It wasted energy."

[Angry Pope]

Morrison takes over Clark's LB position
Second-year player grabs starting spot from his rookie-season mentor

PHIL BARBER




NAPA - When Kirk Morrison was thrown into 15 starts at outside linebacker last season, one of his primary sources of strength was middle linebacker Danny Clark, who took the rookie under his wing.


Maybe Clark was too successful as a mentor. A year later, Morrison has supplanted him.

There figured to be changes at linebacker this season; it has been among the team's weakest positions over the last two years, and Oakland drafted two fast linebackers in April - UTEP's Thomas Howard in the second round and USC's Darnell Bing in the fourth.

No one was too surprised when coach Art Shell announced that Howard was working with the first team as training camp began. The surprise was that Morrison had shifted inside. That put Clark - the man who collected 242 tackles in his first two seasons with the Raiders - on the bench. It's an odd sight to see Clark out there scrimmaging with the second-team defense.

It could be an awkward situation for Morrison, who clearly looked up to Clark a year ago.

"I still do," Morrison said recently. "I think one of the biggest things with us is that we already had a great relationship. He understands that the opportunity was presented for me to play that position."

Clark bears no grudge but sees the situation as "very temporary." "This is not a different role, it's just some adversity that every athlete goes through," he said. "And at the end of the day, I see myself as a starter for this football team."

The Raiders have used Clark exclusively in the middle, and they are committed to a 4-3 scheme (with an occasional appearance of the Wolverine package, which uses only two linebackers). So if Clark is to regain a starting position, it would have to be either at Morrison's expense, or amid shuffling because of injury.

Even as a backup, Clark doesn't expect to relinquish his role as vocal leader. "I'm going to be me," he said. "I'm not going to change for anyone. I'm a leader, on and off the field, first, second or third (team)."

Morrison, meanwhile, continues his accelerated growing-up process. Last year he was asked to take on heavy duties before he'd fully learned Rob Ryan's system. Now he's responsible for calling out signals to his defensive teammates, and he's the guy getting hit up for knowledge by the kids.

"I can simplify it for them," he said. "Sometimes the coaches, they give you the terminology, and I kind of simplify it and say, 'Hey, I know it's a lot of stuff that you're getting. Just think of it as this.'"

Manning the middle and calling signals is nothing new for Morrison, who did so at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland and at San Diego State. Still, it's a little different in the pros, where he'll have to trade wits with quarterbacks like Jake Plummer and Trent Green as they switch plays at the line of scrimmage. He got a little work in the middle during the mini-camps and voluntary practices, but is mostly learning on the job.

Shell said Morrison is adjusting well, and that he has no reservations about turning over such a vital position to a second-year guy.

"Matt Millen did it when he first came here (in 1980)," Shell said. "He started as a rookie, and he made the adjustment right away."

[Angry Pope]

Training camp photos for 07.28.2006...

Hit it here... (http://www.raiders.com/fanzone/galleryPhoto.jsp?contentId=26346)

[RaiderIVlife]

Jerry Porter isn't going anywhere, I'm now convinced of it. I also think he will have a solid year because he has "something to prove" with the Raiders. I really think Al & Art have pushed some pyschological buttons with Porter. Brilliant, if true.

[CrossBones]

Jerry Porter isn't going anywhere, I'm now convinced of it.I'm sure you're right. This is getting a lot of pub but the numbers say he's isn't going anywhere.

I also think he will have a solid year because he has "something to prove" with the Raiders.I doubt it. This clown thinks pretty highly of himself but he doesn't birng it on the field most Sundays. And, he doesn't think he has anything to prove. He thinks he's an unappreciated version of Jerry Rice which is complete nonsense.

I really think Al & Art have pushed some pyschological buttons with Porter. Brilliant, if true.I don't think Art likes Porter much and the feeling appears to be mutual..

I'm no longer a Jerry Porter fan. We don't need assholes like this jerk on our team and certainly not disrupting our locker room. :mad:

[Angry Pope]

Love your line at the end, Bones....lol.

[Angry Pope]

Art Shell's camp checklist


Date: Jul 29, 2006

It isn't so much the questions that come every year at this time but the necessity to build certain units and/or players up for the coming year. Oakland head coach Art Shell has his hands full with finding a quarterback, an offensive line, while balancing it all with the play of rookies.

Establish Aaron Brooks as the starting quarterback: Signed as a free agent from New Orleans, Brooks was told he wasn't necessarily the starter in the Art Shell regime. However, it appeared to be headed that way in the lone mini-camp open the media as well as behind closed doors.

Shell said in June he hoped to have his quarterback selected before camp began, and it would serve the Raiders well to publicly proclaim Brooks as the starter and allow him to begin the process of assuming the leadership role, giving him ample opportunity to get his timing down with an explosive receiving corps including Randy Moss, Jerry Porter and Doug Gabriel.

Although second-year quarterback Andrew Walter has been listed as a dark-horse candidate to start, the reality is Walter has never taken a snap in a meaningful NFL game. Marques Tuiasosopo is in the last year of his contract and isn't likely to challenge.

With the Raiders at a crucial period in their history, the wise move would be to pick a veteran starter and go with him for continuity's sake. The last thing they need is an unsettled quarterback situation heading into a season with a new coaching staff including a head coach and an offensive coordinator (Tom Walsh) who may show some signs of rust.

Get a line on success: Establish a physical practice tone for an offensive line that was one of the NFL's worst last season. Robert Gallery, the No. 2 pick overall in the 2004 draft, has been moved to left tackle and needs to play up to his potential.

Although already labeled a disappointment in some quarters, Gallery's rookie year at right tackle was a promising one. He, as well as the entire line, underachieved with Norv Turner as the head coach and Jim Colletto as the offensive line coach.

Hailed as a line talent in the Jonathan Ogden, Tony Boselli mode coming out of Iowa, the ripple effect would be considerable should Gallery approach that level in Year 3.

Infuse rookies into the lineup: With five pre-season games, the Raiders have ample opportunity to get first-round pick Michael Huff, second-round selection Thomas Howard and third-round pick Paul McQuistan into the starting lineup.

A team that was too old a few short years ago, the Raiders could use the youth and aggression of their three top picks. Huff, the No. 9 pick overall, is a no-brainer. He'll line up as a strong safety, but his position will change with down and distance to take advantage of skills which range from tackling to coverage to rushing the passer.

Howard, a linebacker from Texas El-Paso, has excellent coverage skills and is the sort of explosive athlete the Raiders have seldom had at the position.

McQuistan, a tackle at Weber State, was quietly moved to right guard at closed mini-camps and Organized Team Activities and has gotten reps with the first team. It is hoped he seizes the opportunity, becomes a starter, and along with Gallery and center Jake Grove, gives the Raiders three young linemen to build with.

[Angry Pope]

Raiders trying to go old-school



NAPA, Calif. - The Raiders can't seem to "Just Win, Baby." In the last three seasons, they have won only 13 games despite the cries from the Black Hole gang.

Now, Al Davis has gone back to the past once again with Art Shell, one of the franchise's greatest players and one that had a winning record when Davis fired him as the head coach.

Predicament or not, Davis found himself hiring Shell after he toyed with the idea of hiring either Al Saunders, now offensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins, or Bobby Petrino, who got cold feet about his Louisville recruits when his secret visit to Oakland hit the newspapers. You know Al. He couldn't pull the trigger on a $2.5 million contract to Petrino, one of the college game's finest innovators; so your guess is as good as mine on how well Oakland will do this season.

Sean Jones, who played for Davis and won a Super Bowl in Green Bay with the Packers, studies personnel for the Raiders and said "outside of the Colts, our personnel is as good as any team in the AFC. This group simply has to raise their level of play. I simply don't see a lot of great teams out there anymore."

Kirk Morrison, the team's new middle linebacker in only his second season, said he agreed with Jones' view of the situation. "I didn't make enough big plays last season," Morrison said. "I think we have a lot of young talent that simply has to start playing up to its abilities. For some reason, we didn't do that last season."

Morrison is one of those old-school players. He was too small to be recruited by the top Pac-10 schools and ended up starring at San Diego State. He grew up being a Raiders fan, although he now lives in San Diego in the off-season.

"I see a lot of the Charger players, and I know how hard they work, but they have also given me a lot of confidence by telling me they liked how I played last season," Morrison said. "I think with the hiring of Art Shell, we are trying to get back that old, winning tradition around here."

One of the first things Shell brought back to training camp was the old Pit drill. In some circles, it is also known as the Oklahoma or nutcracker drill. There's a narrow lane in which a ball carrier must run with the aid of a blocker and butt with a tackler waiting to take his head off. The drill is as macho as football can be.

"I thought it was important to get back to that kind of style," Shell said. "It's good for every team to get down in the pits. Nothing like running downhill at the defensive player."

What is very unusual about Raiders' training camp is that there are no fans, no NFL Experience venues, no souvenir stands, no one cheering from the sidelines when Morrison was decking someone in the Pit drill.

"That's the Raider way," Morrison said. "We don't need to hear cheering from the stands in training camp. It's simply enough to do a good job in front of your peers. I'm comfortable with this approach to camp."

The Raiders could be solid on defense, especially if the secondary starts making some interceptions. They managed a NFL-worst five last season, and one of those appeared to be a fumble that dropped into Warren Sapp's stomach. No. 1 pick Michael Huff, a do-everything safety out of Texas, and UTEP rookie Thomas Howard have been put into the starting lineup. Morrison will make the defensive calls, something he did in college.

"I don't view it as an issue," Shell said. "Matt Millen made the calls as a rookie. It can be done."

It's the offense, which really seems unsettled. In the two practices I saw, neither quarterback ex-Saint Aaron Brooks nor highly-touted (by the Raiders) Andrew Walter threw the ball very accurately. Buford Jordan is the only quality running back, and he banged up his right knee on Thursday afternoon. Shell wants some depth at the position; someone like Thomas Jones of the Bears would be a perfect addition. Justin Vargas has his moments, but he invariably gets hurt or starts fumbling — two horrible traits.

Shell has worked with Jackie Slater, the new offensive line coach, and Irv Eatman, his assistant, in order to produce a powerful front. Robert Galley (quad pull) has been shifted to left tackle, his dominant position while at Iowa, and Langston Walker moved from guard to right tackle. The old left tackle, Barry Sims, has moved to guard, and rookie Paul McQuistan, a third-round pick, has been thrust into the starting lineup at right guard because Shell loves his toughness and attitude. Hopefully, he can also play. Jake Grove, another promising talent, remains the center.

You can bet Shell will remain involved with this group, one that can't sustain one or two injuries to any starter. It's also a group that couldn't protect an immobile Kerry Collins last season; hence the signing of Brooks, who can move even if he isn't an accurate passer. The other Oakland hole seems to be tight end, based on fantasy league rankings. Oakland doesn't have one ranked in the top 40 of NFL fantasy tight ends. Courtney Anderson has ability, but he must start contributing in a big way.




The Raiders remain a franchise with many valuable and talented employees, like personnel man Michael Lombardi and top executive Amy Trask. But every employee seems to work in a vacuum, reporting to only one boss — Al Davis. Everyone gets their jobs done, but rarely is everyone together on the same page. The team still has a tremendous fan base despite its recent losing records and will have over 4,000 tickets priced at $26 for those lower middle-class loyalists this season. The team will open a new apparel shop in a Southern California suburb this week (such is the demand for jerseys, etc).

Still, Oakland's biggest star, Randy Moss, has no relationship with the local media — he hasn't spoken after a game since last year's season opener — and has granted no interviews this summer. The other starting receiver, Jerry Porter, wants to be traded, and the team would consider unloading him if someone actually made a reasonable offer. The Raiders may even accept a third-round pick. Instead, Porter would be better offer producing in Oakland first and then looking to relocate. I mean, no team wants a constant whiner.

[CrossBones]

Ok enough talk...I'm ready to go. I don't need no more training camp. Let me at 'em! :D

Next Sunday we get the first view of Raiders '06...hope Art let's 'em play a little so we can see something.

[RaiderIVlife]

What do you guys think of Aaron Brooks? I haven't seen much chatter about him around here?

I think he might do well if his pass attempts are in the 15-25 range. Which implies that the running game is strong, which further implies that the offensive line is solid. THAT is the real question in my mind.

[Seraph24]

20-28 attempts is my guess for him or walter even with a solid running game. I dont worry about attempts. I'm worried about the O-line holding up. They do that and it doesnt matter. When the saints had decent blocking he was a much better qb. When assignments got missed, it wasn't pretty.:o

[CrossBones]

Aaron Brooks? Who knows.

The guy has some talent.

Could the change of address do him a world of good?

Could happen.

[Angry Pope]

Gallery back Sunday...

Break time

July 29th, 2006
Bill Soliday

NAPA _ The Raiders were provided with their first break from two-a-days in training camp both Saturday and Sunday. They practiced Saturday morning, were given Saturday afternoon and evening and then Sunday morning off. They will return to practice Sunday afternoon.

That’s probably a good thing since there was no mistaking an air of hostility that was beginning to develop. Although there haven’t been any fights (yet), there have been instances of tempers being piqued, such as when Justin Fargas fired a football at Danny Clark after what Art Shell refers to as heavy “thuds.'’

“I’m excited because now I can count down to next week … it will be like a real game week,'’ linebacker Kirk Morrison said.

AT LAST, GALLERY

The break also brings with it some good news on the injury front.
Shell said Sunday afternoon should mark the return of left tackle Robert Gallery to the practice field. The timing couldn’t be better because the Raider offense has been getting shoved around by the defense the first week of camp.

That isn’t exactly promising insofar as there is a game coming up in Canton in a week against a pretty fair Eagles defensive unit. The way things look right now, Oakland may be struggling to make first downs.
The addition of Gallery can’t hurt.

“I know him,'’ Shell said. “He’s anxious to get out there. He’s like a wild horse. It’s killing him that he’s not out here working. We’re looking forward to getting him back.'’

JORDAN BACK

Along with Gallery, RB LaMont Jordan is expected to return to practice Sunday afternoon. Although Fargas has had his moments, he has also had the wrong kind.

Saturday morning he was stacked up on consecutive runs up the middle, tackled by so many defenders it was hard to tell who got the first lick in.
However, a humorous moment came on the third play. QB Andrew Walter faked a handoff to Fargas and instantly, or so it appeared, 11 Raider defenders tackled him.

Only Walter kept the ball himself, scoring while defenders looked fruitlessly for the fumble that Fargas had not committed.

That says, I suppose, something good about Walter’s play fakes.

TUI-TO-TUI

On another play, in the middle of the field, Marques Tuiasosopo bollixed the defense with a bootleg around left end that was good for around 25 yards before he slid safely out of bounds.

With the offensive goal line situation looking more grave by the moment, Tui tried the same play around left end later during a goal line session. Oops. This time, the defense was ready. Tyrone Poole and Sam Williams ran him out of bounds for no gain.

Tui got the last laugh moments later, though. He fired a touchdown pass to his brother, Zack, over the defense of Williams.

MULLETS AND SUCH

Rookie right guard Paul McQuistan disappointed a lot of Raider fans whose hair might still be stuck in the 70s when he cut his mullet and arrived at camp looking like Dobie Gillis (or are we dating ourselves?).

Curses. Why did the big redhead do it? Turns out he had a reason.

“A little changeup but mostly it was because of a buddy back home,'’ McQuistan said. “His wedding was two weeks ago. I was in the wedding.'’

And because his photograph would be part of his high school buddy’s wedding album, he chose not to look like a refugee from a Travis Tritt concert.

Probably a good call.

STEROIDS AREN’T US

During his visit to camp Friday, NFLPA boss Gene Upshaw had a few things to say about steroid use in the NFL … or the lack of same.

“The only reason we were there (at the Congressional hearings where Rafael Palmeiro and Mark McGwire embarrassed themselves) was because of baseball,'’ he said. “We started doing this (policing) in the 80s. Our guys said `Hey, I know HE is using it. I don’t want to use it so stop HIM.’

“That’s what got it out of our business. The players wanted it out. Hey, we didn’t come to this party late. When the players want it out of baseball, it’ll get out.'’

HEAT IS OFF

It was downright brisk when the Raiders took the field Saturday, a marked change from five days earlier when it was hot enough to melt a cockroach.

During the bad days, one player — 315-pound guard Jabari Levey — got such a heat reaction he had to be hospitalized for two days.
WHO’S AHEAD OF WHO?

On the topic of the defense being ahead of the offense at this stage of camp, Shell admitted it was true, saying it was “just like the pitchers are ahead of the hitters.'’

An interesting comparison since in spring training, the hitters are usually ahead of the pitchers. Or were all those 12.00 earned run averages a figment of the imagination.

[RaiderIVlife]

I think the 'D' is going to play fairly well this year, force some turnovers and generally impress in year of Rob Ryan's tenure. I love the potential upgrade in athleticism that Michael Huff, Thomas Howard and Sam Williams bring to the table. I do think we'll struggle at times against power running teams, but overall, a much improved unit.

That being said, this season hinges entirely on the offensive line. The rather "simplistic" Al Davis system of power running, look deep first and check down to TE is effective IF the offensive line is solid.

Therein lies the rub. What do we have with this group? Gallery & Grove have not developed, for whatever reason, into anywhere the players we were told they would become. Not close. I still say Barry Sims is 'done', but what are our options otherwise? McQuistan should at least be better than the very pedestrian Brad Badger, right? I hope? and Walker is apparently still fat and slow at RT. Perhaps Chad Slaughter will eventually take that job? Beyond that our depth appears wafer thin.

I'm most interested to watch this unit develop during camp. Most interested....

[Rupert]

A little hint on the "look deep and check down" thing. The QB doesn't have to wait for the guy to break deep, especially if he's taking a 3-5 step drop. He can read the safeties and the CB's early. Has the WR broken past the CB in the 1st 5 yards? Is the S playing over the top of drifting into the middle. When that's the case he can release it sooner. If it's not he can check down sooner. Catch a glimpse of the TE or underrneath receiver pump-fake to open the route and hit his guy. That's how I would do it.

It's not just 7 steps and wait for someone to break open. At least that's not how I would do it.

[Angry Pope]

Raiders launch effort to force more turnovers


Jason Jones
Published 12:01 am PDT Sunday, July 30, 2006




NAPA -- When a pass is tipped in the air, Raiders defenders see more than an interception.
They see money in their pocket if they make one, a little less if they miss.


Botching a potential interception adds money to the turnover pot. So does failing to scoop up a loose ball.

The message is clear: Can someone take away the darn ball? Last year, there weren't enough Raiders who could.

The Raiders managed one more interception (five) than wins last season. That total was the lowest for a 16-game season in NFL history. The 19 total turnovers tied for third-fewest in the league.

During training camp, Raiders defenders are all about forcing turnovers. Not capitalizing on a turnover opportunity adds five dollars to the pot.

Whoever finishes the week with the most forced turnovers wins the cash.

"That's about making plays and going out there and having fun," said linebacker Kirk Morrison. "A fumble recovery could be worth $260. Who knows?"

Coach Art Shell dedicates daily practice time to turnovers. The offense works on ball security. The defense works toward the pot.

During that period, defensive linemen practice catching batted balls, linebackers work on interceptions, and defensive backs snag wobbly passes from all angles.

"It's a complete simulation of what happens in a game," said cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. "We've done tip drills, and in that same practice we've seen those exact opportunities come up."

Not forcing turnovers overshadowed any strides the defense made last season. The inability to cause takeaways and help the offense was an issue.

And teams without takeaways usually find themselves out of the postseason.

The Raiders finished minus four in turnover ratio last season. New England (minus six) was the only playoff team to finish on the negative side of the turnover game.

To address turnovers, the Raiders imported veteran cornerbacks Duane Starks and Tyrone Poole, and added speedy young players at linebacker and in the secondary.

"You want to be on the plus side of that every week, win that battle of turnovers," Shell said. "You have to emphasize it so you get it to where it becomes second nature to them as they move along in practice."

The scarcity of interceptions wasn't something defensive backs liked to talk about last season.

They still don't want to dwell on interceptions too much and stumble in other areas, but concede talking up the turnover game doesn't hurt.

"We didn't preach it at all the last two seasons," safety Stuart Schweigert said. "We have to start practice creating turnovers. Like guys say, 'Rip the ball out.' And instead of maybe being close to a ball and knocking it down, go on up and get that ball because that's ours, too."

But the onus isn't solely on defensive backs. Linemen and linebackers look for ways to strip ballcarriers. The daily drills make sure the defense goes for the pot.

"It's a constant reminder," Morrison said. "So now when we go to make a tackle, if we have a hand free, why not try to rip the ball out? A lot of times we can have a secure tackle. Why not try to get the ball out, too?"

And if you don't get the ball, be ready to pay up.


Camp report

Quote of the day: "He's like a wild horse. It's killing him that he's not out here working. So we're looking forward to getting him back," coach Art Shell said about left tackle Robert Gallery, who hasn't practiced because of a strained left quadriceps.

Player watch: Players often make a big jump after their rookie season, as second-year cornerback Fabian Washington appears to be doing. Injuries forced Washington, the Raiders' 2005 first-round draft pick, into a starting role last season. He looks more comfortable this season and has been making plays during training camp. Saturday, he stopped what would have been a touchdown pass to Alvis Whitted with blanket coverage on the speedy wide receiver. Later in practice, Washington had a good jump on a short pass to Jerry Porter and caused an incompletion. Washington, however, wasn't satisfied after he failed to make a difficult interception.

Highlight of the day: The loudest thuds came courtesy of linebacker Robert Thomas. He stepped up to smack running back Rod Smart and stop him short of the goal line. Earlier in practice, Thomas, a five-year veteran and former first-round pick by St. Louis, also burst through the line to stop Justin Fargas.

Injury report: Several players are expected back from injuries.

Running back LaMont Jordan (quadriceps), fullback Zack Crockett (back), tight end Randal Williams (knee, back), guard Kelvin Garmon (back) and Gallery should be able to practice today.

• Safety Derrick Gibson missed a second day of practice with the flu. • Tackle Jabari Levey spent two days in the hospital undergoing tests for heat-related problems. He is expected to practice today or Monday.

• Wide receiver Carlos Francis and cornerback Ray Washington, who have hamstring injuries, are working out in the pool.

[Angry Pope]

Raiders finally put Sapp in charge

With Woodson and Washington gone, the defensive tackle has assumed leadership role

By Steve Corkran


NAPA - Raiders coach Art Shell provided the opening. Still, defensive tackle Warren Sapp needed some affirmation from his teammates. Was it too soon? Had he earned the right?

Sapp stood on the sideline during a minicamp in May while recovering from a torn rotator cuff. Time and again, his defensive mates sought him out, asking for advice, curious about the proper way to comport themselves on and off the field.

That's all Sapp needed to confirm that this no longer is Charles Woodson's defense and that the leadership role he left behind in Tampa has been resurrected in Oakland.

"He's always really been like that, but now that guys like Woodson and (defensive tackle Ted) Washington are gone, it's evident that he's the leader of this defense," free safety Stuart Schweigert said of Sapp on Saturday.

It's a role that fits Sapp as snugly as his No. 99 jersey. He arrived in Oakland in 2004 with the confidence, communication skills and gaudy resume from his nine years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But it wasn't until Woodson and Washington left via free agency during the offseason that Sapp felt comfortable enough to assert himself with the Raiders, he said.

"It was more their team than it was mine," Sapp said, "because Woodson had been here since he was drafted and Ted had been around the league forever, and they were more vocal about it. I was just trying to find my niche within the system and trying not to be overbearing. Tampa was my spot. I stomped around there."

He's leaving the same kind of imprint here these days. Sapp, 33, no longer is one of the guys. He is The Man on a defense littered with first-, second- and third-year players in the starting lineup.

"He'll say something to anybody on the field," safety Jarrod Cooper said. "That's nice. You need that. He doesn't hold anybody in higher regard than anyone else. If you mess up, he's going to let you know about it right away. And you'd better listen."

Speaking his mind has never been a problem for Sapp. He is as outspoken as they come and unafraid of any potential backlash. Yet, the past two seasons he oftentimes suppressed his opinion on things in deference to players such as Woodson and Washington.

He did so because that's the way he was raised in the Buccaneers system. The older players lead, the younger guys follow. Do things the right way, lead by example, and your time will come.

"There was a whole bunch of old guys when I first got there," Sapp said of his Tampa days. "I learned a lot from how they interacted with the younger players and interacted with me and (linebacker Derrick) Brooks. Then, in 1997 or '98, we started grabbing a hold of it because (coach Tony) Dungy asked us to."

Shell didn't come right out and appoint Sapp a leader, Sapp said.

"He just talked to me a little bit, and I got that feeling from him," Sapp said of his spring meeting with Shell. "When you get that feeling from your head man, you got to take that initiative."

Spend one day at training camp and the signs are omnipresent that this is Sapp's defense. One minute, he's yelling at kicker Sebastian Janikowski for making a 56-yard field goal. The next, he's yelling at an official for not throwing a penalty flag on the offense. Then he's pulling aside fellow defensive tackle Tommy Kelly to demonstrate ways to position himself better to make plays.

Those are the kinds of things Shell wants from veteran players such as Sapp, the kinds of things he remembers seeing from veterans during his 15-year career with the Raiders.

"Leadership comes from guys watching you and wanting to be with you, follow your example," Shell said. "You can't just say, 'Hey, I'm a leader in here.' That's not going to wash."

Eventually, Shell assumed the mantle of team leader. He soon learned that there is more to being a leader than playing in the league for a certain number of seasons.

"We as veterans took care of the locker room, and we made sure, this is the way we do things here with the Raiders, this is what's expected of you, and we expect you to do that, abide by that," Shell said.

Sapp was game. All he needed was the green light from Shell and the younger players.

"I wanted to see how they interacted with me," Sapp said. "They were like magnets around me. I said, 'Here we go then. This is more like my setting.' A bunch of young guys, and we're going to play this game the way it's supposed to be played."

Call it Sapp's way.

[Angry Pope]

Raiders rookie Huff inherits the legacy of No.24

Column by Carl Steward



NAPA — It's still a little strange to see No.24 running around the Oakland Raiders' defensive backfield and realize it's not the same man who has worn that uniform number on his back the past eight years.

It's tougher still seeing the regal distinction Michael Huff gives to that No.24 jersey, much as Charles Woodson did in his early years with the Raiders. You notice this guy — and you notice his quality as a football player — right away.

George Atkinson, the one-time Raiders defensive back who made a successful cornerback-to-safety transition, has been watching Huff very closely since he arrived and is spotting subtleties others may not notice.

"It looks like he believes what he sees and that's very important," Atkinson said. "He doesn't have to confirm it. A lot of guys see things happening on offense and have to wait that extra moment to confirm what they see. Sometimes you lose when you do that. This guy just sees and reacts."

With that in mind, the Raiders are giving Huff a lot to think about right out of the box. Signed barely a week, he's already moving everywhere in their training camp schemes even though his primary position has been strong safety. Saturday, he took a stint at both left and right corner and also at nickel. He set up on the line of scrimmage once and blitzed. He stuffed runners and went out into coverage with both tight ends and receivers. He even went in for a couple goal-line plays and lined up in a different spot each time. Rarely did he look even the slightest bit dazed or confused.

While strong safety is a good bet for his rookie campaign considering their general void there in recent years, it's clear the Raiders are experimenting with Huff, testing the limits of what their talented, speedy first-round draft pick might be able to do. Without a doubt, Huff's getting shifted around far more than Woodson ever did, even in his later years.

"Whatever gets me on the field is fine with me," said Huff. "I'm used to moving around a lot. That's what I did throughout college (at the University of Texas). I'm trying to learn a lot in a short time, because I want them to feel like they can depend on me wherever they decide to put me."

Even with longtime cornerbacks Tyrone Poole and Duane Starks in camp, as well as the eternal Derrick Gibson, the Raiders very well could start four players in their secondary with three years of experience or less — Stuart Schweigert at free safety, Huff at strong and Nnamdi Asomugha and Fabian Washington at the corners. Add second-year corner Stanford Routt to the mix and it's an extremely young group the Raiders hope can grow together and make the defense formidable again.

But Huff's presence gives the unit a new level of flexibility if someone falters or goes down with an injury. With 4.3 speed in the 40 and 6-foot size, he definitely can play corner if necessary. He also has the intelligence and field awareness to step back to the free safety spot. In short, no one is quite sure at this point what his long-term NFL future holds as far as a best position. They just know they have a keeper who could help them right away in a lot of different capacities.

Head coach Art Shell promised that Huff could be a tough man for opponents to track, both at the outset and in the foreseeable future. He wants his defense to be unpredictable and Huff will serve as a point man for that unpredictability, even as a rookie.

"It will be based on the defensive scheme that we have in there," Shell said. "There are a lot of different things being thrown at him but he's not the only one. There are several people, based on the defensive scheme that we use, who instead of lining up in the same position, will line up in a certain position you maybe haven't seen them in before."

Just based on what he has seen, Atkinson sees Huff making an instant impact at strong safety.

"For a first-year guy, he looks real confident," he said. "I can see him starting."

To be sure, that is Huff's goal. It's one of the reasons he chose to wear No.24, but he made sure to clear it first with its two most notable prior occupants, Willie Brown and Woodson.

And what did Woodson tell him?

"Charles just told me, 'Do the number proud,'" Huff said. "And I plan on doing exactly that."

He may even take No.24 places it's never been before.

[Angry Pope]

Brooks is quickly off and running with the Raiders

David White
Sunday, July 30, 2006



Randy Moss couldn't crack a double-team code, so Aaron Brooks stretched his long legs for a sideline run. First down, Raiders.

The pocket collapsed under the weight of Warren Sapp, so Brooks flexed his chiseled calves for a downfield scramble. Third-and-short, offense.

Brooks pump-faked short and threw deep, cut right and slashed left. Not because he had to, but because he could. And that's a liberating idea for Brooks, who feels like someone cut him loose from the X-Box cords that bind.

"I'm not a joystick out there," Brooks said. "We're not being controlled. We're not told to do this, that and the third. You have freedom. You can make plays. I can be me."

The unspoken inference is Brooks was chained captive to the playbook with the New Orleans Saints last year, an ordeal that induced cold sweats and late-night shivering.

He won't say any of this because that would require talking about anything related to 2005: getting hit by Hurricane Katrina, playing for a homeless football team, posting the worst numbers of his seven-year career.

Brooks treats those messy details like a broken-up play. He scrams at first sight.

"I don't like to comment on anything back in New Orleans," Brooks said. "Unfortunately, things happened. We had some mishaps in New Orleans, but that's all behind me. I'm on a new team, new teammates, and hopefully I can get back to that peak performance. It's going to take a minute, but I'm being patient."

Brooks is just starting to figure out this new offense, and it has to be better than anything the Saints or Raiders ran last season. New Orleans ranked 20th in NFL offense, and thought dropping Brooks was the answer. Oakland was 21st, and decided getting Brooks was the solution, so they handed over a two-year deal worth $8 million.

The Raiders already have LaMont Jordan, a 1,000-yard rusher who will benefit from an offense designed to feature downhill running. They have receivers Moss and Jerry Porter to play catch with. The offensive line has been refigured to improve the pass protection.

All they need is Brooks to put all this to good use. No pressure.

"All this is new to me, which makes it more exciting," Brooks said. "I am more than aware that all eyes are on me. That doesn't bother me at all. I get to go out there and be myself on the field. You're allowed to be the player you like to be. I'm going to embrace it."

Teammates say they love the new guy, as if they would say otherwise in the first week of training camp.

When Brooks got hit diving for the goal line -- quarterbacks are off limits in these parts -- he popped to his feet and gave Sapp a love tap on the head. Players ate it up.

When the offense lined up wrong and Brooks called off the play, he let them know exactly what went wrong. They nodded in agreement.

That's what leaders do, and Brooks says he always feels like the leader. Before camp started, Raiders coach Art Shell said Brooks was the starter but nothing was finalized. Brooks seems to have ended any potential quarterback controversy after one week of two-a-days.

"I want to see him step forward," Shell said. "I want him to be totally comfortable with the system that we have so that he can get in and out of the huddles with good tempo, know exactly where he's going with the ball so he can put us in a good spot. I think he's doing well."

Especially when everything else heads south. When in doubt, Brooks runs. That's the difference between Brooks and last year's quarterback, Kerry Collins, who was released in the offseason.

It's as if the Raiders knew the offense would take awhile to catch on, so they needed a quarterback who could improvise in the meantime.

"The thing that he brings is mobility," wide receiver Doug Gabriel said. "If a play breaks down, he can take off and run. That's what we've needed the past few years and that's what he's going to give us. We haven't had it since Rich Gannon."

They also haven't had a winning season since Gannon led them to Super Bowl XXXVII four seasons ago.

Again, no pressure on the new guy.

"It's going to take time," Brooks said. "I'm not looking for immediate success right now. As long as we're clicking when we're supposed to, I'll be happy. I'm very pleased to be in a situation like this."

[Angry Pope]

Shell ready for early exhibition

- Nancy Gay
Sunday, July 30, 2006


Almost a week of Raiders training camp has passed and, already, the team has an exhibition game on the near horizon. That's out of the ordinary, but it's something coach Art Shell certainly welcomes.

The Raiders' Aug. 6 Hall of Fame contest against the Philadelphia Eagles in Canton, Ohio, means the team will get into game-planning mode at least a week earlier than any other club in the NFL -- other than the Eagles, of course.

Unlike many coaches, who cringe at the thought of that early game because it arrives so early and results in a longer preseason schedule, Shell likes the idea of a fifth exhibition contest. The veteran coach views it as a valuable preparation tool rather than an inconvenience.

So when will the Raiders begin installing plays?

"All we're going to focus on is what we've (already) installed, and then put in some stuff for the game,'' Shell said Saturday after the Raiders' lone workout of the day, a two-hour series of 11-on-11 full-field drills that allowed the first, second and third team offenses and defenses to work.

Coaches also liberally substituted players in different lineups, blurring the distinction between starters and reserves.

"We'll start probably getting some of that (game plan) stuff ready by late- or mid-Wednesday, probably about that time,'' Shell said.

The Raiders will leave Friday for Canton. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony is Saturday, when former Raiders coach John Madden enters the Hall along with quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Warren Moon, linebacker Harry Carson, defensive lineman Reggie White and tackle Rayfield Wright.

Training room empties a bit: More of the aching and ailing Raiders may be back on the field in the next day or two. A flu bug that ran its course through the locker room the first week seems to be abating, and the muscle strains that hampered players on the first days of camp also seem to be healing.

Left tackle Robert Gallery, who has been on the physically unable to perform list since the first day (quadriceps) and running back LaMont Jordan (back) should be ready to participate in today's single practice, an afternoon session, Shell said.

Running back Zack Crockett (back) and guard Kelvin Garmon (back) also should return today. Safety Derrick Gibson (flu) and tackle Jabari Levey, who was briefly hospitalized because of a heat-related illness, might return in a few days.

Wide receiver Carlos Francis, who sustained a partial tear of his left hamstring last week, did some rehab work in the pool Saturday. Wide receiver Ronald Curry (PUP list, Achilles recovery) is still day-to-day.

Briefly: The 11-on-11 drills were pretty heated Saturday, a departure from some of the slower-paced workouts last week. QB Aaron Brooks, directing the first-team offense, threw a nicely placed red-zone TD pass to Randy Moss that landed squarely in the receiver's midsection, away from the defender. ... QB Marques Tuiasosopo broke free for a 20-yard run down the left sideline that set up a touchdown and infuriated the veteran defensive players watching from the sideline. "You know Tui's gonna run!" DE Derrick Burgess yelled to the young linemen who missed assignments on the play. Tuiasosopo felt pretty good about that afterward. "That's good -- I want to make the defensive players mad,'' he said with a smile. ... In goal-line work, RB Rod Smart was stuffed at the 1-yard line by free-agent linebacker Robert Thomas, who played for Green Bay last season. ... WR Jerry Porter, who's back on the field now that his calf injury has healed, worked primarily with the second team and caught a few balls from QB Andrew Walter, one of which he had to stoop to grab.

[Angry Pope]

Oakland's oft-injured linebacker hoping to stay healthy



July 29, 2006 3:32 PM

NAPA, Calif. (AP) - During the first week of training camp, Oakland Raiders coach Art Shell has shied away from answering questions about his players' progress. When it comes to linebacker Sam Williams, the subject is almost taboo.

''Don't ask me,'' Shell said Saturday. ''The minute you ask me something like that, something will happen.''

Shell's almost superstitious reluctance to discuss Williams is understandable. In each of the linebacker's first three years in the NFL, the former Fresno State standout has suffered season-ending injuries.

As a third-round pick in 2003, Williams suffered cartilage damage in his right knee during the preseason and played in just one game in the regular season.

In 2004, a torn labrum in his left shoulder - again in the exhibition season - limited Williams to just nine games in the regular season before shutting him down for the year.

Last season, Williams went into training camp projected as one of the Raiders' starting outside linebackers only to tear a ligament in his left knee during pre-season practices with the Houston Texans.

That injury forced the Raiders to scrap their plans to play the 4-3 defense and instead had coordinator Rob Ryan using a 4-2-5 look for most of the year.



Williams is back in the starting lineup this year as part of Oakland's revamped linebacking corps. Kirk Morrison, who led the Raiders in tackles last season as a rookie, has moved to the inside slot while second-round draft pick Thomas Howard is atop the depth chart at the other outside linebacker position.

Williams could be the key to it all - if he can stay out of the trainer's room and off injured reserve.

''I really don't even think about it,'' Williams said of his past injuries. ''I feel like I'm ready to play and I think (the coaching staff) feels like I'm ready to play. I just have to stay healthy.''

Williams has played in just 10 regular season games since entering the NFL, the last on Dec. 19, 2004. He has just 27 tackles in that brief time, hardly what the Raiders were expecting from the 6-foot-5-inch, 250-pound linebacker.

Williams, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Friday, hopes he can get his career back on track this season. Because of his lack of experience, Williams is in many ways like a rookie. But entering his fourth NFL season, he is also one of the senior members of Oakland's linebacking group.

''Every year, I gain more and more knowledge of the game,'' Williams said. ''Standing on the sidelines, I was able to pick the players' brains and I was able to pick the coaches' brains. Now I'm just working hard and getting ready. That's all I can control.''

For Shell, who spent the past five years working out of the NFL offices in New York, evaluating how much the injuries have changed Williams is a difficult call. Even if it wasn't, Shell would probably avoid answering the question anyway.

''I don't know him that well,'' Shell said. ''All I know is that he has ability to play and that he's been injured in the past. So far we've been very fortunate and hopefully that luck will continue. Knock on wood.''

NOTES: Defensive end Lance Johnstone was excused from practice Saturday for personal reasons. He is due back Sunday ... Shell said the Raiders expect injured left tackle Robert Gallery (quad) to make his first appearance in practice Sunday. Running back LaMont Jordan (knee, quad), fullback Zack Crockett (back) and tight end Randall Williams (back, knee) are also expected to practice on Sunday.

[Angry Pope]

Camp Notebook: July 29

July 29, 2006



Week one of Training Camp for The Oakland Raiders is already in the books and the players are ready for their two, half-days of rest. The team hit the field for one hard-hitting practice session Saturday morning, and will return to the field late Sunday afternoon. For the last five days, these players have experienced two-a-day practices at their Napa Valley training complex, with full pads and the hot California sun bearing down on them.

Raiders running back Rod Smart, feels that this break is more of a "short resting period," because their work is far from over. For most players, they will spend this opportunity away from practice to visit with family and friends in the area, see the Napa scenery, eat at local restaurants or just hang around the facility.

For Smart, it's all about hanging around the complex and staying rested. "I'm just going to relax, walk around the hotel, and check out the scenery." The scenery around the facility is nice, but the beautiful Napa Valley landscape is at its peak right now, with lush greenery and an abundance of sunshine making players and coaches want to venture outdoors.

Tomorrow afternoon the players and coaches will return to continue their month of training camp here in Napa, Calif. This coming week will be the beginning of preparation for their first pre-season game in Canton, Ohio, where they will be playing the Philadelphia Eagles in the Hall of Fame Game.

"What we're going to do is try to get our guys in a position to play well," Head Coach Art Shell said. "If they play well, the rest of it will take care of itself. Our course, you want to come out of the game healthy. Health is a big key."

"I thought today was good for us, we got to look at a lot of different scenarios during the course of a game," Coach Shell said of this morning's single practice session. "I thought they handled it well and they competed. That bodes well for our football team."

[Angry Pope]

Grove giddy about center spot

VINCE D'ADAMO
Sunday, July 30, 2006 1:15 AM PDT

The Oakland Raiders have a situation of polar opposites when it comes to changes with head coaches and centers.

Since moving back to Oakland in 1995, the Raiders have had six different head coaches. With centers on the other hand, let's just say they tend to last a long time. Jake Grove, who is in his third NFL season, hopes to be the latest to have a lengthy Raiders career at the position after Jim Otto, Dave Dalby, Don Mosebar and Barret Robbins did just that.

"It's going good," Grove said of the first few days of training camp, which began Tuesday. "We got a little warm that first few days but it's cooled off now. It's typical weather we're used to here in Napa. I'm excited about getting into next week and starting the preseason."

After an outstanding career at Virginia Tech, the Raiders drafted Grove in the second round in 2004.



Grove has started eight games in each of his first two seasons but shuttled between guard and center under then head coach Norv Turner. Adam Treu, who is the Raiders longsnapper, also logged some time at center the previous two seasons.

With Art Shell, who coached the Raiders to a 56-41 record from 1989-1994, back in his second tour of duty, Grove is not likely to put his versatility to use in playing both guard and center.

"That's a relief," Grove said. "I think my natural position is center. That's what I want to play. They seem committed to keeping me there so I'm excited about that."

There's a good reason why center is the position Grove views as his natural one.

Unlike most players who might have played different positions at various points of their lives (i.e. high school or college), Grove has primarily been a center his whole life. Grove also played guard and defensive tackle in high school but center is clearly his first love.

Grove grew up in Forest, Virginia (about 8,000 population) but is different from some athletes with small town roots in one respect. Many people in that situation play several different sports whereas Grove played just one.

"It gave me a chance to really focus on that," Grove said. "In the offseason, I spent my time in the weight room. I think if I hadn't done that I don't think I'd be here today. I was able to get bigger and stronger. It gave me a leg up on everybody else."

Shell also has desires for making the Raiders a physical team that establishes control of the line of scrimmage the way the team did during his Hall of Fame career (1968-1982) as an offensive tackle in which the team won a pair of Super Bowls.

One recent example of that desire to have a physical team is the "pit drill" that took place on Thursday. The drill involves two players matching up against each other. The whistle then blows as the two combatants hit each other until the whistles blows to determine a winner.

Since the center on the offensive line is the leader of that position grouping, Grove is being counted on heavily for the Raiders to become the dominant running team, led by Lamont Jordan, that the coaches believe it can be.

So it's fair to say that being an offensive lineman himself, Grove is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to play for a coach who is a Hall of Fame offensive lineman.

"He's committed to running the ball and getting the ball down the field," Grove said of Shell. "It's a good mix. He's a great offensive mind. We're excited about this new offense."

[Angry Pope]

Saturday's training camp photos...

Hit it here..... (http://www.raiders.com/fanzone/galleryPhoto.jsp?contentId=26410)

[Angry Pope]

Coach Shell tries to brings discipline to Raiders

JOSH DUBOW


NAPA, Calif.

Art Shell's first training camp practice was barely an hour old when it became clear that things had changed around the Oakland Raiders.

Defensive lineman Rashad Moore jumped offsides and his teammates immediately yelled out that he better get ready for some sprints. When the first Raiders' first practice came to a finish, Moore was joined by 11 teammates on a run around the field as punishment for penalties.

Even superstar Randy Moss has had to "pay the bank," as Shell puts it, and run after practice for committing false starts.

There's a new regime in town and Shell is making sure his players know it.

"With Art being here, I think there's a certain standard that's here, and if you don't meet that standard you're not going to be here," running back LaMont Jordan said. "One standard is you have to minimize your penalties, you have to minimize your mistakes, you have to go out there and play sensible football. Hopefully this year will be a lot different than it was last year."

Shell is running a tighter ship than Norv Turner did in his two years in Oakland, ordering the sprints for players who jump offsides or commit false starts, and bringing back the macho pit drill that he hopes will instill toughness into the team.

While those old-school tactics are sometimes met with skepticism by modern athletes, defensive tackle Warren Sapp believes it will work in Oakland.

"It's going to be on your mind," Sapp said. "Right now, when you go back and lay down, this afternoon when you come back out, if you don't eliminate, it you're going to be dead. That's not something you want to do on a day-in, day-out basis. I guarantee it."

Penalties have historically been a big problem for the Raiders dating back to Shell's career as a player. They led the NFL with 147 infractions last year, often putting the offense in a hole or keeping the defense on the field for extra plays.

Shell said he can live with penalties of aggression but has no patience with sloppy pre-snap penalties that are often a matter of simple concentration.

"That's focus, and we've got to make sure we take care of those types of things," Shell said. "You can't give away those types of penalties. That's free money, as they say, you're giving away 5 yards. Whether it's defensively or offensively, or even on special teams, you just can't do that because you're hurting your football team."

Shell's approach has a backer in his former coach, John Madden, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame later this week. Madden came out for Shell's first practice last week and was pleased with what he saw.

"You're not tough if you say you're tough. You're tough if you play tough," Madden said. "You're fundamental if you play fundamental, not say it. They're on the right track. They say different eras. Players still want discipline. They can say they're different, that players are different, and maybe they are. But players still want discipline."

After three straight losing seasons, the Raiders have welcomed the old-school approach. Oakland won just 13 games in three years under Bill Callahan and Turner since going to the Super Bowl following the 2002 season.

That's the worst stretch since Al Davis came aboard in 1963 to coach and eventually own the team. Davis brought back Shell, his coach from 1989-94, to return the Raiders to their glory days.

Shell, a Hall of Famer during his playing career with the Raiders, has brought a different level of credibility than the tacticians like Callahan and Turner had.

"We have a leader here now," defensive lineman Bobby Hamilton said. "I'm going to keep saying leader. That's what he is. He's a good coach, he played the game well. He's in the Hall of Fame. If you can't go by that, there's something wrong with you. You need to be out of here. ... Just go out there and do what he says and work."

[Angry Pope]

Woodenson Gone but not forgotten
Defensive backfield adapting without veteran

PHIL BARBER




NAPA - Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha couldn't restrain a laugh when asked about life without Charles Woodson at Raiders training camp.


"You didn't really see him until game day anyway," Asomugha said, perhaps remembering Woodson's 32-day holdout in 2004.

True, Woodson wasn't always the most reliable worker in the factory. But he was one of the Raiders' best and most high-profile players, and Napa seems just a little foreign with Woodson wearing No. 21 in Green Bay, rather than the No. 2 he always busted out for training camp here.

"He actually called me the day before we got here," Asomugha noted. "He said, 'It's your first year without me; What you gonna do?' I let him know, it's gonna be different, but we move on. .. . But he was our leader in the secondary, so it's gonna be a different look, a different feel."

In some ways, the Raiders might be better off without the ultra-talented but often uninterested Woodson.

He missed 21 games over the last four seasons with injuries, and another after being dismissed by then-coach Bill Callahan.

"Charles was a great corner," second-year cornerback Stanford Routt said. "I learned a lot just from watching him last year and from the advice he gave me.

"Sad but true, he's not here no more. ... So now we got to stand up on our own two feet and be a man out there on the field."

When Woodson broke his right fibula in the sixth game last season, it set off a domino effect that forced the Raiders' young cornerbacks into critical roles.

Asomugha, who was already starting opposite Woodson, more often found himself locked onto other teams' No. 1 receivers.

Fabian Washington, then a rookie, suddenly became a starter. And guys like Routt (also a rookie in 2005) had to bite off more than they were ready to chew.

The results were bumpy. Washington generally held his own, but he was beaten deep on several occasions - one thing that wasn't supposed to happen to the speedster.

Routt struggled mightily. And as injuries mounted, the secondary as a whole let too many receivers run free.

Still, it was valuable experience that can't be duplicated by practice repetitions or film study, and it gives the young defensive backs a leg up heading into 2006.

Routt got off to a bad start at training camp when he showed up running a fever of 102 degrees. He lost seven or eight pounds and made a trip to the hospital before feeling well enough to see the field. A couple of days later he was working in the first nickel package when Tyrone Poole got banged up.

Washington, the former first-round draft choice now entering his second season, has been working closely with veteran corner Duane Starks, and he is feeling good about the secondary.

"We're gonna make a lot of noise is this league this year," he said.

EXTRA POINTS

The Raiders had just one practice Saturday, and the following Raiders missed it: RB LaMont Jordan (quad), T Robert Gallery (quad), DE Lance Johnstone (personal business), FB Zack Crockett (back), S Derrick Gibson (flu), WR Carlos Francis (hamstring), G Kelvin Garman (back), T Jabari Levey (flu), CB Raymond Washington (hamstring) and TE Derek Miller. Coach Art Shell hoped Gallery could return today.

[Plunkett16]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
from KFFL

Raiders | Shell a leader
Sun, 30 Jul 2006 15:00:20 -0700

Josh Dubow, of The Associated Press, reports new Oakland Raiders head coach Art Shell has quickly earned the respect of his players during training camp, and has brought a different level of credibility than his predecessors, Norv Turner and Bill Callahan. "We have a leader here now," DL Bobby Hamilton said. "I'm going to keep saying leader. That's what he is. He's a good coach, he played the game well. He's in the Hall of Fame. If you can't go by that, there's something wrong with you. You need to be out of here."

_________________

[Angry Pope]

Brooks Embraces Opportunity

July 30, 2006


At the end of the 2005 season, QB Aaron Brooks found himself in a situation he had never been in before. He was an unrestricted free agent. He had changed teams once before, but that was via a trade. After spending the 1999 season with Green Bay, the Packers traded the former University of Virginia standout to the New Orleans Saints where he began the 2000 season behind starter Jeff Blake.

Ironically, it was The Oakland Raiders who gave Brooks his first real opportunity to get on the field as a professional quarterback. DE Lance Johnstone chased Blake out of the pocket and tackled him during the Raiders 31-22 Week 11 victory at New Orleans during the 2000 season. Blake broke his foot on the play and Brooks entered the game. Brooks went on to start 82 straight games for New Orleans becoming the second-leading passer in Saints history behind Archie Manning. In fact, his 120 touchdown passes as a Saint is the best in that franchise's history.

The Raiders signed Brooks as a free agent in March of this year, giving him his second opportunity to lead an NFL offense. (Coincidently, Lance Johnstone is a Raider once again.) The 6'4", 200-pound veteran signal caller has turned the page on the earlier chapters of his career and is excited about the opportunity to wear the Silver and Black.

"It's a tough change, but I can handle it. I'm more than aware that all eyes will be on me. I'm trying to take it a day at a time and do exactly what the coaches ask me to do," Brooks said. "It's important for me to get in here and understand what we are trying to get accomplished."

Approximately five weeks before Brooks joined the Raiders, Art Shell was named head coach. The Raiders subsequently hired Tom Walsh to serve as offensive coordinator. According to Brooks, the offense that Shell and Walsh have installed is a departure from the system in New Orleans.


"You have more freedom. It allows you to be the player that you would like to be. You're not restricted to do certain things on the football field," Brooks explained. "It allows you to make plays, to give the receiver the freedom to get open. It's a great system, I am going to embrace it."

After joining the Raiders, Brooks jumped right into the off-season work outs, mini-camps and OTAs, and has now spent a week in his first training camp in Napa. Just as he embraced the opportunity to sign with the Silver and Black, he is getting comfortable with his role with his new team.

"It's going to give me the freedom to go at any receiver at any given time and as a quarterback that's what you want," Brooks said. "I think that's going to be the key for me to really utilize my athletic ability, to help this football team win games. I always feel like a leader. I'm just here to do my job the best I can and make sure guys can follow my lead. I'm just looking forward to contributing to this football team."

Brooks will get his first crack at contributing to his new team's success this coming Sunday as the Raiders face the Philadelphia Eagles at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, in the Hall of Fame Game (5:00 p.m. PST, NBC). "It definitely gives us that sense of urgency to say 'hey, we have to get rolling.' We have to get this thing down very quick and we have to be precise very soon," Brooks said of the pre-season opener. "I think it will help all of us. I think it will, you don't want to drag this training camp on. I think it's best to get started early."

As the Raiders get ready to travel to Ohio to face the Eagles, perhaps Brooks put it best when he said, "I'm with a new team, new teammates, great receivers, and hopefully I can get back to that peak performance."

[Angry Pope]

Schweigert injured also...


Gallery makes Raiders training camp debut

NAPA, Calif. - Oakland Raiders' left tackle Robert Gallery was activated off the physically unable to perform list and made his first appearance on the practice field Sunday, but was unsure whether he would play in the team's first preseason game.

"I would guess we're a week away, but that's up for (the coaches) to decide," said Gallery, who missed the first five days of training camp with a sore quadriceps muscle. "I hope so. I want to get out there and hit somebody else."

The Raiders open the NFL preseason against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 6.

Gallery, the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2004, injured himself working out in Iowa a week before the Raiders opened camp. While the rest of Oakland's team went through the rigors of two-a-day practices, the 6-foot-7-inch, 325-pound Gallery worked out privately with a team trainer.

In his absence, the Raiders used journeyman offensive lineman Chad Slaughter at left tackle. The two split reps with Oakland's first team offense Sunday, a pattern Raiders coach Art Shell indicated will continue until Gallery gets back up to speed.

"We're just easing him back, giving him a couple of shots here and there," Shell said.

Gallery said he was eager to get back working full-time but understood the Raiders' cautious approach.

"I took a few reps in every drill," Gallery said. "I didn't get them all but I'm going to work into it. They're just playing it precautious. Now it's just getting in, getting comfortable, thinking faster and picking up things as I go."

---

SCHWEIGERT INJURED: Free safety Stuart Schweigert left practice Sunday with what Coach Art Shell described as a tweaked groin.

The injury isn't thought to be serious, but Schweigert is expected to be sidelined for a few days.

Schweigert has started 16 games in two seasons with Oakland, including 13 in 2005. He led the Raiders with two interceptions last season, when the team set an NFL record for fewest interceptions (five) in a 16-game season.

A third-round draft pick in 2004, Schweigert had been taking all the reps with Oakland's starting defense before pulling up injured Sunday.

"I don't think it's serious but we'll have to see," Shell said.

Veteran defensive back Jarrod Cooper practiced with the first team defense in Schweigert's absence.

---

FLU BUG SWEEPING RAIDERS: A flu bug of some sort is making its way through the Raiders' locker room, and tight end James Adkisson became the latest victim when he was held out of practice Sunday.

That brought to four the number of players who have missed time in training camp because of illness.

Safety Derrick Gibson, cornerback Stanford Routt and tight end Marcellus Rivers all have been sidelined because of flu-like symptoms. All three practiced Sunday, but the Raiders are taking precautions against further outbreaks.

"It's like that bug is kind of slipping around, one at a time," Shell said. "(Trainer Rod Martin) told the team the other night about what to do and what not to do."

[Angry Pope]

Walsh speaks, touchdowns result

July 30th, 2006
Jerry McDonald

NAPA _ Maybe it was just a coincidence, but on the same day Tom Walsh was finally allowed to speak to the media, the Oakland Raiders offense broke loose in practice.

OK, it was for certain a coincidence. And to say the Raiders offense broke loose would probably be overstating the case.

But Walsh answered questions and the Raiders converted a few big plays in the passing game, so all was right with the world.

He may have been away from the NFL since 1994, but Walsh, whose coaching pedigree is all about power football, is good with at misdirection with the media.

Walsh didn’t answer a lot of questions directly, but divulged enough of his Sid Gillman roots to demonsrate why Al Davis had no problem signing off Shell’s pick for offensive coordinator.

Lo and behold, there were hints of that offense in Sunday’s lone practice.

It’s virtually impossible for an untrained eye to determine who is beating who in the running game because there is no actual tackling, but an extremely shaky Oakland passing game was suddenly transformed into something resembling a vertical offense.

The biggest play came on a 40-plus-yard scoring strike from Aaron Brooks to Alvis Whitted which so delighted Randy Moss he mocked the defense which has been torturing his offense in a profane but entertaining manner.

“Hey, that (bleep) was easy, `O,’ Moss yelled back to his offensive mates as he trotted through the defense on his way back to another huddle. “That (bleep-bleep, bleep) was easy!'’

OK, it loses something in sensorship, but Richard Pryor would have loved it.

Moss seemed to having a grand time, swearing at himself for a drop over the middle, latching on to one sideline go-route for big yardage and giving Brooks credit for both throws, “Nice throw, AB.'’

It may have provided a lift to the offense that their No. 1 offense was intact for at least a few snaps. Robert Gallery was activated off the Physically Unable to Perform List and ran with the first team at left tackle before giving way to Chad Slaughter. LaMont Jordan, out for two days with a bruised right quadriceps, got some work at running back before being replaced by Justin Fargas and Rod Smart.

That first team offense with a two-receiver set is not including Jerry Porter at the moment. Doug Gabriel is on the field with Moss, although Porter was in on three-wide receiver sets.

Whitted also got considerable slot work. When practice ended and the Raiders ran sprints in three separate groups across the width of the field, Porter finished last in his group on all four sprints.

Backup quarterback Andrew Walter didn’t want to call it a breakthrough day for the offense, he would concede, “We’re getting there.'’

While an ESPN story reported Porter was upset with Walsh’s hiring, Moss had no problem bringing him into the fold Sunday.

As the Raiders were running their sprints, Moss shouted, “You should be running with the offense, Tom Walsh!'’

While going through a post-practice stretch, a low, booming voice over the fence began shouting, “Raaaaaidders!'’

Moss yelled, “Homeboy doing all that yelling, what’s happening?'’

There was no reply.

“Oh, so now you’re quiet,'’ Moss said.

It was just one practice, but for a change, the offense was finally getting a chance to do a little talking.

Even the offensive coordiantor.

Bits and pieces from Friday’s lone practice:

– Shane Lechler cut loose with a series of cloud-scraping punts, some of which carried more than 70 yards.

“I had a good day,'’ Lechler said. “I had one (lousy) one, but I hit more good than bad.'’

— Fullback Zack Crockett (back) rejoined Gallery and Jordan, but FS Stuart Schweigert suffered a groin strain of undetermined severity and left practice.

With Schweigert out, rookie Michael Huff got plenty of work with the first unit, paired most often with Jarrod Cooper.

— Al Davis, in Detroit last week as part of a committee to help select the next commissioner, made his first appearance at practice. Shell chuckled when asked if Davis had been following the action closely on film.

“Now you think about that question,'’ Shell said. “He knows the players on this team. He watches every single snap, studies every single play. Takes a while to watch the tape, takes three hours. but he watches every single player and he can evaluate every one of those players. That’s what he’s done all those years..

– Tight ends continue to be popular targets. If Courtney Anderson remains healthy, he should catch at least 60 passes.

“Basically, we’re running the Raider offense the way it’s been run when you go back to the 60s, 70s and the 80s,'’ Walsh said. “Whether it was a Raymond Chester, or Dave Casper or Todd Christensen, or Ethan Horton or Mike Dyal or Bob Moore, you can go back as far as you want in the annals. That’s just the same offense, really.'’

— Jordan can count on getting a series off now and then, giving way to Justin Fargas or another running back. Walsh had some issues with the way former coach Jon Gruden worked rookie running back Carnell Williams.

“You go through your stats and look at you roster, who’s going to go out there and play 65 plays a game for 16 weeks? You can’t handle it,'’ Walsh said. “I had to laugh, I did some Auburn games when Carnell was down there, when he was in the Southeastern Conference, (the Bucs) run him 35 times or whatever, I’m thinking this poor guy’s not going to make it through Week 3 . . . You just can’t do that. You can’t put a load on a guy, and expect him to be a hammer.'’

— Walsh sidestepped the question of who will call the plays, saying it’s a process and a lot of people have a hand on it.

It’s an old Raider tradition, which reached the height of absurdity when Mike White, Joe Bugel and Jim Fassel would each contibute plays into a mish-mash of an offense that fell apart in 1995. The Raiders would never identify a play-caller when Ray Perkins was offensive coordinator in 1997.

But fear not. Shell gave Walsh up.

“Tom will call the plays,'’ Shell said.

A straight answer. See how easy that is?

[Angry Pope]

Raiders get a visit from Davis

Jason Jones
Published 12:01 am PDT Monday, July 31, 2006

NAPA -- It was the owner's turn to "smell the grass."
Al Davis made his first training camp visit Sunday afternoon, the sixth day of practice.

Davis arrived after practice began. He rode to the practice field in a golf cart and stood on the sideline. He chatted with players during practice and with coach Art Shell afterward.

"It's great to see him," Shell said. "The players love seeing him out here. He comes out and gets a chance to smell the grass and see what's going on. He gets excited when he sees our players out here."

Davis' visit was not a surprise to Shell. The owner keeps close tabs on the happenings at practice, and Shell welcomes Davis' presence.

"I talked to him (Sunday), and he said, 'I'll probably be out today,' and I said, 'Great, you need to come out,' " Shell said. "The players want to see him."

The players might not see Davis on the field, but he sees plenty of what they do in practice.

"He watches every single snap," Shell said. "He studies every single player on this football team. … It takes him awhile to watch the tape. It takes three hours."

Special focus -- Ted Daisher is loud during practice, and the message is clear: Hustle, or get off the field.

Daisher is the new special teams coach. And if you have disdain for special teams, Daisher will find someone willing to make a living running down punts.

"People are finding out real quick there's no security in this job," said safety Jarrod Cooper, last year's special teams captain. "Even me, I've got young guys breathing down my throat, making me bump my game up. That's what he wants -- competition.

"Competition brings out the best in people, and that's what he's doing."

Kick returner Chris Carr said it is "more intense" during this year's special teams practices as Daisher emphasizes accountability.

"He's basically just stressing the fundamentals," Carr said. "Most returns that go wrong, people are just on the wrong side, or they got lazy and did the wrong thing."

Last year Carr made the team for his return skills, but he had no touchdown returns. He wants at least three this year and is confident Daisher will put him in position to do so.

"They seem real adamant if people aren't doing their jobs, they're going to put somebody else in, so I think everyone is real confident more lanes are going to open up," Carr said.

Back to the grind -- After practicing once during each of the past two days, the Raiders are scheduled to have three two-a-day practices before leaving Friday for Sunday's Hall of Fame Game against Philadelphia in Canton, Ohio.

The Raiders are slated to practice once Wednesday afternoon.


Camp report

Quote of the day: "It's like serving chicken. I mean, one day it's fried, one day it's grilled, and the next day it's chicken Marsala, and the next day it's something else. But it's still chicken. They still got 11 guys out there. It's just a matter of the philosophies of the coaches. You go from there." -- Raiders offensive coordinator Tom Walsh on how NFL defenses have changed since he last coached in 1994.

Play of the day: Wide receiver Jerry Porter may not be popular with his teammates, but he showed some of the skills that make him intriguing. Porter went up for a high pass from Andrew Walter, plucking the ball out of the air as cornerback Stanford Routt provided tight coverage and hit Porter's arms as he made the catch. Porter then turned up the sideline.

Player watch: Three offensive starters returned to practice on a day the team didn't wear pads. Running back LaMont Jordan (quadriceps), fullback Zack Crockett (back) and left tackle Robert Gallery (quadriceps) all were on the field. Safety Derrick Gibson also was back after missing two days because of flu-like symptoms.

Injury report: Safety Stuart Schweigert left practice with a groin injury that is not expected to be serious.

• Tight end James Adkisson became the latest ill Raider to miss practice. Coach Art Shell said Adkisson had "the chills" before practice. Earlier in the week, tight end Marcellus Rivers, Routt and Gibson had missed practice because of illness.

[Angry Pope]

Davis makes first appearance, puts in long day

NAPA - Raiders managing general partner Al Davis made his first appearance at training camp Sunday and promised to speak with Bay Area media Tuesday.

Davis arrived soon after the practice started but stuck around until the end some two hours later. He then spent several minutes conversing with coach Art Shell.

"It was great to see him," Shell said. "The players love seeing him out there. You come out, you get a chance to smell the grass and see what's going on. He gets excited when he sees our players up here. Everybody was happy to see him up here."

Davis' movement has been slowed in recent years by a lingering quadriceps ailment. He got around with the aid of a walker and a golf cart Sunday.

Shell laughed when asked if Davis has watched videotape of the first five days of training camp.

"Now, you think about that question you just asked," Shell said to a reporter. "He watches every single snap, studies every single player on this football team. He knows the players on this team.

"It takes him awhile to watch the tape, he says. It takes long, it takes three hours, but he watches every single player. And he can evaluate each one of those players. That's what he's doing. All these years."

Davis is scheduled to deliver the presentation speech for former Raiders coach John Madden at Madden's induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Gallery returns

Left offensive tackle Robert Gallery was removed from the physically-unable-to-perform list and practiced for the first time since training camp started.

Gallery worked with the first-team offense but didn't take all the snaps in light of the quadriceps injury that sidelined him for five days.

"Ease him back," Shell said. "Give him a couple shots here and there. Don't want to go too fast."

Gallery said it felt "great" to be back on the field and part of full-team drills. He has been working out on his own the past week.

"I'm just glad to be back on the field," Gallery said. "I felt comfortable."

He said he feels as if he will be ready to play in Oakland's exhibition opener against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Quote of the day

"Hey, that (stuff) was easy, Art! Hey, Robo, that (stuff) was easy!" - Wide receiver Randy Moss to Shell and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan after the Raiders offense scored a touchdown two plays in to a hurry-up drill.

Extra points

Free safety Stuart Schweigert missed most of practice with a "tweaked groin," Shell said. ... Running back LaMont Jordan (quadriceps) returned to practice after missing the past two days. Defensive end Lance Johnstone (personal reasons) returned after missing one day. Tight end Randal Williams (back) and fullback Zack Crockett (back) also returned after missing time. Tight end James Adkisson was excused from practice because of the flu. ... Receiver Jerry Porter worked with the second-team offense for most of the day. He also wasn't on the field when the Raiders used three receivers in a hurry-up drill. Doug Gabriel replaced Porter opposite Moss, with Alvis Whitted coming in as the third receiver.

[Angry Pope]

Walsh's path leads him back to football

Fired by the Raiders after the 1994 season, offensive coordinator is glad to be reunited with former boss Shell

Steve Corkran

NAPA - Tom Walsh resurfaced with the Raiders in February after an 11-year hiatus from the NFL. During that time, he and Raiders coach Art Shell traveled divergent paths since their first stint together as coach and offensive coordinator.

Yet, it was understood that if Shell ever got another shot at an NFL coaching job, Walsh would be asked to be his offensive coordinator once again.

Both have more gray hair, a few more wrinkles and more mileage on their engines than they did back then, yet it's as if nothing has changed now that they are reunited with the Raiders.

"It's not like I ever went away," Walsh said.

No, Walsh said, his mind has been on football since he and Shell were fired by the Raiders after the 1994 season. All he needed was a phone call.

Never mind that he got the call from Shell in Swan Valley, Idaho, where he was the mayor and ran the Hansen Guest Ranch. The two had a pact. Done deal. Next plane out.

Walsh's wife is serving out his mayoral term and others are picking up his chores at his "horse-friendly" bed-and-breakfast these days. Walsh, a Martinez native, is working on injecting life into an offense that sputtered last season despite the addition of wide receiver Randy Moss and running back LaMont Jordan.

Don't read too much into Walsh's absence from the NFL, he said. Once a coach, always a coach. Sure, there might be a little catching up to do but not anywhere near as much as one might suspect.

"I could be mayor, on the governor's board for tourism council in Idaho or whatever, that doesn't mean that my brain was erased," Walsh said. "If you're out there bucking hay, you're still going to think about (football)."

Shell said his list of candidates for offensive coordinator started and ended with Walsh.

Walsh's lack of on-field experience since he was the coach and director of football operations for the Regional Football League's Mobile Admirals in 1999 didn't play into Shell's decision-making process. Neither did Walsh's being asked to resign at Idaho State in 1998 after his teams combined for a 6-18 record.

"Tom Walsh (was) first because he knows the system that I love," said Shell, who will allow Walsh to call all the plays. "He knows the system and he knows how to implement it. ... That was no big decision for me."

Shell and Walsh agree that the system in question is one devised by former San Diego Chargers coach Sid Gillman and modified by Raiders managing general partner Al Davis, who coached under Gillman from 1960-62 before joining the Raiders.

In short, Shell and Walsh promise a return to a brand of offense that features straight-ahead running and downfield throws. No more variations of the West Coast offense.

"I still have the same aspirations and the beliefs, in terms that you have to run the football and you've got to run and make it physical and you've got to throw the ball down the field," Walsh said. "You can't sit there and be content to nickel-and-dime yourself up and down the field. It just doesn't work that way."

What works, Walsh said, are the same things that worked for the Raiders in the 1960s, '70s, '80s and early '90s.

"We have to get back to that," Walsh said. "There's no fancy way about it. We're not going to come out and finesse people. It's about being physical, it's about dominating, it's about imposing your will on your opponent."

That plays well to a group of players on an offense that struggled scoring points last season and lacked consistency overall.

"If coach Shell hired him, he hired him for a reason," left offensive tackle Robert Gallery said. "I'm totally on board."

[Angry Pope]

Raiders' Gallery Takes Field, Still Not Healthy

(AP) NAPA Oakland Raiders' left tackle Robert Gallery was activated off the physically unable to perform list and made his first appearance on the practice field Sunday, but was unsure whether he would play in the team's first preseason game.


Training Camp Preview

"I would guess we're a week away, but that's up for (the coaches) to decide," said Gallery, who missed the first five days of training camp with a sore quadriceps muscle. "I hope so. I want to get out there and hit somebody else."

The Raiders open the NFL preseason against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 6.

Gallery, the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2004, injured himself working out in Iowa a week before the Raiders opened camp. While the rest of Oakland's team went through the rigors of two-a-day practices, the 6-foot-7-inch, 325-pound Gallery worked out privately with a team trainer.

In his absence, the Raiders used journeyman offensive lineman Chad Slaughter at left tackle. The two split reps with Oakland's first team offense Sunday, a pattern Raiders coach Art Shell indicated will continue until Gallery gets back up to speed.

"We're just easing him back, giving him a couple of shots here and there," Shell said.

Gallery said he was eager to get back working full-time but understood the Raiders' cautious approach.

"I took a few reps in every drill," Gallery said. "I didn't get them all but I'm going to work into it. They're just playing it precautious. Now it's just getting in, getting comfortable, thinking faster and picking up things as I go."

SCHWEIGERT INJURED: Free safety Stuart Schweigert left practice Sunday with what Coach Art Shell described as a tweaked groin.

The injury isn't thought to be serious, but Schweigert is expected to be sidelined for a few days.

Schweigert has started 16 games in two seasons with Oakland, including 13 in 2005. He led the Raiders with two interceptions last season, when the team set an NFL record for fewest interceptions (five) in a 16-game season.

A third-round draft pick in 2004, Schweigert had been taking all the reps with Oakland's starting defense before pulling up injured Sunday.

"I don't think it's serious but we'll have to see," Shell said.

Veteran defensive back Jarrod Cooper practiced with the first team defense in Schweigert's absence.

FLU BUG SWEEPING RAIDERS: A flu bug of some sort is making its way through the Raiders' locker room, and tight end James Adkisson became the latest victim when he was held out of practice Sunday.

That brought to four the number of players who have missed time in training camp because of illness.

Safety Derrick Gibson, cornerback Stanford Routt and tight end Marcellus Rivers all have been sidelined because of flu-like symptoms. All three practiced Sunday, but the Raiders are taking precautions against further outbreaks.

"It's like that bug is kind of slipping around, one at a time," Shell said. "(Trainer Rod Martin) told the team the other night about what to do and what not to do."

[Angry Pope]

Raiders' Walsh says game's still the same

- Nancy Gay
Monday, July 31, 2006


To hear the Raiders' Tom Walsh tell it, an 11-year absence from the NFL doesn't mean he's completely disconnected from the nuances of the 21st century game.

Sure, a series of varied career paths, from software design to owning a bed-and-breakfast inn in Idaho, kept Walsh away from the sideline since his last NFL stint under Art Shell, which ended when both were fired by owner Al Davis after the 1994 season.

Walsh, in fact, hasn't coached since an ill-fated run as the head man at Idaho State (1997-98), which resulted in a 5-14 record and a midseason dismissal after starting 2-6 in '98.

Still, football hasn't changed, the Raiders' offensive coordinator said Sunday in his first interview since being hired in February. In his view, the plays and the players are no different from the time he learned the game under the tutelage of offensive guru Sid Gillman to now.

Walsh once drew up schemes for Raiders players such as wide receiver Tim Brown and running backs Bo Jackson and Marcus Allen during his first incarnation as a Raiders assistant (1982-94). Now, the Martinez native is game-planning for the likes of quarterback Aaron Brooks, wide receiver Randy Moss and running back LaMont Jordan.

He's also confronting a game that has become more blitz-oriented, complicated and faster on defense. Who, for example, was running the zone blitz in 1994?

"There are a couple few wrinkles that change. People try to ... It's like serving chicken,'' said Walsh, who also had a seven-year run as a college football and NFL analyst for Westwood One Radio. "I mean, one day it's fried, one day it's grilled and the next day it's chicken Marsala, and the next day it's something else.

"But it's still chicken. They still got 11 guys out there. It's just a matter of the philosophies of the coaches. You go from there."

When Shell was re-hired by Davis on Feb. 13 to rescue a franchise that had gone 13-35 the past three seasons, the head coach did not hesitate one second when it came to choosing his offensive coordinator.

It would be Walsh, who favors the same between-the-tackles downhill running and stretch passing game that Shell advocates.

"It was Tom Walsh -- first,'' said Shell, who will allow Walsh to call the offensive plays from the press box, just as he did in their first coaching run together. "Because he knows the system that I love and he knows how to implement it.

"Between (him) and Freddie (Biletnikoff) and myself, we're putting the system together and getting these guys to understand.''

Shell and Walsh have kept in close contact over the years, as Shell moved around the NFL as an assistant and a league executive in New York. At the same time, Walsh said he had done some consulting for college and NFL people.

"I'd visit with coaches in college. Staffs (would) bring me in or they (would) come out to the ranch and talk football and get on the white boards and all that,'' Walsh said. "So I've remained very close to the game in that respect.''

In addition, Walsh said he also partnered with a coaching friend to develop a football game for Sega game systems.

All the same, he doesn't believe in what he calls the modern "joystick quarterbacks" who cannot improvise or think for themselves on the field. Or coaches who are too rigid to allow that type of game-day change.

"Too much of this era, of this age, has turned into where there are little 'technocrats' that are out there, coaching people like they're watching some video football. That's not what it is,'' Walsh said.

What do the players think of their new, and largely unknown, coordinator?

Left tackle Robert Gallery, who was activated from the physically unable to perform list and returned to practice Sunday with a healed quad muscle, said the gaping hole in Walsh's NFL resume doesn't concern him.

"If coach Shell hired him, he hired him for a reason,'' Gallery said. "I'm totally on board with coach Shell. If he hired, you know, Santa Claus, I wouldn't question it. Because he obviously has a reason for it.''

Briefly: Davis made his first training-camp appearance in Napa, watching the team's lone afternoon workout. ... Jordan (bruised knee, quad) also returned to practice and looked strong in 11-on-11 drills. The team did not scrimmage. ... Safety Stuart Schweigert strained his groin, an injury Shell said did not appear to be serious. ... The flu bug, which appears to be something like a strep-throat infection, continues to keep safety Derrick Gibson sidelined and also now has struck tight end James Adkisson.

[Angry Pope]

Walsh feels like he never left
Raiders coordinator ran a town, now he's back to run an offense

By Bill Soliday



NAPA — The first thing Art Shell did when he was tabbed to coach the Raiders in February was put in a call to Tom Walsh to be his offensive coordinator.
Walsh hadn't coached pro football for more than a decade, so there were raised eyebrows when it was announced he'd been running a bed and breakfast in Idaho. Actually, there weren't just eyebrows, there were jokes.

"It's not like I ever went away," Walsh said Sunday in his first interview since joining Shell's staff. "You know, I could be mayor, on the governor's board for tourism council in Idaho or whatever. That doesn't mean that my brain was erased. If you're out there bucking hay, you're still going to think about (football)."

And it wasn't like Walsh was away from football totally. Yes, he ran a bed and breakfast. Yes, he was mayor of Swan Valley (pop. 226) and yes, he had served on the tourism commission.

But he was also involved in radio broadcasts of NFL and college games. He had coached college and minor league football. He helped formulate the technology that created Sega's version of computerized football.

"It's not like I've been in mothballs," Walsh said. "I don't feel like I've been in retirement at all."

Still, the cynics crowed, the game surely must have passed him by in the years since he left the Raiders (an assistant and offensive coordinator from 1982-94).

And yet ... didn't Dick Vermiel come out of the television studio in 1997 after being out of the NFL for 14 years, leading the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl title his third year?

Anecdotal evidence, perhaps, but Shell had tons of faith in Walsh, who had served as his offensive coordinator in his first stint with the Raiders.

"That was no big decision for me," Shell said, "because he knows the system I love and he knows how to implement it. When this came about, it was a natural for me.

"We'd been talking the last few years about football. We (discussed) what was it they were doing in the league that was so different than in the past? It's an old saying, but you can't reinvent the wheel. Some things that are being presented as new? There's nothing new. The zone blitz, that's the one thing that is fairly new."

Shell said he didn't have to coax Walsh to return.

"He is a football man," Shell said. "He studied under Sid Gillman for years. Then he came to the Raiders. The system Al (Davis) has came out of was Sid's deal. Tom knows this system inside and out."

"Obviously I appreciate his loyalty and his genuine





friendship," Walsh said.

Walsh's hiatus from football does not appear to be an issue with the players.

"You hear the stories, but if coach Shell hired him, he hired him for a reason," left tackle Robert Gallery said. "I am totally on board with coach Shell. If he brought in Santa Claus, I wouldn't question it because he has a reason."

The major difference this season is the Raiders are returning to power football.

Gallery described it as an attacking offense.

"We're not going to have a lot of finesse," he said. "We're going to bloody some noses."

Walsh is not impressed with the argument that defenses have changed over the years.

"There's a couple of wrinkles that change," he said. "(But) it's like serving chicken. One day it's fried, one day it's grilled and the next day it's chicken marsala. The next day it's something else. But it's still chicken. They've still got 11 guys out there."

Another nuance is Walsh will involve his quarterbacks in play decisions more than most coaches. It's worked pretty well in Indianapolis with Peyton Manning. Walsh asks his quarterbacks to list their favorite plays in order.

"We want them to be creators and contributors — thinkers," Walsh said. "Utilize their talents and skills. The goal for a good coach is to call what they know, what they understand. They have ownership in it.

"Too much of this era has turned into where these little technocrats think they're out there coaching people like they're watching some video football. That's not what it is. These are people. They've got brains. They've got contributions they can make."



EXTRA POINTS: When the Raiders returned to practice Sunday so did Gallery, although he shared snaps with Chad Slaughter at LT. The plan is to ease him back into duty ... Also making his first appearance at camp was Davis, who heretofore had been in his room watching three hours of practice tape a day ... FS Stuart Schweigert suffered a strained groin, the severity of which was not immediately known ... The latest victim of the virus that has hit the team is TE James Adkisson.

[Angry Pope]

Walsh brings throwback attitude to the offense
Coordinator old-fashioned, but QBs input with game plans will be heard

PHIL BARBER




NAPA - Judging by the interview Tom Walsh granted the Raiders beat writers Sunday - his first since he was hired as offensive coordinator in February - here's what you can expect from the guy who spent 13 seasons as a Raiders assistant between 1982 and 1994 before falling off the football map: Power running, quarterbacks operating with free rein, and metaphors galore.

"This field is a giant canvas," Walsh said, relaying a message he passed on to his players. "And each of you has an opportunity for your own Rembrandt, your own van Gogh, your own Picasso, your own Chagall. Instead of a brush and a palette of colors, you've got to run, catch, throw, block, make decisions and express yourself in those veins."

If you were expecting innovative, you should know that Walsh is still running a version of the Sid Gillman offense that informed Raiders owner Al Davis and terrorized AFL defenses in the early '60s.

"Really, no disrespect to any other coach out there, present, past, future or whatever, but the majority of what you see in the game today has some form or element and the same things that Al was doing when he was coaching for Sid," Walsh said. "Power off-tackle, throwing the ball down the field - all those traditions have come down, really, for decades."

What else would you expect from a man who hasn't coached in the NFL since 1994, and whose last notable stint on the sidelines was at Idaho State in 1997-98? Since then, Walsh has been running a bed-and-breakfast inn in Swan Valley, Idaho, serving as the town's mayor and counting the money he made as co-founder of a company that produced football software for Sega video games.

Many wonder whether Walsh can make a smooth transition back to the pro game after so much time away. But when Shell was hired to replace Norv Turner as head coach, his list of potential offensive coordinators, he said, was one line long.

Old-fashioned though he may be, Walsh seems to be willing to give his quarterbacks a lot of latitude in designing game plans. Saturday, he asked each of his first three passers to suggest their favorite dropback, play-action, red-zone, and nickel passes.

"They're not a joystick quarterback," he said. "And too much of the era of this age has turned into where these little technocrats think that they're out there coaching people like they're watching some video football. ... That's not what it is."

Walsh - like Turner, a Martinez native - said he grew up listening to Bill King call football games. He later lived in Alhambra Valley, not far from the Raiders' former digs, Frank Youell Field.

He's is another authentic throwback, the current trend in Oakland. And he doesn't care if you're skeptical about his credentials.

"It's not like I ever went away," he said. "You know, I could be mayor, on the governor's board for tourism council in Idaho or whatever, that doesn't mean that my brain was erased. If you're out there bucking hay, you're still going to think about (football)."

EXTRA POINT

T Robert Gallery, RB LaMont Jordan, DE Lance Johnstone, FB Zack Crockett and S Derrick Gibson all returned to practice Sunday. WR Ronald Curry (Achilles'), WR Carlos Francis (hamstring), T Jabari Levey (cramps) and CB Raymond Washington (hamstring) remained out, and TE James Adkisson (flu) joined them.

[Angry Pope]

Take it for what it is worth...

Phil Barber


Ups and Downs

This list comes with a multiple disclaimers, like (a) we’re not even a week into training camp, and (b) you don’t always know if people are handling their assignments in drills, and (c) some guys play better than they practice. Keeping all that in mind, here’s a look at players who have been excelling or regressing during Raiders Training Camp ’06:

MOVING UP:

LB Thomas Howard – Blockers are really struggling to get a piece of this speedy rookie from UTEP. The way he’s running around guys reminds me of what Derrick Burgess did last summer, and you saw what kind of season he had.

DT Anttaj Hawthorne – He still looks roly-poly. But Hawthorne seems to be a favorite of the Raiders’ defensive staff. And with a year under his belt, he’s making plays in the backfield.

CB Fabian Washington – As a rookie last year, Washington generally looked lost in coverage. A year later, he’s been blanketing receivers and making plays on deep balls.

S Hiram Eugene – A long shot to make the team, he has made at least a couple of interceptions.

LB Robert Thomas – He has been something of a bust over four NFL seasons after joining the Rams as a first-round draft choice in 2002. In Napa, he has diagnosed plays quickly and blown up a few of them.

MOVING DOWN:

QB Andrew Walter – I know he’s your QB of the future, folks, but Walter just doesn’t look sharp in practice. He didn’t last year, either. He rarely sets his feet, and he throws an inordinate number of wobbly balls for a guy with such a strong arm.

WR Johnnie Morant – Beginning his third year, he’s still voted Most Likely to Line Up in the Wrong Place Before the Snap.

T Langston Walker – The Raiders need big things from Walker at RT this season. But he looks like he’s still struggling against speed rushers, and he’s been hit with a couple false starts.

DE Bobby Hamilton – It isn’t that he’s getting beat left and right. It’s just that Hamilton isn’t doing much to distinguish himself on the second team, and that isn’t good news for a 35-year-old. He still plays unofficial coach to the younger D-linemen, though.

-- Phil Barber

[Angry Pope]

He Hate Me and I Love Me

For the past year and a half, Jarrod Cooper has been the Raiders’ most reliable dispenser of outlandish comments, off-color jokes and general hilarity. You can’t say hi to Coop in passing without winding up with a colorful quote or an unprintable story about a previous escapade.

This is the guy who once dated Christina Aguilera when he played in Carolina, and who, when asked how to pronounce his first name, answered: “Well, my mom’s white, and she calls me ‘JAR-rod,’ and my dad’s black, and he calls me ‘jar-ROD,’ so it don’t really matter.”

Cooper’s long-running standup act had doubled its punch with Raiders’ acquisition of Rod Smart, the running back and kick returner whose primary source of fame is the nickname – He Hate Me – he wore on his jersey when he played in the short-lived XFL. Cooper and Smart were special-teams running mates for 2½ years with the Panthers, and they have developed quite a patter.

One afternoon recently, they emerged from the locker room and announced that (1) they would be conducting all interviews as a package deal, and (2) they had just performed DNA tests and concluded they were half-brothers.

“Different mothers, same father,” Cooper said.

“We still don’t know who he is,” Smart added.

“Dad ran away,” said Cooper. “He’ll probably see this interview and try and come back and get some money.”

“Dad, you’re not getting it,” Smart blustered into the microphones. “Nothing.”

Before reporters finally staggered away, Smart had complained that his speed on the Madden 2006 game was a lowly 14 out of 100, Cooper had again threatened to stir up the NFL with a tell-all book, and both had wondered aloud if they would be able to wear their vintage 70s suits for road trips.

At one point, someone suggested to Cooper that the Raiders had an ethnically diverse secondary this season. “Well, we got one white guy…,” Cooper said, counting on his fingers, “one mixed guy… so, not really.”

Many future episodes of this act are promised – assuming these guys make the team.

--Phil Barber

[Angry Pope]

Here is a video of the Raiders Report television show....

Part 1.... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-wlqoa4IpY&search=raiders)

[Angry Pope]

The next part....

Part 2.... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D1MmoY4gWM&search=raiders)

[Angry Pope]

Part 3......... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqVxhBZGHMo&search=raiders)

[Angry Pope]

Part 4......... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR7wYN1fD6A&search=raiders)

[Seraph24]

Great Find AP. Very Great.

[Angry Pope]

Raider Nation-building: Shell sets out to restore Silver & Black

Posted 7/31/2006 5:51 PM ET

NAPA, Calif. — So there was Randy Moss, one of the NFL's most electric players, paying dues with sweat as he finished a gallop around the field at the Oakland Raiders' training camp while teammates jeered.

It was hot, sticky and practice was essentially over. But because the five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver had committed a false start during a drill, this was his punishment. Moss was joined for a lap by three other guilty players.

Art Shell is back.

"I was hoping he'd bring some leadership and discipline to the team," Moss says. "I don't mean bed-checks. I mean things to make sure that we understand football. I see that happening. And hey, if he makes the rules, we've got to abide by them. Even me."

Shell — re-hired by Raiders owner Al Davis in February after working in the NFL office as senior vice president for football operations and development — is trying to bring discipline to a declining franchise that discarded him 11 years ago after he produced three playoff appearances in five seasons. He says his disappointment about being fired was resolved years ago, that at the core he always has been a Raider. He became a Hall of Fame tackle during a 15-year career with the Raiders, broke into coaching as an assistant with them and in 1989 became the first African-American head coach in the modern era.

Now he is charged with restoring the team's respectability, with the Raiders' 13-35 record tying the San Francisco 49ers for the NFL's worst performance the past three seasons.

"I watched them a lot because I'm a Raider," Shell says. "I got the jibes, too. 'Hey Art, what happened to your Raiders?' (Ticked) me off. ... It bothered me that they would lose. I've always felt that if I can get back, I think I could do it better. Now I'm here."

Not a chance

Even as the Raiders job opened when Norv Turner was fired in January after two seasons, Shell thought the window was closed on coaching. Despite his qualifications — he was 54-38 with a 2-3 playoff record — he had been bypassed for scores of NFL head coaching jobs.

He admits the lack of opportunity hurt. "It probably bothered people around me and friends of mine more than it bothered me," Shell says. "I can build a wall and not let things bother me. When I first got out, I thought I'd get another opportunity. I felt I deserved another opportunity. But for whatever reason, nobody was willing to pull that trigger."

When the market was flooded this year with 10 openings, Shell, 57, told his agent, Danny More, to back off.

"He's been bugging me every year. 'We need to get one of these jobs,' " Shell says. "He was very persistent. But I told him this year, 'I don't ever want you to run my name through anybody anymore. I don't want to go through this again.' I said, 'Danny, nobody's going to hire me. It has been too long.' "

Return to family

Shell isn't certain whether his race was a factor. Although the NFL has made significant progress in hiring minority coaches, there remains frustration and distrust among some African-Americans within the league about the process. Gene Upshaw, Shell's former linemate and executive director of the NFL Players Association, says he mentioned race when discussing the Raiders' opening with Davis. Upshaw says he told Davis if Shell wasn't hired by the Raiders that he would never get another chance.

"He said, 'Why does it always have to be me?' " Upshaw says of a phone conversation with Davis. "I said, 'Because it's always been you.' "

Upshaw points to Davis' historic hiring of Shell, and his roles in drafting the first black quarterback chosen in the first round (Eldridge Dickey, 1968) and hiring the first black game official (Aaron Wade) when he was AFL commissioner.

Yet Upshaw insists his push for Shell was less about race than it was helping Davis find the right candidate.

The call from Davis, who also interviewed Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, came in early February. Shell flew to Oakland two days before Super Bowl XL, and about a week later had his old job back.

Davis, unavailable for comment for this story, said at Shell's introductory news conference he was moved to restore some of the franchise's old philosophies after hiring five coaches from outside the Raiders family since firing Shell.

cont'd...

[Angry Pope]

cont'd...

Besides Jon Gruden — the current Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach who guided the Raiders to the AFC title game in January 2001 and built the squad that Bill Callahan took to Super Bowl XXXVII the following season — the other coaches failed miserably. Mike White, Joe Bugel and Turner were a combined 24-40.

Several figures with Raiders ties, including former coach John Madden and current assistant coach Willie Brown, believe Shell's ability to deal with Davis' hands-on management style — a deterrent to some prospective candidates — will allow him to succeed. "I think a lot of (candidates) believe in the myth of Al Davis, and that's what scares them," said Madden, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend. "Art knows the real Al Davis, and Al knows Art Shell."

Shell expects Davis, who turned 76 on July 4, will be as active as ever. He downplays the notion that working for Davis is harder than it is for any coach dealing with a general manager.

"It's never been an issue to me," Shell said. "He's going to question you, like any CEO would. ... As long as I have a say-so for who we select as far as personnel, I'm satisfied."

Good word from the top
Although Shell doubted he would coach again, his old boss, outgoing NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, felt that it would not be because of a lack of desire to do so. Tagliabue says although he didn't want to lose Shell from his staff, he encouraged Shell to seek a return to coaching.

"Art is a great competitor," Tagliabue said last week via e-mail. "Soon after he started working for the league and we spent some serious time together, it was clear that he was anxious to be with a team and compete again, as a coach if possible, and to achieve some goals that he felt were still undone."

Shell sees his new job as a chance to tend to unfinished business of winning a championship — something the Raiders haven't done since January 1984. "The second time around, I'm going to be better than I was the first time," he says.

Before joining the league office, Shell worked as an offensive line coach for two years with the Kansas City Chiefs and three years with the Atlanta Falcons. The experiences have sparked growth and perspective.

As an assistant coach, he saw how teams other than the Raiders operate. In the league office, he got to watch more videotape than he did as a coach. He also helped implement rules and evaluated officials. That would seem to have value for his new position, given that the Raiders led the NFL with 147 penalties for 1,132 yards — the third consecutive season they have led the league in infractions.

"The stigma on the Raiders was that if you hang with them close enough, they'd do something stupid and give it to you at the end," says 12th-year defensive tackle Warren Sapp, in his third year with the Raiders. "Art knows this. ... It is being addressed from the top every day."

Old-fashioned camp

An old-school aura permeates throughout the Raiders' camp, and not simply because Shell is a blast from the late 1970's and early '80's, when they won two Super Bowls and perennially qualified for the playoffs.

Shell issued a message about toughness by opening camp with four consecutive days of two-a-day practices. On Day 3, he had players colliding in a "Pit Drill" that is considered one of football's most grueling as it pits a ballcarrier against a defender, one-on-one, in a small alley formed by surrounding players.

Few teams have consecutive days of two-a-days, with the trend in camps moving toward preservation after extensive offseason programs.

"There's nothing worse than two-a-days," says Sapp. "But there's a hardening with what we're doing every game. You become what you repeatedly do in this game."

cont'd...

[Angry Pope]

cont'd...

Relearning the game

There are problems to address everywhere. Shell is looking for faster players on a defense that ranked 27th in the league last season and has changed the starters at four of the five offensive line positions. He is hoping to help recently signed starting quarterback Aaron Brooks eliminate the mistakes that doomed him with the New Orleans Saints.

Also, despite being close to the game in recent years, there's the matter of Shell readjusting to the flow of NFL competition. There are similar questions about his offensive coordinator, Tom Walsh, a longtime Raiders assistant also rehired after 12 years away from the game.

After Joe Gibbs returned to coach the Washington Redskins in 2004, he admitted subtle changes, including more widespread use of blitzes, forced him to adapt and this year he hired former Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders as his associate head coach-offense.

"There something to that," Madden says. "... It's not like (Shell) has been living on some island. But there will be some adjustments."

Through it all, Shell is preaching attitude and accountability as foundation blocks.

"He does not take a lot of (stuff)," Brooks says. "But he seems like the type of coach who will be hard on you and very critical but love you at the same time."

Not everyone has been eager to buy in. Wide receiver Joey Porter asked to be traded during the offseason, and made headlines last week when he reiterated that demand and told The San Francisco Chronicle of a heated exchange he had with Shell shortly after the coach was hired.

Porter then missed three days of practice with a calf injury. "You can't be wishy-washy in how you deal with players," Shell says. "I try to be honest and direct. That's the only way you can do it. They might not like what you have to say, but you've got to be straightforward. It's like, 'This is the way it's going to be done. If you can't come on board, then we have to find a direction for you to go. And it's not going to be with this team.' "

[Angry Pope]

Raiders assistant makes journey From Idaho B&B to NFL sideline

JOSH DUBOW


NAPA, Calif.
Art Shell went to an unusual place to find his offensive coordinator.

He didn't raid a coach from the trendy college team or Super Bowl participant. He brought his old friend Tom Walsh back from a bed and breakfast in Idaho.

Walsh was out of the NFL for 11 seasons before Shell hired him to be the Oakland Raiders' new offensive coordinator in February.

Much has changed since Walsh was last in the NFL in 1994. The players are bigger and faster and new strategies like the zone blitz are now in vogue. But Walsh says the essence of the game is still the same.

"There's a couple few wrinkles that change ...," Walsh said. "It's like serving chicken. I mean, one day it's fried, one day it's grilled and the next day it's chicken marsala, and the next day it's something else. But it's still chicken. They still got 11 guys out there. It's just a matter of the philosophies of the coaches. You go from there."

Walsh was an assistant with the Raiders from 1982-94, coaching quarterbacks and receivers before becoming offensive coordinator under Shell. He was fired along with Shell following the 1994 season.

Since then, Walsh was head coach for two seasons at Idaho State and worked as director of operations and head coach of a minor league franchise in Mobile, Ala. He has been out of football since 1999.

Walsh, who also was the mayor in Swan Valley, Idaho, said he stayed close to the game through some announcing gigs and talking with college coaches who brought their staffs to the Hansen Guest Ranch.

"It's not a matter of reinventing yourself. Or reinventing anybody," Walsh said. "It's not like I ever went away. You know, I could be mayor, on the governor's board for tourism council in Idaho or whatever, that doesn't mean that my brain was erased. If you're out there bucking hay, you're still going to think about (football)."

Walsh and Shell kept in touch since being fired and Shell had promised his buddy that he would have a job as an NFL offensive coordinator again as soon as Shell got a second chance as head coach.

So soon after Shell was hired to replace Norv Turner in February, one of his first calls was to Walsh.

"Because he knows the system that I love," Shell said. "He knows this system, and he know show to implement it. ... We had been talking for the last few years about football, and if this came about, it was a natural for me."

Walsh says his system isn't fancy. It's an offense that dates back to Al Davis' days as an assistant to Sid Gillman with the Chargers more than four decades ago. It's about power running, deep-strike passing and being more physical than the opponent.

Instead of trying to outscheme the defense, Walsh wants to keep it simple and have his players impose their will on the other team.

"It allows us to play football," quarterback Aaron Brooks said. "We're not a joystick out there. We're not being controlled by a coach who says, 'I need you to do this, that and the third.' Every receiver out there is a primary target. As a quarterback, that's what you want because you have options."

The Raiders struggled offensively in two seasons with Turner, known as one of the sharper offensive tacticians in football. Despite having proven players like Randy Moss, Jerry Porter, LaMont Jordan and Kerry Collins, the Raiders scored just 51 points in the final five games of a 4-12 season in 2005.

Shell and Walsh have promised a return to the physical running style the Raiders during their glory days with Shell as a Hall of Fame blocker. Last season, Oakland was second-to-last in the NFL in carries and averaged just 3.8 yards per rush.

Jordan often complained about the team's lack of commitment to the running game under Turner, but is pleased with the approach of the new coaching staff.

"I think this offense is definitely geared more toward my running style," Jordan said. "Last year we did a lot more running sideways which I didn't like nor did the linemen like. This year you can tell Coach Shell's mentality is downhill power football. He's been successful doing that. Hopefully this year we can come out and get Raiders football back to where it should be and that's at the top of the division."

[Angry Pope]

NO RUSH BY RAIDERS WITH CURRY

* ... Former Tar Heel two-sport star Ronald Curry is once again trying to make it back as a wide receiver with the Oakland Raiders after sustaining a season-ending Achilles tendon injury. Curry has been out of action since the second game of the 2005 season.

In 2004, Curry was well on his way to an excellent season with 50 receptions (many spectacular, six for TDs) and 679 yards before missing the final four games. That was also caused by an Achilles tendon tear.

Curry is feeling good at the start of training camp for his fifth NFL seaon. "I've been about 100 percent for the last two months," Curry said, according to realfootball365.com. The Raiders are taking a very cautious approach with Curry as they prepare for the 2006 season. Curry is on an individual workout program at training camp, according to media reports, and has been placed on the PUP (physically-unable-to-perform) list.

"We're still looking at Curry to see where he is and make sure he's capable of doing it," said the Raiders new coach Art Shell, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. "We'll listen to the trainers. They'll give us direction on that."

The Raiders start the NFL preseason schedule against Philadelphia in the Hall of Fame Game on Sunday (Aug. 6) in Canton, Ohio (NBC, 8 p.m. ET). Curry won't be on the field for that one, but is surely looking to be ready for the season opener on September 11 against San Diego (ESPN, 10:15 p.m. ET).

[Angry Pope]

Physical, but not physical enough

July 31st, 2006
Jerry McDonald

NAPA _ Yes, the Oakland Raiders are being more physical this year, making good on a promise of smashmouth football by a head coach who made his living doing just that.

They’re hitting more than they did under Norv Turner, and considerably more than in the final year of Bill Callahan, where the term “backing them off'’ was seemingly a daily occurence and where veterans were often given entire practice sessions off to rest their weary bones.

Art Shell even restored the pit drill, with a single runner attacking a narrow gap with one blocker against one defender. Shell, however, did this only for one day, and said he will not do it again until next year. The drill elevated the intensity of practice, the players seemed to enjoy it, and it made those who participated demonstrate the fundamental skills of blocking and tackling within full view of their peers.

My question to Shell was that if the drill was so great, why not do it again?

In one breath, Shell said he didn’t consider the drill to be all that threatening physically, but in the next he said the Raiders would not do it again until the third day of training camp next year.

With all due respect to Shell . . .

Nonsense.

I met a guy at the local gym who played college football at UCLA in the early 1970s and spent some time with the Miami Dolphins under Don Shula. He described training camps that began July 6 in withering heat. Pit drills _ or “Oklahoma'’ _ as it is also known _ were part of the daily program. There were large rosters, daily scrimmages, drinking water was frowned upon and players were essentially dragged off the field when they were too hurt to play.

Thankfully, football is less barbaric and has come along way since then. You’d like to think at least part of it is basic humanity. Part of it is better understanding of physiology. Part of it is undoubtedly economics _ players simply make too much money to be run through a butcher shop twice a day under a broiling sun.

All in all, that’s a good thing. As much as it would be great if everyone were as tough as Jim Otto, you don’t want everyone walking like Jim Otto.

Bill Walsh was one of the first to popularize shorter practices, stressing quickness, and keeping players fresh. Another good innovation, but it seems that things have gone too far the other way.

The day John Madden was at Raiders camp, he was lamenting about how poor the tackling is in the NFL as opposed to when he was coaching. He felt that had a lot to do with the elimination of contact in practice, and drills like the pit drill. In fact, one of the first things Madden did was ask Shell if he were going to use it at training camp.

Shell did indeed, and no lives were lost, no bodies were broken. In reality, players are much less likely to be hurt than in scrimmages and drills where players can roll up from the back or side, ruining ankles and knees.

In a recent column in the Boston Globe by veteran writer and former Oakland Tribune scribe Ron Borges which went into detail on the Oklahoma drill, it told the story of a Raiders practice in1975 when defensive line coach Earl Leggett camed to an offensive linemen and said it was time test the mettle of a rookie defensive end.

The lineman, wrote Borges, went after the rookie, “slamming his fists under Long’s chin, snapping his head back as if he’d been hit by a Mike Tyson uppercut.'’

Long was knocked backward, and running back Kenny King went by untouched.

The Raiders learned a great deal about Long by the way he reacted, woozily bringing himself to his feet and screaming “Let’s do it again,.'’

As for the lineman who took Long to school, the Raiders already knew plenty about him. His name was Art Shell and he was well into a career which would land him in the Hall of Fame.

Bits and pieces from Monday’s practices:

— Oakland’s and second-team offenses went 5-for-8 on goal line situations scoring touchdowns. The first of which demonstrated the mobility of quarterback Aaron Brooks. Brooks did a reverse pivot to his left, leaving Danny Clark grasphing for air, and connected with Marcellus Rivers in the end zone.

— Veteran Rod Smart, predominantly a special teams player with Carolina, may have a role as a runner-receiver out of the backfield. Smart has looked good in two-minute situatuions catching balls over the middle and breaking free for yardage. Offensive coordinator Tom Walsh complimented Smart’s understanding of offensive football while talking with beat writers Sunday.

— Place kicker Sebastian Janikowski hit six of seven field goal attempts starting at 37 yards and going back to 53. The only miss came when his timing was thrown off by a slightly high snap from Adam Treu.

— Wide receiver Jerry Porter began the morning practice but didn’t finish it, apparently because of his calf strain. Porter was at the second practice and caught some balls ind drills, but did not participate in scrimmage situations.

— Offensive coaches couldn’t have been happy with the number of balls on the ground in the second session, with Rivers, Kevin McMahan and James Adkisson among the offenders.

— Second-year quarterback Andrew Walter struggled with his passing in scrimmages during the second session, overthrowing some passes with others heading into the ground with the nose at a disturbing downward angle.

— Justin Fargas continues to run hard and make a case for himself as a legitimate backup, but fumbles are again beginning to become an issue.

– Second-year defensive back Stanford Routt has come on in the last two days and got considerable time with the first nickel group with Tyrone Poole out because of a slight hamstring strain.

Routt, tentative as a rookie out of Houston last season, was being urged in the morning session to be more aggressive by defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

“Routt _ take a shot at the pick,'’ Ryan said.

— Defensive tackle Warren Sapp saw little action in the second session, probably getting some time off. It’s likely that Shell will want his veteran leaders with the team even when they’re not practicing. In the Callahan regime, particularly, players of Sapp’s stature who were excused from practice spent the time in their rooms, rather than helping school their younger teammates.

— Raiders owner Al Davis will speak at a press conference in a Napa Marriott meeting room today at 12:30 as a prelude to the is weekend’s Hall of Fame ceremonies. Davis will introduce inductee John Madden.

[Angry Pope]

Photos from 07.31.2006... (http://www.raiders.com/fanzone/galleryPhoto.jsp?contentId=26474)

[Angry Pope]

Camp Notebook: July 31

July 31, 2006




The Oakland Raiders hit the field this morning to resume their two-a-day practices after having single practices on Saturday and Sunday. Now that the players have had a week of training and have begun the second week, the Raiders are getting excited for the upcoming Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, this coming Sunday.

Rookie defensive back Dennis Davis feels like he has gotten himself prepared after his first week of NFL training. "I feel like I'm getting a lot better out here. I can see myself on film cleaning up a lot of little mistakes that I was making in the beginning. Being around the older guys helps me out and as a young guy I feel like I'm making a lot of progress," said Davis.

Rookies may only receive these first few weeks of camp as their opportunity to become a player in the NFL. They will be challenged repeatedly by the coaches, who want to see if these players have what it takes to play the game at the professional level. They will also be looking to see if these players are able to meet the challenges and demands of the NFL, both on and off the field.

When it comes down to making the cut for the 53-man roster, each player selected must be in the physical condition to play in every game for the next 20 weeks. The adjustments that they have made through camp and the knowledge that they have learned will help them progress.

Raider FB John Paul Foschi knows how important it is for the rookies to make progress in these first few weeks of camp if they want to make the team. Last year Foschi was a free agent rookie trying to earn a spot and this year he is hoping to be a strong addition to the Raiders offensive attack. Foschi's personal goals for this training camp are to become a starter, continue to stay healthy, and to be more confident and effective in his running abilities.

One player who has been constantly working on his abilities is punter Glenn Pakulak. Pakulak, who spent the 2006 off-season playing for the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe, is in training camp this year with the Raiders. Though he knows that the Raiders are strong at the punter position, he is still looking to make a big impression on the coaches. "Oakland has unbelievable punters like Shane Lechler, and I just want to do the best I can, and maybe get a chance to punt some balls in the pre season and see how it goes," said Pakulak.

By game time this Sunday, the rookies, draft picks and free agents alike will get their first taste of what life in the NFL is really like as they get the opportunity to show what they can do on the field.

[Angry Pope]

DE Brayton finds comfort with latest position change


NAPA -- Each season brings about something new for the Raiders' Tyler Brayton. He played defensive end his rookie season, played a hybrid linebacker/end position in 2004 and was moved to outside linebacker last season.

This season, new coach Art Shell called Brayton into his office and informed him that Brayton was moving back to defensive end.

"I said, 'Tyler, you're a defensive end,'" Shell said. "He said, 'Thanks a lot, coach. I really appreciate it.' He said, 'I'll show you what I can do from that position.' It's good to have him there."

Brayton, 26, has played the role of good soldier ever since he arrived in Oakland as a first-round draft pick in 2003 out of Colorado. He showed promise at defensive end his rookie season, then arrived to training camp in '04 as an experimental subject of first-year defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

Brayton bounced back and forth from a traditional end to one who played upright and sometimes dropped into coverage. Last season, Ryan told Brayton he was a linebacker until further notice.

"I'm still holding on to D-line for life," Brayton said upon hearing that from Ryan. "I guess in the official roster I'm a linebacker."

Not anymore. Brayton is back at his natural position once and for all, Shell said. He performed so well in minicamps and offseason workouts that he has supplanted incumbent Bobby Hamilton as the defensive end opposite reigning NFL sack king Derrick Burgess.

Even so, Shell said, Brayton can expect some help from the likes of Hamilton and pass-rush specialist Lance Johnstone on occasion.

"We have a number of guys we are going to take a look at," Shell said. "It's not one guy who's going to play all the time. We're going to rotate our people. We're going to utilize our talents."

Porter out again

Wide receiver Jerry Porter aggravated a calf strain he sustained the first day of camp and was excused from the remainder of the morning practice. He returned for the afternoon practice but in a limited capacity.

Porter showed signs of his calf not being healed after Sunday's practice when he finished sideline-to-sideline runs well past the allotted 15 seconds and behind all of his teammates.

"If you can work, you work," Shell said. "If you can't, then (you) got to get treatment. That's where we are with that."

Porter showed up for the morning practice, tried to work out but left after a short stint. His status for Sunday's exhibition opener against Philadelphia is uncertain.

Extra points

Middle linebacker Kirk Morrison (hamstring), linebacker Ricky Brown (undisclosed), tight end Courtney Anderson (shoulder), cornerbacks Duane Starks (back) and Tyrone Poole (hamstring), free safety Stuart Schweigert (groin) and long-snapper Adam Treu (back) were among those who missed some or all of practice. Guard Kelvin Garmon (back) and tight end James Adkisson (flu) returned to practice. ... Shell said he spent Monday morning outlining a game plan for how he intends to use his players against the Eagles. However, he won't announce the starters and how long his first-team offense and defense will play until today. ... Managing general partner Al Davis said he will speak with Bay Area media today in a formal setting. Much of the question-and-answer session figures to center on former Raiders coach John Madden's induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. Davis is scheduled to give the introductory speech before Madden delivers his acceptance speech.

[Angry Pope]

Raiders notes: Huff puts various skills to the test

By Jason Jones -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Tuesday, August 1, 2006



NAPA -- As expected, Michael Huff is moving around quite a bit.
Injury and sickness during training camp have allowed the Raiders' first-round pick to show off the versatility that made him the first defensive back selected in this spring's NFL draft.


When strong safety Derrick Gibson missed two days last week because of illness, Huff filled in for him. Free safety Stuart Schweigert injured his groin Sunday, so the Raiders plugged in Huff at Schweigert's spot.
"That's how a game situation is," Huff said. "You don't know who's going to go down. Either Gib goes down, or (cornerback) Nnamdi (Asomugha), Stu, anybody can go down. Being able to have the flexibility to play all of them helps the defense."

Huff is most comfortable at safety, where he was an All-American at Texas. He has no preference as to strong or free because the Raiders' scheme requires both safeties to drop into coverage and play the run. He also can play cornerback and has practiced there.

Though Huff did not begin camp as a starter, it is clear the Raiders will use him in various alignments. Coach Art Shell isn't one for "instant" assessments but is pleased with Huff's progress.

"Look, we took the kid with the seventh pick in the draft, so we feel he has the chance to be an outstanding football player," Shell said. "But he has a ways to go. There's a lot to learn for him, and he's working toward that end."

Huff is playing a lot on special teams, too, but he is fine with not having much time to rest during practice.

"I'm just trying to make plays wherever I can," Huff said. "Special teams, defense -- if I had to play offense, I would. Whatever it takes."

Porter's ins and outs -- Disgruntled wide receiver Jerry Porter, who has taken to wearing or carrying the World Wrestling Entertainment replica Million Dollar Championship belt with faux diamonds in the shape of dollar signs, left morning practice because of problems with a strained calf suffered last Tuesday.

"The deal was tightening up on him," Shell said. "So (trainer H. Rod Martin) sent him in to get some treatment."

Porter returned in the afternoon for individual drills. He did not speak with reporters and again wore his T-shirt featuring a hand making an obscene gesture and a second hand pointing outward.

When not sitting out during practice, Doug Gabriel, not Porter, has worked with the first team. Last year a hamstring injury kept Porter on the bench most of the preseason.

"If you can work, you work," Shell said. "If you can't, then you've got to get treatment. That's where we are with that."



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Raiders camp report

Quote of the day: " 'Thank you.' That was it. I said, 'Tyler, you're a defensive end.' He said, 'Thanks a lot, coach. I really appreciate it.' He said, 'I'll show you what I can do from that position.' " -- Coach Art Shell on 6-foot-6, 280-pound Tyler Brayton's reaction to the end of his offseason experiment as a linebacker.

Player watch: In his return from abdominal hemorrhaging that cost him the final 10 games of last season, right tackle Langston Walker has looked uneasy at times. He has struggled in pass blocking, as he's often lined up against Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Burgess. The Raiders have no proven alternatives at right tackle and need Walker to be solid.

Play of the day: The tight end again is a part of the Raiders' offense. James Adkisson caught a touchdown pass in stride from Andrew Walter and beat Chris Carr's coverage. The tight ends have been regular targets in camp.

Injury report: Free safety Stuart Schweigert (groin), linebacker Kirk Morrison (hamstring) and tight end Courtney Anderson (shoulder) all sat out practice. None of the injuries is serious.

• Cornerback Tyrone Poole (hamstring) and center Adam Treu (back) sat out in the afternoon with injuries not considered serious. Veteran cornerback Duane Starks was given the day off and did agility drills.

[Angry Pope]

Sunday's the night for football




AMERICA, APPARENTLY, is ready for Sunday night to become its national football night — and the Oakland Raiders are going help usher in the new era.
In five days, it'll be the Raiders and the Philadelphia Eagles at 5 p.m. in NBC's first "Sunday Night Football" telecast.

Sure, it's only a preseason game, but it's the first step in what NBC and the NFL expect will be an official one-day shifting back of the nation's marquee game.

"(The NFL) determined that Sunday night was the night with the greatest growth potential," Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports & Olympics, told a TV writers' conference a week ago.

Ebersol said "Monday Night Football" was crumbling, in part because people on the West Coast had to rush home for 6 p.m. starts. (ESPN will now show Monday games at 5:30 p.m.)

The start time for the regular-season Sunday games will be 5:15 p.m., and NBC will be calling its 4 p.m. studio show "Football Night in America."

NBC also will be heavily promoting its flexible scheduling for seven of the final eight Sundays of the season (the NFL will choose the matchups 12 days before each game to ensure we get some good ones!)

The broadcast team will be Al Michaels and John Madden, with Andrea Kremer on the sidelines. In the studio, host Bob Costas will be alongside Cris Collinsworth, Sterling Sharpe and Jerome Bettis.

NBC has the NFL's "traditional" (ha!) Thursday opener Sept.7 (Miami at Pittsburgh, 5:30 p.m.) and then will settle in for its Sunday night schedule on Sept.10 when Indianapolis visits the New York Giants (Eli vs. Payton).

-To see Madden inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, catch it on ESPN at 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, with a replay at 2 p.m. on ESPN Classic.

-Also, the NFL Network will have live coverage from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. followed by a one-hour "Post-Induction




Show." The induction coverage repeats Sunday at 10:30 a.m. followed at 2 p.m. by a "Film Session" highlighting Madden's 1976 Raiders.

-Here's the remaining Raiders' preseason TV info:

Aug.14: at Minnesota, 5 p.m., ESPN and Ch.44; Aug.20: vs. 49ers, 5 p.m. Ch.2 (repeat: Ch.36 next day at 7 p.m.); Aug.25: vs. Detroit, 7 p.m., tape-delayed at 10 p.m. Ch. 36 (repeat: Ch. 36 next day at 7 p.m.); Aug.31: at Seattle, 7 p.m., Ch.2 (repeat: Ch.36 next day at 8 p.m.).


-Raiders' local preseason TV crew: Jim Gray (game host), Grant Napear (play-by-play), Jim Plunkett and Artie Gigantino (analysts) and George Atkinson and Steve Wisniewski (sideline reporters).

-And the 49ers, whose preseason announcers are Dennis O'Donnell (play-by-play) and Keena Turner (analyst):

Aug.11: vs. Chicago, 7 p.m., Ch.5 (repeat: Ch. 44 on Aug.13 at 3 p.m.); Aug.20: at Raiders, 5 p.m., Ch.5 (repeat: Ch.44 same night at 11 p.m.); Aug.26: at Dallas, 5 p.m., Ch.5 (repeat: Ch.44 next day at 3 p.m.); Sept.1: vs. San Diego, 7 p.m., Ch.44 (repeat: Ch.44 on Sept.3 at 3 p.m.).


-ESPN2 is showing the first game of the U.S. men's national basketball team, an exhibition game against Puerto Rico in Las Vegas, on Thursday at 8 p.m.

-Pat O'Brien — made infamous last year for a string of dirty voicemails in which he expresses his desire for cocaine, hookers and wild sex — will be returning to CBS Sports as the host of the "U.S. Open Late Night Show" later this month. Currently the host of "The Insider" newsmagazine, he joined CBS Sports for a long run in 1981.

[Angry Pope]

Raiders' opener may be hard on eyes

Bill Soliday


NAPA — The Oakland Raiders will try to put their best football forward Sunday in Canton, Ohio, officially opening the NFL season against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Hall of Fame game.

It might not be wise to expect flawless football from either team. It is worth noting that early NFL games are rarely scintillating. Both teams have only been in camp two weeks and are still getting the kinks out. They are still working on internal improvement rather than worrying about such niceties as game-planning.

"What we want to do is make sure our guys are in position so they can play well," coach Art Shell said. "That's the important thing. If they play well, then the rest will take care of itself.

"Of course, you want to come out of the game healthy. Health is a big key."

Shell is still mulling over which of his marginally healthy players will take part. An example is left tackle Robert Gallery, who missed most of the first week of practice with a leg injury. Shell said he would monitor how far Gallery had progressed before making a decision.

Other players in that situation are wide receiver Jerry Porter, free safety Stuart Schweigert and tight end Courtney Anderson.

"I go to (trainer) Rod (Martin) and the doctors and get the OK from them," Shell said. "Even if they say he can play, we still might hold them. You have to be careful. We still have a long way to go."

The Raiders leave Friday for this rare exhibition game in the eastern time zone.

RYAN CONNECTION: Raiders cornerback Duane Starks could be forgiven if he thought he'd found his way back to the Baltimore Ravens.

When the veteran player was in Baltimore, Rex Ryan was the team's defensive line coach (he is now the defensive coordinator).

In Oakland, the defensive coordinator is Ryan's twin brother, Rob Ryan.

"I almost thought it was Rex," Starks said. "Voice is the same, everything. They're two characters."

The difference? It's in the follicles.

"Rex doesn't have the hair going," Starks said. "Rex is a little neater on the hair."

The Oakland Ryan has bushy hair and a bit of a mullet.



VOICES IN THE NIGHT: As in any NFL practice, there is a lot of shouting and urging — not to mention less than complimentary critiques at times.

Two particularly audible voices are those of co-offensive line coaches Jackie Slater, a Hall of Famer, and Irv Eatman — both strict taskmasters.

"As I said to the players again the other night, our coaches are going to push you. Don't take anything personal. They're just trying to get the best out of you.

"Those guys know Jackie's voice and Irv's voice. Some of them say they go to sleep at night hearing those voices in their ear and as soon as they wake up, and come out here, it starts all over again."

PORTER RETURNS: Porter missed Monday's morning practice when his sore calf flared up. But during the afternoon drills he was back and although his time was limited, he caught a nice pass over the middle from Aaron Brooks.

Doug Gabriel took most of the work in Porter's stead.

"If you can work, you work," Shell said. "If you can't, then you've got to get treatment. That's where we are with that."

CAN'T WORK CREW UPDATE: Middle linebacker Kirk Morrison came up with a sore hamstring Monday morning and was held out of practice. Danny Clark got most of the reps.

Others missing practice: Schweigert, who is still hampered by a hamstring injury and Anderson (shoulder).

[Angry Pope]

It's still same ol' NFL to Shell

By BRIAN BAINUM
Tuesday, August 1, 2006 1:15 AM PDT

Some would argue the National Football League has changed a lot in the past 10 to 15 years.

Not Oakland Raiders coach Art Shell.

Shell coached the Raiders from 1989 to 1994 and tallied a record of 54-38 during that time.

He has tried to bring back the same type of old-school discipline to the Raiders, who have completed their first week of training camp at Redwood Middle School in Napa.

“There is an old saying that you can’t re-invent the wheel,” Shell said. “A lot of the plays they are running now, they ran a long time ago. They were just called something different. Everybody says they are new plays now, but they were being used a long time ago in this league.”

The 2006 training camp under Shell has a different look than it did in recent years under Norv Turner.

Turner seemed to separate offense and defense more, playing his first-team offense against the second-team defense and vice versa, while Shell has devoted considerable time for the first-team offense to square off with the first-team defense.

Shell said he is approaching the job the same way he did in the late ’80s and early ’90s. He hired offensive coordinator Tom Walsh, who worked under him during his earlier stint.

“Tom knows the system that I like,” Shell said. “I didn’t consider anyone else for the job.”

Shell said that the only thing he and Walsh will have to prepare for is the zone blitz, which was not utilized when the pair last coached.

“When you are making a game plan, you gotta learn how to protect against that,” Shell said.

Raiders Notebook

• Disgruntled wide receiver Jerry Porter walked off the practice field early Monday morning to get treatment for a strained calf muscle. Porter stated his desire to be traded last week in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle.

Linebacker Kirk Morrison missed practice Monday with a sore hamstring, and tight end Courtney Anderson and safety Stuart Schweigert were also held out with a strained shoulder and sore groin, respectively.

“We are going to shut them down just to be safe,” Shell said. “You don’t want to risk anything at this point.”

• Offensive tackle Robert Gallery suited up for the first time Sunday and practiced again Monday. Shell did not say whether Gallery will play Sunday in the Raiders’ first preseason game in Canton, Ohio against the Philadelphia Eagles.

“We’ll see how he does this week,” Shell said.

• First-round draft choice Michael Huff played with the first-team defense for the second consecutive day Monday.

The Texas product filled in for Schweigert at free safety, after taking over for an ailing Derrick Gibson at strong safety a day earlier. Huff was well-known in college as a player who could play any position in the secondary.

“We took him No. 7 overall in the draft,” Shell said. “That means we feel he has what it takes to be an outstanding football player. It is good for him to get an opportunity to get some reps with the first team.”

[Angry Pope]

Fullbacks to get more looks in Raiders' offense

Tuesday, August 1, 2006 1:15 AM PDT


NAPA — Zack Crockett sat out a recent practice at Redwood Middle School because of lingering back pains, but it was more precautionary than anything else.

With a renewed emphasis from head coach Art Shell on a power running game, the Oakland Raiders aren’t willing to take chances with their veteran fullback.

Unlike in years past, though, Crockett can understand the wisdom of what the coaching staff is doing. After four years of being used primarily as a decoy and occasionally as a lead blocker, the fullback’s role in Oakland’s offense is taking on a significant new look this season.





“This is maybe one of the best positions you can be in,” said Crockett. “You’re going to run the ball, you’re going to back the ball and you’re going to block. I love it.”

While many other teams around the NFL have been slowly phasing the fullback out of their playbooks — instead opting to use an extra tight end or offensive lineman — Shell has made it a priority to do just the opposite.

It’s yet another reminder how Shell, a Hall of Fame offensive lineman, is reaching into his past to try to help the Oakland’s future.

When Shell played from 1968-82, fullbacks played a big role in the Raiders’ success. Marv Hubbard led the team in rushing 1971-74, while Mark van Eeghen did it from ’76-80.

Crockett and John Paul Foschi, the top two fullbacks on Oakland’s current roster, aren’t going to lead the team in rushing any time this season, but they will have a more prominent role in the offense crafted by Shell and coordinator Tom Walsh than they have in the past.

“I don’t know how many carries our fullback will get ... (but) he’ll get a few carries,” Shell said. “But he’s going to be a blocker and he’s going to be a pass receiver out of the backfield. We’ve always done that.

“Now, do you fit a square peg in a round hole? No, you don’t do that. If a guy can’t catch the ball you’re not going to force the issue. But we’ll put people in position to make those type of plays that we’re looking for.”

Oakland’s offense struggled to make many plays at all in 2005, beset by a running game that ranked 29th overall.

The Raiders averaged just 85.6 yards a game.

When Shell was hired in the offseason to replace the fired Norv Turner, he made fixing the running game a top priority.

Getting more production out of the fullback is part of that.

“One of the biggest differences is that we’ll be playing more,” Foschi said. “A lot of teams use two tight ends or have their H-back as their lead blocker, but here (the fullback) isn’t being phased out.”

When Jon Gruden was the Raiders’ coach from 1998-2001, Crockett was the team’s designated short-yardage specialist. In the four years since Gruden left, however, Crockett’s role diminished.

Now he’s is ready to go back to work.

“That’s the style that I love, it’s catered toward my game,” Crockett said.

“This is a copycat league. The game changes (based) on who’s winning. But eventually it goes back to old school football, hitting somebody in the mouth, mano y mano. That’s the type of football we’re going to play.”

[Angry Pope]

Fargas has new number, new outlook
Running back wants to rise above injuries, inactivity of first 3 seasons

PHIL BARBER




NAPA - It was a seemingly cosmetic move, but it was as good a place as any to start. Justin Fargas, unhappy with the arc of his NFL career, traded in the No. 20 jersey he wore during his first three seasons in Oakland and opted for 25, his college number.


"I just wanted to start a new work ethic, a new team and a new number to symbolize it," Fargas said.

He had plenty of reasons for wanting to start over. The Raiders were excited about Fargas when they drafted him in the third round in 2003, and his brief exposure as a rookie did nothing to temper their enthusiasm. Swift, with good size at 6-feet-1 and 220 pounds, Fargas looked like a guy they might develop into an every-down back.

But his production went down every year, from 40 carries for 203 yards as a rookie to 35 carries for 126 as a second-year player, to a meager five carries for 28 yards last season.

His first two campaigns were diminished by injury. As a rookie, he hurt his MCL after 10 games and missed the rest of the season. In 2004, he suffered a case of turf toe in the opening game at Pittsburgh, got injections of painkillers to play each week thereafter (mostly on special teams) and never really got healthy.

Last year, injuries were not the problem. Whether because of Fargas' tendency to fumble or his lack of consistency in blitz pickup, coach Norv Turner seemed to lose faith in him. Fargas hardly played in the backfield.

"I felt like I was healthy and ready to play and didn't really get much of an opportunity," he admitted. "It was a little disappointing, to feel like whoever was in control didn't feel like I was needed or should be included."

His outlook changed immediately when the Raiders hired Art Shell in February. Soon after, the new coach sat down with Fargas.

"I said, 'I expect good things out of you,' " Shell recalled. " 'I watched you when you first came into this league. You were exciting and you did a lot of good things, and then you just disappeared.' "

Shell, committed to the running game, wanted a solid back to rotate with LaMont Jordan. (Running backs coach Skip Peete also prefers to distribute carries.) So he encouraged Fargas to apply himself and regain his promise.

"That was inspiration enough for me," Fargas said.

"He's not a guy you have to ride," said Peete, who closely followed Fargas when the coach was at UCLA and the running back was at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks. "He's a very prideful person."

Fargas got a vote of confidence in late April. Most analysts figured the Raiders would select at least one running back in the draft, perhaps on the first day. They didn't, a sign they were happy with Fargas.

Buoyed, he attacked the project on two fronts. First, he plunged hard into his conditioning and weight lifting, trying to reduce the injuries that have cut into his career. Second, he focused more intently on the nuances of his position - the blitz protection, the route running, his timing when hitting holes. Peete said the difference is noticeable, and Fargas has made some nice blocks during the first week of training camp.

But a new number and a new attitude can take an athlete only so far. The real test will come in the exhibition games, when we see whether Fargas' labors translate into more yards and fewer fumbles.

"I feel like it's a clean slate, and it's an opportunity to prove myself to this team and to this organization, that I can be a part of helping us win," Fargas said. "And that's what I'm out here working hard every day for."

EXTRA POINTS

Missing Monday's morning practice were S Stuart Schweigert (groin), LB Kirk Morrison (hamstring), TE Courtney Anderson (shoulder), WR Ronald Curry (Achilles'), WR Carlos Francis (hamstring), CB Duane Starks (shoulder), T Jabari Levey (illness), CB Raymond Washington (hamstring) and LB Ricky Brown. ... WR Jerry Porter ran some routes, but didn't take part in scrimmages in either the morning or the afternoon. ... C Adam Treu (back) and CB Tyrone Poole (hamstring) hurt themselves in the morning session and rested in the afternoon.

[Angry Pope]

The Al spin machine

August 1st, 2006
Jerry McDonald

NAPA _ An Al Davis press conference is like a history lesson, only infinitely more interesting and entertaining.
That’s not to say Davis sometimes doesn’t stretch the bounds of logic and common sense.
Consider Davis’ version of the courting of Louisville coach Bobby Petrino, who turned down the Raiders job to remain a college coach.
It’s a fact Petrino was offered the Raiders job and turned it down. Petrino said and Davis confirmed it the day Shell was hired.
To hear Davis tell it Tuesday, it’s as if he were no more than an innocent bystander while one of his personnel executives made a job offer on what might be the most important hire in the history of the organization.
“The job was offered to one other coach,'’ Davis said. “One of our executives had been doing research a long while on this coach and thought he was going to be a great coach. And he did offer him the opportunity.'’
That executive was Mike Lombardi, who did much of the legwork and on potential candidates after Norv Turner was fired.
Lombardi may have indeed been in Petrino’s corner and pushed him as a candidate. But the decision to offer him the job was not made by him, and making it sound as if the whole thing was a Lombardi production is disengenuous at best.
When you care about something as much as Davis cares about the Raiders, you don’t leave it to a personnel executive to hire the next coach when with the organization in the throes of a a 13-35 free fall.
If Petrino had said yes, Davis would have been front and center at the press conference, telling the media that, “Bobby Petrino never wore the colors silver and black, but if he had, he’d have worn them with honor,'’ or some other statement covered in silver and black nostalgia.
It’s possible things worked out for the best. Maybe Lombardi was on to something, and Petrino could have provided the spark Jon Gruden did starting in 1998. It’s equally possible Petrino would have chafed under an owner who is as hands-on with the football operation as Davis.
Or even if Petrino had success, that he would have simply parlayed it into another job.
Shell understands Davis, Davis understands Shell. It doesn’t bother him at all the job was first offered to Bobby Petrino.
If it did, he could always blame Mike Lombardi.

MONEY TALKS: The past few days, I’ve been wracking my brains trying to think of another situation with a disgruntled player to rival that of Raiders wide receiver Jerry Porter.
I couldn’t think of another situation where a player wanted out, and it had nothing at all to do with money. Porter already landed his big contract, but simply wanted out because he had problems with Shell.
Then Davis revealed Tuesday that Porter was free to seek his own deal, so long as the Raiders got proper compensation.
And that Porter had to pay back $4 million in bonus money.
As for that peculiar story about the malcontent who didn’t care about the cash . . .
Never mind.

Bits and pieces from Tuesday:

— Davis weighed in on Shell’s selection of Tom Walsh as his offensive coordinator, giving it his seal of approval.
“Tom Walsh is a tremendously bright guy,'’ Davis said. “Tremendously bright. You will find that out over time. He has been away from it a long while and he is going to call the plays. but he is not . . . going to run an institutional offense. He’s going to run what we can do right now. It may not have all the frills we want but it will be enough to carry us for the time being.'’
— The Raiders continue to start each day with turnover drills.
As members of the secondary practiced interceptions, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was telling them, “Turn that ball over now, turn that ball over. We need some picks, we need some picks.'’
— Cornerback Duane Starks, back in action after missing a day with a sore back, came up with one interception, but safety Jarrod Cooper wasn’t ready to accept it.
“that don’t count, (No.) 22, because (No.) 8 threw it,'’ Cooper said.
– The No. 8 to whom Cooper refers, Marques Tuiasosopo, may be outplaying backup Andrew Walter, although it’s not reflected on the depth chart.
During one a two-minute drill, Tuiasosopo got the third team to the 9-yard line with five seconds to play.
Ryan gave his defense ample warning, saying, “Watch out, he’s going to scramble around.'’ Tuiasosopo did just that, and zipped a strike to Rick Gatewood for a touchdown, pumping his fist enthusiastically.
— The first team offense scored three times in three tries against the first-team defense from the 1-yard line, with LaMont Jordan smashing through twice and Aaron Brooks hitting an all-alone John Madsen on a play-fake.
— Looking for a sleeper? Madsen, a converted wide receiver who played with the 49ers’ Alex Smith at Utah, has been a daily revelation in the passing game.
— No sign of Ronald Curry on the field as yet, although he was involved in an end zone discussion with Lombardi during the first practice.
— Tackle Robert Gallery, who had worn the same “Big Al’s'’ T-shirt advertising an Iowa pub virtually every day at practice, opted for a plain, gray shirt Tuesday.
“That one stunk this morning,'’ Gallery said.

[Angry Pope]

Raiders assistant gets votes

By Jason Jones -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Wednesday, August 2, 2006




NAPA -- When Tom Walsh accepted Art Shell's offer to rejoin him as the Raiders' offensive coordinator, it meant resigning from another job.
Walsh was the mayor of Swan Valley, Idaho, (population 213) for about four months after spending 3 1/2 years on the City Council.


Walsh's replacement knew the mayor was a football coach at heart and wouldn't hesitate to drop politics.
Meet the new mayor of Swan Valley -- Walsh's wife, Ann, appointed last month.

"We'd have get-togethers with friends in the fall, and we'd watch football," Ann said by telephone from Idaho. "He would start talking about how that was a penalty, and I would say, 'How could you see that?' "

Even though Walsh hadn't had opportunities in the NFL since he and Shell were fired after the 1994 season, he never stopped thinking about football.

The Raiders have entrusted their offense to the former mayor, who can earn a high approval rating should he invigorate the Raiders' underachieving offense.

"It's not a matter of reinventing yourself or reinventing anybody," Walsh said. "It's not like I ever went away.

"You know, I could be mayor, on the governor's board for tourism council in Idaho or whatever; that doesn't mean that my brain was erased. If you're out there bucking hay, you're still going to think about (football)."

From coaching a minor-league team in Mobile, Ala., announcing college football, helping Sega develop playbooks for its video games or chatting with coaches who stopped by the Hansen Guest Ranch, the bed and breakfast he ran with his wife, football has been on Walsh's mind.

Walsh had been a coach with the Raiders since 1982 and worked with wide receivers and quarterbacks before becoming Shell's offensive coordinator.

After leaving the Raiders, Walsh coached Idaho State in 1997 and '98. He stepped down during the 1998 season with a 5-14 record over two seasons.

Walsh plans to give players freedom to improvise to create plays.

"Too much of the era of this age has turned into where these little technocrats think that they're out there coaching people like they're watching some video football. … (Players have) contributions they can make, more than just running around with a pair of cleats, socks and jocks on."

Free thinking is popular with the Raiders.

"When we run our routes, we're getting a lot of freedom after the first five yards to basically be creative and do what we need to do to get open," wide receiver Alvis Whitted said. "It's a lot different from last year, where everything was, 'Get upfield and try to get open.' But now it's more or less put on us to be creative."

Walsh will call plays from the booth. But that doesn't mean he wants to map out every on-field detail.

"There's definitely structure to it, but it's allowing players to make plays," backup tailback Justin Fargas said.

"It's not a basic offense, but it's basic enough to where we can go out there and play."

Walsh's system emphasizes power running, which has been lacking in Oakland. Walsh also was influenced by Davis and former Los Angeles Chargers offensive guru Sid Gillman, and he has implemented their vertical passing attacks.

Shell had kept in touch with Walsh since their days with the Raiders and had said he would bring Walsh with him if he got a chance to coach again. When Shell was rehired, Walsh was at the news conference.

"He knows the system that I love," Shell said. "He knows this system, and he knows how to implement it."

Walsh dismisses the notion he is out of touch with the game, even if he was running City Council meetings a few months ago.

"Ronald Reagan was a minor-league baseball announcer in Peoria, Ill.; he was the emcee on 'Death Valley Days,' " Walsh said. "That didn't stop him from being the governor of California and president of the United States."

Spoken like a true politician.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Raiders camp report

Quote of the day: "If someone offers us the choice we want or a representative player and the $4 million bonus he took from us this year, we'll respond. They've got to get it done. The agent has known this since the draft, and before the draft he knew what he had to do. He couldn't get it done." -- Raiders owner Al Davis on wide receiver Jerry Porter's trade request this offseason.

Player watch: Rookie linebacker Darnell Bing continues to learn the position after playing safety in college. The former USC standout has looked good in pass coverage. His speed is helping break up plays in the running game, too.

Play of the day: Don't run anything tricky near Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Burgess. The Raiders tried to run an end-around with wide receiver Doug Gabriel to the right. Burgess contained the play and met Gabriel in the backfield.

Injury report: Defensive end Kevin Huntley (groin) missed practice. Tight end James Adkisson, who sprained a medial collateral knee ligament Monday, also didn't practice.

[Angry Pope]

Discipline is priority for Shell
Coach expects the Raiders to be sharp in their exhibition opener


NAPA -- Coach Art Shell said Tuesday that he still isn't ready to divulge his approach to Sunday's exhibition opener against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.

Not even the players know what to expect in terms of playing time and who's starting. One thing is clear, according to running back LaMont Jordan: Shell expects his players to be crisp, detailed and disciplined.

"(Shell) already said, 'You can't beat yourself with penalties,'" Jordan said. "We lost some games last year on penalties. ... What that is, that's just a lack of effort, that's just a lack of concentration."

That lack of discipline pervaded the team, Jordan said, and it's something that won't be tolerated on Shell's watch.

"I look at last year, we weren't a very disciplined team, and it hurt us," Jordan said. "Whether it was coming to meetings late, guys coming out to practice late, it hurt us on the field. We weren't a disciplined team."

Players who commit offsides or false-start penalties at training camp are made to take a lap around one of the fields after practice, while the rest of the team jeers them.

Get your tickets

Individual game tickets go on sale to the general public today, the Raiders announced. Until now, ticket purchases were limited to current season-ticket holders in an exclusive window. Raiders chief executive Amy Trask said the feedback from ticket buyers has been "enthusiastic" about dealing directly with the Raiders and not a third party. The result is, "We are significantly ahead of where we were from a season-ticket standpoint last year" at this time, Trask said.

Napa, Napa, Napa

The Raiders are in the midst of a three-year contract with the city of Napa as the site of their training camp. The contract expires next season. The team has conducted training camp here since 1996. If all goes well, the arrangement will last well beyond 2007, according to senior executive John Herrera.

Extra points

Rookie defensive back Michael Huff continues to show his versatility. He is the team's projected starter at strong safety, but he has played both cornerback positions, both safety positions and been used as a blitzer. ... Cornerback Duane Starks returned to practice one day after he sustained a back injury. He intercepted a Marques Tuiasosopo pass intended for wide receiver Will Buchanon during the morning practice and returned it for a touchdown. ... Free safety Stuart Schweigert (groin), tight end Courtney Anderson (shoulder) and linebacker Kirk Morrison (hamstring), all projected starters, were among the dozen players who missed practice. Long-snapper Adam Treu (back) sat out for the second straight day. Rookie Chris Morris replaced Treu on snapping duties. Tight end James Adkisson sustained a sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee Monday and is out for an undetermined amount of time, Shell said.

[Angry Pope]

Al remains in comfortable denial about beloved Raiders

Monte Poole



NAPA — Time seems to turn back each time Al Davis sits before the cameras and discusses his football team. It's as if he has been interrupted from a hibernation begun in 1985.

Facing his friends and enemies in the media Tuesday afternoon, the accomplished Raiders boss, a multi-generational icon, appears ever more firmly and comfortably settled into denial regarding his beloved Raiders.

And, so far, nobody within the organization has been secure enough, courageous enough or diplomatically clever enough to nudge him toward reality.

Senior executive Mike Lombardi hasn't done it. His predecessor, Bruce Allen, couldn't do it. None of the last seven head coaches could do it, and at least two burned bridges while trying.

Maybe head coach Art Shell, at age 59, considerably more mature than he was in his first term under Al, will develop into that someone. Assuming Shell himself can take a sober, practical approach.

First, though, Big Art may have to clear a barrier that shouldn't even exist — Al's romantic view his team and of today's NFL.

Davis, 77, still believes domination, as often practiced by his teams in the'60s,'70s and early'80s, isa realistic goal in today's NFL.

Moreover, he believes the Raiders, under Shell, are capable of returning to the level of prominence enjoyed under John Madden.

"I think Art is starting to get something I had when I was very young, that I was going to dominate it, no matter what it is," Davis said. "I was just going to get it done. And I didn't worry about all these other things. I wasn't going to go the way society wanted me to go, or the way culture wanted me to go. I was going to win.

"I think that's what I said about Art to someone (Monday). I think it was, that I think he knows he can dominate. And he will dominate. And that's what you have to do in our culture, period, no matter what you are doing. I have always believed that, strongly believed it."

In other words, Big Art is in the midst of his first crisis — the Jerry Porter cold war — but his late-career challenge is to get the Raiders to do what teams don't do anymore.

No team dominates, not like the Raiders and 49ers and Cowboys and Steelers and Packers once did. Good teams come and go. Great teams rise above the crowd, then fall back to the pack.

But today's NFL — with its salary caps, free agency and unstable coaching staffs — has been resistant to enduring beasts.

New England, the most dominant team of recent years, won back-to-back Super Bowls and three in a four-year period (2001-04). The Patriots' previous decade featured four head coaches, five losing seasons and a cumulative 72-88 record.




Pittsburgh is the most consistent team of recent years, with three losing seasons in Bill Cowher's 14-year tenure. Only twice in that time did the Steelers reach the Super Bowl. They didn't win it until last season.

That the Steelers have reached the playoffs 10 times under Cowher is, according to results, is about as remarkable as it gets in today's NFL.

Madden's Raiders, with their 10 consecutive winning seasons, would have spit on that. Only twice under Madden did Oakland fail to make the playoffs, and both times were monumental disappointments.

"The idea is not to be in the playoffs," Davis emphasized.

"The idea is to be in the Super Bowl."

If that's the standard, Oakland has failed 21 times in it past 22 years. Same as Atlanta, Tennessee and San Diego. No shame here, because it's difficult to contend, much less dominate, within a 32-team league.

Does Al see this? Is he willing to concede that being consistently superior, as were the Raiders under Madden, is far less likely nowadays?

"I'd like to think about that," Davis said. "It's different, entirely different, this era."

Ah-ha. Progress.

"But you can get there," he added. "Maybe you can't get there 10 out of 10, or nine out of 10. But you can get there. It's a question of doing it, though. We certainly haven't. But we can get there."

To the Super Bowl? It's a long, long shot, especially coming from the cellar.

Before anyone among the Raiders can fantasize about domination, they have to become competitive enough to prevent being dominated. Get to .500, then imagine. Oakland has spent three seasons as a doormat in the AFC West, with a combined 2-16 record against division rivals.

Davis knows the numbers. He knows a lot, for his mind remains sharp, his wit evident. He remembers details most of us have forgotten. His institutional knowledge is priceless, his value to the NFL high.

But he has a blind spot. His team. How can he get an accurate picture, make a honest assessment, if he disregards part of the detail?

Perhaps it's his love of the Raiders, so great it won't allow him to accept that dominance, as once defined, is gone for good.

[Angry Pope]

State of Al: In Shell we trust
Davis lauds new, old coach's return to old team ways

Bill Soliday



NAPA — By now, it has been well-documented that Al Davis hired Art Shell in order to return to the days where the work Oakland Raiders coaches performed earned Hall of Fame recognition.
Like John Madden, who enters the Hall on Saturday.

Tuesday, Davis sat down with the media in one of his rare press conferences primarily to laud Madden, whom he will introduce Saturday in Canton, but also to comment on Shell and the state of the team as he tries to resurrect it.

Davis is elated with his decision to bring Shell back after firing him after the 1994 season ("We let him down," Davis said). And he loves the fact that Shell is calling on all the old Raiders mantras of aggression, dedication and toughness.

"He (Shell) knows what he wants to do, he knows how to do it, he picked his staff ... and likes his staff," Davis said. "It's a reaffirmation of the Raiders, a reaffirmation of everything we've ever stood for, everything we ever wanted.

"I was out there (at practice) the other day watching him, and he said something to oneplayer. I just got a kick out of it, because I know he wanted to grab him. But he didn't do it. He held his composure. I just kind of laughed to myself."

However, not all has been a basket of daisies in the window sill of the old Raiders schoolhouse. The subject of wide receiver Jerry Porter wanting out came up. Davis didn't try to dodge it.

Davis believes there is little danger of Porter fracturing the Shell camp. He believes the Porter incident is little more than history repeating itself.

"We're talking about one guy, and I don't think it will make any impression whatsoever," the Raiders owner said. "I wish I could take you all back to 1963. I had one of the greatest players who has ever played this game, and he was tough to handle. He was the T.O. (Terrell Owens) of his time, and he was great.

"His first year for me (Davis' first year coaching was 1963) he carried us. He caught 16 touchdowns. His name was Art Powell. He (always) wanted the football. It wasn't easy."

Davis said he would go to the huddle, listen to chants for the ball and lay down the law. "You will get the ball when you are told to get the ball," Davis said.

Great as he was, Powell eventually departed. Davis seemed to be implying Porter's wishes could come true, and he, too, could become an ex-Raider.

"He has lost his way a little bit, but he is a good guy," Davis said. "I am not talking out of school. He knows. His agent has known this for a long while that if someone offers us the choice we want or a representative player and the $4 million bonus he took from us ... we'll respond.

"They've got to get it done. The agent has known this since the draft ... before the draft. He knew what he had to do, and he couldn't get it done."

There have been reports that the price tag on Porter isn't one pick but




multiple picks, perhaps both in the first round.

Davis was asked about a comment Shell made over the weekend about "changing the culture" around the Raiders, interpreted as pertaining to Porter.

"If you win," Davis said. "Your culture is fine. If you don't win, you have a problem with your culture. Whatever Art wants to do in that vein, he will do it, and he's got to do it in his way."

Collared after the afternoon practice, Porter was asked if he had any comment on Davis' remarks.

"I don't even know what he said," Porter said.

Asked if he would like to know, Porter walked away, saying "I don't really care."

However, the reason for Davis' press conference was a happier topic, one the Hall of Fame owner and presenter of nine Hall of Fame inductees, was more than eager to broach.

He said the first time he spoke with Madden, it was when the team was looking for a training camp site in 1963. Madden, then coach at Hancock Junior College in Santa Maria, called and offered Davis Hancock's facility for the nominal fee of $12 per camper per day.

Ultimately, the Raiders chose Santa Rosa, and four years later the team coaxed Madden to leave San Diego State to coach linebackers. The vacancy on the Raiders staff came about because Bill Walsh resigned to coach a semipro team in San Jose, the Apaches. Two years later, Madden was chosen to coach the Raiders at the tender age of 34.

Now, after 39 years, Davis, Walsh and now Madden are all in the Hall of Fame.

"His records are unparalleled," Davis said of Madden. "It's amazing that it comes now. It should have been done a long time ago. He coached in what I call the golden era of coaches, 10 coaches who are in the Hall of Fame. He competed against every one of them and ... had a better record against (all) of them than they had against him. And he had to wait this long (for his induction).

"One of the great characteristics of John Madden, besides coaching ability, was he saw no color. To me that was tremendously important. This is self-serving, but the Raiders have done more than any organization, politically or not, in fomenting and helping diversity, and John Madden was in the battle from Day 1."

When Madden got the job at age 34, some scratched their head. It seemed like a reach. Davis said he never worried.

"I thought we could make it happen," Davis said. "I thought the organization was always strong enough. John had one thing — the players. The players liked John, and that's very, very important."

[Angry Pope]

Individual tickets are now for sale

Jerry McDonald



NAPA — The Oakland Raiders announced the sale of individual game tickets to the general public starting today, but the amount of season tickets sold by the club remains a closely guarded secret.
Ticket sales begin at 10 a.m. at the Raiders facility in Alameda and at Raider Image stores.

Raiders CEO Amy Trask said Tuesday the figures for season ticket sales were "significantly ahead" of season ticket sales at the same time last year, and that the response has been "enthusiastic."

She would not say how many season tickets the Raiders had sold at this point last year.

The club announced plans to take over its own sales on Nov.2, after a decade's worth of blackouts and empty seats when tickets were sold by the Oakland Football Marketing Association.

Since returning to Oakland in 1995, the Raiders have had 59 blackouts in 88 regular-season home dates.

When asked if he was encouraged or satisfied about how ticket sales were progressing, Al Davis held firm to the bottom line established when the team relocated from Los Angeles.

"I am not encouraged or satisfied ... unless we sell out," Davis said. "I would like to sell out."

Trask said the Raiders would release more specific information with regard to ticket sales at a press briefing some time between Aug.27 and Aug.31.

More information regarding ticket sales for individual games can be found at RaiderNation.com or by calling 1-800-RAIDERS.

NO MORE MR. NICE GUY: Running back LaMont Jordan enlisted the help of Roger Leonard, the brother of Sugar Ray Leonard, to help with his conditioning and attitude.

"The best thing I did was take up boxing," Jordan said. "That helped me out so much, just the cardio and getting myself




focused. I've been a little bit too nice. My agent and a couple of my (friends) told me when I was in New York, I ran a lot angrier.

"In New York, I was an angry person. So I have to get back to being that angry guy that I was. Taking that boxing twice a week, doing something that forced me to be aggressive. That's going to be something that's going to help me when I get out here on the football field."

Jordan is showing no signs of being slowed by a quadriceps bruise that caused him to miss practice last weekend.

SHANAHAN'S DEMISE: According to Davis, Mike Shanahan started losing his footing as Raiders coach after the 1988 season when he fired five assistants — including Art Shell.

"I had to restore — I don't know if you want to call it order, we didn't have a riot — and I brought Art Shell back on staff, some other people back on staff."

Shanahan was gone before the midway point of the 1989 season and was replaced by Shell.

EXTRA POINTS: With Courtney Anderson nursing a sprained shoulder and James Adkisson out with a sprained MCL, tight end hopefuls such as Marcellus Rivers, John Madsen and O.J. Santiago could get considerable playing time Sunday against Philadelphia. ... LB Kirk Morrison (hamstring) missed practice, as did FS Stuart Schweigert (groin), C Adam Treu (back) and WR Carlos Francis (hamstring). ... The Raiders practice once in the afternoon today and twice Thursday before leaving Friday for the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.

[Angry Pope]

Killion: No one can sell Raiders mystique like Al Davis

Ann Killion



NAPA - Al Davis' recent spate of media interaction ostensibly has nothing to do with his team's responsibility for selling the previously unsellable: Raiders tickets.

But if it isn't part of the grand marketing scheme, it should be. Because no one can sell the Raiders like Davis.

Davis is by far the most fascinating thing about the Raiders. Love him or hate him, he is the most interesting person in the cookie-cutter NFL.

And he's not going to be around forever.

But he's here for now. Tuesday at a news conference at Raiders training camp -- to talk about John Madden's upcoming Hall of Fame induction -- Davis introduced himself in Monty Python ``I'm not dead yet'' fashion. He even joked about his much-discussed walker, saying the coaching staff had nicknamed it ``Star.''

``I want you to all know I'm alive and healthy,'' said Davis, 77. And then he went on to prove it, holding forth on a variety of subjects for an hour as only Davis can -- with a rambling mixture of honesty, suspicion, historic detail and Raider cliches.

As configured now, the Raiders can't market their present. And they certainly can't sell their recent past.

But they can still sell Raiders mystique. The ticketing office will get a free advertisement courtesy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame this week, when Madden's induction reminds everyone of sport's original Bad Boys -- the great Raiders of the 1970s. The addition of retro-coach Art Shell, one of the toughest men the game has seen, also adds to the nostalgia.

And in the dusk of his long career, there is Davis -- a man who holds the past closely, remembers every detail with absolute clarity and who remains the best salesman to reach into Raider Nation's wallet.

``I'm not encouraged or satisfied unless we sell out,'' Davis said on the subject of ticket sales. (That progress is being kept mum by the organization.)

That's a lofty goal, considering last season's miserable 4-12 performance, the underwhelming signing of Aaron Brooks as team leader and the remaining misfits on the roster. But there's some hope -- mostly in the form of Shell's formidable presence. On the first day of training camp Shell stated the obvious: that the Raiders culture needs to change and that the inmates have been running the asylum.

Davis didn't disagree.

``We didn't win,'' he said. ``If we win, the culture is fine. But whatever he feels, whatever he wants to do, he's going to do it. That's Art.''

And Shell will be more successful changing the culture than his predecessors because he has Davis' backing and trust.

``I know who he is,'' Davis said. ``I know what he wants. I know his drive and determination. I know the guy.''

Davis also is fine with Shell's handling of Jerry Porter. Porter -- who has clashed with Shell's get-tough approach -- was strutting around in his ludicrous T-shirt (showing two hands, one making the sign of a pointed gun, the other raising the middle finger) and was heard moaning, ``I wish they'd just stop writing about me.''

``He has lost his way a little bit,'' Davis said of Porter, ``but he is a good guy.''

Davis said he wouldn't mind trading him.

``He knows if someone offers us the choice we want or a representative player and the $4 million bonus he took from us this year, we'll respond,'' Davis said. ``I don't think it will become a bigger issue. Art's big enough to handle it.''

Davis hasn't been so effusive about a coach since, well, since the last time Shell was reporting to him. ``I just feel good about it,'' Davis said. ``When he walks in he can dominate a room. He has an attitude. He knows the right way to do things. I'm happy.''

Except for one thing.

``I'm a little bit mad at myself about '94.''

Davis fired Shell back then, trying to find a way to heal a team torn in factions. (That the rupture was in part due to the Marcus Allen situation, its aftermath and Shell's role in it wasn't mentioned.) While Shell waited for a job offer that never came, Davis' team floundered, with only one short winning streak in 12 years. It's no wonder Shell seemed like the right solution in 2006.

Though Davis concedes there's ``some rust,'' the reunion with Shell has him excited.

``It's a reaffirmation of the Raiders, everything the Raiders have stood for,'' Davis said.

His comment was in the past tense, a place where the Raiders' glory burns the brightest. A place that remains the team's best marketing tool.

[Angry Pope]

Davis discusses Madden, Shell, commish search


NAPA, Calif. -- Al Davis was moving slowly, using the walker he needs because of a lingering quadriceps injury, wearing black, of course.


"I want you all to know I'm alive," the Raiders owner said Tuesday. "I'm very healthy, can still smile and work out five days a week. If we could do away with this walker ... ."


Davis, in his first news conference since rehiring Art Shell as head coach back in February, addressed a number of topics ranging from John Madden's upcoming Hall of Fame induction to Shell's training camp, Jerry Porter's trade demand, the NFL's search for a new commissioner and his own health.



AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
Al Davis will make his record ninth Hall of Fame induction speech Saturday when he introduces John Madden.

"I feel great," said the 77-year-old Davis. "Especially if we win I'll feel great. I do feel great. I have a quadriceps problem that no one seems to be able to fix for me and I certainly won't touch it with an operation."


Davis has not spent as much time at training camp as usual because he was back in Detroit last week working on the NFL commissioner search committee.


But since returning to California, Davis said he has watched tapes of all the practices and is still a presence around the team he has ruled for more than four decades as a coach and owner.


"He watches every single snap ... studies every single player on this football team," Shell said. "He knows the players on this team. He watches every single snap and studies every play. ... That's what he's done all those years."


Davis held the news conference at the Raiders' training facility mainly to discuss Madden entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame, 28 years after his tenure as Oakland coach ended. Davis will introduce Madden at Saturday's induction ceremony, his record ninth Hall of Fame introduction.


Madden was only 32 when Davis hired him to coach the Raiders in 1969. Before leaving the sideline for the announcing booth in 1978, Madden led Oakland to a 103-32-7 regular-season record and a victory in the 1977 Super Bowl. Oakland never had a losing record under Madden, winning seven division titles and making the playoffs eight times.


"His record is just unparalleled among coaches," Davis said. "His enshrinement in the Hall of Fame should have come a long time ago."


Davis, coming off three straight losing seasons for the first time since joining the franchise as coach in 1963, said he hopes Shell can return the team to the level it reached with Madden at the helm.


Davis once again admitted it was a mistake to fire Shell after the 1994 season. Shell had led the team to the playoffs three times in five full seasons as coach.


Oakland has made it to the postseason only three times in 11 years since Shell was fired. And since going to the Super Bowl following the 2002 season, Oakland has won just 13 games, leading Davis to fire Bill Callahan and Norv Turner.


While he admits Shell has some rust and it will be difficult to turn the team around quickly, Davis believes strongly that Shell is the right man for the job.


"He knows what he wants to do and he knows how to do it," Davis said. "It's a reaffirmation of the Raiders. It's a reaffirmation of everything we stood for."


Davis backed the way Shell has handled disgruntled receiver Porter and didn't believe Porter's trade demand or problems with Shell would hinder the team. Davis said he told Porter and his agent that the Raiders would be willing to trade him -- for equal value in players or draft picks and if Porter gives back the $4 million bonus he received this year. Porter has declined to talk to the media since making his public demand last week.


"If you think the locker room is that important, I don't," Davis said. "But we're talking about one guy. And I don't think he'll make any impression whatsoever. He's a good guy, but he just lost his way a little bit."


Davis also said he thinks the process laid out for interviews for a new commissioner at next week's owners' meeting will make it difficult for an outside candidate to get the job.


The candidates to replace Paul Tagliabue are Roger Goodell, the NFL's chief operating officer; Gregg Levy, the league's outside counsel; Frederick Nance, a Cleveland lawyer; Robert L. Reynolds, of Concord, Mass., the vice chairman and chief operating officer of Fidelity Investments; and Mayo A. Shattuck III of Baltimore, chairman of the board, president and CEO of Constellation Energy.


Each candidate will get a short period to introduce himself and answer questions from owners at the meetings in Chicago.


"If someone is an insider and has the same time as an outsider, it's going to be pretty tough," he said.

[Angry Pope]

Brooks coming into his own at quarterback

Bruce Adams

Wednesday, August 2, 2006


Coach Art Shell says quarterback Aaron Brooks is showing signs that he's beginning to master the job.

"Aaron is taking big strides," Shell said after Tuesday morning's practice at training camp in Napa. "The light bulb is going off. He's saying 'Oh, OK.' He understands what we're doing."

Brooks, signed as a free agent from the Saints this year, will start Sunday's exhibition against the Eagles in the Hall of Fame game, but that's about as far as Shell will go in officially giving the job to Brooks.

"I don't want to lock anything in," he said, although Brooks is the heir apparent to Kerry Collins over Andrew Walter, No. 2 on the depth chart.

Brooks refused interviews after practice.

Shell plans on giving his quarterback freedom to call some plays -- and most certainly during 2-minute drills and no-huddle situations.

Shell acknowledged that it can be difficult for a quarterback in his first year with a team.

"You can't just come in and say, 'I'm the leader because I'm the quarterback,' " Shell said. "It doesn't work that way. ... You have to do your job."

Shell says he pays no heed to anything he may have heard about Brooks, who had a bad season with the Saints last year.

"I don't pay attention to what somebody else says about a guy," he said. "What you present to me is what I'm going to see. It's been all good so far."

Walking wounded: A number of players battling a series of minor bumps, bruises and tweaks either missed practice or were limited.

They included linebacker Kirk Morrison, center Adam Treu, safety Stuart Schweigert, tight end Courtney Anderson and wide receiver Ronald Curry.

Huddle up: The Raiders will use a different huddle this year, going with a scheme used by the Falcons when Shell was an assistant there in 1997-2000.

The offense lines up in a U, with the quarterback at the open end and everyone bunched together and angled toward him.

"Normally a quarterback in a conventional huddle, guys are to his side and guys are around," Shell said. "In this thing, they're looking right at him and there's a tunnel in there, a funnel for crowd noise. ... They can see what he's saying and they can hear what he's saying."

Ticket time: The Raiders, handling their own ticket sales for the first time since moving back to Oakland in 1995, are putting individual game tickets on sale today.

[Angry Pope]

STATE OF THE NATION
Raiders owner Al Davis, 77, talks about his hopes for 2006 and hints at his succession plan

David White

Wednesday, August 2, 2006


Al Davis emerged from behind a black curtain, his blue eyes darting across a crowded conference room at the Napa Valley Marriott, his hands gripped to a walker he likes to call "Star."

The 77-year-old Raiders owner slowly took a seat on a chair with silver cushioning, leaning on an arm rest with his right elbow and saying "Wow" to all the cameras and reporters staring back at him.

His receding hairline with silver patches was slicked back, with an inch or two hanging over his collar. His cheeks were sunken and bore scars from skin cancer. His upper left leg was wrapped in a hefty brace, lending Velcro support to a quadriceps injury that just won't heal. He used two hands to carefully sip water from a clear plastic cup.

Frail in appearance, yes, but Davis was lucid in memory and convinced as ever in tone of voice on topics ranging from John Madden's induction to the Hall of Fame, the second coming of Art Shell, the state of the Raiders, even the state of Al Davis, whose health has been a discussion point ever since he went public with a walker last year.

"I want you to all know I'm alive, very healthy, can still smile and work out, five times a day," Davis said as tape recorders rolled and cameras clicked. "And, if we could do away with this walker, well, I'd be able to meet with you more often, won't be scared of you.

"I feel great. Especially if we win, I will feel better."

The Raiders haven't been a winner since Super Bowl XXXVII, and that was four seasons ago. Davis keeps score on such trivia, and it troubles him as much as the quadriceps injury he refuses to subject to surgery.

He believes Shell can win, and win now. He thinks the old way remains the right way, and that means running downhill and throwing deep.

It worked for Madden, who Davis will present for induction to the Hall of Fame on Saturday. It worked for Shell, who got the Raiders to the playoffs three times in five years before Davis fired him in 1994.

That's the Raiders way, Davis said. Thirteen wins in the past three seasons isn't, which is why Shell is coach again and former coach Norv Turner is across the bridge as the 49ers' offensive coordinator.

"The idea is not to be in the playoffs," Davis said, his hand gestures flashing two Super Bowl rings and a bracelet with "AL" spelled out in diamonds.

"The idea is to be in the Super Bowl. It was still going (with Shell), and we lost it. We've gotta get it back. We've got a chance. Maybe you can't get there 10 out of 10, but you can get there.

"We've got to get him the players, and we do have some quality, top-notch players, we really do. It's going to be tough putting it all together real quickly and getting going."

Davis dropped hints on who would someday succeed him. He mentioned his wife, Carol, and son, Mark. Chief executive Amy Trask will certainly play a role. Davis even suggested Madden could be of service.

But, not yet. Davis is by no means ready to relinquish control of the Raiders. He spent the weekend studying film from the four days of training camp he missed after attending NFL commissioner selection meetings. This is still his team, his organization, his life.

Four-wheeled walker and all.

"If something happened to Al, I'm sure (Madden) would be someone that Carol Davis and Mark Davis would call, along with several others who have been Raiders most of their lives and still have a tremendous loyalty to it," Davis said.

"That's if I don't outlive them. ... Time runs by you. My life goes on. We're still here and we want to win."

Other excerpts:

On Jerry Porter's trade demands: "He has lost his way a little bit, but he's a good guy. If someone offers us the choice we want or a representative player and the $4 million bonus he took from us this year, we'll respond. That is not to say things won't work out ... if you want them to. I don't think it can become a bigger issue, and no, I would not step in at this time. Art is strong enough. He is big enough to handle it."

On the 2005 season: "The thing is, we didn't win ... I never did see the running game, nor did I see the deep passing game. It just didn't come out."

On the recent coaching search: "I talked to three other coaches before I brought Art back. I never offered the job to anyone personally. One of our executives did offer (Louisville's Bobby Petrino) the opportunity. When Art came to the complex, I felt very good and happy. I have a good feeling about him. I respect what he's done and I'm a little mad at myself for letting him down back in 1994."

On Madden's induction: "His records are unparalleled. It's amazing that it comes now. It should have been done a long time ago."

[Angry Pope]

Al Davis Addresses Media

August 1, 2006

Raiders owner Al Davis addressed the media at the team's Napa Valley training complex and discussed John Madden's imminent induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Text Highlights



Raiders owner Al Davis: I want you to all know that I am alive and very healthy. I can still smile and I work out five days a week. There have been a tremendous amount of calls, from all over the country relative to John Madden, our friend and great Raider. I go back 43 years, to 1963. I eventually met John in 1966 or '67. He was a defensive coach at a powerhouse. They were very good at San Diego State University. They had pro players and draftable players. We became just acquaintances. In 1967 we lost a young coach who was going down to coach the San Jose Apaches; he was going to change professional football in the United States. His name was Bill Walsh. Walsh was going to be the head coach of the Apaches and we needed someone to replace a coach so we hired John Madden to be our linebacker coach. For two years he was our linebacker coach. The first year he was indoctrinated and we went to the Super Bowl and got beat real badly by Green Bay. The next year we went to the championship game in New York. It was a brilliant game in the snow; we got beat at the end - those where his first two years as our linebacker coach. His records are unparalleled. It is amazing that it comes now. His recognition and his induction in the Hall of Fame should have been done a long time ago.

Please note, besides his records which are the finest record in the history of professional football for coaches that have won over 100 games, he competed against, what I call the golden area of coaches, 10 coaches who are in the Hall of Fame. He competed against every one of them. One of you pointed out: he had a better record against every one of them than he had against him. Mind you 10; 10 coaches in the Hall of Fame and he had to wait this long. Another thing I say to you is that it is exciting and inspirational is that he had nine Hall of Famers during his legendary years (1969-78) get in there before him: the indestructible Jim Otto, the great clutch player George Blanda, Willie Brown, who always tell me that the only one who beat him was father time, Fred Biletnikoff, Ted Hendricks, David Casper, and I could go on to name a few others, including 63, and 78, Gene Upshaw, President of the Players Association and Art Shell of course, the first Afro-American head coach they say of the modern era.




I say this to you, that one of the great characteristics of John Madden, besides coaching ability, was that he saw no color. To me that was tremendously important. The Raiders have done more than any organization, politically or not, in helping diversity; John Madden was in the battle from day one. He had a black quarterback by the name of Eldridge Dickey who was drafted number one. Those players: Upshaw and Shell did not get where they got based on just having ability; they needed someone who believed in them. It was important to me to have someone like that. As I told you, he saw no color.

Now John has gone one to be an icon. I will never forget when John retired he did say, "I am retired, I am not resigning." He made it clear because several owners in the league would call me from time to time and say because the owed us common courteous, "could we talk to John Madden about being our head coach? Or could we talk to John Madden about being our general manager?" I would say, "Be my guest; go ahead and talk to him." I knew he was not going to get out of what he was doing; he was not going to get out of what he was going. I think one thing he did, as a linebacker coach, he could handle people. He had a total picture of pro football and he was bright enough to learn it.

I was never worried about John. John had one thing; he had the players - the players liked John. That is very important. We had great players; there is no question about it. We have some guys waiting who should be in the Hall of Fame. I thought John could do it and I though we would do it. There is no question that we had to live through some tough times losing those championship games. I have always wanted to establish something for the Raiders and the Raiders legacy and John was perfect for that. He understood it. We had just gone into the National Football league in 1970 and by nature of the merger, the schedule was made by the league's office, it was not where you had a scheme or process. If you remember in 1970, the first time when the leagues were competing against each other, Monday Night, Saturday and even the Thanksgiving Game in Detroit - we had all these games. It might have bothered some, but it did not bother John; it did not bother us. We went out there and fought and we won our share.

I realize how important it is for them to get into the Hall of Fame. I think I have to treat them individually but yet I run in to verbiage that is very similar because they all had certain qualities, and a certain passion for football. They love it; they love the league; they love the team and they love being Raiders. Certainly as you keep doing them you wait in the wings for Ron Wolf, Jim Plunkett, and all of them will come too. It is not necessarily going to be me, but I know what I am going to say about John generally. Some of the things I have told you. I have written some thoughts down and I hope I will be able to enumerate on them and make the presentation to make him proud. To John, being in the Hall of Fame is tremendous - it is a life-long dream. Not many people put much stock into being in the Hall of Fame, but John certainly does.




I think that John was a part of the fabric of this organization. When John won the Super Bowl, Tom Flores was coaching under John; Tom was an assistant. They are intertwined, but Tom did a great job when he was the head coach. He has won two Super Bowls. He cannot get a nomination. They are all interrelated and they are apart of a fabric that runs a long way and a long time.

I have presented [Madden] before. He won an award from the Retired Players Association in Las Vegas. I think the biggest thing for him was the memory that I was excited about, the one that I was happiest for him, was the '76 football team when we won the Super Bowl. I said it right after the game; he then took his place in the sun - that was an expression that we used in those days. He had reached the pinnacle of what he wanted to do; he did it. He got his time to do it. I was excited for him; I was excited for all of us. We had been on the winning end; there were a lot of games that you can go back and they were decided by inches in those championship games. It did not go our way; we had to go home and regroup and come back and try to win the next year.

I always said when I came to Oakland I wanted to build the finest organization in professional sports; I wanted to have the greatest coaches, greatest players playing the game and the greatest plays. I have been here 43 years, and John in his 10 years had things such as the Heidi Game, the Immaculate Reception, the Holy Roller, Ghost to the Post, the Lytle fumble, and I could go one about seven or eight other games or names that are synonymous with professional football. When you hear them you think of the Raiders. Those things were accomplished with John at the helm. Perhaps one of the greatest things was the miracle of George Blanda in 1970. Do not forget George came off the bench to win a game for us in some way; some of them were with his foot. The guy who had to bring him in at the right time was John Madden. These are the things that allow him to get his turn in the sun again this week. He has done tremendous job with his games; kids will always remember him. I always say to him, "They won't forget you because of your games, not because of your ability in the booth." We just kid about it.

He is a great coach. His records will stand; no one is going to beat his records. The thing that always captivated me was that the Raiders had to go around the country, I don't have to tell you about the fear of the Raiders or the respect for the Raiders, but it was nothing like walking in a stadium with at big red-head pulling and yelling on the sidelines and bringing this football team all over the country. We were a big team; we were tough; we were very powerful. He had to compete against all these big time coaches - I mean all of them. He beat them. He beat them all. Another thing we did was we made Monday Night Football. He was something like 11-0 or 11-1 on Monday Night Football. We had the best record on Monday Night Football and we used to play most of the games on road - we still do.

[Angry Pope]

Camp Notebook: August 1

August 1, 2006




The Oakland Raiders took to the field on a beautiful warm and sunny day in Napa, Calif. Tuesday morning and afternoon, as they continued their two-a-day practices in preparation for this week's trip to Canton, Ohio.
So far, the Raiders have been an enthusiastic group during Training Camp 2006, but a week and a half in, you can tell that they are ready to don their game uniforms and face another team. The running back corps is particularly chomping at the bit, not only for the start of the pre-season, but the regular season as well. Running backs LaMont Jordan and Justin Fargas are hoping to create an effective one-two punch.

Although Jordan reached the 1,000-yard mark on 272 attempts last year, Fargas had only 28 yards on five carries in 2005. This year Head Coach Art Shell looks to change that. Coach Shell said earlier in camp that he wants Jordan to be able to have some breaks so that he can stay energized for the third and fourth quarters.

Jordan could not be happier about the new role Fargas is going to fill. "I think Fargas looks a lot better this year than he did last year. I don't get into how many yards he's going to get or how many I think I'm going to get," Jordan said. "I want him to step up, because I played that position. I was a back-up running back for four years and I know what it takes. I think Fargas is hungry this year. I think the better Fargas is, the better our running game is."

One of coach Shell's major points of emphasis since he came in as head coach was to establish a running game to compliment the Raiders powerful passing game. According to Jordan, in this first pre-season game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Raiders offense is looking to prove to everybody that they can run the ball.

Fargas has had many opportunities to carry the ball during this training camp, and this Sunday's game will be a true test under Coach Shell's system, as to what he can do for this football team. Fargas is ready to take on the role.

"My goal is to play in every game and be involved in the offense whether it's carrying the ball or the receiving game," Fargas said. "I want to embrace a bigger role in the offense and help this team win. It's looking good, everybody is buying into the system, we are all working hard and working together. It's a new beginning and everybody is excited about it."

With only a few practices left before the team heads to Canton, these next couple of days will be the chance for the Raiders to get things in order. The Hall of Fame game is right around the corner, and Raiders.com will keep you up-to-date on the events happening in and around the Hall of Fame induction ceremony and the game. Be sure to log on every day and stay updated on the Raiders throughout camp.

[Angry Pope]

Here is a video of a training camp report...

Hit it here.... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jT4TU00OtE&search=raiders)

[Angry Pope]

Here is the video of Al's news conference...

Hit it here... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upFRhGgPmcM&search=raiders)

[Angry Pope]

Since this guy is doing well, here is some information on him...

Ex-Ute Madsen happy to score with Raiders

By Tim Peterson

May 12, 2006

Former Utah receiver John Madsen is getting a second chance to play football, this time with the Oakland Raiders.

August Miller, Deseret Morning NewsUtah's John Madsen scores a touchdown as Wyoming's Derrick Martin moves in too late. Utah defeated Wyoming 43-13 at Rice-Eccles Stadium Nov. 5, 2005. A week later Madsen was injured. The ex-Ute is hoping to make the Raiders' 53-man roster. The one-time walk-on from Hunter High was having his best season for the Utes until he broke his fibula (leg) and was forced to miss the final three games of 2005. The senior had 55 catches for 672 yards and six touchdowns in nine starts, almost doubling his yardage from 2004. The injury ended his season and his opportunity to further showcase his talents to pro scouts.

"I was disappointed," he said. "A lot of teams wanted to sign me, but I couldn't do anything," he said.

He also missed out on the pro combine in March because his leg wasn't healed. The former Hunter basketball player has some intangibles that make him a legitimate candidate for the NFL.

Utes offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig says that Madsen has potential because of his 6-foot-5 frame and good hands.

"He's got a unique combination of size and ability," Ludwig says. "John can come down with the ball when it's being contested, and that's what makes him good."

Despite the injury, several teams wanted the Ute to compete for a roster spot, including Andy Reid and the Philadelphia Eagles.

About 15 minutes after the final round of last month's NFL draft, Madsen got a call from his agent telling him that the Oakland Raiders intended to sign him as an unrestricted rookie free-agent. The opportunity is all he wanted.

"I was just really excited," said the West Valley native. "I just have to go there and prove to the organization that I can play," he said.

Along with the opportunity to play pro ball, Madsen might find himself doing a little stargazing. The mandatory mini-camp means veterans like Randy Moss and Warren Sapp will be in camp.

Brian Nicholson, Deseret Morning NewsFormer Utah receiver John Madsen is an unrestricted rookie free agent with Oakland. "I've idolized them since high school," he said.

Third-round pick, offensive lineman Paul McQuistan of Weber State, also made an impression with the players. He's been given the nickname "The Mullet" for his retro hairstyle.

The rookie was very impressive in his debut. Madsen and McQuistan could be diamonds in the rough for Oakland. Madsen is physically very similar to former Penn State receiver Joe Jurevicius. Both players are similar in height and weight.

Time will tell if Madsen can be as steady and reliable a receiver as Jurevicius. Madsen said he feels he can be that type of player if he gets the right opportunity.

The next mini-camp will be in mid-June, and training camp starts in late July.