jatfly
08-30-2007, 05:30 AM
For Gallery, the less said, the better
By Jason Jones - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, August 29, 2007
ALAMEDA -- Not much has been said about Robert Gallery lately.
In other words: So far, so good.
The second overall pick in the 2004 draft has had a rocky start to his NFL career. After a promising rookie campaign, Gallery has been dogged by injuries and inconsistent play.
But there hasn't been a peep about him most of the offseason since the projected left tackle of the future was moved to left guard.
"I'm just trying to be the best lineman that I can be, and something's good if they're not talking about you," Gallery said.
Gallery, like most of the offensive line, still is learning to perfect the art of cut (below-the-knee) blocking. It's not the easiest thing to pick up on.
"No D-lineman wants to get chopped down," Gallery said. "And in this system, if you get guys down, they're not going to the ball. If you stay up and block a guy upright, he can play off your backside (to the ball)."
Gallery is comfortable entering his fourth season, one in which he isn't changing positions.
Even when starting left tackle Barry Sims was hurt during training camp, Gallery remained at guard.
"They move guys for a reason," Gallery said. "You ask them, they tell you about it, and it is what it is. They're just trying to put the best football team on the field that they can."
Chicken run -- Rookie defensive end Jay Richardson is taking orders.
Tuesday was Popeye's Chicken day, and the fifth-round draft choice had directions from veteran defensive linemen to come back with grub.
"No cinnamon," Richardson said, referring to Popeye's apple pies. "(Warren) Sapp's allergic to it."
But Richardson is more than a servant. His exhibition play is a reason the team cut Kevin Huntley, a projected starter before training camp, Tuesday.
"I'm never relaxed about it because you never know what they're thinking," Richardson said. "I'm just going to keep working hard. It seems right now it might fall in my favor."
Coming out of Ohio State, Richardson heard fifth-round picks weren't safe bets to make NFL rosters. But he never felt like an underdog.
"I know what kind of player I am, so I never felt like a long shot," Richardson said.
Cuts -- Besides Huntley, the Raiders also cut receiver Johnnie Morant and quarterback Jeff Otis. Receiver Doug Gabriel, a starter last year before being traded to New England, was cut Monday night.
"We just have guys that we feel fit our offense better than him," Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said of Gabriel, a fifth-round draft choice in 2003.
Huntley made the team last year as a free agent but was surpassed by Richardson and third-round draft choice Quentin Moses at defensive end.
The roster is at 75 because running back Michael Bush has not yet been put on the physically unable to perform list for the regular season, Kiffin said.
Teams must be down to 53 players by Saturday.
By Jason Jones - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, August 29, 2007
ALAMEDA -- Not much has been said about Robert Gallery lately.
In other words: So far, so good.
The second overall pick in the 2004 draft has had a rocky start to his NFL career. After a promising rookie campaign, Gallery has been dogged by injuries and inconsistent play.
But there hasn't been a peep about him most of the offseason since the projected left tackle of the future was moved to left guard.
"I'm just trying to be the best lineman that I can be, and something's good if they're not talking about you," Gallery said.
Gallery, like most of the offensive line, still is learning to perfect the art of cut (below-the-knee) blocking. It's not the easiest thing to pick up on.
"No D-lineman wants to get chopped down," Gallery said. "And in this system, if you get guys down, they're not going to the ball. If you stay up and block a guy upright, he can play off your backside (to the ball)."
Gallery is comfortable entering his fourth season, one in which he isn't changing positions.
Even when starting left tackle Barry Sims was hurt during training camp, Gallery remained at guard.
"They move guys for a reason," Gallery said. "You ask them, they tell you about it, and it is what it is. They're just trying to put the best football team on the field that they can."
Chicken run -- Rookie defensive end Jay Richardson is taking orders.
Tuesday was Popeye's Chicken day, and the fifth-round draft choice had directions from veteran defensive linemen to come back with grub.
"No cinnamon," Richardson said, referring to Popeye's apple pies. "(Warren) Sapp's allergic to it."
But Richardson is more than a servant. His exhibition play is a reason the team cut Kevin Huntley, a projected starter before training camp, Tuesday.
"I'm never relaxed about it because you never know what they're thinking," Richardson said. "I'm just going to keep working hard. It seems right now it might fall in my favor."
Coming out of Ohio State, Richardson heard fifth-round picks weren't safe bets to make NFL rosters. But he never felt like an underdog.
"I know what kind of player I am, so I never felt like a long shot," Richardson said.
Cuts -- Besides Huntley, the Raiders also cut receiver Johnnie Morant and quarterback Jeff Otis. Receiver Doug Gabriel, a starter last year before being traded to New England, was cut Monday night.
"We just have guys that we feel fit our offense better than him," Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said of Gabriel, a fifth-round draft choice in 2003.
Huntley made the team last year as a free agent but was surpassed by Richardson and third-round draft choice Quentin Moses at defensive end.
The roster is at 75 because running back Michael Bush has not yet been put on the physically unable to perform list for the regular season, Kiffin said.
Teams must be down to 53 players by Saturday.