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Curry hoping for receptive return
Receiver practices for the first time since retearing his left Achilles tendon
By Cam Inman
NAPA - The Raiders' already-deep receiving corps picked up more punch Tuesday when Ronald Curry practiced for the first time since retearing his left Achilles tendon last Sept. 18.
Curry, who also missed the final four games of 2004 with an Achilles tear, said he's been ready to practice since training camp opened July 25. Camp ends today, but it's just the beginning for Curry as he tries finding his way through a stacked corps.
"I've got a big obstacle to overcome to get back on the field, and I'm up for the challenge," Curry said. "... I'm going to make it hard on the coaches to keep me on the sidelines."
Behind current starters Randy Moss and Doug Gabriel, Curry will compete for playing time with Alvis Whitted, Johnnie Morant and Jerry Porter, a starter the previous two seasons who's fallen out of favor with the organization and been relegated to a No. 5 role. Will Buchanon, an undrafted rookie out of USC, is also pushing for a roster spot.
"I've been through a lot here and they've been good groups, but this is a really good group," said Fred Biletnikoff, in his 32nd year with the Raiders and 15th as a wide receivers coach. "They're nice size kids that are quick and can move."
Added coach Art Shell: "We have some good guys, some good talent. Fred can interchange those guys at the different positions and different spots. It works well for us."
Here's a quick review of that top-tier talent:
• Moss: The ninth-year veteran and five-time Pro Bowler has only two receptions for 30 yards as several passes his way have been off target in exhibition play. Biletnikoff is still encouraged by what he's seen, saying: "He's gotten more disciplined and better with his routes. He's not the most devastating blocker, but he's giving an effort."
• Gabriel: Porter's troubles have opened the door for Gabriel to seize the starting role opposite Moss. Biletnikoff said of Gabriel: "He has to (seize the opportunity), and he's doing a good job with it. With Doug, he's just got to be more consistent and be in the game all the time. The last year or two, he'd make a good play and then a couple bad plays."
Gabriel, in his fourth NFL season, has two receptions for 19 yards and a touchdown this exhibition season.
He said of his role: "It all depends upon the situations. Us, we don't think of what number we are. When your number is called, you just got to realize it's your time, do good."
• Whitted: The speedy veteran in his ninth NFL season has seen time this exhibition season as the No. 3 receiver. He left practice early Tuesday with a slight groin injury. Before that, Biletnikoff said Whitted's been doing "very good" and improved on his catching and route running.
• Morant: A third-year player, he caught a 67-yard touchdown pass in the second exhibition game and was elevated to the No. 3 role at practice Tuesday after Whitted's departure.
Asked if Morant's moved ahead of Porter, Shell said of Morant: "He's been here all training camp, hasn't missed a day. You don't just shut people down when they've been working and giving it their all."
• Porter: Limited by a calf injury since the start of camp, he played only a few snaps in his exhibition debut Sunday. Porter did make a spectacular catch in the back of the end zone Tuesday on a 40-yard pass from Marques Tuiasosopo. That marked the final play of practice. Asked if Porter has recovered from a calf injury, Shell said: "He is out here working. I assume he is pretty close or there."
• Curry: Shell said he's happy Curry is back but said there's no immediate plan for him other than working him into the new offensive scheme. Curry has 57 receptions in 29 games the past three seasons.
"The kid has talent, I've heard," Shell said. "I watched him when he played here in the past. I watched that. And everybody is ranting and raving about his talent. So that's a big plus."
Notes: Second-string quarterback Andrew Walter did not throw in practice. "His arm was a little tired so I said take (practice) off," said Shell, adding that he'd talk to trainer Rod Martin and Walter before determining Walter's status for Friday's exhibition game against the Detroit Lions. ... Shell praised defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, stating: "He's really going to come into his own this year."
Receiver practices for the first time since retearing his left Achilles tendon
By Cam Inman
NAPA - The Raiders' already-deep receiving corps picked up more punch Tuesday when Ronald Curry practiced for the first time since retearing his left Achilles tendon last Sept. 18.
Curry, who also missed the final four games of 2004 with an Achilles tear, said he's been ready to practice since training camp opened July 25. Camp ends today, but it's just the beginning for Curry as he tries finding his way through a stacked corps.
"I've got a big obstacle to overcome to get back on the field, and I'm up for the challenge," Curry said. "... I'm going to make it hard on the coaches to keep me on the sidelines."
Behind current starters Randy Moss and Doug Gabriel, Curry will compete for playing time with Alvis Whitted, Johnnie Morant and Jerry Porter, a starter the previous two seasons who's fallen out of favor with the organization and been relegated to a No. 5 role. Will Buchanon, an undrafted rookie out of USC, is also pushing for a roster spot.
"I've been through a lot here and they've been good groups, but this is a really good group," said Fred Biletnikoff, in his 32nd year with the Raiders and 15th as a wide receivers coach. "They're nice size kids that are quick and can move."
Added coach Art Shell: "We have some good guys, some good talent. Fred can interchange those guys at the different positions and different spots. It works well for us."
Here's a quick review of that top-tier talent:
• Moss: The ninth-year veteran and five-time Pro Bowler has only two receptions for 30 yards as several passes his way have been off target in exhibition play. Biletnikoff is still encouraged by what he's seen, saying: "He's gotten more disciplined and better with his routes. He's not the most devastating blocker, but he's giving an effort."
• Gabriel: Porter's troubles have opened the door for Gabriel to seize the starting role opposite Moss. Biletnikoff said of Gabriel: "He has to (seize the opportunity), and he's doing a good job with it. With Doug, he's just got to be more consistent and be in the game all the time. The last year or two, he'd make a good play and then a couple bad plays."
Gabriel, in his fourth NFL season, has two receptions for 19 yards and a touchdown this exhibition season.
He said of his role: "It all depends upon the situations. Us, we don't think of what number we are. When your number is called, you just got to realize it's your time, do good."
• Whitted: The speedy veteran in his ninth NFL season has seen time this exhibition season as the No. 3 receiver. He left practice early Tuesday with a slight groin injury. Before that, Biletnikoff said Whitted's been doing "very good" and improved on his catching and route running.
• Morant: A third-year player, he caught a 67-yard touchdown pass in the second exhibition game and was elevated to the No. 3 role at practice Tuesday after Whitted's departure.
Asked if Morant's moved ahead of Porter, Shell said of Morant: "He's been here all training camp, hasn't missed a day. You don't just shut people down when they've been working and giving it their all."
• Porter: Limited by a calf injury since the start of camp, he played only a few snaps in his exhibition debut Sunday. Porter did make a spectacular catch in the back of the end zone Tuesday on a 40-yard pass from Marques Tuiasosopo. That marked the final play of practice. Asked if Porter has recovered from a calf injury, Shell said: "He is out here working. I assume he is pretty close or there."
• Curry: Shell said he's happy Curry is back but said there's no immediate plan for him other than working him into the new offensive scheme. Curry has 57 receptions in 29 games the past three seasons.
"The kid has talent, I've heard," Shell said. "I watched him when he played here in the past. I watched that. And everybody is ranting and raving about his talent. So that's a big plus."
Notes: Second-string quarterback Andrew Walter did not throw in practice. "His arm was a little tired so I said take (practice) off," said Shell, adding that he'd talk to trainer Rod Martin and Walter before determining Walter's status for Friday's exhibition game against the Detroit Lions. ... Shell praised defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, stating: "He's really going to come into his own this year."