Newcomer Taylor could be a starter
Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said former Vikings receiver Travis Taylor was signed to increase competition. Kiffin was asked if the move sent a message to the idle Mike Williams.
"I don't know, you have to ask Mike that," Kiffin said. "I would hope so."
Williams and quarterback Josh McCown were acquired in a trade with the Lions last month. A highly touted playmaker from USC, Williams did little in Detroit. So far with the Raiders, Williams has scarcely played because of a leg pull.
Taylor, who signed as an unrestricted free agent Tuesday, is a legitimate player who could win the starting flanker job.
"Here's a guy who had over 30 catches for six or seven years in a row," Kiffin said.
Even though Taylor has 311 receptions for 4,013 yards and 22 touchdowns, he hasn't quite lived up to being chosen 10th overall by the Ravens in the 2000 draft. He also had the misfortune of falling in Randy Moss' wake. He was acquired by the Vikings after Moss left for Oakland. Now with Moss in New England, Taylor comes to Oakland.
"No, don't give me that responsibility. It takes a lot to replace that guy," Taylor said. Should Taylor replicate last year's production (57 catches, 651 yards and three touchdowns) he'll have more than replaced Moss, who had 42 catches for 553 yards and three scores in 2006.
As Gallery turns: On May 16, Robert Gallery played left and right tackle. This week, he lined up at an entirely new position: right guard.
"It could be permanent," Kiffin said. "We're looking at a lot of different options. As you look through it, you see (guard Paul) McQuistan at right tackle, (right tackle Barry) Sims over at left tackle, there's a bunch of different scenarios to go through. We're trying to find the best guys and making sure that guys are at the right positions, because you don't know if you don't try."
Switching Gallery, a No. 1 pick in 2004, to the interior could relieve him of one-on-one pass-protection responsibilities, but it's also another change for someone who has endured a switch from right tackle to left and has been coached by three staffs.
"Things are definitely different. It's a different system. As you guys can see, it's more aggressive," Gallery said. "We get a lot of work done, fly around. (Offensive line coach Tom Cable) wants us to be fast and get on people fast and get them running."
As far as moving from tackle to guard, Gallery said, "It's no big deal."
Briefly: Trim-looking Cal coach Jeff Tedford strolled the sidelines during practice. Kiffin and Tedford coached together at Fresno State. ... Rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell sat out most of practice with problems with his wisdom teeth, which could come out today or Friday. ... Center Jeremy Newberry missed practice to be with his ailing grandmother. ... Rookie wide receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins made a dandy diving catch of a Josh McCown throw during team drills. ... Kiffin said he had three conversations with former USC wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who announced he was retiring Wednesday, after he was released by the Panthers but nothing came of it.
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