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Why not? Raiders set their expectations high
By Steve Corkran
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
People keep pressing Raiders coach Art Shell about the upcoming season. Is this a rebuilding season? Hardly, he says. A transitional season? No way, Shell barks.
When pressed, Shell responds with a question of his own: "Why not us?" As in, why can't the Raiders go from a 4-12 team last season to a Super Bowl team this season?
The answers to "why not us?" were many and mind-numbing when it came to the Raiders in the three seasons since they last reached a Super Bowl. None of the three previous Raiders teams won more than five games.
The process of seeing whether Shell's optimism is warranted continues in earnest Monday, when the Raiders report to training camp and open Shell's second stint coaching the team.
The first thing he wants everyone to know is, those weren't Shell's Raiders the past three seasons. The Raider teams he identifies with from his playing and coaching days from 1968-94 were tough, physical, aggressive and winners.
Those are some of the attributes he wants this year's team to exhibit. The early signs are encouraging, Shell said. Yet, "There's a lot of work to be done."
With that in mind, what follows is a look at five of the most-pressing issues facing the Raiders during training camp:
1. Determining if Aaron Brooks is the heir apparent to deposed starting quarterback Kerry Collins.
The New Orleans Saints benched Brooks for inconsistent play late last season, but he has landed on his feet in Oakland. Shell has been careful to anoint Brooks the hands-down starter, though few doubt sixth-year player Marques Tuiasosopo or second-year player Andrew Walter will beat out Brooks eventually, if not this season.
Brooks' experience as a starter, big arm and impressive mobility give him a decisive edge over Walter and Tuiasosopo. Still, Shell wants Brooks to earn the starting job through solid play in training camp and exhibition games.
Just the same, Shell is dead-set upon giving Walter and Tuiasosopo ample playing time in practice and games so that he has a better feel for who his quarterback will be beyond this season.
2. Getting a retooled offensive line to perform as a cohesive unit.
Four of the five projected starters are either first-year players or at positions that weren't their primary ones last season.
Robert Gallery has moved from right tackle to left tackle, Barry Sims from left tackle to left guard, Langston Walker from left guard to right tackle, and rookie Paul McQuistan is working at right guard. Center Jake Grove is the only one who is lining up in a familiar position.
Shell pinpointed the offensive line as a problem area from last season, and he is determined to shore up that unit. Fortunately for the Raiders, Shell knows a thing or two about offensive line play, as evidenced by his spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his work at left offensive tackle from 1968-82.
Shell also brought in former standout NFL offensive linemen Jackie Slater and Irv Eatman to help ensure a quick and decisive overhaul.
3. Rounding out the linebacking corps.
The Raiders scrapped their plan to use converted defensive linemen Tyler Brayton and Grant Irons as outside linebackers one quarter into the regular-season opener last year.
There won't be any need for such risky gimmicks this season. The Raiders made sure of that by drafting Thomas Howard and Darnell Bing and signing free agent Robert Thomas. They also benefit from the return to health of projected starter Sam Williams.
Now it's time to find out who fits best in defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's scheme of three linebackers and four linemen. Howard and Williams figure to get a long look on the outside, with second-year player Kirk Morrison and veteran Danny Clark vying for the spot in the middle.
4. Turning special teams into a strength.
Few teams have as much talent as the Raiders at kicker, punter and kick returners. Shell wants that talent realized to give the Raiders a decisive edge in the kicking game.
That means an added emphasis on kicker Sebastian Janikowski and punter Shane Lechler performing with more consistency than they did last season, and second-year player Chris Carr bringing the same kind of energy and production to his punt returns as he did on kick returns last season.
First-year special teams coach Ted Daisher already has made it known that he expects his players to practice more than they have in recent seasons and to treat practices with the same urgency as games.
5. Finding more ways to get wide receiver Randy Moss involved.
Injuries to Moss in Oakland's fifth game turned the game's most explosive receiver into a glorified decoy for the rest of the season.
Moss says his not missing any games last season points to his burning desire to be a part of a Super Bowl team. Few doubt that Moss needs to play an integral role for Raiders to win a Super Bowl.
To that end, Shell envisions more passes thrown Moss' way, with Brooks' mobility and improved blocking giving Moss more time to get open and Brooks more time before he lets fly.
"I remember the games we played against Minnesota almost every year," Brooks said in May, "and Randy torched us. ... He can make the weakest quarterback the best.
"To have an opportunity to play with a receiver who's as talented as he is, you've just got to embrace it and try to do everything you can to get him the ball."
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld...tm?source=rss&channel=cctimes_oakland_raiders
By Steve Corkran
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
People keep pressing Raiders coach Art Shell about the upcoming season. Is this a rebuilding season? Hardly, he says. A transitional season? No way, Shell barks.
When pressed, Shell responds with a question of his own: "Why not us?" As in, why can't the Raiders go from a 4-12 team last season to a Super Bowl team this season?
The answers to "why not us?" were many and mind-numbing when it came to the Raiders in the three seasons since they last reached a Super Bowl. None of the three previous Raiders teams won more than five games.
The process of seeing whether Shell's optimism is warranted continues in earnest Monday, when the Raiders report to training camp and open Shell's second stint coaching the team.
The first thing he wants everyone to know is, those weren't Shell's Raiders the past three seasons. The Raider teams he identifies with from his playing and coaching days from 1968-94 were tough, physical, aggressive and winners.
Those are some of the attributes he wants this year's team to exhibit. The early signs are encouraging, Shell said. Yet, "There's a lot of work to be done."
With that in mind, what follows is a look at five of the most-pressing issues facing the Raiders during training camp:
1. Determining if Aaron Brooks is the heir apparent to deposed starting quarterback Kerry Collins.
The New Orleans Saints benched Brooks for inconsistent play late last season, but he has landed on his feet in Oakland. Shell has been careful to anoint Brooks the hands-down starter, though few doubt sixth-year player Marques Tuiasosopo or second-year player Andrew Walter will beat out Brooks eventually, if not this season.
Brooks' experience as a starter, big arm and impressive mobility give him a decisive edge over Walter and Tuiasosopo. Still, Shell wants Brooks to earn the starting job through solid play in training camp and exhibition games.
Just the same, Shell is dead-set upon giving Walter and Tuiasosopo ample playing time in practice and games so that he has a better feel for who his quarterback will be beyond this season.
2. Getting a retooled offensive line to perform as a cohesive unit.
Four of the five projected starters are either first-year players or at positions that weren't their primary ones last season.
Robert Gallery has moved from right tackle to left tackle, Barry Sims from left tackle to left guard, Langston Walker from left guard to right tackle, and rookie Paul McQuistan is working at right guard. Center Jake Grove is the only one who is lining up in a familiar position.
Shell pinpointed the offensive line as a problem area from last season, and he is determined to shore up that unit. Fortunately for the Raiders, Shell knows a thing or two about offensive line play, as evidenced by his spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his work at left offensive tackle from 1968-82.
Shell also brought in former standout NFL offensive linemen Jackie Slater and Irv Eatman to help ensure a quick and decisive overhaul.
3. Rounding out the linebacking corps.
The Raiders scrapped their plan to use converted defensive linemen Tyler Brayton and Grant Irons as outside linebackers one quarter into the regular-season opener last year.
There won't be any need for such risky gimmicks this season. The Raiders made sure of that by drafting Thomas Howard and Darnell Bing and signing free agent Robert Thomas. They also benefit from the return to health of projected starter Sam Williams.
Now it's time to find out who fits best in defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's scheme of three linebackers and four linemen. Howard and Williams figure to get a long look on the outside, with second-year player Kirk Morrison and veteran Danny Clark vying for the spot in the middle.
4. Turning special teams into a strength.
Few teams have as much talent as the Raiders at kicker, punter and kick returners. Shell wants that talent realized to give the Raiders a decisive edge in the kicking game.
That means an added emphasis on kicker Sebastian Janikowski and punter Shane Lechler performing with more consistency than they did last season, and second-year player Chris Carr bringing the same kind of energy and production to his punt returns as he did on kick returns last season.
First-year special teams coach Ted Daisher already has made it known that he expects his players to practice more than they have in recent seasons and to treat practices with the same urgency as games.
5. Finding more ways to get wide receiver Randy Moss involved.
Injuries to Moss in Oakland's fifth game turned the game's most explosive receiver into a glorified decoy for the rest of the season.
Moss says his not missing any games last season points to his burning desire to be a part of a Super Bowl team. Few doubt that Moss needs to play an integral role for Raiders to win a Super Bowl.
To that end, Shell envisions more passes thrown Moss' way, with Brooks' mobility and improved blocking giving Moss more time to get open and Brooks more time before he lets fly.
"I remember the games we played against Minnesota almost every year," Brooks said in May, "and Randy torched us. ... He can make the weakest quarterback the best.
"To have an opportunity to play with a receiver who's as talented as he is, you've just got to embrace it and try to do everything you can to get him the ball."
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld...tm?source=rss&channel=cctimes_oakland_raiders