Raiders Team Report 07.05.2007

Angry Pope

Angry Pope

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July 5, 2007

Steve Corkran

The Raiders have gotten a jump on getting all their players to training camp on time by signing some of their 11 draft picks well ahead of time. In the past, the Raiders waited until the week before training camp before signing their draft picks. However, this year they have the added burden of needing to reach agreement with No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell, so it's imperative that their sole focus is on getting Russell's contract done when the time nears. This approach also helps ensure new coach Lane Kiffin that he will have all his players available to him from the outset, which he deems critical to his chances for success this season. RG Kevin Boothe has been the forgotten man so far in the reshuffling of Oakland's offensive line. He started the bulk of Oakland's regular-season games last season as a rookie and performed well, by all accounts. However, he has not worked with the first-team offense during the offseason, with Cooper Carlisle taking all the snaps. Boothe will get a long look during training camp and likely will make the coaches' decision a tough one, but he doesn't have much right to feel strongly about his chances of starting the season in the starting lineup. Boothe made the expected rookie mistakes last season but didn't repeat many of those mistakes too often and got better as the season progressed. He is big, strong and possesses great football smarts.

SCOUTING REPORT: FB Justin Griffith appears to be a nice fit in new coach Lane Kiffin's West Coast-style offense. He is an accomplished blocker, who has the ability to run the ball on occasion, and he is a reliable receiver. Griffith figures to supplant Zack Crockett as the starter and be more of a factor than Crockett was in Art Shell's offense last season. Griffith also benefits from having played in Greg Knapp's offense with the Atlanta Falcons and is familiar with former Falcons offensive line coach Tom Cable's blocking scheme. Look for Griffith to fill a void that the Raiders had last season, though it was no fault of Crockett's.

SOMETHING TO PROVE: LT Robert Gallery started at the premier position on the offensive line for the first time last season but, in the estimation of the current coaching staff, didn't play well enough to be considered the surefire starter this season. Gallery battled injuries, inconsistency and a new blocking scheme last season. He now is being tried at left guard and right offensive tackle, in addition to competing against Barry Sims at left tackle. Gallery has been forced to learn a new blocking scheme in each of his NFL seasons and now has to do so again. Look for Gallery to wind up in the starting lineup, though likely not at the left offensive tackle spot. Sims has taken the majority of the snaps during the offseason and appears to have an edge on the job. Gallery has the talent to be a starter at left tackle in the NFL, but he is running out of time with the Raiders.
 
Inside Slant

Posted 7/6/2007

When the Raiders open the regular-season on Sept. 9 against the Detroit Lions, half of their running back relay will be missing.

Dominic Rhodes, signed to a two-year, $7.5 million contract in the offseason after an excellent postseason for the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts, won't make his debut in silver and black until Oct. 14 after serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

The Raiders had no comment other than to confirm the NFL's action, but odds are slim they were surprised.

Rhodes was arrested Feb. 20 for driving under the influence after being pulled over for speeding (81 mph in a 55 mph zone) at 3 a.m. He had a blood-alcohol content of .09, above the legal limit of .08.

He pleaded guilty to reckless driving and paid a $1,000 fine — which put him under the NFL microscope.

The four-game suspension indicates Rhodes was already in the confidential program. In 2002, Rhodes was arrested for domestic battery and underwent a diversion program and mental health counseling.

Whether that incident is what put him in the program or not, only Rhodes knows — and he's not saying.

Regardless, the Raiders knew the suspension was a possibility when they signed him.

After a disappointing regular season in which he averaged just 3.4 yards per carry, Rhodes had an excellent postseason, averaging 4.9 per try, including a 116-yard effort in the Super Bowl against the Chicago Bears.

Rhodes was added to support LaMont Jordan, who in two years as Oakland's feature back has not produced the way the Raiders hoped when he was signed to a five-year contract worth $25 million.

Jordan has missed nine games due to injury, averaged 3.8 yards per carry and gained 1,459 yards — or about what the Raiders hoped he would gain in a season after emerging from the shadow of Curtis Martin with the New York Jets.

Jordan almost didn't make it to a third season, opting to accept a $3 million roster bonus rather than the $4.75 million he was due under the terms of his contract.

"It was pretty much take a pay cut or be released," Jordan said.

For the first four games, health permitting, Jordan figures to be the feature runner. Options for his backup include Justin Fargas, who gained a career-high 659 yards last season, or rookie Michael Bush, a fourth-round draft pick out of Louisville.

Bush, originally projected to be a first-round pick until suffering a broken leg in his first game of the 2006 season at Louisville, was rehabbing during organized team activities and minicamps.

Both Bush and coach Lane Kiffin promised he would be ready for training camp, but it remains to be seen how far the Raiders will push a player they hope could be one of the steals of the 2007 draft, provided they show the requisite patience.


—According to the company line, the Raiders don't differentiate between strong safety and free safety.

There's a left safety and a right safety in the same way there is a left cornerback and a right cornerback.

That's why minicamp and Organized Team Activity sessions have featured both Michael Huff and Stuart Schweigert alternately playing as deep safety and as a safety in the box.

Huff, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2007 draft, played strong safety last season and distinguished himself in coverage against some of the top tight ends in the AFC West. Schweigert was the free safety, and is regarded as a solid player although the occasional blown tackle in space has been a maddening trait.

While no one is saying it, the Raiders appear to be moving toward easing Schweigert out of the picture in an attempt to get more plays out of Huff as a free safety.

The most recent evidence was Oakland's courting of free agent Donovin Darius, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound strong safety who does his best work in the box as a physical presence and run defender.

Due a $3.5 million salary from Jacksonville, Darius was cut after playing in just 12 games over the past two years because of a torn ACL, a torn labrum and a broken lower left leg.

That didn't stop the Raiders from giving Darius and his wife a tour of their facility which included a visit with owner Al Davis and the coaching staff.

Raiders coach Lane Kiffin was the defensive quality control coach for Jacksonville in 2000 and did much of his work with the secondary. Darius has 84 tackles for the Jaguars that season, the second-highest total of his career.

The NFL Network speculated the Raiders were poised to make an offer and would quickly close a deal. If that's what they had planned, Darius said he had other ideas.

"We made it clear we were going to examine our options," Darius said. "We're just starting this process. The Raiders made me feel welcome in every way. We have some decisions to make."

Darius turns 32 in August, but there is concern he's older than his years due to his physical style and his problems remaining on the field the past two seasons.

Of course, Davis capitalized once before when the 49ers thought Ronnie Lott was past his prime. The Raiders signed him in Plan B free agency and got two excellent seasons from the Hall of Famer.

Davis also blew it when Rodney Harrison all but declared his love for the Raiders after being released by San Diego. Harrison requested a visit and received it. But Davis didn't even attend the interview, and Harrison ended up signing with New England, where he became a key cog in a championship defensive team.

Even if Darius doesn't come to Oakland, the Raiders have positioned themselves to move Huff to free safety by moving Darnell Bing from linebacker to strong safety, signing free agent strong safety Colin Branch, and signing rookie Eric Frampton of Washington State, who could play either side.

cont'd...
 
cont'd...

NOTES, QUOTES

— The source of complaints regarding Lane Kiffin's offseason practices came into focus courtesy of Jay Richardson, a fifth-round draft pick out of Ohio State.

Talking to his hometown newspaper in Garretsville, Ohio, Richardson had this to say regarding the Raiders being forced to forfeit a week of weight training after the NFL Player's Association decreed Kiffin's practices were too intense and contained too much contact.

"Some of the veterans reported that we were working too hard," Richardson said. "With me coming from Ohio State, we always worked really hard there, so I was kind of used to it. But the veterans complained that they `don't always have to do all of this crap.' It was good for me because I got to see the game speed a little bit."

Veterans during OTAs and minicamps were largely complimentary of Kiffin's workouts. Two notable absences for all but the mandatory camp were veteran defensive tackle Warren Sapp and defensive end Derrick Burgess. Defensive end/tackle Tommy Kelly also didn't attend several sessions.

— The Raiders took exception to an NFL Network production featuring the "Top 10 single-season Performances" in league history because it included no Raiders.

George Blanda's miracle season of 1970, in which he starred as a backup quarterback and place-kicker, and Lester Hayes' 1980 season in which he had 18 interceptions in the regular and postseason were seen as the most egregious errors.

The release began, "The Oakland Raiders were once again disregarded by the NFL Network ..."

It was the second time the Raiders saw fit to issue a press release to rebut an NFL Network production. The Raiders also chafed at the 1983 Super Bowl championship team being ranked as the 20th best of all time.

The Raiders beat the Washington Redskins 38-9 in the Super Bowl that season. Washington was the highest-scoring regular-season team in NFL history at that time.

— For the first time in 20 years, the Raiders have no lawsuits pending.

The California State Supreme Court unanimously refused to revive Oakland's lawsuit against the NFL in which Al Davis contended the league sabotaged a proposed deal with Hollywood Park, forcing a move back to Oakland.

Raiders general counsel Jeff Birren called the ruling, "incomprehensible."

— Defensive end Bryant McNeal, a practice squad player for the Raiders last season, saw his minimal chances of making the roster shrink even more after he was jailed following a traffic stop in South Carolina.

McNeal, 27, was arrested for allegedly selling a Land Rover he didn't own to a pawn broker in Clearwater, Fla., for $15,000.

—OL Robert Gallery has been shuttled between tackle and guard, left and right. He's on the verge of being proclaimed a major bust after being the No. 2 overall selection in the 2004 draft. None of that bothers him as much as the bottom line.

In three years with the Raiders, Gallery's team is an NFL-worst 11-37.

"We haven't won a lot of games, and that's what we're here to do. It's not a whole lot of fun when you don't win," Gallery said. "I love this organization. I'm ready to get them back on track."

—After four years of futility, the Raiders are attempting to import success, since there is so little of it on the roster. Safety Colin Branch, who went to a Super Bowl as a member of the Carolina Panthers, is a case in point.

"I'm a veteran guy, I've been around, and was on a winning program in Carolina," Branch said. "Hopefully I can bring a little bit of that here, helping out in any way. Hopefully I can be a versatile guy who can do a lot of different things. It'll open my horizons up a little bit and show people I can do more than one thing."

—Center Jeremy Newberry, attempting a comeback after microfracture surgery, said his condition is beyond pain-killing injections.

"There's not a lot you can do in the joint to shoot it up," Newberry said. "I will have some soreness. That's just part of playing football. It's a weekly deal. I've been pretty good at dealing with that part of it."

—After spending his career at USC immersed in offense, working with wide receivers and eventually becoming the co-offensive coordinator, Lane Kiffin has spent has spent little time with defensive football since working for the Jacksonville Jaguars as defensive quality control coach in 2000 under Tom Coughlin.

Since becoming the Raiders' head coach this offseason, Kiffin has paid plenty of attention to the defensive side of the ball.

"I spend a lot of time with the defense. That's so I totally understand what we're doing and our philosophy and our schemes," Kiffin said. "We go in every day after this and watch film together as a staff so our whole staff understands it."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "The 1983 Raiders could beat any Super Bowl team from any decade, any league, and under any circumstance. The 20th ranking by the NFL Films panel is a disgrace to the history of the National Football League. We dominated the regular-season, the playoffs and the Super Bowl itself," — Former Raiders coach Tom Flores on his 1983 Raiders being ranked No. 20 among the best teams of all time by the NFL Network.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)

—S Derrick Gibson (not tendered as UFA).

—RB DeJuan Green (not tendered as ERFA).

—OG Corey Hulsey (not tendered as UFA).

—LB Grant Irons (not tendered as UFA).

—DT Michael Quarshie (not tendered as ERFA).

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS

—RB DeJuan Green has operated on the fringes of the Raiders roster without ever making an impact.

—DT Michael Quarshie, if retained, would have trouble making Oakland's final roster considering the interior players already on hand.

DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED

—CB John Bowie: 4/110; terms unknown.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

—TE James Adkisson: ERFA; terms unknown.

—RB Adimchinobe Echemandu: Not tendered as RFA; terms unknown.

—LB Isaiah Ekijiuba: ERFA; terms unknown.

—DT Anttaj Hawthorne: ERFA; terms unknown.

—DE Kevin Huntley: ERFA; terms unknown.

—DL Tommy Kelly: Potential RFA; $1.35M/1 yr.

—RB ReShard Lee: RFA; $850,000/1 yr.

—DT Terdell Sands: Potential UFA; $17M/4 years, $4M SB.

—OT Chad Slaughter: UFA; terms unknown.

—CB Duane Starks: UFA; terms unknown.

—LB Robert Thomas: Potential UFA; $6M/3 years, $1.5 SB.

—WR Alvis Whitted: UFA; terms unknown.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

—S Colin Branch: Not tendered as UFA by Panthers; terms unknown.

—OG Cooper Carlisle: UFA Broncos; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

—OG Ben Claxton: Waivers Falcons.

—OT Cornell Green: UFA Buccaneers; terms unknown.

—FB Justin Griffith: UFA Falcons; $3.8M/3 yrs, SB unknown.

—CB Chris Johnson: FA; terms unknown.

—QB Josh McCown (trade Lions).

—C Jeremy Newberry: UFA 49ers; $1.5M/1 yr, no SB.

—RB Dominic Rhodes: UFA Colts; $7.5M/2 yrs, $1.5M SB; 2007 cap: $2M.

—TE Tony Stewart: UFA Bengals; terms unknown.

—WR Travis Taylor: UFA Vikings; terms unknown.

—TE Fred Wakefield: UFA Cardinals; terms unknown.

—WR Mike Williams (trade Lions).

PLAYERS LOST

—OT Brad Badger (released).

—QB Aaron Brooks (released).

—DE Lance Johnstone (released).

—WR Randy Moss: Traded Patriots.

—CB Tyrone Poole (released).

—CB Kris Richard (released).

—QB Marques Tuiasosopo: UFA Jets; 1 yr, terms unknown.

—OT Langston Walker: UFA Bills; $25M/5 yrs, $5M SB.
 
Thanks again Pope. Much appreciation for all the good stuff.
 
Still don't like the release of Badger. A smart hard worker who always seemed ready to step in when we needed him.
 
He doesnt fit the offense, and Cooper-Claxton-Henderson gives us a group of younger upgrades, IMO
 
—OT Chad Slaughter: UFA; terms unknown.
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Still don't understand this one. I don't think he can be successful in ZBS and then on top of that he seems to me to be more of a 1-year vet minimum type player and not some guy you sign to a 3-year contract with base salaries that escalate from $1M in year 1 to $2M in the 3rd year.
 
If nothing else just look at the Players we go compared to the Players we lost.......

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

Camp Fodder —S Colin Branch: Not tendered as UFA by Panthers; terms unknown.

Starter —OG Cooper Carlisle: UFA Broncos; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

Back up —OG Ben Claxton: Waivers Falcons.

Back up —OT Cornell Green: UFA Buccaneers; terms unknown.

Possible Starter —FB Justin Griffith: UFA Falcons; $3.8M/3 yrs, SB unknown.

Fodder —CB Chris Johnson: FA; terms unknown.

Starter —QB Josh McCown (trade Lions).

Possible Starter —C Jeremy Newberry: UFA 49ers; $1.5M/1 yr, no SB.

Possible Starter —RB Dominic Rhodes: UFA Colts; $7.5M/2 yrs, $1.5M SB; 2007 cap: $2M.

Back up or Fodder —TE Tony Stewart: UFA Bengals; terms unknown.

Back up —WR Travis Taylor: UFA Vikings; terms unknown.

Back up or Fodder —TE Fred Wakefield: UFA Cardinals; terms unknown.

Back up or Fodder (he needs to get healthy quick)—WR Mike Williams (trade Lions).

PLAYERS LOST

Back up —OT Brad Badger (released).

BUM —QB Aaron Brooks (released).

Back up —DE Lance Johnstone (released).

Starter (Pain in the Ass) —WR Randy Moss: Traded Patriots.

Back up —CB Tyrone Poole (released).

Who —CB Kris Richard (released).

Back Up —QB Marques Tuiasosopo: UFA Jets; 1 yr, terms unknown.

Back up Barely —OT Langston Walker: UFA Bills; $25M/5 yrs, $5M SB


If you ask me we got the better of FA this year not like last, I can't wait for training camp. There was no one that we let go that I said "hey we can't let this guy go"
 
Yes, I would say we did well in free agency. If it weren't for the fact that Sims is expecting to start at one of the tackle spots, I would send a second day pick for Kevin Shaffer. He is young enough and his salary is not exhorbitant because he received a large signing bonus.
 
Team report from a fantasy perspective...

Joe Kilroy

2007 Coaching Changes

Fantasy Impact: Oakland Raiders

6/25/07

New Head Coach: Lane Kiffin
(USC OC: 2005-2006; USC Pass. Co./WRs Coach 2004; USC WRs Coach: 2002-2003; USC TEs Coach: 2001)

Previous Head Coach: Art Shell (2006)

Lane Kiffin is the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator, Monte Kiffin. While Monte's made a name for himself coaching defenses, Lane's background comes from his work with the offense. He graduated from Fresno State in 1998, playing quarterback from 1994-1996 with the Bulldogs. Upon graduation, he immediately took a position with the football team as their QB coach. From 1999-2000 he worked with Colorado State's offensive line before joining Pete Carroll at USC in 2001. His first season with the Trojans was spent coaching tight ends. He then worked with their wide receivers, before a promotion to offensive coordinator in 2005. It's a position he held until signing with the Oakland Raiders this offseason.

During his tenure at Southern Cal, Kiffin oversaw the development of wide receivers Mike Williams, Keary Colbert, Dwayne Jarrett, and Steve Smith. All four had been selected no later than the second round upon entering the NFL draft. Other USC receivers to make it to the pros under Kiffin's tutelage include Kareem Kelly, Alex Holmes, and Dominique Byrd. Over the course of the 2002 campaign, Williams and Colbert become the first USC receiving tandem to post 1000 yards each. In 2005, the Trojans offense became the first in NCAA history to produce 3000 yards from a quarterback (Matt Leinart), 1000 yards from two running backs (Reggie Bush, LenDale White), and have a wide out top 1000 yards (Dwayne Jarrett) all in the same season.

Kiffin's time at USC isn't marked simply by the explosive offense he helped design. The Trojans won the National Championship in 2005 and made a repeat appearance the following year--though they lost 41-38 against the Texas Longhorns. They also made appearances in the 2001 Las Vegas Bowl, 2003 Orange Bowl, and the Rose Bowl in both 2004 and 2007. While Kiffin has amassed an impressive resume over the years, he'll be hard pressed to find early success in the NFL. Oakland hasn't had a winning season in four years. With rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell a candidate to start the season opener, it's likely they'll suffer the same fate for a fifth consecutive season.


Kiffin's Impact On The Offense:

Quarterbacks: JaMarcus Russell; Josh McCown; Andrew Walter

With the number one overall pick in this year’s draft, Oakland selected quarterback JaMarcus Russell out of LSU. While Russell will undoubtedly become the starter early in his career, he is not without competition for that role come opening day. After the selection, Oakland later sent a fourth pick to the Detroit Lions in exchange for quarterback Josh McCown and wide receiver Mike Williams. With Andrew Walter sidelined due to a knee injury, Russell and McCown split snaps evenly with the first team offense during recent minicamps. The two will battle it out during the preseason before Kiffin decides on his starting QB, but expectations are Russell will be under center by the end of the year.

Regardless of which signal caller gets the starting nod, chances are neither will be a valuable commodity in fantasy leagues. The Raiders offense ranked among the worst in all categories last year. Their 2850 passing yards ranked 30th, and their 7 touchdown passes were fewest in the league. Kiffin's background suggests he'll someday create a potent offensive attack in Oakland, but it won't happen overnight. If McCown starts, expect him to give way to Russell later in the season. Both QBs are better left on the waiver wire rather than taking up space on your roster this year.


Running Backs: LaMont Jordan; Dominic Rhodes; Justin Fargas; Michael Bush; Reshard Lee

Much like the passing game, Oakland's rushing attack was dismal last year. Starting halfback LaMont Jordan missed nearly half the season due to injuries and didn't produce much when healthy. Justin Fargas received most of the carries during his absence, but was unable to fare any better. The Raiders finished 29th in rushing yards, and like the passing game, ranked dead last in touchdowns. There should be improvement in this area for the upcoming season, but Oakland's running backs may yet again hold little value in fantasy leagues.

LaMont Jordan returns from injury and retains his place atop the depth chart. However, he'll face competition for playing time with the team’s additions of Dominic Rhodes and Michael Bush during the offseason. Rhodes was signed as free agent and will serve as a change of pace back for Oakland. If he proves himself as a valuable commodity in Kiffin's offense, the opportunity is there for him to become more involved. Bush, a fourth round pick in this years draft, was touted as one of the top college prospects at his position before a broken leg in Louisville's opener destroyed his senior season. If he's able to bounce back strong from the injury, he could be a pleasant surprise in the Raiders backfield. At the moment, none of Oakland's backs should be considered better than a number three RB in fantasy leagues.


Wide Receivers: Ronald Curry; Jerry Porter; Mike Williams; Alvis Whitted; Doug Gabriel; Travis Taylor; Carlos Francis; Johnnie Lee Higgins; Jonathan Holland

The Raiders cast of wide receivers is a bit of a crapshoot when it comes to deciding their fantasy value. None of them are likely to function as a reliable starter on a weekly basis, but there should be enough production for one or two of them to warrant consideration off the waiver wire during the course of the year. If you play in larger leagues, you might even find yourself holding onto Jerry Porter or Ronald Curry as your fourth or fifth wide out. Curry, a sixth year vet, is coming off a career year for himself. He recorded 62 receptions for 727 yards, but only found the end zone once. If he wins a starting job during the preseason, it's possible for him to improve upon those statistics.

Porter enters the 2007 season with a much needed fresh start. After demanding a trade, then eventually falling into Art Shell's doghouse, he played in just 4 games and totaled 1 reception in 2006. Based on his production in the two seasons prior to last, it was thought a 1000 yard outing was soon on the horizon for Porter. After sitting nearly all of last year however, one is left to wonder what type of value he will possess in 2007. With Oakland's current QB situation, don't expect those 1000 yards to come from Porter anytime soon.

Mike Williams is reunited with Kiffin as part of the deal that brought Josh McCown to the Raiders. Due to their past relationship at USC, it is possible Kiffin believes he can still muster worthwhile production from the former first round pick. That may be so, but don't bank on seeing great results from Williams. Travis Taylor was also acquired during the offseason and is expected to get thrown into the mix. It's a situation that will play out during the preseason before the depth chart is set. Follow it closely and consider Oakland's starters as a fourth or fifth receiver for your fantasy team.


Tight Ends: Zach Miller; Randal Williams; Courtney Anderson; John Madsen; Tony Stewart

The Raiders selected tight end Zach Miller out of Arizona State with an early pick in the second round of this years draft. The 6'4", 260 pound rookie is already talking of how he wants to start for the Raiders this season. A quick glance at those who will be challenging him gives good reason to believe he will accomplish that goal. While Miller is likely to be the only Oakland tight end worthy of consideration in fantasy leagues, his value will be limited. For this season, consider him no better than a back up at the position. In another year or two he may be a TE worth starting on a regular basis.
 
Well so much for treating everybody the same... but I guess in this case, Kiffin doesn't have much of a choice........

PFW said:
Raiders WR Ronald Curry told PFW recently that volatile teammate Jerry Porter is doing “just fine” a year after a much-publicized blow-up with former head coach Art Shell led to a tumultuous season in which he rarely saw the field. “He’s taken more of a leadership role this year, and Coach (Lane) Kiffin’s going to allow him to lead,” Curry said. “… The biggest thing about coaching is you can’t handle everybody the same. He’s one of those guys that you’ve got to handle like he wants to be handled because he’s going to go out there and play for you on Sunday. That’s something you can’t take away from him — he’s going to go out there and compete in games and practice. He brings a lot to the table, and we definitely need him.”

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/The+Way+We+Hear+It/Whispers/2007/whispers2205.htm
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An update on Jamarcus...

Russell update: Even though both sides are talking, don't expect a quick deal for Raiders first-round choice JaMarcus Russell. The Raiders did make an effort to sign him before the draft, but this is the most difficult contract the Raiders have faced in more than a decade. It won't be easy for the sides to get something done before the July 26 opening of camp. The top pick in this year's draft could get close to $30 million in guarantees.
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SoCalRaider said:
Well so much for treating everybody the same... but I guess in this case, Kiffin doesn't have much of a choice........
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I don't get your comment. Are you implying that by allowing a player to lead, Kiffin is setting different rules for different players?
 
Not on Al's watch!

Ja-Holdout? Say it ain't so. :eek:

Actually I'm not worried about it. Al Davis knows how to get this stuff done. He'll be signed and ready to go by training camp.
 
Other stuff from Curry...

It didn’t take but a few offseason workouts for Raiders WR Ronald Curry to realize new head coach Lane Kiffin had improved the atmosphere and tempo of practices compared to last year, when turmoil was rampant in a disastrous 2-14 campaign under Art Shell. “He’s really come in and pushed the guys hard and is pushing us in the right direction,” Curry told PFW in late June. “He’s holding everybody accountable to do their jobs. … Our problem was never talent, it was just everybody being on the same page.” Curry said the fact Kiffin, at 32, is younger than some of the players is hardly an issue because Kiffin didn’t come in with a young approach. “The only reason you can tell he’s young is because he has so much energy,” Curry said. “He’s all over the place, and his motor is high. The way he carries himself, the way he conducts the team, he lets you know that he’s in full control.” Curry believes he and his teammates are more comfortable and confident in the new system, and that should eliminate the feeling of predictability that plagued the offense last season.
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massraider said:
I don't get your comment. Are you implying that by allowing a player to lead, Kiffin is setting different rules for different players?
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No, I'm not implying that. Mine was in reference to this comment from Curry:

"The biggest thing about coaching is you can’t handle everybody the same. He’s one of those guys that you’ve got to handle like he wants to be handled"
 
Espn running backs ranking...we were ranked at 13...


13. Oakland Raiders

Despite finishing the 2006 regular season ranked 29th in rushing yards per game, it would be hard to argue against the talent the Raiders will line up with in 2007. LaMont Jordan should be the starter, and though he missed some time with injuries last season, he is an extremely talented runner. With the addition of a new coaching staff, the team wanted to add some depth so it added former Colts starter Dominic Rhodes. Rhodes will miss the first four games of the season because of a violation of the substance abuse policy, but will contribute if he can stay out of trouble and return to the team in good physical condition. Rhodes' status moved the Raiders out of the top 10. Throw in speed back Justin Fargas, who was productive at times last season, and the drafting of rookie Michael Bush at the top of the fourth round and this unit is extremely deep. The inability of the Raiders to run the ball last season had to do with poor offensive line play and being behind early and often. Those facts do not diminish the overall talent this unit has going into 2007.
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Posted: July 10, 2007

Steve Corkran

FAST FACT: The Raiders remain one of only a few teams with closed training camps, which only feeds into the mystique and bad-boy image of the franchise. The Raiders claim they don't open practices to the public because of a lack of accommodations.


TOP PRIORITY: The biggest priority in training camp is for new offensive line coach Tom Cable to figure out which of his players are best suited to which positions. Oakland's offensive line allowed a league-worst 72 sacks last season, and none of the five starters performed well on a consistent basis. To that end, Cable was brought in from the Atlanta Falcons, RT Langston Walker was allowed to sign elsewhere, and players such as Barry Sims, Robert Gallery and Paul McQuistan are being tried at positions other than the ones they played last season. Not surprisingly, Oakland's offense scored a league-worst 12 touchdowns last season, and the quarterbacks struggled with their consistency. It's conceivable only C Jake Grove will be at the position he started at last season. Finding the right mix is even more important this season because No. 1 draft pick JaMarcus Russell figures to be at quarterback at some point, and the Raiders don't want to expose him to the kind of punishment that David Carr endured in his early years with the Houston Texans.

CAMP CONFIDENTIAL: Jeremy Newberry has held up well so far throughout offseason workouts. However, the Raiders need to find out if his surgically repaired knees are strong enough to handle the rigors of the regular season. To that end, Newberry will be pushed in training camp with an eye toward finding out if he can be part of the solution to an offensive line that underperformed last season. Best case, Newberry will crack the starting lineup at guard or center, provided his knees hold up. Worst case, he will be used as a backup at several positions. ...

The running back position is deep in talent, yet none of the prospects has a lock on the starting spot. LaMont Jordan is the incumbent and figures to get the inside edge at retaining the job he shared with Justin Fargas last season. Jordan is healthy once again and poised to prove he is worthy of the huge contract he signed three seasons ago. To do so, he needs to stay healthy, be quicker to hit the holes, catch more passes and block better. If he falters, the Raiders won't waste any time looking to the likes of Dominic Rhodes, Fargas and Zack Crockett. New coach Lane Kiffin is hopeful of identifying two backs he can rely upon in much the same way that the Saints and Colts, among other teams, have done with great success in recent years. ...

Practices in recent camps were conducted with a minimum of contact and plenty of breaks for the players. That figures to change under Kiffin. He favors shorter, more intense practices, with a premium placed upon quality rather than quantity. Kiffin wants things done at a fast tempo so that the practices approximate the pace and intensity of regular-season games. This is going to take some time for the players from last year's team to get used to. However, they likely will accept the trade-off of harder practices in exchange for shorter practices. ...

The Raiders have been searching for a complement to LDE Derrick Burgess. That quest continues into training camp, where rookie Quentin Moses and Kevin Huntley will get a chance to succeed where Tyler Brayton and Lance Johnstone experienced only moderate success last season. Huntley and Moses are fast players with a penchant for getting to the quarterback on a consistent basis, or at least near enough to create confusion and disrupt the play. The Raiders want to find out if Huntley or Moses is the answer as soon as possible. If not, they need time to move back Brayton to end -- he is working at defensive tackle for now. ...

This training camp is a critical time for Kiffin because it gives him a chance to establish himself as a coach worthy of the players' respect, something that won't come easy for someone who just turned 32 and has only one year's NFL experience. The players, some of whom are older than Kiffin, will respect Kiffin only so much based on what he says and for the position he holds. Total and complete respect won't come until the players see that what Kiffin is trying to do leads to on-field success, particularly victories. That starts with exhibition games, where players will get their first look at how Kiffin's offensive system translates into games and how he handles the pressures associated with NFL games.
 
I think Moses has a great opportunity to make a mark this season. With Sapp and Burgess to contend with Moses should be able to get to the QB consistently. The fact that Brayton couldn't do shit last season is a strong condemnation of his viability as an NFL starter.

Huntley is a strong backup IMO.

I'd also like to see Kelly at RDE in spots this season.
 
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