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Raiders will begin looking for answers today
By Jason Jones -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Friday, May 5, 2006
ALAMEDA - Raiders first-year coach Art Shell was coy about who was the team's starting quarterback during Oakland's first minicamp last month.
"It doesn't matter who starts, it's who finishes," Shell said during last weekend's NFL draft. ".... We'll get to that. We got a long ways to go."
That journey continues today when the Raiders begin their second minicamp of the offseason. Here are five questions facing the Raiders heading into the weekend:
1. Will likely move improve Gallery? - Robert Gallery, the No. 2 overall draft pick of 2004 "probably" will play left tackle, where he was an All-American at Iowa, Shell said. Barry Sims has been the regular left tackle since 2001 but could move to guard, where he started four games as a rookie in 1999. Langston Walker might move from guard to right tackle, and Jake Grove will play center. The line was hit hard with injuries and disappointment last season.
2. Who is the No. 2 QB? - One of the reasons the Raiders didn't draft USC's Matt Leinart is they like second-year pro Andrew Walter, despite the fact he didn't play in one regular-season game in 2005. He had surgery on his left groin in the offseason but is expected to take snaps this weekend. A strong showing could relegate career backup Marques Tuiasosopo to third string and make Aaron Brooks a stopgap before the Walter era begins.
3. Will a defensive tackle make an impact? - Warren Sapp, still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, will see limited action this weekend . That gives Terdell Sands, Tommy Kelly and Anttaj Hawthorne a chance to make an early impression before training camp.
4. Who will sit while Michael Huff plays? - That would be safety Derrick Gibson. He played in six games last season before dislocating his left wrist. He missed the 2004 season with a dislocated shoulder. In the three seasons before that injury, he wasn't exactly praised by most observers.
5. Will Randy step forward? - Randy Moss played hurt for most of his first season in Oakland. Now healthy, he has a chance to become a team leader. And if Brooks develops an early rapport with Moss, it could make for a big season in Oakland with Moss leading the way.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14251963p-15068169c.html
By Jason Jones -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Friday, May 5, 2006
ALAMEDA - Raiders first-year coach Art Shell was coy about who was the team's starting quarterback during Oakland's first minicamp last month.
"It doesn't matter who starts, it's who finishes," Shell said during last weekend's NFL draft. ".... We'll get to that. We got a long ways to go."
That journey continues today when the Raiders begin their second minicamp of the offseason. Here are five questions facing the Raiders heading into the weekend:
1. Will likely move improve Gallery? - Robert Gallery, the No. 2 overall draft pick of 2004 "probably" will play left tackle, where he was an All-American at Iowa, Shell said. Barry Sims has been the regular left tackle since 2001 but could move to guard, where he started four games as a rookie in 1999. Langston Walker might move from guard to right tackle, and Jake Grove will play center. The line was hit hard with injuries and disappointment last season.
2. Who is the No. 2 QB? - One of the reasons the Raiders didn't draft USC's Matt Leinart is they like second-year pro Andrew Walter, despite the fact he didn't play in one regular-season game in 2005. He had surgery on his left groin in the offseason but is expected to take snaps this weekend. A strong showing could relegate career backup Marques Tuiasosopo to third string and make Aaron Brooks a stopgap before the Walter era begins.
3. Will a defensive tackle make an impact? - Warren Sapp, still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, will see limited action this weekend . That gives Terdell Sands, Tommy Kelly and Anttaj Hawthorne a chance to make an early impression before training camp.
4. Who will sit while Michael Huff plays? - That would be safety Derrick Gibson. He played in six games last season before dislocating his left wrist. He missed the 2004 season with a dislocated shoulder. In the three seasons before that injury, he wasn't exactly praised by most observers.
5. Will Randy step forward? - Randy Moss played hurt for most of his first season in Oakland. Now healthy, he has a chance to become a team leader. And if Brooks develops an early rapport with Moss, it could make for a big season in Oakland with Moss leading the way.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14251963p-15068169c.html