Training Camp - Day 12

[Angry Pope]

First depth chart

Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on Tuesday at 1:44 pm

Little was revealed by the Raiders first depth chart, which was included in their press release for Saturday night's game against Arizona.

A few items of note:

– The most interesting positions listed two and sometimes three starters (in the case of quarterback) on the first team.

– Tyler Brayton is listed as a second-team tackle and not as an end.

– You need a telescope to find Doug Gabriel and Johnnie Morant (third team).

– Free agent strong safety Colin Branch is listed as sharing the third-team strong safety spot with rookie Eric Frampton.

– The following players were not listed on the depth chart: CB Marquice Cole, LB Kurt Campbell, K Tyler Fredrickson, WR Chris McFoy, WR Rich Parson, WR Lauren Williams, WR Will Buchanon, CB Levonne Rowan, C Jesse Boone and T Albert Toeaina.

– Injured players not listed included CB Stanford Routt (knee), TE James Adkisson (hamstring), G Ben Claxton (knee) and RB Michael Bush (leg - physically unable to perform list).

– Also not listed is quarterback JaMarcus Russell (unsigned)

First team

WR Ron Curry
LT Barry Sims
LG Robert Gallery
C Jake Grove/Jeremy Newberry
RG Cooper Carlisle
RT Cornell Green
TE Zach Miller/John Madsen
WR Jerry Porter
FB Zack Crockett/Justin Griffith
RB LaMont Jordan/Dominic Rhodes
QB Daunte Culpepper/Josh McCown/Andrew Walter

Defense

DE Quintin Moses/Kevin Huntley
DT Warren Sapp
DT Terdell Sands/Tommy Kelly
DE Derrick Burgess
OLB Sam Williams
MLB Kirk Morrison
OLB Thomas Howard
SS Michael Huff
FS Stuart Schweigert
CB Nnamdi Asomugha
CB Fabian Washington

Specialists

K Sebastian Janikowski
P Shane Lechler
KC Jon Condo
KOR Chris Carr
PR Chris Carr
H Shane Lechler

Second team

WR Travis Taylor
LT Mario Henderson
LG Paul McQuistan
C Chris Morris
RG Kevin Boothe
RT Mark Wilson
TE Tony Stewart
WR Mike Williams/Alvis Whitted
FB Oren O'Neal
RB Justin Fargas/Adimchinobe Echemandu
QB Jeff Otis

Defense

DE Chris Clemons
DT Tyler Brayton
DT Anttaj Hawthorne
DE Jay Richardson
OLB Robert Thomas
MLB Ricky Brown
OLB Isaiah Ekejiuba
SS Donovin Darius
FS B.J. Ward
CB Duane Starks
CB Chris Carr

Special teams

KC Chris Morris
KOR Johnnie Lee Higgins
PR Johnnie Lee Higgins

Third team

Offense

WR Johnnie Lee Higgins/Doug Gabriel
WR Johnnie Morant

Defense

DT Josh Shaw
DE Dave Tollefson
MLB Kyle Shotwell
SS Eric Frampton/Colin Branch
FS Hiram Eugene
CB Chris Johnson
CB John Bowie

 

[NIPS]

I find it extremely difficult to believe that Stu has beat out Darius at the safety spot

But love the fact that Moses has broke in with the 1st string at DE

 

[R4Life]

Condo wins the long snapper contest

 

[R4Life]

Just for giggles - This was how the final depth chart looked at the end of last year from Raiders.com

Offense

WR1 Randy Moss Ronald Curry
LT Robert Gallery Chad Slaughter
LG Barry Sims Corey Hulsey
C Jake Grove
RG Kevin Boothe Paul McQuistan
RT Langston Walker Brad Badger
TE Courtney Anderson Randal Williams James Adkisson
WR2 Johnnie Morant
QB Aaron Brooks Andrew Walter Marques Tuiasosopo
FB Zack Crockett ReShard Lee
RB Justin Fargas Adimchinobe Echemandu

Defense

LDE Tyler Brayton
LDT Warren Sapp Anttaj Hawthorne
RDT Tommy Kelly Terdell Sands
RDE Derrick Burgess Kevin Huntley
SLB Sam Williams Ricky Brown
MLB Kirk Morrison Robert Thomas
WLB Thomas Howard Isaiah Ekejiuba N
LCB Nnamdi Asomugha Tyrone Poole Chris Carr
RCB Fabian Washington Stanford Routt Duane Starks
SS Michael Huff Derrick Gibson
FS Stuart Schweigert Jarrod Cooper

Special Teams

PK Sebastian Janikowski
P Shane Lechler
KO Sebastian Janikowski
H Shane Lechler Marques Tuiasosopo
PR Chris Carr Tyrone Poole
KOR Chris Carr ReShard Lee
PC Jake Grove

I believe that only Grove is returning to his position on offense. Talk about overhaul.
I beleive only Brayton has changed positions on defense. Talk about stability.

 

[Angry Pope]

Raiders Team Report

Posted: August 7, 2007

Steve Corkran


The Raiders signed free-agent QB Daunte Culpepper to a one-year contract in an effort to bolster the competition for the starting vacancy created by the offseason release of Aaron Brooks. Culpepper jumped right into the mix and is practicing without a brace on the right knee he injured in 2005. He is going to split practice time and playing time with incumbent Andrew Walter and Josh McCown until coach Lane Kiffin gets a better feel for what each player is capable of doing in his offense. Culpepper has the strongest arm and the most experience. The only question is his health. So far, there doesn't appear to be anything Culpepper can't do that he was able to do in his prime. He has shown a strong arm, the ability to move around and make every throw asked of him. Don't be surprised if Culpepper is the starter in the regular-season opener. Culpepper's arrival puts added pressure on Walter, especially with No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell getting added to the fold once he signs a contract. Walter still is recovering from a knee surgery he had two months ago, and he has not played well so far in camp. It's conceivable that the Raiders will release Walter unless he plays better.

NEWCOMER REPORT: DB B.J. Ward has been a pleasant surprise during camp so far. He didn't play in the NFL last season and wasn't expected to do much. However, he has shown a knack for making big plays and that he grasps defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's scheme, which is similar to the one he played in under Ryan's twin brother Rex with the Ravens. Ward has impressive size and speed and the ability to blend in well at safety or as an extra defensive back. Look for him to make the opening-day roster and make a contribution right away.

PROBLEM SPOT: The offensive line remains a work in progress under first-year coach Tom Cable. He still is searching for the right combination of returning players and newcomers. The players have been quick to grasp his zone-blocking scheme and are starting to show signs of jelling as a unit. However, there needs to be more consistency before Cable can feel secure about the five players he has tabbed as the projected starters. This unit was targeted as a top priority entering training camp because it allowed a league-worst 72 sacks last season and prevented the offense from getting into a rhythm most games. Look for Cable to keep tinkering with the line until he finds the best combination of players. It's conceivable that he will make one or two more changes between now and the regular-season opener.

 

[Crossbones]

Looking at the pictures from camp and reading the reports this Adimchinobe Echemandu looks like a football player. He may make LaGayMont expendable.

So what's the deal with Michael Bush? According to him he's healthy and ready to rock 'n roll but the Raiders put him on the PUP. Damn.

 

[Angry Pope]

Who's Hot in Napa

Phil Barber

OK, we're into the 12th day of training camp, awaiting our 16th practice. It's time to identify a few Raiders who have been standing out because of their excellent play. In a couple days, I'll point out the guys who have been standing out for, uh, other reasons.

OREN O'NEAL: The sixth-round draft choice from Arkansas State has the size (5-11, 245) and muscle you want in a fullback, and he figures to be a solid special-teams player. The question was whether he'd be too raw, at least right away. But while he has false started a few times, O'Neal has shown nice hands on passes, some of them 20 yards downfield. And he hits like a GMC truck. But don't take my word for it. "He has really been a star of the camp," coach Lane Kiffin said yesterday.

MARQUICE COLE: I already told you about safety B.J. Ward, who showed both ball skills and a willingness to hit before his back tightened up on him. Another DB making the grade is Cole, an undrafted cornerback from Northwestern with high-end speed and a history of injuries. He intercepted two passes last Friday and got another one Sunday, and has generally looked adept in pass coverage.

"On the first day, (defensive backs coach) Willie Brown -- he wasn't drafted, he made the Hall of Fame -- he always tells everybody, 'Never give up,'" Cole noted recently. "He wasn't drafted and you see what type of career he had."

JEREMY NEWBERRY: He's the only member of the Raiders' offensive line who has played in the Pro Bowl, so it shouldn't be a huge surprise that he stands out from the pack. But Newberry's knees have been creaky the last three years, and a lot of us wondered whether he'd even see the field in camp. Kiffin and O-line coach Tom Cable have been cautious with Newberry, rarely practicing him twice in a row. When he's on the field, though, the former Niner looks dominant.

ADIMCHINOBE ECHEMANDU: Speaking of Echemandu on Sunday, Kiffin said: "We used a phrase two nights ago to our coaches, that he might be the surprise player of the camp." The journeyman running back really has looked good. Echemandu seemed to have an outside chance at a roster spot before camp, and had the look of a training-camp sacrificial lamb. But with Dominic Rhodes out for the first four regular-season games, LaMont Jordan hurting, ReShard Lee on injured reserve and Echemandu looking quick and elusive, the Cal grad might have a chance at getting some meaningful carries.

QUENTIN MOSES: Moses admits that he needs to improve his run defense to become a long-range impact player, but the rookie defensive end has shown a stunning first step off the line. The offensive linemen have struggled to block him in one-on-one drills, and Moses looks like the frontrunner to complement Derrick Burgess in nickel and dime formations.

MARIO HENDERSON: Cable says Henderson, a rookie tackle from Florida State, has never pushed himself, and must learn "to grind and fight and scrap every day for what he wants." So far, he probably has as many false start penalties as the rest of the line combined. Yet the third-round pick looks like a keeper. Henderson has more than held his own in one-on-one blocking drills, and has a mean streak that should help him become the player Cable envisions.

The Raiders released a depth chart for the Cardinals game this Saturday, but it isn't entirely helpful. There are co-starters at seven positions, including this crowded field at quarterback: "D. Culpepper/J. McCown/A. Walter." A couple of guys who get no love on the chart are wide receivers Doug Gabriel and Carlos Francis. Gabriel shares a third-string designation with rookie Johnnie Lee Higgins, essentially tying him for sixth on the list. Francis doesn't appear at all.

According to a story in the Daily Breeze, Steve Sarkisian did turn down the Raiders job before Kiffin accepted it. Sark says he and his wife just had too many Southern California ties to flee north.

 

[Angry Pope]

Looking at the pictures from camp and reading the reports this Adimchinobe Echemandu looks like a football player. He may make LaGayMont expendable.

So what's the deal with Michael Bush? According to him he's healthy and ready to rock 'n roll but the Raiders put him on the PUP. Damn.

I think Kiffin said that he wanted him to get in football shape.

 

[Angry Pope]

Training camp, Day 12

Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on Tuesday at 6:42 pm

News and notes, sights and sounds from Tuesday's training camp practice:

– Lane Kiffin's gift of Monday night off apparently meant more to the defense than the offense.

First team, second-team, third-team, it didn't matter, as the defense dominated throughout team sessions.

"(I was) very pleased wth the defense," Kiffin said. "They came out and completely dominated the practice from start to finish. (They were) extremely physical and really won a bunch of one-on-one matchups and the pass rush was great. So we're very pleased about that. Obviously, on the other side of the ball, we've got to get a lot better. We can't let that happen again tomorrow."

– Defensive players earned the right to get out of meetings 45 minutes than offensive players based on a best-of-15 third-down drill.

The defense held 11 out of 15 times on plays ranging from third-and-2 to third-and-10, with Daunte Culpepper the only quarterback to convert two plays for first downs _ one on a pass to John Madsen, the other to Lauren Williams.

– Things didn't start out well during a defensive drill in which coordinator Rob Ryan was becoming increasingly annoyed with the manner in which players were lining up against a specific formation in a walk-through.

Usually unrelentingly positive, Ryan at one point said to cornerback Fabian Washington, "Don't give me the bad body language. Work it out."

– Not long afterward, Ryan was feeling much better when several defenders stacked up Dominic Rhodes three yards behind the line of scrimmage.

"That's a wall of (bleeping) humanity!," Ryan yelled.

– Quarterback repetitions were fairly even for the first time as Culpepper gets more acclimated to the offense. Kiffin said Andrew Walter, Josh McCown and Culpepper would all see time against Arizona Saturday night and the goal was to get them a relatively equal amount of work.

Culpepper has thrown some nices passes, with most of the rust showing with his footwork. He has fallen three times in the last two days, twice getting tangled with rookie center Jesse Boone and once slipping and fumbling.

– Quarterbacks fared better during a 7-on-7 drill with no pass rush, although none of the three completed a pass beyond six or seven yards.

Walter was 5-for-6 in his session and had the nicest vertical ball, one that was dropped by Madsen on a deep post. McCown was 5-for-7 on short thorws in his session and 1-for-4 including drops by O.J. Santiago and Tony Stewart.

– Kiffin said he had decided on a starter for Saturday night's preseason opener but would not announce it until after informing the quarterbacks.

Walter said he is pleased with the even distribution given to the quarterbacks in competition.

"Anytime you can get a lot of reps it’s a great situation," Walter said. "If you can get reps in a game, that’s great, too.”

McCown had similar sentiments regarding the competition. Culpepper declined comment.

– Santiago was signed to the roster Tuesday, with Fred Wakefield likely headed to injured reserve soon following a knee injury. Santiago played with the Raiders in 2003 and nearly made the team last season before being let go on the final cut.

– Kevin Boothe, a 14-game starter as a rookie last season, worked as the first team right guard as Cooper Carlisle was given a scheduled rest. Kiffin credited Boothe with maintaining a positive attitude but gave a clue as to why he isn't a starter this season when he said, "We've still got to work on his range and his quickness to be more of a system fit."

– Defensive end Derrick Burgess, who came off the physically unable to perform list Monday after hernia surgery, got in his first work during team sessions Tuesday. He worked in his usual spot at left end, with Ohio State rookie Jay Richardson getting first-team snaps at right end.

– Quintin Moses, the third-round pick out of Georgia, blew past fellow rookie Mario Henderson on one play for a sack of Walter.

– Al Davis attended his fourth practice of training camp after being at one all of last season. Also in attendance were CEO Amy Trask, legal counsel Jeff Birren and finance administrator Marc Badain. Badain, the chief negotiator with No. 1 draft pick JaMarcus Russell, had no comment on negotiations.

When asked if the Raiders were getting close to a deal with Russell, Kiffin said, "I wouldn't use the word close, no."

The chances of seeing Russell in a preaseason game this season?

"Every day hurts him," Kiffin said. "Every practice just puts him that far behind. We just talked about how hard it is for Daunte to catch up, and he’s been playing in the league for a while. Here’s somebody who has never taken a snap in the league, so every day that he misses hurts his chances.”

– Profootballtalk.com and NFL.com analyst Pat Kirwan have floated the idea that Russell could be changing agents. According to PFT, Melvin Bratton, who recruited Russell to the firm of Metz, Lock and Malinovic, Bratton could move to an agency owned by former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo and bring Russell with him.

Keep in mind much of what is reported at this point in negotiations could be planted for leverage _ by either side.

– Other players who did not practice Tuesday included CB Stanford Routt, RB LaMont Jordan, CB John Bowie RB Michael Bush, TE James Adkisson, DT Tyler Brayton, DT Josh Shaw, T Chad Slaughter and G Ben Claxton.

– The Raiders have a double-session scheduled for Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. and 7 p.m., and will practice at some point during the Raider Nation Celebration Thursday night at McAfee Coliseum between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

 

[Angry Pope]

With No. 1 pick Russell still a no-show, Raiders not saying which QB will start
The Associated Press

Lane Kiffin isn't saying yet who the Oakland Raiders starting quarterback will be for Saturday's preseason-opener against Arizona.

The only thing for certain is that it won't be JaMarcus Russell, the unsigned No. 1 draft pick who remains at his mother's house in Mobile, Ala.

Daunte Culpepper, Josh McCown and Andrew Walter are all listed together on the depth chart put out by the team Tuesday.

"The thought was that we're obviously in a competition at that spot (and) no one of the three has emerged as a clear-cut guy by any means," Kiffin said. "We don't need to have the starter (named) right now so we're going to let them play, and to the best that we can, they'll have equal reps in the game."

As they have throughout training camp, McCown and Walter split reps with the Raiders' first-team offense Tuesday and figure to get the majority of work against the Cardinals. Culpepper - who became the favorite to win the starting job after signing with a one-year deal with Oakland on July 31 - practiced with the second-team offense and will have a limited package of plays against Arizona while he tries to get up to speed with Kiffin's offense.

"We're not playing a real game yet so we'll just keep pushing him as hard as we can push him along and see how far he comes," Kiffin said.

In his brief time with the Raiders, Culpepper has proven his arm is fine. During passing drills, his throws are sharper and more crisp than either McCown's or Walter's. But there are still questions about Culpepper's mobility after he missed most of last season due to lingering problems in his right knee.

There are reservations about McCown and Walter, as well.

McCown was part of a draft-day trade with Detroit and hasn't thrown a pass in a regular-season game since 2005. He spent all of last season as a back-up to Jon Kitna with the Lions and was hoping to parlay a starting job this year into a big payday next offseason when he becomes a free agent.

Walter was 2-6 as a starter for the Raiders last season and was the lowest rated quarterback in the NFL after throwing 13 interceptions and completing 55.8 percent of his throws. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in the offseason and wasn't able to practice until the team opened camp.

Meanwhile, Russell remains unsigned and is one of only two first-round picks without a contract. His representatives have yet to speak publicly on the matter, and Marc Badain - the Raiders' chief negotiator with Russell - declined to comment after attending practice Tuesday.

Kiffin, who has maintained contact with Russell throughout negotiations, didn't sound optimistic when asked if an agreement with Russell was close.

"I wouldn't use the word close, no," Kiffin said, adding that the prolonged talks are hurting the rookie quarterback's chances of playing in the preseason. "Every day hurts him. Every (missed) practice just puts him that far behind. We just talked about how hard it is for Daunte to catch up and he's been playing in this league for a while. Here's somebody who's never taken a snap in the league, so every day that he misses hurts his chances."

NotesThe Raiders signed veteran tight end O.J. Santiago, who started seven games for the team in 2003.

 

[Angry Pope]

August 07, 2007

Training camp observations, Aug. 7

Practice was nothing special. Defense dominates offense. It's the same old story.

What was interesting was the Raiders released the unofficial depth chart.

And it's very unofficial.

Five spots on offense have two players listed as starters.

Center (Jake Grove and Jeremy Newberry), tight end (Zach Miller and John Madsen), fullback (Zack Crockett and Justin Grifftih) and tailback (LaMont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes) are the spots that don't have one starter.

Quarterback is even better. All three quarterbacks, Daunte Culpepper, Josh McCown and Andrew Walter could all claim to be starters.

There's no confusion on the second team. It's Jeff Otis at quarterback.

The only split starters on defense are at right defensive end between (Quentin Moses and Kevin Huntley) and defensive tackle (Terdell Sands and Tommy Kelly).

Besides Tyler Brayton not playing defensive end, the defense from last year will start the game.

Lane Kiffin will announce the starting quarterback for the preseason opener tomorrow after breaking the news to two-thirds of the starting quarterback trio that they'll come off the bench.

For those who are interested, on offense:

• Jerry Porter and Ronald Curry are your starting receivers (no surprise).

• Barry Sims is at left tackle, Robert Gallery at left guard, Cooper Carlisle is the right guard and Cornell Green is at right tackle.

• Doug Gabriel is listed as a third-team receiver. He was a starter before being traded last year.

-- Jason Jones

 

[Angry Pope]

Raiders training camp

08.07.2007

I always try to take a look at the grease board inside the Napa Valley Marriott on my way out to practices at Oakland Raiders training camp.

It serves as a daily itinerary and schedule for the team, which practices next door at Redwood Middle School.

For example, Tuesday called for several different meetings involving special teams, offense and defense throughout the morning and evening hours. The Raiders’ 16th practice of camp got going at 2:40 p.m. and finished at 4:30 p.m.

Something else that caught my eye was a grease board outside one of the meeting rooms. It serves as a bracket for the Raiders’ ping pong tournament, which involves defensive ends, offensive tackles, kickers and quarterbacks, tailbacks, the defensive staff, Z receivers, centers and guards, linebackers, corners, X receivers and the offensive staff.

This ping pong stuff has become quite popular. On my way out following Tuesday afternoon’s practice, there was a ping pong game going on.

Raiders owner Al Davis, accompanied by three members of the security staff, watched yesterday’s practice from a golf cart.

There was just one practice Tuesday, and coach Lane Kiffin liked what he saw of the defense — in particular the pass rush.

“They came out and completely dominated the practice from start to finish,” Kiffin said, calling the defense’s effort extremely physical. He said they won a lot of the 1-on-1 matchups.

“I think they brought it today. The defense turned it up a notch. Whether it’s that we’re getting closer to a game (Saturday vs. Arizona) or whether it’s that we gave them practice off (Monday night), the defense responded better than the offense. But that’s going to happen The next practice maybe it’s the other way around.

“When you have a competitive team that goes back and forth, you’re going to have days where one side takes care of the other side.”

It was a non-tackling practice, but there was still plenty of contact at the line of scrimmage, even though the players weren’t in full gear.

Kiffin has canceled the last two evening practices.

Kiffin said each of the three quarterbacks — Josh McCown, Andrew Walter and Daunte Culpepper — will get as close to equal reps as possible in Saturday night’s NFL preseason game against Arizona at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland. He said there’s still open competition for the starting spot.

“No one of the three has emerged as a clear cut guy by any means,” said Kiffin, who plans to announce the starter for the preseason opener today.

Speaking of quarterbacks, first-round draft pick Brady Quinn ended his 11-day holdout and agreed to a five-year deal with Cleveland Browns Tuesday. Quinn is a four-year starter from Notre Dame and was taken 22nd overall in the draft.

Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell, selected No. 1 overall in the draft, is still without a contract and not in camp.

“Every practice just puts him that far behind,” said Kiffin. “Every day that he misses hurts his chances.”

-- Marty James

 

[R4Life]

Coach Keith Millard Q&A
August 7, 2007

Defensive Line Coach Keith Millard chatted with the media after the Raiders' afternoon practice on Tuesday. Coach Millard talked about the Raiders defensive unit, DE Derrick Burgess., DT Warren Sapp., and DT Tommy Kelly..

This is a high octane group with great leadership. It’s really good to see these guys coming out everyday and you see veteran players like Warren Sapp. and Derrick Burgess. helping out our younger guys, our draft choices, and guys want it bad. They want to be a part of this defenseand they want to be a part of something big and they’re working hard for it. It is really great to see. We got veteran guys working hard before and after practice, we got these young guys working hard before and after practice, they’re trying to establish themselves. They want to be part of this line that potentially could be one of the better ones in the AFC.

Q: It is no secret that you guys have been looking for for someone to compliment [Derrick] Burgess over at the right end, how is that search coming with these young guys?

Millard: It is going good. We have some good competition going on over there. I think when it is all said and done and we get down to it with our season opener, whoever that guy is he is going to be a good one based on everything we have going. We have Jay Richardson. working hard, we have Quentin Moses. who is really working hard, we have Kevin Huntley., we have some guys who can run and big strong guys who can move and it’s some good competition. When it’s all said and done, whoever that guy is, he is going to make us a lot better than where we were last year.

Q: So there wouldn’t be any hesitation to put a rookie on the right end there?

Millard: Absolutely not. Whoever that guy is, whoever that best guy is, he has got to be the guy.

Q: Could you see a scenario where all three of those guys you mentioned wound up getting playing time?

Millard: Sure, whoever is left standing when we go into week one, against Detroit, whoever that is, that’s the one we are going to go with and we will be better for it.

Q: This team made a major financial commitment to keep Terdell Sands. around this year. Do you see an elevation in his play in terms of knowing his responsibility as a guy that’s really being looked to?

Millard: Absolutely, this guy is a freak of nature. I have never seen a guy his size move the way he can and do some of the things that he can do. He is huge and he can move as quick as 290 pounders, and he just dominates the middle. That’s what we’re counting on him to do. Dominate the middle of our defense and everything starts with him. He knows he has a lot of pressure on him and he has been working his tail off, and he is there everyday trying to get better. He is working really good.

Q: When you look at the rushing stats against you last year, do you look at that as a part of the defense that really needs to be shored up or do you look at it as more of a circumstance? The fact that the other team had the ball so much, the offense struggled so other teams kept pounding it and elevated those stats or do you look at that as an area that you can work on?

Millard: We can improve in all areas. Rob Ryan talks about it every day. We want to be the best defense in the NFL in all areas, run and pass. Last year because we were behind most of the time we had to face the run more than other teams did, and that’s an area that we focused on in the off-season, getting better against the run, stepping up, stopping people on first down, getting them in second and long situations so we can be in control of everything. That’s a major focus for us, we want to be able to do everything well, stop the run, get them in third and long situations, second and long situations, and control the game that way, That’s our intention. That’s our goal, to bet better in that area whether it is circumstance or guys not playing up to their potential, whatever the situation is, that is a major focus for us.

Q: When Terdell [Sands] signed that contract a lot of people thought he would be a starter inside and [Tommy] Kelly would be on the end. Do you like Kelly better as a tackle?

Millard: I like them both, it really doesn’t matter. They both play. They’re both on the field at the same time. Really Tommy is the one guy on our defense who can play three different positions. When I was coaching in Denver we had a guy named Trevor Pryce, he played all three different positions. We counted on him to play end, he has been a pro bowler at the defensive tackle position, he has been a Pro Bowl caliber player as a defensive end. He could play any position across the line. That’s a compliment to his abilities. We really count on Tommy to do just about everything on our defense, and do it well; he is really working hard to get that done.

Q: [Warren] Sapp has lost a lot of weight, can he hold up at the current weight or does he need to put some of it back on?

Millard: Only thing about Warren Sapp. that you need to understand is that it is not always about weight and strength; it’s always about technique and knowing what you are doing. He is a 13-year vet, he’s a perennial All-Pro, he’s been in this league a long time, and there is nothing he hasn’t seen. So he sees a block, he is going to leverage it out. He is always going to play with good technique no matter what his size is, he is always going to be where he is supposed to be, he is always going to be able to do it whatever it may be responsibility wise, he is going to play the run as well as anyone else, he is going to rush the passer as well or better than anyone else.

Q: Did you know during the off-season that was undergoing this huge weight loss?

Millard: Oh yeah, of course absolutely. He did some good things last year. He had a Pro Bowl type year last year, he worked hard last year to stay on the field, he was hurt the year before towards the end of the year and was really disappointed that he got hurt. He made a commitment to get back where he wanted to get back, and that was getting back into double digits in sacks, he did that and felt good about himself. I think he as worked as hard as he ever has this off-season to get his weight down so he could keep his quickness, stay healthy and stay on the field. I think he set some goals as far as where he wanted to be physically and I think he reached those goals. I mean the guy is flying around, he is like a little kid again, the guy is all over the place.

Q: How much easier does it make your job when you have that guy out there to keep prodding and pushing people?

Millard: It’s the best, because he is a smart player. He is like a coach on the field, he helps me all the time. He and I are constantly communicating about different things whether it is protections, pass rush plans, how we are going to play different blocks, things of that nature, he is always in the game that way.

Q: Keith in terms of your coaching staff, the linemen say you are good at not trying to make them play like you. You are really good at drawing out what they do best. Where did you get that notion from?

Millard: I think just from being a player, being around players and figuring out what they do best and trying to mold everything after that. One thing you don’t want to do is if a player has got some ability you don’t want to try to make him do something he can’t do. You want to capitalize on the things he can do well and try to build on that. [For example], if a guy has a good pass rush move and its working, develop that move and maybe something off it. Don’t try to learn a new move if you don’t need to. Just develop that move and try to get better. You don’t want to re-invent the wheel, you just want to make it better.

Q: What was the idea moving [Tyler] Brayton inside?

Millard: He played inside in Colorado and we felt with his intensity and his quickness, and his ability to beat people off the ball, we thought it would be a good change-up and it would benefit us as a defensive line, and he is working hard and doing a good job.

 

[R4Life]

Coach Kiffin Camp Q&A: Day 12
August 7, 2007

Head Coach Lane Kiffin addressed the media after the Raiders' afternoon practice on Tuesday. Coach Kiffin talked about the return of veteran defensive end Derrick Burgess. and the play of second-year guard Kevin Boothe..

Kiffin: I’m very pleased with the defense. They came out and completely dominated the practice from start to finish. They were extremely physical and really won a bunch of one-on-one match-ups. The pass rush was great; I’m very pleased about that. Obviously on the other side of the ball we have to get a lot better.

Q: What’s going on with the offense?

Kiffin: Nothing specifically, I just think that the defense turned it up a notch, and whether it’s that we’re getting closer to a game or whether we gave them the practice off yesterday and the defense responded better than the offense, whatever it is, that’s just the way it was today, but that’s going to happen. The next practice it may be the other way around. When you have a competitive team that goes back and forth, you’re going to have days when one side takes care of the other side.

Q: Derrick [Burgess] was able to get out there today. Were you able to see him at all?

Kiffin: Yeah, sure. Obviously he gave the offense issues rushing off the offensive right side. The pocket just closes that much faster with him out there. He’s at a different level than any other end.

Q: Why did you decide to cancel practice last night?

Kiffin: Just watching the team, they were worn out. I had something I was going to do, and I was going to wait until the time I needed to do it whether it was three days ago, whether it was three days from now, whenever it was, you always have one or two things were you surprise them, and I felt the time was right last night.

Q: Do you have veteran guys on the team that you can talk to in order to gauge team morale or can you see that yourself?

Kiffin: I can see that right now. Two nights ago they all voted for a player committee of six guys that have a great feel for the team. They’re not necessarily captains; they’re guys that would want to come speak to me, and I meet with them on their behalf. So I let them vote to see who they wanted.

Q: Can you talk about Kevin Boothe. and what he does well?

Kiffin: Kevin’s a real strong guard and is really powerful off the line of scrimmage. He gets into people and gives them problems. We still have to work on his range and quickness to be a system fit, but we’re pleased with Kevin. He has a great attitude. He hasn’t sat back and pouted or anything like that because guys have been in the group in front of him. He’s been great.

 

[Angry Pope]

Injuries decimate Raiders' roster

Michael Wagaman

Aug 7, 2007

LaMont Jordan probably won’t play in Saturday’s preseason opener against Arizona while he rests his sore back, but he won’t be the only player out. Injuries continue to take their toll on the Raiders and are testing the team’s depth chart.

Jordan has only practiced sporadically since injuring his lower back during the first week of camp. He did not practice Tuesday, the fourth straight day he’s been held out.

“I believe if we had to play tonight, he could play, but we don’t play a game that matters right now,” Oakland coach Lane Kiffin said. “We’re doing the best thing for his body and making sure that we don’t turn it into something more than what it is.”

Dominic Rhodes and Justin Fargas have taken the majority of reps with Oakland’s first offense while Jordan has been out. Joe Echemandu has also gotten work in with the starters and has been impressive.

Injuries are having an effect elsewhere on the roster as well. Veteran tight end O.J. Santiago was signed and practiced with the team Tuesday after Fred Wakefield suffered what appeared to be a serious injury to his right knee in Monday’s workout. Kiffin indicated Wakefield will likely be placed on injured reserve.

Defensive end Derrick Burgess took part in a team drill for the first time since training camp began but the Raiders might hold him out of the Arizona game as a precaution. Burgess had hernia surgery in the offseason and has spent the first two weeks of camp doing conditioning work.

Defensive lineman Tyler Brayton also may miss the Cardinals game. He has been nursing a sore elbow and did not practice Monday or Tuesday.

* Doug Gabriel is getting time in as a kickoff returner but he didn’t help his cause when he let a kick go off his chest and through his hands with no resistance during one return. Gabriel, who is fourth on the depth chart at wide receiver, needs to make something happen on special teams or his roster spot will be in jeopardy. Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha also returned kickoffs in practice Tuesday but laughed it off later and said he was just doing it for fun.

* Right guard Cooper Carlisle was given the day off by Kiffin. Second-year player Kevin Boothe worked with the starting unit in Carlisle’s place.

* Safety Stuart Schweigert, who has been criticized in the past for not being physical enough and taking bad angles, made the play of the day when he broke up a pass intended for wide receiver Jerry Porter.

 

[Angry Pope]

Boothe a cerebral leader on Raiders offensive line

MARTY JAMES

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

No one has to worry about Kevin Boothe getting his work done in training camp.

Going to Cornell University, an Ivy League school located in Ithaca, N.Y., taught Boothe all about the importance of time management and taking the necessary steps to excel in football and the classroom.

“I think Cornell definitely helped me in terms of balancing everything in my life,” Boothe said following Tuesday’s Oakland Raiders practice at Redwood Middle School. “I really have to know when to get things done accordingly.

“I was able to get one of the top educations in all the country and the world. I looked at it as a tremendous opportunity to succeed both athletically as well as academically.”

The experiences and lessons that he learned at Cornell, a Division I-AA school for football, are benefiting Boothe as he goes about his work as a guard on the offensive line for the Raiders. The second-year player from Plantation, Fla., who was taken in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft, has been working with Oakland’s No. 2 line, but on Tuesday was with the first unit at right guard.

He studies film of opponents very closely. He’s learning about zone blocking from assistant coach Tom Cable, who was hired by the Raiders during the offseason to shore up an offensive line that allowed an NFL-high 72 sacks last year. He’s working on run and pass blocking drills in camp. When he’s not practicing or going to meetings, he’s opening up the playbook and absorbing all of the information that comes with a new system.

“Kevin’s a real strong guard and is really powerful off of the line of scrimmage,” head coach Lane Kiffin said yesterday. “He gets into people and gives people problems.

“We’ve still got to work on his range and his quickness to be a system-fit. But we’re pleased with Kevin. He has a great attitude. He hasn’t sat back and pouted or anything like that because guys have been in the group in front of him. He’s been great.”

Boothe (6-foot-5, 315 pounds) played in 16 games with 14 starts last year. He started at guard and saw action on special teams in games against Cleveland, San Francisco, Denver (twice), Arizona, Pittsburg, Seattle, Kansas City (twice), San Diego, Houston, Cincinnati, St. Louis and the New York Jets.

“It’s tough to judge yourself individually when you don’t do really well as a team,” said Boothe. “Personally, last year just wasn’t acceptable. Even though I came in and played a lot, I don’t look at it as being a really successful season.

“I know that I can play in this league,” Boothe said. “It’s just a matter of getting myself prepared and learning from everything last year and building on that with everything that we’re putting in this year.”

Oakland had 1,519 yards on the ground and was 29th in rushing in 2006. Enter Cable, who was Atlanta’s offensive line coach last year when the Falcons led the NFL in rushing. In Oakland, Cable is rebuilding the line. Last year the Raiders finished with just 168 points, the fifth-lowest total in a 16-game season. They also failed to score an offensive touchdown in half their games and finished dead last in most of the major offensive categories.

“We’re just trying to take steps forward — that’s the main thing right now,” Boothe said. “It’s not taking a step backward at this point. We’ve just got to keep going.”

Cable is changing the way in which the Raiders run block, implementing a zone-blocking scheme to try and add life to an offense that had all kinds of problems last year. The NFL’s top running team for the last 13 years has used a zone blocking attack.

Boothe said there’s been no talk about last year or what specifically were the breakdowns.

“It was pretty much starting over from Day 1, and we just built from there,” said Boothe, who graduated with a degree in hotel administration. “What coach Cable has done is install a lot of great things.

“I look at this year as being another opportunity to succeed individually as well as a team. I think that we can build something really special here. It’s just a matter of everybody getting on track and being on the same page.”

Boothe was a four-year starter who played three different positions at Cornell, starting his career as a right guard before shifting to right tackle as a junior, then moving to left tackle early in his senior year. He’s only the fourth Cornell player to earn All-Ivy League honors three times in a career.

In 2005, he became the first First-Team All-America selection at Cornell since 1998. He was named to All-American First-Team by The NFL Draft Report and the American Football Coaches Association.

“I think I have to improve in every aspect,” Boothe said. “I can’t say that I’m a dominant run blocker or a dominant pass blocker. I think it’s more just trying to build on everything each day, because I think I have a long ways to go in this league. Hopefully, I can continue to progress and be the player that I want to be.”

Raiders Notebook

• Raiders owner Al Davis, accompanied by three members of the security staff, watched Tuesday’s practice from a golf cart.

• There was just one practice yesterday, and coach Lane Kiffin liked what he saw of the defense — in particular the pass rush.

“They came out and completely dominated the practice from start to finish,” Kiffin said, calling the defense’s effort extremely physical. He said they won a lot of the 1-on-1 matchups.

“I think they brought it today. The defense turned it up a notch. Whether it’s that we’re getting closer to a game (Saturday vs. Arizona) or whether it’s that we gave them practice off (Monday night), the defense responded better than the offense. But that’s going to happen The next practice maybe it’s the other way around.

“When you have a competitive team that goes back and forth, you’re going to have days where one side takes care of the other side.”

It was a non-tackling practice, but there was still plenty of contact at the line of scrimmage, even though the players weren’t in full gear.

• Kiffin has canceled the last two evening practices.

• Kiffin said each of the three quarterbacks — Josh McCown, Andrew Walter and Daunte Culpepper — will get as close to equal reps as possible in Saturday night’s NFL preseason game against Arizona at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland. He said there’s still open competition for the starting spot.

“No one of the three has emerged as a clear cut guy by any means,” said Kiffin, who plans to announce the starter for the preseason opener today.

• Speaking of quarterbacks, first-round draft pick Brady Quinn ended his 11-day holdout and agreed to a five-year deal with Cleveland Browns Tuesday. Quinn was a four-year starter for Notre Dame and was taken 22nd overall in the draft.

Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell, selected No. 1 overall in the draft, is still without a contract and not in camp.

“Every practice just puts him that far behind,” said Kiffin. “Every day that he misses hurts his chances.”

 

[Angry Pope]

Team might receive sudden impact from rookie defensive end

Jason Jones

August 8, 2007

NAPA -- When his playing days at Georgia were over, Quentin Moses showed up to the 2007 Senior Bowl dressed for success.

Playing for the South, the defensive end arrived at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., wearing a suit and tie, catching everyone's attention. He has done the same this training camp with his play.

On a defense that finished No. 3 in the NFL last season, Moses could be a starter in 2007. The Raiders need a player to complement Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Burgess, and they might have found one in Moses, one of the team's three third-round draft picks.

Moses didn't arrive for training camp wearing a tie, but he knew it would be different from college.

"Football was fun then. You've got a chance to get a free education," Moses said of his Senior Bowl attire. "Now it's work, and I've been trying to get into that work mind-frame."

At 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, Moses excels against the pass but needs to work on his run defense.

Raiders defensive-line coach Keith Millard said he would have no problem starting a rookie opposite Burgess.

"Absolutely not," Millard said. "Whoever that best guy is, that's got to be the guy."

Second-year player Kevin Huntley is competing with Moses to start opposite Burgess.

Moses couldn't fathom being a starter when the idea was mentioned to him.

"That's a long way away," Moses said. "It's a great opportunity for me, just trying to be out there starting. I'm just taking it one practice at a time. I've got to make the team first."

It's safe to say Moses is going to make the team.

Nothing new -- Negotiations between the Raiders and the agents for No. 1 overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell continue with no end near.

"I wouldn't use the word close, no," coach Lane Kiffin said when asked to gauge progress.

If talks continue to stall, Russell might not play in the exhibition season, which opens Saturday against Arizona.

"We just talked about how hard it is for Daunte (Culpepper) to catch up, and he's been playing in the league for a while," Kiffin said. "Here's somebody who has never taken a snap in the league, so every day that he misses hurts his chances."

Welcome back -- The Raiders signed tight end O.J. Santiago for his third stint with the team.

Santiago was with the Raiders during the 2006 training camp but was injured and released with an injury settlement. He played in 12 games for the Raiders in 2003. The team was down to three healthy tight ends after Fred Wakefield's knee injury Monday.

Kiffin said Wakefield is likely to go on injured reserve.

Et cetera -- Kiffin said he'd announce the starting quarterback for Saturday's exhibition opener today. He'd decided by Tuesday but wanted to tell the players first.

• Raiders owner Al Davis attended his fourth practice of camp. He was at one last year.

• The Raider Nation Celebration is Thursday at McAfee Coliseum from 4-8 p.m. Fans can meet players and coaches and watch practice. Tickets -- free to season-ticket holders -- cost $5.

 

[Madturk]

Am getting the feeling that Lamont will be in and out of the lineup most of this season. I really question his desire especially after being asked to take a pay cut.

Methinks Sanford Routt is going to have a hard time making the squad this year, haven't heard his name called out much this offseason.

I'm going out on a limb here and say that Quentin Moses will lead all NFL rookie DE's in sacks.

This is going to be one scary fast defense and a hard hitting one at that. I'd feel a little better if we could pick up another LB at some point.

 

[jatfly]

Three making the grade in the Bay
By Os Davis on August 8, 2007 01:14 AM
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While the long wait for JaMarcus Russell's John Hancock on an Oakland Raiders contract continues, life in camp goes on. And just as in 31 other locations, a number of newbies and unknowns are fighting to impress their head coach in hopes of playing on the big stage.

A brief look, then, at a trio of Raiders garnering some nice praise from Lane Kiffin as he attempts to solidify his version of the silver and black.

• Adimchinobe Echemandu. The Nigerian-born journeyman and former Raider practice squad player has wowed enough for Kiffin to state that he "might be the surprise player of the camp."

Drafted out of the University of California by the Cleveland Browns in 2004, this could finally be the season in which Echemandu gets beyond marginal player status. In 2005, the man often called "Joe" spent most of the year with Minnesota's practice squad, ditto last year with the Raiders' second unit, though he did suit up for four games in the latter half of 2006.

Surely LaMont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes need not fear losing their spots at the top of the depth chart, the seemingly multi-talented Echemandu could well claw his way to No. 3 over Justin Fargas and rookie Michael Bush.

The only reported downside to Echemandu, it seems, is his mental game: "He has a ways to go with some other stuff, [like] picking up the whole playbook [...] but I've been very pleased with his performance," said Kiffin.

• Speaking of the running game, fullback Oren O'Neal is turning heads in the Raider Nation, earning the Kiffin compliment of "he has really been a star of the camp and he brings an unbelievable attitude to the game."

O'Neal was drafted in the sixth round by Oakland and, should he stick around, will make a great human-interest story for touchy-feely media outlets: O'Neal was actually granted an extremely rare sixth year of eligibility at Arkansas State after an operation in which part of one lung was removed. Adding this to his achievement as a walk-on to the team in 2001, and you've got a poster boy for Kiffin's tough guy Raiders.

And not only is he tough - Just ask linebacker Isaiah Ekejiuba, who "has probably been on the ground seven times" after contact with O'Neal - the 6-foot, 248-pound, sixth-round draft pick is playing with finesse as well, catching passes on long routes. O'Neal is one to keep an eye on, to be sure.

• Zach Miller. Despite the pouty holdout of Russell, Raider fans have to be pleased with their draft class of 2007 and already atop that list is Miller, picked in the second round at No. 38 overall.

Kiffin and local media have been positively giddy about Miller, a "machine." (Hey, the guy may have earned a nickname there...)

The coach has effusively stated that "he is everything we thought as far as a competitor the way he works [...] he comes out here and rarely does he make a mental mistake. You start to feel like he is not a rookie..." and, in terms of blocking, "he is doing real well he is not afraid of anything. We still have to do a little technique work with him, but as far as putting his face on people he is right where we need him to be."

Miller's emergence as the possible second coming of Dave Casper is good news for the depth chart as well, with the Raiders thinner and thinner at the position as camp goes on. Courtney Anderson and Randal Williams were early castoffs, Fred Wakefield sustained a knee injury on Monday, and James Adkisson is not quite back from a hamstring injury suffered in July.

Looking for a sleeper to start at tight end for your Fantasy team? Be sure to check out Miller, a guy who may be getting mentions as an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate in January if he's half of what he's purported to be thus far.

Sorry, JaMarcus who?

 

[jatfly]

Clear-cut starter at QB yet to be determined
David White

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Coach Lane Kiffin unveiled his inaugural depth chart Tuesday, and what was most revealing about the two-deep was how unrevealing it was.

The Raider Nation has been waiting to see who the starting quarterback would be, but all Kiffin would give them was a three-way tie on the first team between Daunte Culpepper, Josh McCown and Andrew Walter.

Kiffin then said he has an idea which quarterback will start Saturday's exhibition opener against the visiting Arizona Cardinals, but that everyone must wait until today before he makes an announcement.

"No one of the three has emerged as the clear-cut guy by any means," Kiffin said after Tuesday's single practice in Napa. "We don't need to have a starter right now. We're going to let them play and do the best that we can."

Kiffin seemed to rule out Culpepper by saying he'd have a "limited package." Culpepper joined the team last week and is still learning the playbook and terminology.

The first-team depth chart had two players listed at six other positions, including center ( Jeremy Newberry and Jake Grove) and right defensive end ( Quentin Moses and Kevin Huntley).

Last year's starter at defensive end, Tyler Brayton, is listed second at defensive tackle.

Big wigs: The Raiders hierarchy attended practice Tuesday, with owner Al Davis making his fourth appearance of training camp.

Other top officials included chief executive Amy Trask, team lawyer Jeff Birren and finance administrator Marc Badain, the lead negotiator in contract talks with rookie holdout JaMarcus Russell.

Badain declined to speak with reporters. Russell has missed the first 12 days of training camp, and Kiffin doesn't know when the impasse will end.

"I wouldn't use the word 'close,' " Kiffin said when asked to describe a potential deal. "Every day hurts him. Every practice just puts him that far behind."

Briefly: Right guard Cooper Carlisle was given a practice off by Kiffin, who has given rest to other veterans such as left tackle Barry Sims and Newberry. ... The Raiders signed tight end O.J. Santiago, who spent last summer with Oakland before getting cut after training camp. He replaces Fred Wakefield, who sustained a serious knee injury Monday and is expected to be placed on the injured reserve list. ... Running back LaMont Jordan missed practice with a back injury, and Kiffin hasn't decided whether he'll play Saturday.