Training Camp - Day 18

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Angry Pope

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Training camp, Day 18

Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on Monday at 6:34 pm

News and notes, sights and sounds from the Raiders practice Monday afternoon:

– With coach Lane Kiffin in the hospital for observation with a viral infection, according to a club spokesman, the Raiders went through a routine, if quieter practice session.

"You know, we really didn't miss him," said quarterback Josh McCown, failing to hold a straight face. "Nah, we noticed, because he's always yelling and upbeat. He's real fiery. After the first five minutes of practice you're thinking, `Where's coach Kiff? You miss him yelling, moving around, being high energy and getting guys going like he does. We wish him the best and hopes he gets back out here soon."

– No word on how long Kiffin will be out, although there was some speculation it could be a few days. Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp had no specifics regarding Kiffin's medical condition, but said Kiffin told him Sunday night, "Hey Greg, why don't you plan out the next three days here of training camp before we get in preparation for the San Francisco game."

– Knapp said his understanding is "It's something he's been fighting the last two or three days. I had a little bit of a sinus infection myself, so it's one of those things, I think that just passed through camp."

– Practice went as usual with Knapp running the offense, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan the defense and Brian Schneider handling special teams. Knapp and Schneider spoke to the team in the final huddle before practice ended.

"Once you get going you forget about it, but we’ll razz him when he gets back out here," left guard Robert Gallery said. "You’ve got to be pretty sick to miss practice. It’s a little different, but that’s what assistant coaches are for."

Said cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha: "I don’t know what’;s going on. I think he’s a little sick, or maybe he got happy with his first win and he didn’t want to show up. I don’t know."

– Team spokesman John Herrera told reporters after practice, "It's a viral infection. He had a temperature and went to the hospital for observation. We're waiting to hear back when he's a go."

– The local hospital where Kiffin was resting would not release any information regarding his condition.

– Running back LaMont Jordan returned to practice, took some handoffs with the third team offense to get back in the groove and went through all drills with his position group, looking more lively after several days off with a sore back.

Following practice, running backs coach Tom Rathman greeted owner Al Davis in his golf cart. Davis said something to Rathman about Jordan, who was nearby and smiling.

"He's ready to go now, turn him loose," Rathman said. "He's got those fresh legs."

– During one point during Monday's practice, Ryan appeard to shatter the record for continuous profanities previously set unofficially by Jon Gruden. If taped by NFL Network, the sound would be the same solid beep heard on a television test partern.

– Cornerback John Bowie, attempting to make up for lost time after missing practices with sore Achilles, at one point threw an elbow at veteran wide receiver Jerry Porter, who said "Hey rook" and gave him a hard stare while going back to the huddle.

– Safety Hiram Eugene punched a completed pass to Ronald Curry loose with a mighty spike. Linebacker Kurt Campbell did the same thing to Dominic Rhodes in an earlier session.

– Fullback Oren O'Neil has begun struggling with his pass receiving after catching the ball well early in camp.

– Sebastian Janikowski badly missed a 57-yard field goal attempt low and to the right.

– No noticeable shift in practice reps based on the preseason win over Arizona. Josh McCown and Andrew Walter equally split reps with the first team, with Daunte Culpepper doing most of his work with the third team. Culpepper, in 7-on-7 sessions, did get an opportunity with first-team personnel.

During a two-minute drill against a prevent defense with no timeouts, Walter failied to move the club, with Culpepper coming in to complete 5 of 6 passes, hitting Johnnie Lee Higgins for a juggling 6-yard score.

The play that set up the score came on a nice piece of improvisation. Culpepepper drifted to his left, then motioned for Johnnie Morant to break off his pattern and run down the left sideline. Asomugha managed to get a fingertip on the pass, but it went to Morant anyway for the completion to the 6.

– McCown, during his two-minute series, threw an interception to Fabian Washington on his second throw which Washington for what would have been a sure touchdown.

– Knapp said the Raiders have made no decisions regarding the quarterback rotation for Saturday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers.

– O.J. Santiago continues to drop nearly as many balls as he catches during team sessions.

"You look like you might as well have been blocking," said Ryan after a drop Monday.

– Warren Sapp went into an impromptu breakdance before a snap during one drill.

– Those who didn't practice Monday included CB Stanford Routt (knee), RB Michael Bush (leg-PUP), C Jeremy Newberry (knee-rest), G Ben Claxton (knee) , T Chad Slaughter (ankle), DT Josh Shaw (knee) and CB Duane Starks (hamstring).
 
Blogging with FS Stuart Schweigert

August 13, 2007

By Stuart Schweigert.
Raiders free safety

Long time, no talk Raider Nation! I hope everyone is doing well. A lot has happened since our last conversation. We have made it through two weeks of camp and a lot of sore mornings, and we have achieved our first pre-season victory.

The last two weeks have been very, very busy but also very, very productive in the wonderful Napa Valley. Head Coach Lane Kiffin has put together a wonderful camp schedule and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, along with the other defensive coaches, have been made going to meetings fun and entertaining. Our schedule consists of a one-a-day followed by a two-a-day. The thing that is nice is that on the two-a-day, we have practice from 8:50 a.m. - 10:45 a.m., followed by lunch and rest time. We then have meetings from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. and we're back on the field from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. The evening practice is nice because it is under the lights and the temperature is definitely in our favor. Another great thing about the evening practice is that once that horn blows for the end of practice we are free until our 11:00 p.m. bedcheck that night. There is no rushing to get to another meeting or trying to shove as much food down your throat in the fastest time possible.

The one-a-day schedule has weight lifting in the morning, meetings after your lift, followed by a 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. practice. Coach kiffin has a done a great job of giving us the maximum rest time between practices as possible. Our old schedule had us back on the field only a couple hours after the previous practice had ended and our bodies did not have time to recover.

Well, enough about the schedule, let's talk about the game Saturday night. We opened up the pre-season with a victory over the Arizona Cardinals. They are a talented team with some very talented players and I thought we matched up very well against them. We had a lot of excitement with Hiram Eugene. taking an interception to the house and B.J. Ward. providing us with some big hits! I was also very excited to see that my own fan section, of two fans strong, has started. After the game I was handed a shirt that read, "The Butcher 30" and was told a sign would be coming to the stadium very soon. "The Butcher" is a nickname of mine that has been kept under wraps for awhile but it is out now and I hope you enjoy.

Thank you again very much for reading and I hope to see a sea of Silver and Black this Saturday at Monster Park in San Fransisco when we take on Bay Area rivals, the 49ers.
 
– Running back LaMont Jordan returned to practice, took some handoffs with the third team offense to get back in the groove and went through all drills with his position group, looking more lively after several days off with a sore back.
Click to expand...
More like the RBBC put a scare in him.
 
Kiffin out; Raiders practice disorganized

Michael Wagaman

Aug 13, 2007

The Raiders might be without coach Lane Kiffin for a few days after he was hospitalized Monday with a viral infection.

Kiffin, 32, had been feeling ill for a few days, according to offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, but was with the team for its preseason win over Arizona on Saturday in Kiffin’s first NFL game as a head coach. Kiffin supervised staff meetings on Sunday but his condition worsened overnight and he was taken to the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa after waking up Monday.
“This morning when he woke up, from what I understand, he was feeling under the weather,” Knapp said. “(It‘s) something he’s been fighting for the last two or three days. I had a little bit of sinus infection myself so it’s one of those things, I think, that just passed through camp.”

A team spokesman said the Raiders were still awaiting updates on Kiffin’s condition, but a source close to Kiffin said he expects the head coach to be in the hospital “two or three days.”

With Kiffin out, Knapp and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan presided over practice on Monday. The workout, Oakland’s first since beating Arizona, appeared much more loose but slightly disorganized compared to previous practices. At one point, defensive tackle Warren Sapp commented the players were “running around like chickens with our heads cut off.”

Knapp saw it differently but understood the significance of missing Kiffin, whose piercing voice was noticeably absent from practice.

“We may have missed a little of the enthusiasm and the competition thing that goes on every now and then, but maybe that was a good thing for the players two days after a game to let them rest up a little bit,” Knapp said. “Lane’s been real good about delegating and giving responsibility to Rob and myself to help coordinate together. He even told us last night, ‘Hey Greg, why don’t you plan out the next three days here of training camp before we get in preparation for the San Francisco game.’“

Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said it was a unique situation not having the head coach at practice.

“A lot of guys were talking during stretch and it's a first for everybody,” cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said. "We hope he's all right.”
 
August 13, 2007

I'm a hack, all right

NAPA - Disclaimer: I don't play baseball. Never did growing up.

I never played softball, except for a brief summer stint at King Park in Long Beach.

But that didn't stop me from embarrassing myself by taking some swings during the Home Run Derby headed up by Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

It was a lot of fun. Warren Sapp pitched to me. I swung for the fence (about 200 feet away) and missed just about every time.

I wasn't being selective, just trying to hit the ball hard. Instead, I hacked air pretty good.

It's just another thing about this year's Raiders that makes the mood light around training camp. The players don't feel bogged. They practice hard, have some fun, and then get back to work.

They worked today without coach Lane Kiffin, who was taken to the hospital with a viral infection.

Without Kiffin to get things going, practice seemed to drag a bit. Kiffin, if he's not out of the hospital already, probably will fight to get out to watch film.

Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp ran the offense and Ryan, as usual, was in charge of the defense.

Knapp said Kiffin probably caught a bug that has been going around during camp.

Knapp said practice is laid out for the next couple of days already, so things should run smoothly.

The quarterbacks still are rotating, getting even reps. No starter has been named for Saturday's exhibition against the 49ers.

Regardless, Kiffin will hear it from the players when he returns.

- Jason Jones
 
Apparently this guy is Dennis Green's son... I don't know if that makes him any less objective....... but an outstanding article nonetheless. :D




Oakland's answer at QB
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blo...ider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=nfl_afc
by: Jeremy Green
posted: Monday, August 13, 2007

If things continue as they are right now, the acquisition of quarterback Daunte Culpepper will go down as one of the better offseason moves in recent Raiders history. With a fresh start underway and many miles between Oakland and a disastrous 2006 season in Miami, the buzz is that Culpepper is in fact everything Oakland was hoping he could be.

People within the Raiders organization say it was apparent from the time Culpepper first stepped onto the field that he was indeed the answer they were looking for to their quarterback issues. :beerbang: With no sign that No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell will end his holdout any time soon and the only other viable starting option being Josh McCown, Culpepper walked into a perfect situation.

And for the first time in a long time there is no pressure on Culpepper. In Minnesota there were questions about how he would fare without wide receiver Randy Moss. In Miami there were big expectations because the team gave up a second-round pick and signed him to a huge contract, despite a major knee injury the previous seaosn. In Oakland? Not a lot of expectations, except for those experts and observers just waiting for him to fail. Culpepper, however, has different aspirations.

He is seemingly fully healthy and has looked extremely sharp in the Raiders' new offense, one that is perfect for his game. Culpepper had his best seasons in Minnesota under head coach Dennis Green, whose variation of the West Coast offense contained parts of the Raiders' vertical passing game. With new offensive coordinator Greg Knapp calling the shots in Oakland, Culpepper is again in a West Coast variant that will retain vertical passing elements.

Culpepper still has the big-time arm to go vertical and the touch and accuracy to thread the needle between the hashmarks. We might never see the same quarterback from Culpepper's glory days in Minnesota, but he is also going to be far from the guy we saw in limited action in Miami last season. He has also drawn great praise from the defensive coaches in Oakland, the same guys who were behind the Raiders' No. 1 ranked pass defense from a year ago. A change of scenery is just what the doctor ordered and Culpepper appears poised to capitalize on this new opportunity. As long as he can stay healthy and continue his early training camp success, Culpepper's name belongs among the early favorites to become the Comeback Player of the Year.
 
During a two-minute drill against a prevent defense with no timeouts, Walter failied to move the club, with Culpepper coming in to complete 5 of 6 passes, hitting Johnnie Lee Higgins for a juggling 6-yard score.

The play that set up the score came on a nice piece of improvisation. Culpepepper drifted to his left, then motioned for Johnnie Morant to break off his pattern and run down the left sideline. Asomugha managed to get a fingertip on the pass, but it went to Morant anyway for the completion to the 6.

– McCown, during his two-minute series, threw an interception to Fabian Washington on his second throw which Washington for what would have been a sure touchdown.
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That's some rep for my boy DC (hey Bones is there a way to incorporate a feature where we can rep players?)

Really don't understand why they don't just end this dog and pony show and name DC the starter for good. :D
 
SoCalRaider said:
- There's a lot of DC ballwashing on the thread... .
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:D and yea I'd probably see Dennis Green's son as slightly non-objective.

But hey if he actually plays more than marginally better than McCown and Walter, I'm all for it. But that hasn't happened yet. In his defense he still has to get the playbook down. But this much more complicated offense than what he ran in his minny glory years(much like jimmy raye's second rate scheme left was more complicated than anything Moss ran before in Minny). I'm interested in how much of it he picks it up. With that said I'm happier about the quality of this qb competition vs last years. It definitely looks like whoever starts day one will actually have to earn it unless Al Davis tries to cock block the idea and demand cullpepp in regardless.
 
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Brown shows no fear

Young linebacker/special teamer shines in preseason opener

MARTY JAMES

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Ricky Brown’s second year in the National Football League started off in glowing fashion Saturday night.

The middle linebacker, listed second on Oakland’s depth chart, had a team-high seven tackles and almost intercepted a pass in a 27-23 preseason win over the Arizona Cardinals.

“I was fortunate because it was the first preseason game and a lot of the starters weren’t playing too much,” Brown said. “I kind of had my chance out there to go and show what I could do.”

Brown, who is from Boston College, got to play almost three full quarters, ensuring that Raiders coaches will see a lot of him on film when they go about breaking down the tape.

“I was good to get out there and run around with the defense,” Brown said after Monday’s practice at the Raiders’ training camp facility in Napa. “It was the first preseason game and you have to continue to get a lot better. There were still a few mistakes that I saw out of myself.

“I’ve been really working hard with my linebacker coach, Don Martindale, the whole offseason. I’ve just been excited for camp to start and get out there and play with the other guys on the defense, because it’s an excellent defense.”

Brown was an undrafted rookie free agent who was signed by the Raiders in the offseason, and then signed to the practice squad after training camp. He was added to the active roster on Oct. 7, 2006. He has played in 13 league games, seeing the majority of that time on special teams.

Brown is part of a very strong Raiders’ defense that finished third in the league last year. He plays behind Kirk Morrison.

“It’s an honor to play behind these guys and watch these guys play and just try to learn from the way that they play and the way that they carry themselves.”

Last year he played in 13 games and made seven tackles. In a game on Nov. 19 at Kansas City, he recorded three special teams tackles.

“I’m just trying to be the best linebacker that I can be,” said Brown. “And with the coaching that I’ve gotten from Don Martindale and Rob Ryan, I feel like I’m getting better every day.”

Brown carries the experience and confidence over from 2006 into this year’s season. He said he now knows what to the expect at this level of football, and it’s just a matter of going out and making plays — something that he did a lot of at Boston College.

He wants to be a leader on special teams and support the linebacking corps as best he can.

“I just want to be there when called upon,” said Brown, adding that the offseason was very positive and productive when it came to getting his work done and attending meetings with staff.

He likes the team’s training camp set up and the Northern California climate, which has been on the unusually cooler side this summer.

“This is a beautiful part of the country. But it’s going to be a tough go where ever you’re at for training camp.

“Training camp is just about routine and coming together as a team. What I look forward to in training camp is the team camaraderie and that it’s a team atmosphere that is built upon.”

As a senior at Boston College, Brown registered 69 solo tackles and 42 assists. He led the team with 81 tackles in 2004, with four tackles for losses of seven yards. He also registered two quarterback hurries, forced two fumbles, recorded three fumble recoveries and broke up a pass.

He transitioned from outside to middle linebacker in the spring of 2003.

Brown was a two-time All-City and All-Greater Catholic League First-Team selection at Elder High School in his hometown of Cincinnati.
 
• Buddy Ryan pays a visit

Buddy Ryan, the architect of the Chicago Bears’ famed “46” defense that set several NFL records, was in town Monday to watch camp and visit with his son, Raiders’ defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

“Rob is doing a great job here,” said Buddy, wearing a Raiders’ cap. The Raiders were third in the NFL in total defense last year.

Buddy was asked about Rob Ryan’s animated style of coaching.

“That’s his personality, and the players apparently react to it. The name of coaching is to get the best out of your people — whatever you’ve got to do.”

Buddy Ryan, a defensive specialist, has also been the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals.

• Softball after practice

A few of the players head over to the west side of the field following practice — not for more football-related drills, but to take part in softball. There’s a batter, pitcher and two outfielders.

Marty James
 
Raider inspired by Martz

Mike Williams grew up a bit under the Detroit assistant.

Jason Jones

August 14, 2007

NAPA -- Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz gave receiver Mike Williams the blues last year.

Martz made it known when he was hired that Williams wasn't his kind of player.

He was merciless in his critiques of Williams, the 10th overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft who was in the midst of an underwhelming two-year stay with the Lions.

Williams said he still could hear Martz's voice in his head during practices with the Raiders. And he couldn't be more thankful.

If Williams can fulfill the promise he showed in two seasons at USC by making the Raiders and having an impact this season, it will be because of the prodding he took from Martz last season.

"Regardless of how bad it was for me or how negative it was for me, I appreciate every second being around coach Martz," Williams said. "He kind of took me out of that phase -- looking back at it now, I was kind of like a young punk. I can't put it in any other words."

The Lions drafted Williams despite not needing receivers. That didn't sit well with Williams, who responded immaturely. He missed meetings and racked up fines.

Martz's arrival changed that.

Williams said Martz nitpicked his every move. The receiver didn't like it at the time, but he came to appreciate the verbal lashings.

"I feel like I'm a better pro for it," Williams said. "I practice better, I practice harder, I demand more out of myself than I probably would have. Now I look back at it, it was worth it."

So much so that Williams still leans on some of the things Martz said -- or yelled -- at him last year.

"All I think about when I'm on the field is what would coach Martz say about this, or how I did that," Williams said. "He brought my game and my mentality to another level that I can't say I'd be at this point."

Whether that makes him a keeper for the Raiders remains to be seen. Williams caught two passes for 17 yards, including a three-yard touchdown pass, in the Raiders' 27-23 exhibition victory Saturday over Arizona.

Raiders coach Lane Kiffin has been slow to praise Williams, saying he "still has a long way to go" before he's the player he can be.

Williams admits as much.

"My goal is to be a starter, but I know I've got to put the work in," he said. "I've got to outwork guys that have a foundation here. But whatever comes, it'll be what I deserve."

It's a rather mature outlook from someone who was an admitted "punk" last season.

Raiders quarterback Josh McCown was with Williams in Detroit last season and saw Williams mature under the constant criticism of Martz.

"(Martz) does it to build mental toughness, with a bit of verbal assistance," McCown said. "Mike learned a lot about what it takes to be a pro and how to approach the game. Now he has a fresh start and a fresh chance to do that."

If it all works out well for Williams, he can thank Martz in person for all the nagging: The Raiders open the season against the Detroit Lions.
 
The top part of the article was about Kiffin and it said the same thing the other articles did....


Play of the day

Safety Hiram Eugene knocked loose the ball from wide receiver Ronald Curry's hands with a tomahawk-like chop on a pass play over the middle. Linebacker Isaiah Ekejiuba scooped up the ball and returned it for a touchdown.

Extra points

Running back LaMont Jordan (back) returned to practice for the first time since Aug. 4. Cornerback Stanford Routt (knee) and center Jeremy Newberry (rest) were among eight players who missed practice. ... Raiders managing general partner Al Davis attended practice for the fifth time since training camp started July 26. ... Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's father, Buddy, watched practice from the sideline. ... The Raiders made it through Saturday's game against the Cardinals without any significant injuries, Kiffin said immediately after the victory. ... The Raiders reached an injury settlement with veteran linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski and then released him from their roster. Kacyvenski sustained a knee injury a week into training camp. ... Receivers Johnnie Morant and Johnnie Lee Higgins caught passes despite tight coverage from Asomugha. Few receivers have accomplished that against Asomugha during camp. ... Rookie Jay Richardson spent time with the starting unit at right defensive end. He and rookie Quentin Moses are battling veteran Kevin Huntley for the starting spot.

-- Steve Corkran
 
I will put this one here since it talks about Zach while being a story on his brother...

B. Miller set to emerge from brother's shadow

Paola Boivin

Aug. 14, 2007

CAMP TONTOZONA - Not a single shadow intrudes on this Ponderosa Pine-lined football field. Not from the surprisingly cloudless August sky, nor from the presence of gifted tight end Zach Miller.

Don't misunderstand. Brent Miller loved playing with his younger brother at Arizona State. But he always had to reconcile that emotion with his own desire to be more than a human blocking sled.

"Sometimes it was hard," Brent said Monday. "Last year we were both starters, but if one of us was going to block and one go out, I'd block.


"I'll always be his biggest fan, but it is good to be able to go out for more passes this year and have more balls thrown my way."

Count on it. When the 2007 season is complete, look for senior tight end Brent Miller to be featured in the highlight film.

"He's having a great camp," quarterback Rudy Carpenter said.

What it must be like to be forever linked. Brent, 17 months older, entered ASU out of Desert Vista High a year before his brother but red-shirted his first season because of knee surgery.

Zach - widely touted as the No. 1 tight end prospect in the nation - showed up a year later.

Because Brent was a standout linebacker, not to mention quarterback, in high school, neither brother was surprised that Zach quickly became the go-to guy at tight end in Tempe. It produced an interesting dynamic, the older brother watching the younger one take center stage.

After logging 144 receptions and 14 touchdowns in three seasons, Zach opted for the NFL draft, where he went in the second round to the Oakland Raiders. Some close to the family believe the opportunity for Brent to emerge from his brother's shadow impacted Zach's decision.

Brent, Zach, Zach, Brent. Since their Pop Warner days, coaches have mixed them up. Just the other day, their mother, Jaki, went to purchase Zach's 2007 NFL rookie card when she made a surprising discovery.

"That's not Zach," she told the card-shop employee.

"How do you know?" he said.

"I'm his mother."

It was Brent.

This could be the year the brothers truly separate themselves, Zach with the Raiders, Brent with the Sun Devils.

Dennis Erickson's offense isn't dramatically different from former coach Dirk Koetter's. Both lean on a two-tight end, three-wideout scheme. Because ASU features a young group of wide receivers, Miller's presence will be invaluable.

Like his brother, Brent is low-key and low-maintenance. He's not a player who will disrupt team chemistry, not a guy who will forget to pack his uniform. He works hard and constantly is looking for ways to improve.

"He's as good as I've been around at tight end in college," Erickson said.

Tight ends coach Dan Cozzetto, who has known the Miller family since the boys were young and tried unsuccessfully to recruit the 6-foot-5, 237-pound Brent to Oregon State, believes this is "his time to shine."

"I really think Brent is special," Cozzetto said. "He brings different things to the table. I think he can really run. He's worked on getting stronger, bigger, and it hasn't interfered with how he runs."

Even though they speak nightly, Brent will miss his brother this season. It was Zach, after all, who lured the Washington safeties up the middle when Brent caught the game-winning touchdown in overtime against the Huskies last season.

"I think he's been in the shadows the last few years, and this is his opportunity to break out," Erickson said. "I think he will."
 
Oakland Raiders


-- Raiders Negotiations with Russell at a Standstill --
Tue Aug 14, 2007 --from FFMastermind.com

ESPN's Michael Smith reports contract negotiations between the Oakland Raiders and No. 1 overall draft pick QB JaMarcus Russell won't resume until next week.


-- McCown & Walter Share First Team Snaps --
Tue Aug 14, 2007 --from FFMastermind.com

The San Francisco Chronicle reports Oakland Raiders QB Andrew Walter and QB Josh McCown went back to sharing first-team snaps Monday, with Walter completing 3-of-3 passes in an 11-on-11 drill. In two-minute-warning drills, QB Daunte Culpepper was 5-for-6 with a 6-yard touchdown pass to rookie WR Johnnie Lee Higgins, who was covered by starting CB Nnamdi Asomugha. Walter was 1-for-4 in the drill. McCown threw an interception to CB Chris Johnson on his second play.


-- Raiders DE Competition --
Tue Aug 14, 2007 --from FFMastermind.com

The Contra Costa Times reports Oakland Raiders rookie DE Jay Richardson spent time with the starting unit at right defensive end. He and fellow rookie DE Quentin Moses are battling veteran DE Kevin Huntley for the starting spot.


-- Raiders Injury Update - Jordan Practices --
Tue Aug 14, 2007 --from FFMastermind.com

The Contra Costa Times reports Oakland Raiders RB LaMont Jordan (back) returned to practice Monday for the first time since Aug. 4. He made an over-the-shoulder touchdown catch ahead of LB Ricky Brown. CB Stanford Routt (knee) and C Jeremy Newberry (rest) were among eight players who missed practice. The Raiders reached an injury settlement with veteran LB Isaiah Kacyvenski (knee) and then released him from their roster. Kacyvenski sustained a knee injury a week into training camp.


-- Raiders Miss Lane Kiffin --
Tue Aug 14, 2007 --from FFMastermind.com

The Contra Costa Times reports the Oakland Raiders received a surprise Monday when they arrived to practice and HC Lane Kiffin (viral infection) was nowhere to be found. Kiffin felt ill Sunday afternoon but tried to work through it. By Monday, things had worsened, so the Raiders said Kiffin was taken to a hospital for observation for a viral infection. "It's something he's been fighting for the last two or three days," said OC Greg Knapp, who addressed the media in Kiffin's absence. "I had a little bit of a sinus infection myself, so it's one of those things that just passed through camp." Kiffin instructed Knapp to draw up practice plans for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Knapp and several players said things went according to plan on Monday but that there wasn't as much energy without Kiffin running around barking out instructions and shouting encouragement
 
Training Camp Notebook: Raiders QB Situation Bears Watching

Tony Moss

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - They are the two figures most representative of the Oakland Raiders' future, and neither will be spotted at training camp for the better part of this week.

One is head coach Lane Kiffin, who was hospitalized with a viral infection on Monday and will likely need a couple of days to recover.

The other, of course, is No. 1 overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell, who continues his holdout as the second full week of the preseason is set to begin.

According to reports, the Raiders and Russell are still miles apart in their quest to reach a contract accord, with the LSU product requesting more guaranteed money than Al Davis and company are at present willing to throw in his direction.

Kiffin, though, will be back on the sidelines in no time, which should come as a relief to Silver and Black nation. The 32-year-old head coach still has some major work to do in shaping an NFL team out of a group that has gone a league- worst 15-49 over the past four seasons, and no decision that he makes will be placed under more scrutiny than the duel at quarterback.

Forget Russell for a second, since the Raiders apparently have.

The three quarterbacks presently in camp for Oakland all have NFL starting experience, and barring anything unforeseen, one will be the starter when the team hosts Detroit in Week 1.

Josh McCown did some good things in 22 starts with the Cardinals from 2003 through 2005, and Kiffin recently praised the 28-year-old's ability to run his west coast offensive scheme. McCown started the Raiders' preseason opener against Arizona, completing 5-of-9 passes for 42 yards and engineering a touchdown drive against his former team.

Next came Andrew Walter, the same Andrew Walter who you might remember of the following 2006 stat line: eight starts, three touchdown passes, 13 interceptions, 46 times sacked. But the former third-round pick out of Arizona State looked much more comfortable in an offense that wasn't designed in the leather-helmet era, completing eight of his 11 passes for 50 yards and a touchdown versus the Cardinals.

Then there is one Daunte Culpepper, effectively signed to an August-long audition at the outset of camp. Culpepper completed just 5-of-12 passes in his first appearance in a Raider uniform, but was victimized by a couple of dropped throws and also had a pretty 50-yard toss to show for his night. What's more, the three-time Pro Bowler also looked a great deal more mobile than he did while with Miami last season, showing a willingness to throw on the run that some thought was no longer in his repertoire.

All of which raises a serious question when conceding the fact that a deal for Russell will get done sooner rather than later. Who is Kiffin going to cast aside?

It is highly unlikely to be McCown, who would have to suffer a serious fall from grace to go from No. 1 to No. 4 on the depth chart in the course of three preseason games.

That leaves Walter, Culpepper, and the potential for a mighty dilemma in the Bay Area.

Walter was a human statue in Tom Walsh's antiquated offense last season, but he's 6-foot-6, 230 pounds with a strong arm and is only 25 years old. The Raiders would have to swallow hard before releasing or dealing Walter, especially since he is currently signed through 2009.

But if Culpepper plays well and convinces everyone he's healthy in the remaining three preseason games, would Oakland dare get rid of him?

Thirty-year-old quarterbacks with three Pro Bowl citations and 137 NFL starts don't fall into a team's lap every day, and if the Raiders cut him on the cusp of a possible return to greatness, it will be a move the organization might never live down.

At the same time, Culpepper remains the natural player to be jettisoned. He's on a one-year deal with only $750,000 guaranteed, meaning releasing him will have little to no cap ramifications. Also, due to his experience as a starter, you'd have to wonder how Culpepper would react to being a backup, a role that is inevitable even if he emerges as the No. 1 quarterback out of camp.

Russell is Oakland's quarterback of the very near future, and ultimately, McCown, Walter, and Culpepper will be bit players in the drama that stars the strong-armed No. 1 pick.

But a potential embarrassment of riches at the quarterback position is a worthy and intriguing storyline for a Raider team that for so long has simply been an embarrassment.
 
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