Training Camp News...

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Crossbones

The Savior is on his way!
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Training camp starts July 24th.

Let's try and keep all the news related to the Raiders' training camp, photos, cuts, injury reports and signings here in this thread!

Football is in the air! :D
 
Raiders, 49ers and the NFL

Thursday, July 20 - 5:31p.m.
Napa: No place for wimps

According to a recent column on ESPN.com, the NFL has become a kinder, gentler league when it comes to training-camp workload. Apparently, Art Shell didn’t get the memo.

The Raiders’ resuscitated coach continues to establish his old-school credibility, most recently through a camp schedule circulated by the team. While the Cincinnati Bengals, for example, are slated to train exactly 14 days (at Georgetown College in Kentucky), with only four two-a-day sessions, the Raiders will hearken back to the days of tear-away jerseys and straight-on placekickers.

Oakland’s camp in Napa, which officially kicks off Tuesday, is slated for a comparatively epic 30 days, including games and travel days. There will be 11 two-a-day sessions, the majority of them in the first two weeks. Here’s another way to frame it: Most teams have adopted a 1-2-1 cycle, with one practice on the first day, two the next, then back to one. On the fourth day, the cycle begins again. Using this system, the Raiders’ first four days go 2-2-2-2.

Another trend, according to the ESPN piece, is away from intra-team contact. Coaches believe the injury risk is too high. But Shell said via conference call Thursday that on four of the first five days of camp, the Raiders will wear pads during BOTH practices. That was unthinkable in the last two Oakland regimes.

I’m not a big law-and-order guy. I think the move toward shorter and less violent training camps generally makes sense, especially from the standpoints of injuries and late-season conditioning. But it seems to me Shell’s approach is right for this team. The Raiders have been doomed in part by their own apathy and lack of discipline the last three years. Shell is installing a heavy dose of accountability, and that must be the first step to restoring what Al Davis likes to call the Greatness of the Raiders.

Anyway, the Napa Valley Marriott has masseuses and a swimming pool for weary bodies.
 
Raiders | Huff not a starter heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:24:34 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders rookie S/CB Michael Huff is not listed as a starter as the team gets ready to start training camp.


Raiders | Williams a starter heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:23:53 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders LB Sam Williams is listed as the team's starting strongside linebacker heading into training camp.


Raiders | Howard a starter heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:22:48 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders rookie LB Thomas Howard is listed as the team's starting weakside linebacker heading into training camp.


Raiders | Morrison a starter heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:22:15 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders LB Kirk Morrison is listed as the team's starting middle linebacker heading into training camp.


Raiders | L. Walker a starter heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:21:35 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders OT Langston Walker is listed as the team's starting right tackle heading into training camp.


Raiders | Grove a starter heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:21:02 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders OC Jake Grove is listed as the team's starting center heading into training camp.


Raiders | Sims a starter heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:20:30 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders OL Barry Sims is listed as the team's starting left guard heading into training camp.


Raiders | Gallery a starter heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:19:46 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders OL Robert Gallery is listed as the team's starting left tackle heading into training camp.


Raiders | McQuistan a starter heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:17:47 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders rookie OL Paul McQuistan is the team's starting right guard heading into training camp. Head coach Art Shell said he had no qualms about starting a rookie. "He's a smart kid, one of the smarter kids on this team. We look forward to him working hard, continuing his growth and being part of what we expect will be a pretty doggone good offensive line."


Raiders | Team discussed signing G. Jackson
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:16:42 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders head coach Art Shell said there were discussions about signing free agent DT Grady Jackson (Packers), but that nothing materialized. "We feel good about the guys we have now," Shell said.


Raiders | Brooks No. 1 heading into training camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:15:32 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders head coach Art Shell confirmed that QB Aaron Brooks will be the starting quarterback going into training camp. "Still, there's nothing etched in stone," Shell said. "We're still going to take a look at what we have. You've got to have somebody start out, so he's the guy who's starting out."


Raiders | Clark not listed as starter on initial depth chart
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:08:02 -0700

Bill Soliday, of the Oakland Tribune, reports Oakland Raiders LB Danny Clark, the team's leading tackler the last two seasons, is not listed as a starter on the team's initial training camp depth chart. "Danny is an integral part of this football team," head coach Art Shell said. "We are looking at players. Nothing is etched in stone. We don't know where we'll end up for sure. We have a long ways to go through training camp."


Raiders | Team showing interest in D. Smith
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:02:54 -0700

Mike Triplett, of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, reports free agent S Dwight Smith (Saints) said several teams already have shown interest in him. He mentioned the Oakland Raiders as one of those teams.


Raiders | Team to have 11 two-a-day sessions at camp
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 05:49:46 -0700

Matt Maiocco, of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports the Oakland Raiders training camp is set to last 30 days with 11 two-a-day sessions. The first four days of camp are all two-a-day sessions. Oakland Raiders head coach Art Shell said via conference call Thursday, July 20, that on four of the first five days of camp, the Raiders will wear pads during both practices.

_________________
Its no fun when the rabbit has the gun.
 
I read that about Huff. That's BS. He better be in there on September 11th or I am going to be very upset.

Don't worry. He'll be the starter.
 
Bones - Huff will be a starter once the season starts. I suspect that the Raiders are going to move him around between SS & FS (possibly CB as well) to see where he fits best.

Remember that Gallery wasn't listed as starter initially either.

I think it's a non-issue.

Re: Art Shell - I LOVE IT !!!!!
 
Embarassing training camp experiences...

NFL Training Camps Get Started

Friday, July 21, 2006

By Jim Wyatt

Over 25% of the league's teams will have someone new starting at the quarterback this season. The New Starters: Chargers (Philip Rivers), Dolphins (Daunte Culpepper), Jets (Patrick Ramsey or maybe Chad Pennington), Lions (Jon Kitna or Josh McCown), Raiders (Aaron Brooks), Ravens (Steve McNair), Saints (Drew Brees) and Titans (Billy Volek).

When you head out to the various practice facilities remember the essentials: You'll need sunscreen, lot of water, a cushion to make your seating comfy and a Sharpie in order to have your favorite player sign the football you brought.
Fans wait with baited breath for

To see if Reggie Bush can shine in the NFL as he did in college.

To see what the fan reaction will be for Randy Moss as he returns home to Minnesota in the preseason's first Monday night game.

To see if a number of big name players can return after recovering from injuries - especially Big Ben, Drew Brees, Chad Pennington, Carson Palmer, Daunte Culpepper, Takeo Spikes, DeShaun Foster and Roman Oben. The Seattle Seahawks had 14 players that were unable to participate in the final mini-camp due to injuries or recovering from off-season surgeries.

Embarrassing Revelations From Past Training Camps:

Arizona Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin was asked who he thought was the laziest player on their team: "Fitz (Larry Fitzgerald) has to be the laziest. You don't ever see Fitz. He's always late to meetings, sleeping in meetings. Late to workouts. He brought a golf cart with him last year. It broke down every day. He ended up shipping it home after the first week."

Atlanta Falcons RB Warrick Dunn was asked about the most disgusting thing he'd ever seen in training camp. "T.J. Duckett threw up so much last year on the first day that he lost something like 15 lbs. His mouth was like a faucet. Worst hygiene? Nobody can top Warren Sapp, at least that's how it was when I played with him. He wanted to go out there and be as funky as possible so nobody would want to touch him."

Baltimore Ravens OLB Bart Scott: Worst roommate experience? Terrell Suggs. He is young and doesn't go to sleep. He stays up all night, either playing PlayStation, talking on the phone or watching old movies. Laziest player? Terrell Suggs. Let me repeat that. Terrell Suggs. He only gives what he has to give. There are no coverages, just blitzes."
Buffalo Bills LB Mario Haggan: "Worst hygiene? Angelo Crowell's feet. About two weeks into camp, you catch Angelo with a lot of foot spray because the skin on his feet starts peeling. One year we had to put up a sign marked 'Hazardous' around his locker."
Cincinnati Bengals DT John Thornton: "Strangest thing a player has brought to camp? Bryan Robinson brought this hyperbaric chamber. To watch him and his wife carry it from their van to our room…it looked like a big coffin. All the guys wanted to get in after about a week."
Cleveland Browns CB Daylon McCutcheon: "Worst hygiene? Brodney Pool has the nickname Dirty Pool. They say he doesn't take a lot of showers."
Houston Texans CB Dunta Robinson: "Most disgusting thing I've seen? I've seen a guy wear the same underwear every day."
Indianapolis Colts WR Aaron Moorehead: "Strangest thing brought to camp? It's (Dwight) Feeney getting steaks made for him every single day for every meal."
Jacksonville Jaguars MLB Mike Peterson: "Strangest thing brought to camp? One guy (who was married) brought his girlfriend to camp, let her stay in his room and even let her watch practice on the field."
Kansas City Chiefs RE Jared Allen: "Strangest thing brought to camp? I bring my blanket. I still have my baby blanket from when I was little. You've got to be comfortable when you go to camp."
Miami Dolphins WLB Channing Crowder: "Most disgusting thing I've seen? Some guys pee down their leg out there practicing. Hell, I do it."
Minnesota Vikings CB Antoine Winfield: "Most memorable rookie hazing? We got a little carried away with shaving someone's head one day, and we got his eyebrows. You don't see many people walking around with no eyebrows."
New England Patriots Punter Josh Miller: "Most disgusting thing I've seen? I had a guy's tooth fall out when he asked me for an autograph. Just fell right out on the paper. He picked it up and said: 'Happens all the time.' I'm thinking, 'Not to me it doesn't'"
New Orleans Saints CB Fred Thomas: "Worst roommate experience? Waking up every morning and all you hear when you wake up out of your sleep are sounds from a porno. Loud, so everybody could hear it. Down the hall, some of the guys would say, 'Turn it down!'"
New York Giants G Rich Seubert: "Most disgusting thing I've seen? Worms under my pillow. Somebody thought that was a good prank."
New York Jets LG Pete Kendall: "Worst hygiene? I'll go days wearing the same shirt and shorts, four or five days in a row."
Oakland Raiders OLB Sam Williams: "Worst roommate experience? One time I woke up at 3 or 4 in the morning because I felt someone standing over me. I jumped up and was ready to fight when I discovered it was my roommate sleepwalking. He was getting ready to jump in my bed because he thought he was at home and his girlfriend was in bed. That was bizarre."
San Diego Chargers LT Roman Oben: "Strangest thing brought to camp? I brought a cat one year. I got it from my girlfriend; she was going to be out of town the first week of camp. They'd come and clean the rooms in the dorm, and I had to put up a sign that said, 'Do not let the cat out.'"

Seattle Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander: "Strangest thing brought to camp? Some guys bring stuff their girlfriends give them, like a stuffed animal and they try to hide them. I can't tell you names. It's a safety thing…my safety."

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Chris Simms: "Laziest player? Joey Galloway. But it's different for a guy like that. He's a cheetah, and you can't run a cheetah like you would a long-distance horse every day, so they give him his time off."
Tennessee Titans TE Erron Kinney: "Most disgusting thing? We had a trainer one time that had a friendly bet with another trainer that he could drink a bottle of Gatorade (concentrate) and hold it down. It all came out. All of it. The only good thing about it is it smelled like Gatorade instead of puke."
Washington Redskins TE Chris Cooley: "Most disgusting thing I've seen? After every practice, we have a bug trough that's filled with cold water and ice. That gets pretty disgusting after five or six offensive lineman have been sitting in it."

What you can expected at this year's British Open at Hoylake

First of all don't go looking for a lake, there isn't any. Scores are certain to be mighty low. How low? Try record lows. The last time the Open Championship was held at the Royal Liverpool in 1967, there were 12 players that finished under par. That was the year Argentine Roberto De Vicenzo beat Jack Nicklaus by two shots. Locals are predicting the players will have to break par just to make the cut as this old time course meets up with the players of today hitting with all the advancements in equipment. Although Hoylake would appear formidable by the numbers - 7,258 yards (course length), it has quite a few doglegs which can be cut and the fairways are so hard balls in the fairway will get a lot more roll. In other words, if you are a straight hitter, you should be hitting most greens in two.

Humor in Sports

Reid Spencer: "On the Beatles' home golf course (Royal Liverpool), the gallery will oooh and aaah on great shots and Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da on the lipped-out putts."
 
From SI...

Oakland Raiders

Projected starting lineups

Offense

No. Player Pos. No. Player Pos.

84 Jerry Porter WR 83 Courtney Anderson TE
76 Robert Gallery LT 66 Langston Walker LG
64 Jake Grove C 70 Brad Badger RG
65 Barry Sims RT 18 Randy Moss WR
2 Aaron Brooks QB 34 LaMont Jordan RB
32 Zack Crockett FB 11 Sebastian Janikowski K

Defense

No. Player Pos. No. Player Pos.

56 Derrick Burgess DE 93 Tommy Kelly DT
99 Warren Sapp DT 98 Bobby Hamilton DE
52 Kirk Morrison LB 55 Danny Clark LB
54 Sam Williams LB 27 Fabian Washington CB
21 Nnamdi Asomugha CB 24 Michael Huff SS
30 Stuart Schweigert FS 9 Shane Lechler P

2006 Draft

No. Player Pos. School

1 Michael Huff DB Texas
2 Thomas Howard LB UTEP
3 Paul McQuistan T Weber State
4 Darnell Bing LB USC
6 Kevin Boothe T Cornell
7 Chris Morris C Michigan State
7 Kevin McMahan WR Maine

Outside the Huddle

Mind your manners

Once again, the Raiders led the league in penalties last season. To that end, new coach Art Shell is working on instilling more discipline and attention to detail so that the Raiders don’t hurt themselves so much with penalties.

Knock someone’s block off

Oakland’s offensive line play was a problem area for most of last season. The arrival of Shell and fellow Hall of Fame offensive lineman Jackie Slater portends a heavy emphasis on Oakland’s offensive linemen using proper technique and playing better as a cohesive unit.

We’ll be back

“We will come back. I say to the Raider players, to the Raider fans, to the Raider ex-players and even to the press, we’ll get that back. It may take us a short while but we’ll get that nastiness of the Raiders back. That’s one of the reasons I’m going to depend on the great Art Shell to help us get that done.” — Raiders managing general partner Al Davis in introducing Shell as the team’s coach

Catch that ball

The Raiders intercepted only five passes last season. That broke the league record for the fewest interceptions in a non-strike season.


Art Shell started his coaching career in 1983. Coincidentally, the Raiders won the third of the franchise's three Super Bowl titles that season. That came on the heels of his having been a player on the first two teams that won it all.

So, perhaps it's no surprise that Raiders managing general partner Al Davis turned to someone who knows what it takes as a player and as a coach to capture a Super Bowl title.

And why not? The Raiders enjoyed success under Shell's guidance as head coach from 1989-94, and they haven't won a Super Bowl since the 1983 season.

"The greatness of the Raiders is in its future," Shell said upon his hiring in February.

Yet, some say that Davis hiring Shell only offers more evidence that the Raiders are stuck in the past.

Not so, Davis says. It's just time to bring back good ol' Raiders football, the kind that won so many games in the 1960s, '70s and early '80s.

"We will come back," Davis said in introducing Shell as the replacement for deposed coach Norv Turner. "It may take us a short while, but we'll get that nastiness of the Raiders back."

The Raiders won only four games last season and 13 the past three combined. Shell is going to need players such as wide receiver Randy Moss and defensive tackle Warren Sapp to affect the mindset of a team that has grown accustomed to losing.

If not, more and more people will be heard saying Shell and Davis are past their primes.

Quarterbacks

Aaron Brooks is Oakland's third different opening day starting quarterback in three seasons, following Rich Gannon and Kerry Collins in a string of veterans burdened by numerous question marks about their ability.

The Raiders think enough of Brooks that they bypassed Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler in the draft and anointed him the starter ahead of sixth-year player Marques Tuiasosopo and 2005 draft pick Andrew Walter.


Running Backs

The Raiders last season found the workhorse back they coveted in LaMont Jordan. Now it's a matter of getting the desired production from their lead back.

Jordan rushed for a team-high 1,025 yards and caught 70 passes in his first year as a full-time starter in his fifth NFL season. However, he averaged only 3.8 yards per carry and (unofficially) dropped 12 passes.

Jordan showed last season that he can carry a sizable load. He figures to get even more carries this season and fewer balls thrown his way as the Raiders strive for a more balanced offensive attack.

The Raiders are so confident in Jordan's ability that they shied away from drafting any running backs or signing any in free agency. That means the return of Justin Fargas and Zack Crockett, with Fargas the primary backup to Jordan and Crockett the lead option on short-yardage and goal line plays.

Receivers

The Raiders managed to bring back all seven of their receivers as well as their two tight ends from last season's team. Now, if they can just keep them healthy.

There's no telling just how explosive Oakland's offense can be given a receiving corps that features Moss with Jerry Porter, Ronald Curry and Doug Gabriel in supporting roles.

Moss has recovered from groin, rib and pelvic injuries that hampered him for most of last season.

Offensive Linemen

It's going to take more than the addition of Hall of Fame offensive linemen Shell and Jackie Slater to the staff to fix the myriad problems that plagued Oakland's offensive line last season.

Right guard Ron Stone is gone. The second overall pick from 2004, Robert Gallery, has been moved from right tackle to left tackle. That's just for starters. Shell intends to tinker with the dozen or so offensive linemen he has beyond Gallery in an attempt to find a unit that works.

Jake Grove is expected back at center, with Langston Walker the odds-on candidate to return to left guard after missing most of last season with an abdominal injury that necessitated surgery. Veterans Barry Sims and Brad Badger are the logical choices at right tackle and right guard, respectively.

Defensive Linemen

Defensive end Derrick Burgess emerged last season as a Pro Bowler thanks to a league-high 16 sacks. He credited defensive tackles Ted Washington, Ed Jasper and Warren Sapp for freeing him up to make so many big plays.

Washington and Jasper left for the riches of free agency. Sapp is recovering from surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder. That leaves the Raiders somewhat thin and inexperienced in an area where they can least afford a drop in production.

On the bright side, the Raiders signed sack-specialist Lance Johnstone for his second stint with the team that drafted him.

The Raiders need Sapp back at full strength and youngsters Tommy Kelly, Terdell Sands and Anttaj Hawthorne to fill the void created by the departures of Washington and Jasper.

Linebackers

This unit once again is the biggest unknown entering the season. Only this time, the Raiders are making a serious attempt to turn a weak spot into a strength.

They drafted Thomas Howard in the second round, converted strong safety Darnell Bing in the fourth, and fourth-year player Sam Williams is expected back from a serious knee injury. That gives the Raiders three legitimate candidates to fill the gaping hole opposite outside linebacker Kirk Morrison. Danny Clark, now in his seventh season, remains the mainstay in the middle.

Defensive Backs

The Raiders lost arguably their top two defensive backs in Charles Woodson and Renaldo Hill to free agency. However, there is plenty of reason for optimism. That comes in the form of returning starting cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Fabian Washington, free safety Stuart Schweigert and promising youngsters Chris Carr and Stanford Routt. Also, the Raiders selected playmaking safety Michael Huff in the first round and signed veteran corners Duane Starks and Tyrone Poole from New England.

Huff is expected to beat out veteran Derrick Gibson at strong safety and assume the hybrid role Woodson played last season, playing close to the line of scrimmage, lining up on slot receivers and tight ends and roaming all over the field.

The Raiders recorded a league-low five interceptions last season, so there will be an emphasis on being more aggressive and making things happen, rather than reacting to what the receivers do.

Specialists

Punter Shane Lechler, kicker Sebastian Janikowski, punt/kick returner Chris Carr, long-snapper Adam Treu and key coverage man Jarrod Cooper all return. That gives the Raiders hope for getting an edge in field position. It will be up to Janikowski to regain the smooth kicking motion that made him so consistent from 2002-04 and for Lechler to find the consistency he enjoyed during his Pro Bowl season in 2004.

Coaching Staff

All eyes are on Shell and offensive coordinator Tom Walsh to see how they handle being away from the Raiders, in Shell's case, and the NFL, in Walsh's case, since 1994.

Shell has coached for long enough and enjoyed enough success that he shouldn't have a problem picking up where he left off. Walsh hasn't been around the pros for 12 years, so he faces a transition period, though he can't afford to learn as he goes.

For Shell, he needs to gain the respect of his players and get them to buy into his philosophy of instilling more discipline and toughness to a team that lacked both under Turner.

Walsh's main task is getting more out of an offense that seemingly has all the necessary players to develop into one of the league's highest-scoring units.

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan enters his third season and has a firm grasp of what it takes to be the front man. He knows what his players are capable of doing and which schemes work best for them.
 
Raiders camp facts

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

• COACH: Art Shell

• WHEN: Monday through Aug. 23.

• WHERE: Napa Valley Marriott

• PRACTICE SCHEDULE: From 8:45 a.m.-11:15 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.-5:30 p.m. on most days, with a few exceptions.

• WHO CAN WATCH: All practices are closed to the public.

• EXHIBITION SCHEDULE: Aug. 6 vs. Philadelphia, 5 p.m., Chs. 3, 11; Aug. 14 at Minnesota, 5 p.m., ESPN; Aug. 20 vs. 49ers, 5 p.m., Chs. 2, 5; Aug. 25 vs. Detroit, 7 p.m., Ch. 36; Aug. 31 at Seattle, 7 p.m., Ch. 2

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

• QUARTERBACK AARON BROOKS: He went from the 3-13 New Orleans Saints to the 4-12 Raiders in the offseason. Even so, he gets a clean slate, a starting job and several million dollars to make people forget about the Kerry Collins era.

• COACH ART SHELL: He's back after an 11-year absence as a member of the Raiders organization. He already has garnered more respect from his players than either of his predecessors did in two full seasons each.

• STRONG SAFETY MICHAEL HUFF: He patterns himself after former Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson. That's fine with the Raiders, so long as Huff mimics the Woodson who earned Pro Bowl selections his first four seasons and not the one who made off with millions of dollars for mediocre play his final four seasons.

Quarterbacks (5)

No. Player HT WT D.O.B. College How acquired

2 AARON BROOKS 6-4 220 3-24-76 Virginia FA-'06

8 Marques Tuiasosopo 6-1 220 3-22-79 Washington D2-'01

16 Andrew Walter 6-6 230 5-11-82 Arizona State D3A-'05

14 Kent Smith 6-5 215 9-5-83 Central Michigan FA-'06

17 Reggie Robertson 6-2 200 1-28-82 Cal FA-'06

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

Comment: Brooks is the projected starter. Walter views himself as being ready for the starting job. Tuiasosopo still is waiting for the chance that didn't come his first five seasons. But, hey, isn't it great to be done with Kerry Collins? That's what the Raiders are hoping with Brooks at the helm. He is more mobile than Collins, has a stronger arm and appears a better fit for Oakland's offense. Tuiasosopo might not be the long-term answer, but he is well-versed in Oakland's offense and a capable fill-in should Brooks get hurt. Walter's role this season is to learn as much as possible, with an eye toward competing for the starting spot next season.

Running backs (11)

No. Player HT WT D.O.B. College How acquired

34 LAMONT JORDAN 5-10 230 11-11-78 Maryland FA-'05

32 ZACK CROCKETT (FB) 6-2 240 12-2-72 Florida State FA-'99

20 Walter Williams 6-1 215 9-8-77 Grambling FA-'06

25 Justin Fargas 6-1 220 1-25-80 Southern Cal D3B-'03

28 DeJuan Green 5-11 205 5-13-80 South Florida FA-'04

35 J.R. Lemon 6-1 225 6-6-83 Stanford FA-'06

39 Rod Smart 5-11 205 1-9-77 W. Kentucky FA-'06

42 ReShard Lee 5-10 220 10-12-80 Middle Tennessee St. FA-'06

45 Zach Tuiasosopo (FB) 6-2 245 12-19-81 Washington FA-'05

48 Joe Hall 6-2 290 11-3-79 Kentucky FA-'06

49 John Paul Foschi (FB) 6-4 270 5-18-82 Georgia Tech FA-'05

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

Comment: Jordan did a solid job rushing and receiving in his first season as an NFL starter. However, the Raiders envisioned more than solid when they heaped upon Jordan a mega-contract last year. Jordan figures to be the workhorse once again, with Crockett, Foschi and Fargas playing complementary roles. Shell feels as if Fargas is ready to realize his potential and help Jordan carry the load. If so, that would relieve pressure from Jordan and keep him fresher for the latter part of games.

Wide receivers (13)

No. Player HT WT D.O.B. College How acquired

18 RANDY MOSS 6-4 205 2-13-77 Marshall Trade-'05

84 JERRY PORTER 6-2 220 7-14-78 West Virginia D2-'00

4 Burl Toler 6-2 185 4-7-83 Cal FA-'06

5 Kevin McMahan 6-2 200 3-2-83 Maine D7B-'06

7 Jayson Boyd 6-4 200 9-29-83 UTEP FA-'06

10 John Madsen 6-5 220 5-19-83 Utah FA-'06

13 Will Buchanon 6-3 185 4-5-83 Southern Cal FA-'06

15 Rick Gatewood 5-11 190 8-3-83 Montana State FA-'06

19 Johnnie Morant 6-4 215 12-07-81 Syracuse D5-'04

82 Carlos Francis 5-10 190 1-03-81 Texas Tech D4-'04

85 Doug Gabriel 6-2 215 8-27-80 Central Florida D5-'03

87 Alvis Whitted 6-0 185 9-4-74 North Carolina St. FA-'02

89 Ronald Curry 6-2 210 5-28-79 North Carolina D7-'02

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

Comment: Moss remains the standard bearer among NFL receivers. Porter, Curry and Gabriel are talented enough to be No. 1 receivers for other teams. In other words, the Raiders are as deep at receiver as any team. Oh, and they have a handful of youngsters vying for playing time, as well. The key is Moss. He remains the league's most explosive receiver. Now it's time for the Raiders to find a way to get him more involved in the offense than he was last season, when he spent most of his time as a decoy. Curry's return from a ruptured Achilles tendon figures to boost the corps overall depth and production.

Tight ends (6)

No. Player HT WT D.O.B. College How acquired

83 COURTNEY ANDERSON 6-6 270 11-19-80 San Jose State D7-'04

43 O.J. Santiago 6-7 265 3-4-74 Kent State FA-'06

46 Derek Miller 6-7 270 6-10-83 Maryland FA-'06

47 James Adkisson 6-5 230 1-11-80 South Carolina FA-'03

86 Randal Williams 6-3 235 5-21-78 New Hampshire FA-'05

88 Marcellus Rivers 6-4 250 10-26-78 Oklahoma State FA-'06

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

Comment: Anderson and Williams figure to be even better now that they have another year's experience to call upon. Veteran Santiago gives the Raiders another dependable blocker and veteran leadership. None of the aforementioned trio is a Pro Bowl-caliber player, but the Raiders aren't concerned about that as long as they perform to the level expected, especially as blockers.

Offensive line (17)

No. Player HT WT D.O.B. College How acquired

76 ROBERT GALLERY (T) 6-7 325 7-26-80 Iowa D1-'04

65 BARRY SIMS (G) 6-5 300 12-1-74 Utah FA-'99

64 JAKE GROVE (C) 6-4 300 1-22-80 Virginia Tech D2-'04

79 PAUL MCQUISTAN (G) 6-6 315 4-30-83 Weber State D3-'06

66 LANGSTON WALKER (T) 6-8 345 9-3-79 Cal D2-'02

60 Roderick Green (OL) 6-5 290 4-26-82 Arkansas-Pine Bluff FA-'05

61 Chris Morris (C) 6-4 305 2-22-83 Michigan State D7A-'06

62 Adam Treu (C) 6-5 300 6-24-74 Nebraska D3-'97

63 Shaun Rose (G) 6-6 325 7-17-80 East Carolina FA-'05

67 Kevin Boothe (G) 6-5 315 7-5-83 Cornell D6-'06

69 Kelvin Garmon (G) 6-2 350 10-26-76 Baylor FA-'06

70 Brad Badger (G) 6-4 320 1-1-75 Stanford FA-'02

71 Corey Hulsey (G) 6-4 325 7-26-77 Clemson FA-'03

72 Jabari Levey (T) 6-6 315 7-16-84 South Carolina FA-'06

74 William Obeng (T) 6-7 325 4-14-83 San Jose State FA-'06

75 Brad Lekkerkerker (OL) 6-7 330 5-8-78 UC-Davis FA-'04

78 Chad Slaughter (T) 6-8 340 6-4-78 Alcorn State FA-'02

cont'd...
 
cont'd...

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

Comment: Grove is the lone player returning to his primary position from last season. The biggest moves involve Gallery switching from right tackle to left tackle, and Sims moving from left tackle to left guard. The presence of three former outstanding offensive linemen on the coaching staff figures to make the transitions less painful. Rookie McQuistan shined in offseason workouts and camps and offers proof that Shell is serious about playing the players he feels are best suited to perform at a high level.

Defensive line (14)

No. Player HT WT D.O.B. College How acquired

56 DERRICK BURGESS 6-2 260 8-12-78 Mississippi FA-'05

93 TOMMY KELLY (DT) 6-5 300 12-27-80 Mississippi State FA-'04

99 WARREN SAPP (DT) 6-2 300 12-19-72 Miami FA-'04

91 TYLER BRAYTON (DE) 6-6 280 11-20-79 Colorado D1B-'03

51 Lance Johnstone (DE) 6-5 250 6-11-73 Temple FA-'06

73 Michael Quarshie (DT) 6-2 295 11-13-79 Columbia FA-'05

74 Javon Nanton (DE) 6-5 255 1-25-83 Miami FA-'06

75 Donnell Washington (DT) 6-6 330 2-6-84 Clemson FA-'06

77 Anttaj Hawthorne (DT) 6-3 310 11-15-81 Wisconsin D6A-'05

90 Terdell Sands (DL) 6-7 335 10-31-79 Tennessee-Chattanooga FA-'03

92 Bryant McNeal (DE) 6-4 250 7-13-79 Clemson FA-'06

94 Kevin Huntley (DE) 6-7 270 4-8-82 Kansas State FA-'06

97 Rashad Moore (DT) 6-3 325 3-16-79 Tennessee FA-'06

98 Bobby Hamilton (DE) 6-5 285 7-01-71 Southern Mississippi FA-'04

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

Comment: The loss of veteran defensive tackles Ted Washington and Ed Jasper, as well as Sapp's return from a torn rotator cuff, makes this the unit with the most glaring question marks. Youngsters Kelly and Sands appear poised to replace Washington and Jasper. The addition of veteran pass-rush specialist Johnstone gives the Raiders a nice complement to reigning NFL sack champion Burgess.

Linebackers (11)

No. Player HT WT D.O.B. College How acquired

52 KIRK MORRISON (OLB) 6-2 240 2-19-82 San Diego State D3B-'05

55 DANNY CLARK (MLB) 6-2 245 5-09-77 Illinois FA-'04

54 SAM WILLIAMS (OLB) 6-5 265 7-28-80 Fresno State D3A-'03

41 Ricky Brown 6-2 235 12-27-83 Boston College FA-'06

43 Timi Wusu 6-3 210 6-10-83 Stanford FA-'06

50 Isaiah Ekejiuba 6-4 240 10-5-81 Virginia FA-'05

53 Thomas Howard 6-3 240 7-14-83 UTEP D2-'06

57 Ryan Riddle 6-2 260 7-5-81 Cal D6B-'05

58 Robert Thomas 6-0 235 7-17-80 UCLA FA-'06

59 Darnell Bing 6-2 230 9-10-84 Southern Cal D4-'06

96 Grant Irons 6-6 285 7-07-79 Notre Dame FA-'03

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

Comment: The Raiders drafted Howard in the second round, selected Bing in the fourth and moved him from safety, and they signed former first-round draftee Robert Thomas. Needless to say, the Raiders identified the linebacking corps as an overall weakness. Clark and Morrison offer a nice foundation, in addition to the return of injured veteran Williams.

Defensive backs (14)

No. Player HT WT D.O.B. College How acquired

21 NNAMDI ASOMUGHA (CB) 6-2 210 7-7-81 Cal D1A-'03

30 STUART SCHWEIGERT (FS) 6-1 210 6-21-81 Purdue D3-'04

24 MICHAEL HUFF (SS) 6-1 200 3-6-83 Texas D1-'06

27 FABIAN WASHINGTON (CB) 5-11 185 6-9-83 Nebraska D1-'05

4 Dennis Davis (CB) 5-10 190 11-24-82 Georgia Tech FA-'06

22 Duane Starks (CB) 5-10 175 5-23-74 Miami FA-'06

23 Chris Carr (DB) 5-10 180 4-30-83 Boise State FA-'05

26 Stanford Routt (CB) 6-1 195 7-23-83 Houston D2-'05

29 Raymond Washington (CB) 6-0 210 6-2-83 Fresno State FA-'06

31 Hiram Eugene (DB) 6-2 200 11-24-80 Louisiana Tech FA-'05

36 Derrick Gibson (SS) 6-2 215 3-22-79 Florida State D1-'01

37 Alvin Nnabuife (DB) 6-1 205 4-3-83 SMU FA-'06

38 Tyrone Poole (DB) 5-8 190 2-3-72 Fort Valley State FA-'06

40 Jarrod Cooper (S) 6-0 215 3-31-78 Kansas State FA-'04

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

Comment: Charles Woodson and Renaldo Hill are gone. Huff, Starks and Poole are in. Starting cornerbacks Asomugha and Fabian Washington haven't reached their primes yet. Same goes for Schweigert. The secondary has the potential to go from a work-in-progress to a strength by season's end. None of the projected starters has more than five years' experience, and backups Routt and Carr are second-year players. The switch from a 4-2-5 alignment figures to help keep the backups fresher than they were last season.

Kickers/punters (5)

No. Player HT WT D.O.B. College How acquired

9 SHANE LECHLER (P) 6-2 225 8-7-76 Texas A&M D5-'00

11 SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI (K) 6-2 250 3-3-78 Florida State D1-'00

1 David Kimball (K) 6-1 205 1-13-82 Penn State FA-'06

3 Glenn Pakulak (P) 6-3 220 4-9-80 Kentucky FA-'06

5 Tim Duncan (K) 6-1 210 6-12-79 Oklahoma FA-'06

WHAT'S NEW

RAIDERS 2006 ROSTER

Comment: Janikowski and Lechler are as talented a kicking duo as there is in the league. However, they showed last season that talent is only part of the equation. They both need to regain their consistency. To that end, the Raiders for the first time in recent memory have brought in some competition to drive home the point that no jobs are guaranteed.
 
Something old and sort of new
Shell returns to Raiders with same work ethic

By Jason Jones

Published 12:01 am PDT Sunday, July 23, 2006




ALAMEDA -- Someone forgot to tell Art Shell football had passed him by.
In an era when coaches are shunning two-a-day practice sessions and going full contact sparingly, Shell is supposed to follow suit because antiquated methods such as full gear on multiple days don't work with today's player.

Shell didn't get that memo.

Shell hasn't been a head coach since 1994. But he doesn't plan to alter his methods when his Raiders players report to training camp in Napa on Monday and take the field Tuesday morning.


He still believes players want to work hard, a mind-set that will be tested by a group that is 13-35 over the last three seasons.
"I believe in working as hard as we need in order to get them ready to play," said Shell, 59. "That's what I know. That's what I'm accustomed to."

Now it's time to put the old-school approach into practice.

Some coaches complain about playing four exhibition games. Shell wanted the fifth one the Raiders have, the Hall of Fame Game, especially with his former coach, John Madden, being inducted.

"I've always liked the idea of the fifth game," Shell said. "It gives us a chance to look at our players."

As expected, Shell is using his football mentor's blueprint for success, hoping what won him two Super Bowl titles as a player can work today, especially on offense, where the results have been especially disappointing in recent years.

"This is an Al Davis system," Shell said. "I grew up with this system. This is a system that allows us to attack from anywhere on the field."

The Raiders want to run the ball consistently and take what they want in the passing game.

"We don't want to be a team that's sitting back waiting for you to dictate what happens," Shell said. "We don't want to be a passive team. We want to be an aggressive team."

Shell said what he wants to do is no different than what Pittsburgh, New England and St. Louis did with Super Bowl-winning teams in recent years.

So while it might seem as if he and offensive coordinator Tom Walsh are relics, they aren't exactly running the wishbone.

"This system is in football," Shell said. "It's been here. It's been utilized."

And perhaps Shell being set in his ways will be good for the Raiders. After all, he is stubborn enough not to believe in a rebuilding season.

He plans to hold the team to high expectations and has been talking Super Bowl since he was rehired in February.

"Strange things can happen in this league, and we look forward to turning this thing around," Shell said. "Why not us? We can do this."
 
Raiders training camp preview
FIVE CONCERNS TO ADDRESS

By Jason Jones
Published 12:01 am PDT Sunday, July aff Writer23, 2006




Art Shell isn't afraid to shake things up.
Whether it's playing rookies, changing players' positions or letting a veteran know his place, Shell has put his imprint on the Raiders.


After a 13-35 record over the last three seasons, it's hard to argue change is needed.

"These guys are tired of losing," Shell said. "Their work ethic this offseason has showed me that."

And as players report to training camp Monday, there's still plenty for Shell to sort out before his talk of championships can seem feasible.

Shell, 59, can't wait to get going.

"I'm excited about giving the Raider fans something to be proud of because they deserve it," Shell said.

That begins Tuesday, when Shell sees if he has the players the Raider Nation can be proud of while pondering these issues:


1 WILL AARON BE THE ANSWER?

Shell spent the offseason saying the starting quarterback job wasn't settled, but former New Orleans starter Aaron Brooks is atop the depth chart as camp begins. "He's excited about the system that we have here … the freedom that it allows him to have," Shell said. If "freedom" means improvising and finding Randy Moss downfield, Brooks will be the unquestioned leader by time the Raiders break camp in August.

2 LOOKING TO KNOCK SOMEONE AROUND

Rookie offensive lineman Paul McQuistan came to his first minicamp in May with a surly on-field attitude that Shell can only hope infiltrates the unit. The third-round pick's nastiness earned him the starting right guard spot entering camp after he played left tackle at Weber State. The Raiders need left tackle Robert Gallery, right tackle Langston Walker, left guard Barry Sims and center Jake Grove to show their collective mean streak .

3 YOUTH MOVEMENT ON DEFENSE

Veterans beware. As of now, second-round pick Thomas Howard is a starting outside linebacker with Sam Williams. Second-year pro Kirk Morrison is playing middle linebacker, meaning Danny Clark, who led the Raiders in tackles in 2004 and was second last year, isn't a starter now. First-round pick Michael Huff also could push for a starting safety spot before camp ends and force former first-round pick Derrick Gibson to the bench.

4 RUNNING WITH LAMONT

It's hard for any team to depend on one running back, and that's what Oakland did last year. LaMont Jordan's 1,025 yards accounted for 74.9 percent of the Raiders' rushing attack -- and he didn't play in the last two games. Jordan said he plans to be more durable this season, but it's also time Justin Fargas proves he can stay healthy and become a dependable second option since Zack Crockett is at fullback.


5 LOOKING TO HELP SAPP

Warren Sapp returned to defensive tackle full time last year and had five sacks in 10 games before his season ended because of a shoulder injury. The development of Terdell Sands, Anttaj Hawthorne or another defensive tackle to join Sapp and Tommy Kelly in the rotation would help keep Sapp healthy. "I think we have a chance to have an outstanding group," Shell said. "Warren showed me in the minicamps if he can stay healthy he's going to have an impact."

CAMP FACTS

• When: Monday to Aug. 23.

• Where: Napa Valley Marriott, 3425 Solano Ave., Napa.

• Practice sessions: Closed to the public.

• For fans: Raider Nation Celebration -- Aug. 27 at McAfee Coliseum, noon to 4 p.m.

• Key additions: QB Aaron Brooks (released/New Orleans); LB Henri Crockett (free agent/ Minnesota); OLB Thomas Howard (second-round pick/UTEP); S Michael Huff (first-round pick/Texas); DE Lance Johnstone (free agent/Minnesota); CB Duane Starks (released/New England).

• Key losses: QB Kerry Collins, DB Renaldo Hill, DT Ed Jasper, LB Tim Johnson, G Ron Stone, CB Denard Walker, DT Ted Washington, CB Charles Woodson.


2005 TEAM STATISTICS

• Record: 4-12 (fourth in AFC West)

• Total offense: 309.4 (21st)

• Rushing: 85.6 (29th)

• Passing: 223.9 (10th)

• Total defense: 330.8 (27th)

• Rushing: 128.1 (25th)

• Passing: 202.7 (18th)
 
NO FUN IN THE SUN FOR 49ERS, RAIDERS
OAKLAND: New school is old school

David White

Sunday, July 23, 2006



When Raiders coach Art Shell was their age, the story goes, NFL training camp meant two-a-days were better than one. Doubled-over players staggered around some remote location with scorch always in the seven-day forecast. Uphill, both ways, if it could be arranged.

Today's Raiders won't have to take his word for it. Shell is going to run his outfit as old school as his last training camp as Raiders coach, back before Al Davis fired him after the 1994 season.

"I believe in working as hard as we need to," Shell said. "That's the model for us. That's what I think will be successful for us. That's what I'm accustomed to."

In other words, eat it, Shell says. It's good for you.

Morning workouts will be chased by afternoon practices. Full pads make the opening-week dress code, whether it's a.m. or p.m. And, don't forget to pack a canteen when the Raiders report for training camp Monday in Napa, where they will drop sweat on a middle-school backyard through Aug. 23.

This, at a time the NFL trend has more teams staying home for training camp, shaving practice time and chilling in air-conditioned film rooms in the heat of the day.

"When you're a player, you're excited about being with your teammates," said Shell, a Hall of Fame tackle with three decades of camp war stories. "Of course, after three days, you're (ticked) off at each other. ... I'm a firm believer in getting away, binding together, getting that camaraderie going, so that when we break camp, we're ready to roll.

"I like that idea."

Anything has to be better than the course Oakland has stayed the past three years. Last year's 4-12 stink bomb cost Norv Turner his headset. The Raiders have exactly 13 victories in three seasons since they reached Super Bowl XXXVII.

Shell's job is to figure out how to patch together a winning team using pieces carried over from a losing team. And, no, they aren't calling it a rebuilding job because no one drops the r-word in these parts.

"In the NFL, you can turn things around in a hurry," Shell said. "One year, you can be down, and next year you can be on top of the world. You retool, you add to what you have, and we've done that."

To catch everyone up to speed, here are some positions to watch from now until the Sept. 11 season opener against San Diego:

Quarterback: Aaron Brooks is strong-armed and mobile, unlike his predecessor Kerry Collins. But, like Collins, he's coming off a terrible season. His QB rating was so bad, even the homeless Saints benched him, and he threw five more picks than Collins.

Brooks is the starter heading into camp, with Andrew Walter considered the quarterback of tomorrow. If Brooks struggles (read: can't hook up with Randy Moss), Walter will get his chance. Don't expect Walter to fumble it like Marques Tuiasosopo did last year.

Offensive line: This group gave up 45 sacks and couldn't create holes. Shell's answer is to bring in two assistants, Jackie Slater and Irv Eatman, and rearrange the furniture with four position swaps.

Rookie Paul McQuistan of Weber State is penciled in to start at right guard, which shows Shell is open minded for solutions. These guys had better settle in because the Raiders want to run between the tackles first, and lob play-action passes downfield second.

Defensive line: Tackle Warren Sapp is finally a "go" after missing the end of last season with a rotator cuff tear, Shell says.

Outside Sapp, there is little experience and even less depth among the interior linemen. The Raiders need to extract one more Pro Bowl season out of the 12-year veteran, or teams will run wild inside.

The bright idea to run a 3-4 defense last year is out, Shell says. He endorses a 4-3 base defense that shifts Kirk Morrison inside to middle linebacker.

Morrison's outside linebacker job will go to second-round draft pick Thomas Howard. First-round draft pick Michael Huff, a strong safety, could also be a rookie starter.

"(Offseason workouts) were like putting the parts together," Shell said. "Now, we've got to fine-tune those parts and get them ready to go.

"Why not us? We can do this. You can't talk about getting it done, you've got to go out and do it."



Napa camp

Monday: Players report to camp at Napa Valley Marriott. All practices closed to public. First workout is Tuesday.

Aug. 23: Break camp, return to team facility in Alameda.

Aug. 27: Nation Celebration for fans at the Coliseum, with players and coaches. Noon. Free admission.

Aug. 29: Roster cut to 75 players.

Sept. 2: Final roster cut to 53 players.


Preseason schedule

Date Opponent TV/Radio

Aug. 6 vs. Eagles Channel: 3 Channel: 11 /560 AM

Aug. 14 at Vikings ESPN/560

Aug. 20 vs. 49ers Channel: 2 /560

Aug. 25 vs. Lions Channel: 36 /560

Aug. 31 at Seattle Channel: 2 /560
 
Raiders hungry for some respect

Dismissed team looks to get sneer back under new coach Shell

Bill Soliday



NAPA — The Oakland Raiders have an instant advantage going into this season. Hardly anybody expects much from them.

That contrasts to last year when nobody was sure what might happen if Kerry Collins was tossed in with Randy Moss and LaMont Jordan. At least potentially the team looked scary.

It turned scary all right — a 4-12 finish after a 4-6 start, Moss injured, Collins booed out of town and Jordan making do with subpar blocking.

Jump to today as the team reports to Napa for a month-long training camp. There's a new coach, a new quarterback and assorted other trinkets but no wholesale change.

So after three years of futility (a league worst 13-35 record) if there is fear involving the Raiders it is that they might wind up in intensive care.

Al Davis saw the withering state of respect for his Raiders and was disturbed. When the owner tabbed Art Shell to return as coach he promised, if nothing else, a return to Raider football.

"It may take us a short while, but we'll get that nastiness of the Raiders back," Davis vowed.

Snickers followed in Denver, Kansas City and San Diego where the Raiders are 2-16 against AFC West foes since 2003. Given that, how could they possibly take the Raiders seriously?

It should be a Raider advantage.

What would pass as achievable improvement? There are even optimistic fans who say 8-8. To Shell, that is minimalistfrom Sports 1 thinking.

"We have some good football players on our team, we really do," Shell said. "But we have to have more than just talent. We have to develop it, get them to the point where they know how to win and understand what it takes."

Five things that will go a long way toward getting the Raiders out of the No Fun House.


1. Buckle down, start fast, stay hungry.

Training camp will be tough. Shell promises trial by fire to root out those who lack the will: there will be two-a-days in pads for the first week.

He knows success is there for the taking early in the year. The first six games (San Diego, at Baltimore, Cleveland, at San Francisco, at Denver, Arizona) create a scenario where they could be a confident 4-2 entering the critical five-game juncture of the season (Pittsburgh, at Seattle, Denver, at Kansas City, at San Diego).

Then there is the matter of finishing strong, something the Raiders haven't done the last three years. They have finished 1-5, 1-4 and 0-6, a cumulative 2-15. That says something about the culture something that must change.


2. Fix the offensive line.

After the line had a poor year, Shell said "that is the group we've got to get going this year."

He shuffled the deck: Robert Gallery going from right to left tackle, Barry Sims going one spot over to left guard, Langston Walker shifting from left guard to right tackle and rookie Paul McQuistan starting at right guard. Center Jake Grove is the only player still at his old position.

Gallery is the key.

"I told him 'You're too good a football player not to be mentioned to the Pro Bowl,'" Shell said. "He's accepted that challenge. His potential is way out there. He can be as good as he wants to be."


3. Start forcing turnovers.

Although there was scant statistical evidence, Oakland was better on defense last year. There was one flaw: just five interceptions. At least 10 possible picks were dropped.

Even with cornerback Charles Woodson gone, four former first-round picks remain in the secondary, including top draft pick Michael Huff. Picks come from pressure, and returning NFL sack leader Derrick Burgess is joined by Lance Johnstone and a smallish but quick tackle tandem in Tommy Kelly and Warren Sapp. It should happen.


4. Keep the three irreplaceable players healthy.

Injuries are always a key, but three players the Raiders simply cannot afford to lose are Moss, Jordan and Sapp. All missed time in 2005.

Last year Moss played hurt for three-quarters of the season and was a shadow of what he had been. If Jordan goes down again, who fills the gap? Sapp missed the final six games with a torn rotator cuff. The team lost all six.


5. The quarterback.

There is pressure on Aaron Brooks, but the goal is just the opposite.

Benched in New Orleans for erratic play, he's getting a fresh start in a new system. The key is not to place the entire burden on him. If the Raiders run effectively as planned, Brooks needn't pass often. And when teams learn to respect the run, Moss and Jerry Porter should be open deep.

Some of the best Raider football in Shell's playing days came with the quarterback throwing 15-18 passes a game. If Brooks has to throw 30-35 times a game, watch out.
 
Change of guard, linebacker
Rookies McQuistan, Howard head into camp as first-teamers; Huff waits

PHIL BARBER




A couple of rookies are poised to step into starting roles for the Raiders, and they may not be the ones you expected. On a Thursday conference call that served as prelude to the 2006 training camp, coach Art Shell revealed that guard Paul McQuistan, a third-round draft choice, and outside linebacker Thomas Howard, a second-rounder, will be getting repetitions with the first team when camp opens Tuesday in Napa.

"Nothing is etched in stone," Shell said.

And indeed, much can develop during a monthlong camp. But the fact that the two rookies ascended to the top of the depth chart this quickly has to be viewed as a surprise.

That's especially true of McQuistan. A tackle at Weber State, McQuistan was considered something of a reach when the Raiders took him with the 69th overall selection, but he raised eyebrows at the May minicamp, planting several Oakland defensive linemen on the turf.

"When you studied him in college, you saw the aggressiveness on the tape," Shell said. "Then when he came here, all the things that we saw on film we started seeing - of course, we don't have pads on - but we saw it in the workouts and in the camps. And he's a smart kid."

Brad Badger had been the de facto right guard. Badger's versatility has served the Raiders well the past three seasons, when he has started 31 games, but he was seen more or less as a placeholder at the position. McQuistan's development made it possible to return Badger to a backup role.

Now Shell, a Hall of Fame offensive tackle who didn't start until his third NFL season, seems ready to hand the job to an unproven rookie.

"I want the best football players out there," Shell said. "In this league, you can play with young guys if (they have) the talent. They'll make some mistakes, but you can live with 'em if they'll make 'em aggressively. ... So I would feel comfortable if Paul McQuistan can continue to grow as a football player for us and continue to learn the nuances of pass protection and run blocking in this league."

Howard's elevation to first team is less of a surprise, because of his solid résumé at UTEP and because the Raiders are so thin at linebacker. The twist here is the odd man out - Danny Clark, who was team's defensive player of the year only two seasons ago. Shell said the current configuration has Sam Williams at left and Howard at right outside linebacker, respectively, and second-year pro Kirk Morrison sliding to the middle.

That would give the Raiders a fast and athletic three-man linebacker corps with exactly 19 cumulative NFL starts. And it would send one of the team's most popular players to the bench.

"Danny Clark is an integral part of this football team," Shell said. "But we're looking at players."

With the Raiders apparently willing to go with rookies on either side of the line, the biggest shock might be that Michael Huff has yet to crack the first team. Many expected Huff, whom Oakland took with the seventh overall pick, to swiftly secure a starting job at safety. Shell, however, was hesitant to separate him from the pack.

"You got (Stuart) Schweigert, you got (Derrick) Gibson, you got Huff, you got (Jarrod) Cooper, you got all these guys working," he said. "But I don't say anybody's a starter. We're going to work 'em all, and we'll come out of training camp with a starter."

If that starter is Gibson, Shell should expect a small revolt among the Black Hole faithful. They are fed up with Gibson's inconsistencies and are eager to see what the fast, sure-tackling Huff can accomplish. Most are desperate for any sort of change after three consecutive losing seasons. And you can etch that in stone.

EXTRA POINTS

Shell confirmed that Aaron Brooks enters camp as the Raiders' starting quarterback.

The coach said DT Warren Sapp (torn rotator cuff in November) should be at full strength, but WR Ronald Curry (torn Achilles tendon in September) will be evaluated by coaches and training staff.

Individual game tickets went on sale to season-ticket holders Wednesday. They will be available to the general public on Aug. 2 at 10 a.m.

The team announced a new interactive area for kids, the Raider Rookie Zone, on the east side of McAfee Coliseum, on the concourse between sections 335 and 355. Children can throw passes, attempt field goals, try on a Raiders uniform or jump in an inflatable bounce house.
 
Raiders set to open first camp after Shell's return

By JOSH DUBOW


ALAMEDA, Calif.
Before the Oakland Raiders even arrive at their first training camp in Art Shell's second stint as coach, it's clear that few jobs are safe.

Shell has already penciled in two rookies as starters - second-round pick Thomas Howard at outside linebacker and third-round pick Paul McQuistan at right guard - and first-round pick Michael Huff is also in the mix at safety.

After three straight losing seasons for the first time in Al Davis' more than four-decade tenure with the team, Shell knows changes are necessary.

"I want the best football players out there," Shell said. "In this league you can play with young guys if the guy has talent. They're going to make some mistakes, but you can live with them if they make them aggressively.

The Raiders report to their training camp in Napa on Monday with two-a-day practices in pads in the heat of wine country set to begin the following day. Shell has been pleased with his team's offseason workouts and wants to carry that attitude over into the season.

Shell, who coached the Raiders previously from 1989-1994, had a 54-38 regular-season record his first time around, leading the Raiders to the AFC championship game following the 1990 season. The team has had only three winning seasons since Shell was fired - one less than he had in five full seasons as coach.

"These guys are tired of losing and want to be part of a winning program," Shell said. "The work ethic this offseason shows they are on board and want to win. That's what they are here for."

The Raiders went 4-12 last season, leading to coach Norv Turner being fired after two seasons. One of the biggest problems last season was on the offensive line, which couldn't open up holes for the running game, failed to give the quarterback enough time to make big plays to Randy Moss downfield and committed too many penalties.

Robert Gallery, the No. 2 overall pick on 2004, is being moved from right to left tackle, where Shell believes he can develop into a dominant blocker.

"I think it's a good fit," Shell said. "He played it for a number of years in college. I think he can be outstanding at it. I think it's time for him to arrive as a Pro Bowl-type player."

Barry Sims is slated at left guard, Jake Grove at center, Langston Walker at right tackle and McQuistan at right guard ahead of veteran Brad Badger. McQuistan, a four-year starter at Weber State, impressed the Raiders on film and in offseason workouts and will be tutored by two Hall of Fame linemen in Shell and offensive line coach Jackie Slater.

"There are rookies starting in this league every year on the offensive line," Shell said. "I'd feel comfortable if Paul McQuistan continues to grow as a football player for us and learns the nuances of pass and run blocking."

With Howard tentatively on the outside, Kirk Morrison has moved to the middle to replace former starter Danny Clark.

"Danny is an integral part of this football team," Shell said. "We are looking at players. Nothing is etched in stone. We don't know where we'll end up for sure. We have a long ways to go through training camp."

Free-agent Aaron Brooks enters camp as the No. 1 quarterback replacing the released Kerry Collins, but Shell said he'd like to give backups Andrew Walter and Marques Tuiasosopo some time with the first team.

"Right now Aaron Brooks is the guy," Shell said. "He's starting at the No. 1 spot going in. We're still going to take a look at what we have. You've got to have somebody start out, so he's the guy who's starting out."

Defensive tackle Warren Sapp, who missed the last six games last season with an injured right shoulder, is healthy for the start of camp. Receiver Ronald Curry, who tore his left Achilles' tendon in the second game last season, is not quite up to full speed yet, Shell said.

Curry will compete for the No. 3 receiver spot behind Moss and Jerry Porter. Moss struggled with injuries and chemistry with Collins in his first season with Oakland.

But with Shell returning the Raiders to the deep-strike offense that Davis prefers, the coach expects a big year from Moss.

"With Moss being healthy, I expect he will be a healthy, great football player and can make a lot of big plays," Shell said. "Just hearing Randy talk, you can tell he's excited about this system. He likes this system and is excited about what he can do in the passing game."
 
Shell brings old-school feel to Raiders

JASON JONES



Last Updated: July 24, 2006, 05:37:44 AM PDT


ALAMEDA — Someone forgot to tell Art Shell that football had passed him by.
In an era where coaches are shunning two-a-day practice sessions and going full contact sparingly, Shell is supposed to follow suit because antiquated methods like full gear on multiple days doesn't work with today's player.

Shell didn't get that memo.

He hasn't been a head coach since 1994 but doesn't plan to alter the way he does things when players report to training camp today in Napa and take the field Tuesday morning.

Shell still believes players want to work hard, which will be tested by a group that is 13-35 over three seasons.

"I believe in working as hard as we need in order to get them ready to play," Shell said. "That's what I know. That's what I'm accustomed to."

Now it's time to put the old-school approach into practice.

Some coaches complain about playing four exhibition games. Shell wanted the fifth preseason game the Raiders have by playing in the Hall of Fame game, especially with his former coach, John Madden, being inducted.

As expected, Shell is using his football mentor's blueprint for success. He hopes that what won him two Super Bowl titles as a player can work today, especially on offense, where the results have been especially disappointing in recent years.

"This is an Al Davis system," Shell said. "I grew up with this system. This is a system that allows us to attack from anywhere on the field."

The Raiders want to run the ball consistently and take what they want in the passing game.

"We don't want to be a team that's sitting back waiting for you to dictate what happens," Shell said. "We don't want to be a passive team. We want to be an aggressive team."

Shell said what he wants to do is no different than what Pittsburgh, New England and St. Louis did with Super Bowl-winning teams in recent years.

So while it might seem like he and offensive coordinator Tom Walsh are relics, they aren't exactly running the wishbone.

"This system is in football," Shell said. "It's been here. It's been utilized."

And perhaps Shell being set in his ways will be good for the Raiders. After all, he's stubborn enough not to believe in a rebuilding season.

He plans to hold the team to high expectations and has been talking Super Bowl since he was rehired in February.

"Strange things can happen in this league, and we look forward to turning this thing around," Shell said. "Why not us? We can do this."
 
Shell says players are eager: 'They want to get it done'

David White

Monday, July 24, 2006

The moving vans showed up at the Napa Valley Marriott last week, loaded with Raiders video equipment and practice gear.

Next up are the tricked-out SUVs driven by NFL players -- think Randy Moss in last year's purple-mobile -- when the Raiders report today for the first Art Shell-coached training camp since 1994.

Players must check in by 3 p.m. The first of two-a-day practices begins at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday.

"(Players) are excited," Shell said. "Just listening to them, they say, 'We'll be glad when we get to camp, coach.' I'll tell you what, listening to that kind of talk makes me feel good because they want to get it done."

The Raiders have two weeks before opening the exhibition schedule against the Eagles in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6 in Canton, Ohio.

Waiting on Curry: Fifth-year wide receiver Ronald Curry's status remains undetermined for the start of camp, Shell said.

Curry is attempting to return from two Achilles tears. He had two catches in the first two games of the 2005 season before sustaining a season-ending tendon injury.

In a breakout season in 2004, he had 50 catches for 679 yards before missing the final four games with a tendon tear.

"We're still looking at Curry to see where he is and make sure he's capable of doing it," Shell said. "We'll listen to the trainers. They'll give us direction on that."

Briefly: The Raiders will host three international coaches throughout camp: Patrick Esume of Germany, Radames Carrillo of Mexico and Tang Hai-yan of China. This is the third year the Raiders have invited coaches from other countries to observe preseason workouts. ... The Raiders cut linebacker Roger Cooper, defensive end Jeff Green, linebacker Shawn Morgan and offensive guard Cameron Spikes. ... The Raider Rookie Zone will debut this regular season at McAfee Stadium. Located between sections 335-355, children can play in a bounce house, throw or kick a football, try on a gameday uniform and play in other activities.
 
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