Coach Shell is doin' it!
- Thread starter RAS 925
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Cut and pasted...
The new guy
Aaron Brooks had productive seasons from 2001-04, but all anyone wants to talk about is his downward spiral in 2005, when he bickered with Saints ownership and the league office and was benched for the final three games. When the Raiders signed Brooks on March 22, it hardly was hailed as a major acquisition.
Brooks insists he has nothing to prove. The chat rooms say otherwise.
Since Brooks' arrival, Shell has insisted the veteran is competing with Tuiasosopo and Andrew Walter for the starting quarterback job. That assertion doesn't ring true during camp as Brooks takes the vast majority of repetitions with the first-team offense.
He is impressive. Brooks is tall (6-4) and has loping speed, but the Raiders already knew that. Evident on the field is his live arm. Brooks throws deep outs and fly routes with zip and develops a particularly quick attachment to receiver Jerry Porter.
Brooks seems to have fun, too. He laughs with teammates and seems at ease with reporters. At one point during a passing drill, he pantomimes exaggerated pass route moves for Walter. But learning a new offense is no joke. Brooks ran only one offensive system during his six seasons in New Orleans. Absorbing a new one, he says, starts with the language.
"It's just the verbiage," he says. "One thing you need to understand is that the game doesn't change; the terminology, faces and people do. It will always be a four-weak blitz, four-strong blitz, zero blitz. So the protections remain the same. It's just different terminology to get to that protection."
Shell says Brooks occasionally is hesitant with the ball during camp. Brooks vows that will disappear as he grasps the offense. "I'll know it better (after the minicamp)," he says. "It just requires a little more studying, a couple more headaches and a lot more growing pains to work through."
The new guy
Aaron Brooks had productive seasons from 2001-04, but all anyone wants to talk about is his downward spiral in 2005, when he bickered with Saints ownership and the league office and was benched for the final three games. When the Raiders signed Brooks on March 22, it hardly was hailed as a major acquisition.
Brooks insists he has nothing to prove. The chat rooms say otherwise.
Since Brooks' arrival, Shell has insisted the veteran is competing with Tuiasosopo and Andrew Walter for the starting quarterback job. That assertion doesn't ring true during camp as Brooks takes the vast majority of repetitions with the first-team offense.
He is impressive. Brooks is tall (6-4) and has loping speed, but the Raiders already knew that. Evident on the field is his live arm. Brooks throws deep outs and fly routes with zip and develops a particularly quick attachment to receiver Jerry Porter.
Brooks seems to have fun, too. He laughs with teammates and seems at ease with reporters. At one point during a passing drill, he pantomimes exaggerated pass route moves for Walter. But learning a new offense is no joke. Brooks ran only one offensive system during his six seasons in New Orleans. Absorbing a new one, he says, starts with the language.
"It's just the verbiage," he says. "One thing you need to understand is that the game doesn't change; the terminology, faces and people do. It will always be a four-weak blitz, four-strong blitz, zero blitz. So the protections remain the same. It's just different terminology to get to that protection."
Shell says Brooks occasionally is hesitant with the ball during camp. Brooks vows that will disappear as he grasps the offense. "I'll know it better (after the minicamp)," he says. "It just requires a little more studying, a couple more headaches and a lot more growing pains to work through."
Raiders | Walter will be given his shot
Sun, 28 May 2006 19:57:52 -0700
Steve Corkran, writing for the Sporting News, reports Oakland Raiders QB Andrew Walter (shoulder, groin) has healed from the shoulder and groin injuries that plagued him during his 2005 rookie season. The Raiders intend to turn him loose in training camp and see if he is ready to handle the starting role, if not this season, then next. Head coach Art Shell has said the quarterback spot is up for grabs, though everyone concedes the spot to QB Aaron Brooks barring an injury or poor play in exhibition games. For now, it's Walter's job long-term, especially given Brooks' contract stands to be terminated after this season.
Sun, 28 May 2006 19:57:52 -0700
Steve Corkran, writing for the Sporting News, reports Oakland Raiders QB Andrew Walter (shoulder, groin) has healed from the shoulder and groin injuries that plagued him during his 2005 rookie season. The Raiders intend to turn him loose in training camp and see if he is ready to handle the starting role, if not this season, then next. Head coach Art Shell has said the quarterback spot is up for grabs, though everyone concedes the spot to QB Aaron Brooks barring an injury or poor play in exhibition games. For now, it's Walter's job long-term, especially given Brooks' contract stands to be terminated after this season.
Well the sad thing is Brooks aint playin cuz he's hurt..not cuz he sucks. But I hope his ass stays on the bench...If he starts another game over Walter Shell will officially be the dumbest coach in the league. There is really no reason to play Brooks again unless Walter gets injured. Walter is looking like one of the only bright sides for the future on offense so far. He hasn't played great but he's done well considering the circumstances and I like his potential. He's a little injury prone tho and that worries me.
