Training camp, Day 4 (A.M. practice)
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, July 27th, 2008 at 12:55 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Quick hits from Sunday morning’s Raiders practice:
– Defensive end Derrick Burgess continues to be perhaps the most impressive player in camp, and not just as a pass rusher. He blew up a running play, getting Darren McFadden in the backfield.
– Lap runners for false starts or offsides Sunday morning included tackle/guard Paul McQuistan, tackle Mario Henderson and defensive end Fred Wakefield.
– Running back Michael Bush found himself stacked up on a short-yardage play by linebackers Edgerton Hartwell and Jon Alston, along with defensive end Greyson Gunheim.
Bush has shown promise as a runner and receiver, but it remains to be seen if he will be an effective short-yardage back. Bush has prototype size at 250-pounds, but his pad level is often high, which allows defenders stop him in tight quarters.
Zack Crockett, utilized as the Raiders short-yardage back when they Raiders were three-time winners of the AFC West, looked for a crack and got low to gain the necessary yards.
– JaMarcus Russell and Andrew Walter both had fumbled snaps with John Wade as the center.
– Strong safety Greg Wesley (back spasms) returned to practice and had a nice stop of Adimchinobe Echemandu on a running play.
– Not sure how much it’s going to help against the 49ers Aug. 8, but defensive coordinator Rob Ryan attempted a pass to linebackers coach Don Martindale amidst several defenders before one drill. Amazingly, Ryan’s wobbler found its target. Martindale couldn’t hold it.
– Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly and wide receiver Javon Walker were out of practice as scheduled and were to return for the evening session. Left tackle Kwame Harris missed his second straight practice with a sore lower back and said he hoped to return in the evening. Grant Irons is still out with a hamstring pull.
– Tackles Seth Wand and Mario Henderson continued to get work on both the left and right sides.
– Todd Watkins made a nice snag of a Russell bullet on a slant pattern during a team session.
– During one team session, the Raiders were blitzing the offense on every play, simulating what the team is likely to face as opponents go after Russell.
Russell made some nice hot reads during the session, with one of the best going for naught when tight end Darrell Strong dropped a pass with Tyvon Branch in coverage.
– McFadden had his second consecutive practice where he didn’t look sure of himself as a receiver, seeming surprised as the ball arrived.
“He’s had some inaccurate hand placement on some catches, which is a surprise because we didn’t see much of that in the camp before,” Kiffin said. “He’s got so much going on right now and so much pressure on him and so many different plays so we’re going to keep pushing him and then there will come a time when we pull back. His attitude’s phenomenal.”
“Inaccurate hand placement” is Kiffinese for not being ready to catch the ball.
– Stanford Routt had an interception of a Russell pass intended for Drew Carter in a 7-on-7 drill.
– Defensive tackle Terdell Sands, after some pre-play urging from Kiffin, pushed through the middle of the offensive line and and ruined an offensive play, drawing praise from his defensive teammates when he came off.
– Russell, who was forced to pull down the ball and run several times the previous evening, had fewer instances where in game situations he would be putting himself at risk. Kiffin has made it clear he wants Russell to err on the side of caution in running situations and get down.
If Russell knows how to slide, he hasn’t shown it yet in practice, instead realizing defenders aren’t going to bring him to the ground.
– Another tough day for punter Shane Lechler and place kicker Sebastian Janikowski. They headed back to the field house at 9:16 a.m. and didn’t return until 10:36. Return specialists practicing at the end of the workout were using a machine.
– Return specialists were attempting to field two kicks shot a few seconds apart from an apparatus like a pitching machine at the close of practice. They would catch one ball, toss it aside, then try and catch the second if they could reach it.
Among those fielding kicks were Chris Johnson, Rashad Baker, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Michael Waddell, Drisan James and Branch.
Kiffin placed Higgins in the lead to return punts, Branch for kickoffs.
– The most hotly contested position might be strongside linebacker, where Sam Williams, Robert Thomas and Ricky Brown are getting a look. Irons was also in the mix but a hamstring pull put him behind the field.
Williams has the ideal size at 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, but has been beset by injuries since Al Davis traded up to get him out of Fresno State in 2003.
He started well last year but was sidelined by a stinger, and never reclaimed the job from Thomas. Rather than bemoan his bad luck and get a fresh start somewhere else, Williams re-signed with the Raiders instead of becoming a free agent.
“I know what I can do. They know what I can do, and I’m going to have this be my year where I show the world what I can do, so it wasn’t a mistake getting me,” Williams said.
“We love everything about him, the way that he goes about special teams, the way he prepares,” Kiffin said. “We just need him to stay healthy, and he was playing well at the beginning of the year last year before he got hurt, and we just need to continue to build on that.”
– The Raiders practice again tonight at 7 p.m.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, July 27th, 2008 at 12:55 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Quick hits from Sunday morning’s Raiders practice:
– Defensive end Derrick Burgess continues to be perhaps the most impressive player in camp, and not just as a pass rusher. He blew up a running play, getting Darren McFadden in the backfield.
– Lap runners for false starts or offsides Sunday morning included tackle/guard Paul McQuistan, tackle Mario Henderson and defensive end Fred Wakefield.
– Running back Michael Bush found himself stacked up on a short-yardage play by linebackers Edgerton Hartwell and Jon Alston, along with defensive end Greyson Gunheim.
Bush has shown promise as a runner and receiver, but it remains to be seen if he will be an effective short-yardage back. Bush has prototype size at 250-pounds, but his pad level is often high, which allows defenders stop him in tight quarters.
Zack Crockett, utilized as the Raiders short-yardage back when they Raiders were three-time winners of the AFC West, looked for a crack and got low to gain the necessary yards.
– JaMarcus Russell and Andrew Walter both had fumbled snaps with John Wade as the center.
– Strong safety Greg Wesley (back spasms) returned to practice and had a nice stop of Adimchinobe Echemandu on a running play.
– Not sure how much it’s going to help against the 49ers Aug. 8, but defensive coordinator Rob Ryan attempted a pass to linebackers coach Don Martindale amidst several defenders before one drill. Amazingly, Ryan’s wobbler found its target. Martindale couldn’t hold it.
– Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly and wide receiver Javon Walker were out of practice as scheduled and were to return for the evening session. Left tackle Kwame Harris missed his second straight practice with a sore lower back and said he hoped to return in the evening. Grant Irons is still out with a hamstring pull.
– Tackles Seth Wand and Mario Henderson continued to get work on both the left and right sides.
– Todd Watkins made a nice snag of a Russell bullet on a slant pattern during a team session.
– During one team session, the Raiders were blitzing the offense on every play, simulating what the team is likely to face as opponents go after Russell.
Russell made some nice hot reads during the session, with one of the best going for naught when tight end Darrell Strong dropped a pass with Tyvon Branch in coverage.
– McFadden had his second consecutive practice where he didn’t look sure of himself as a receiver, seeming surprised as the ball arrived.
“He’s had some inaccurate hand placement on some catches, which is a surprise because we didn’t see much of that in the camp before,” Kiffin said. “He’s got so much going on right now and so much pressure on him and so many different plays so we’re going to keep pushing him and then there will come a time when we pull back. His attitude’s phenomenal.”
“Inaccurate hand placement” is Kiffinese for not being ready to catch the ball.
– Stanford Routt had an interception of a Russell pass intended for Drew Carter in a 7-on-7 drill.
– Defensive tackle Terdell Sands, after some pre-play urging from Kiffin, pushed through the middle of the offensive line and and ruined an offensive play, drawing praise from his defensive teammates when he came off.
– Russell, who was forced to pull down the ball and run several times the previous evening, had fewer instances where in game situations he would be putting himself at risk. Kiffin has made it clear he wants Russell to err on the side of caution in running situations and get down.
If Russell knows how to slide, he hasn’t shown it yet in practice, instead realizing defenders aren’t going to bring him to the ground.
– Another tough day for punter Shane Lechler and place kicker Sebastian Janikowski. They headed back to the field house at 9:16 a.m. and didn’t return until 10:36. Return specialists practicing at the end of the workout were using a machine.
– Return specialists were attempting to field two kicks shot a few seconds apart from an apparatus like a pitching machine at the close of practice. They would catch one ball, toss it aside, then try and catch the second if they could reach it.
Among those fielding kicks were Chris Johnson, Rashad Baker, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Michael Waddell, Drisan James and Branch.
Kiffin placed Higgins in the lead to return punts, Branch for kickoffs.
– The most hotly contested position might be strongside linebacker, where Sam Williams, Robert Thomas and Ricky Brown are getting a look. Irons was also in the mix but a hamstring pull put him behind the field.
Williams has the ideal size at 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, but has been beset by injuries since Al Davis traded up to get him out of Fresno State in 2003.
He started well last year but was sidelined by a stinger, and never reclaimed the job from Thomas. Rather than bemoan his bad luck and get a fresh start somewhere else, Williams re-signed with the Raiders instead of becoming a free agent.
“I know what I can do. They know what I can do, and I’m going to have this be my year where I show the world what I can do, so it wasn’t a mistake getting me,” Williams said.
“We love everything about him, the way that he goes about special teams, the way he prepares,” Kiffin said. “We just need him to stay healthy, and he was playing well at the beginning of the year last year before he got hurt, and we just need to continue to build on that.”
– The Raiders practice again tonight at 7 p.m.
