OAKLAND RAIDERS OFFSEASON THREAD
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Return of “Big Boy”
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 1:53 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Aside from one ball that slipped out of his hand as he dropped back to pass, there were no glaring errors from JaMarcus Russell Thursday, and no sensational plays either.
On balance, the Raiders would probably take that level of performance right into the regular season if they could.
Russell made his first public appearance as the Raiders quarterback since last Dec. 30, the day he completed 23 of 31 passes for 224 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a 30-17 loss to the San Diego Chargers.
That Russell was a marked improvement over the Russell who was 7-for-23 for 83 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in a 49-11 loss to Jacksonville, a game which coach Lane Kiffin was mystified by his quarterback’s decision-making process.
Judging from a single OTA practice, always a risky proposition, the Raiders are working on getting Russell to make quick, safe decisions, get the ball out of his hands, and sacrifice risk-taking in the name of efficiency.
“It’s going to get better,” Russell said. “Everything doesn’t get better in a day.”
Russell threw mostly short and medium range passes, never once showing off his legendary arm with a laser 50 to 60 yards in the air. He rarely threw from a dropback position, rolling to his left or right. Infrequent dropbacks were short and usually deliveries were made quickly.
And to hear Kiffin tell it, the Raiders were wheeling and dealing.
“We’re throwing a lot at him right now to let him still make those mistakes right now,” Russell said. “Then, as we get closer, we’ll go back to exactly what we’re going to do in the order on game day. But right now we’re still taking a lot of chances with him and see what he can do and let him make those mistakes now.”
Maybe all those chances happened on Tuesday and Wednesday, rather than Thursday. Or maybe Kiffin was simply filling time answering questions. Either way, there wasn’t a lot flash in the Raiders offense Thursday, and that’s a good thing. Better to get the young quarterback making smart plays from the ground up and work in the bells and whistles at a later date.
Russell cheerfully addresed the story of his supposed out-of-control weight problem, with CNN-SI reporting Russell was north of 300 pounds. Although it was tough to tell body definitition in loose fiiting red jersey, Russell’s face looked thinner than it did last year and he looked nimble and quick, covering a lot of ground on his rollouts with a giant stride.
His weight?
“Right now I’m 269,” Russell said. “I was never close to 300 pounds.”
(Maybe not. But if Russell weighs 269 now, then he had to be 285 when he reported after his contract impasse last year, and he probably hasn’t seen the officially listed weight of 255 since high school).
Russell said he’s looking to lose five or six more pounds, but no more. He seemed relaxed, confident and in control. He said the report of his weight caused Kiffin to give him a call, with the coach greeting him, “Hey, big boy!”
“They said I was 300 and that was before I had gotten back to California and no one had seen me. That’s why it was kind of funny,” Russell said. “People have their opinions. They get paid to make a story and a reason for people to read it. That’s why they get paid.”
Kiffin made no pretense about the fact that the Raiders are all about JaMarcus, his comfort level with the system and his relationship with his teammates.
“We really feel good about JaMarcus’s shape and the way he’s throwing the ball,” Kiffin said. “Now we’ve got to get all the pieces around him to come together and working with him at his OTA days. As important as anything out here, as far as the rest of our team, is getting that chemistry.”
More OTA news and snap shots:
– The Raiders spent a lot of time playing 3-4 defense, but Kiffin said it was only because the media happened upon a red zone day during which the Raiders go heavy with the 3-4.
“You happen to hit the red zone day which is the first day we install 3-4 and we’ve done it before down there,” Kiffin said. “It may be a little more but it’s not a major change.”
In the 3-4, the Raiders put Robert Thomas on the inside along with Kirk Morrison, with Thomas Howard and Sam Williams on the outside.
The first team 3-4 defensive front was Kalimba Edwards at left end, Terdell Sands at nose tackle and William Joseph at right end.
– Linebacker Edgerton Hartwell, signed last week, worked as a middle linebacker in the 4-3 and on the inside in the 3-4, the positions he played with Atlanta and the Baltimore Ravens.
“That’s where we’re looking at him right now. We’ll give him a shot to make the team and he’s got a lot of work to do,” Kiffin said.
– Just a guess _ if Hartwell looks like he could handle a fulltime gig in the middle, don’t rule out the possibility of Morrison moving to the strong side. His coverage skills match up well with tight ends and running backs over the middle, and he wasn’t always stout last season in terms of playing off blocks in the middle.
– With Robert Gallery away, the Raiders first team offensve line lined up with Cornell Green at right tackle. Cooper Carlisle at right guard, Chris Morris at center, Paul McQuistan at left guard and Kwame Harris at left tackle.
Morris consistently played with the No. 1 team offense, with free agent acquisition John Wade lining up with the second team.
Kiffin warned against attatching too much significance to starting lineups during an OTA.
“I’m not worried about that right now. We put these guys in there and let them play and we’re not really concerned about a depth chart right now,” Kiffin said. “We’ve got a lot to figure out with this team and find out who the best guys are.”
– Among the players who didn’t attend were Gallery, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, running back LaMont Jordan and defensive end Derrick Burgess.
Gallery got married recently and is expected back next week. Asomugha has not signed his tender, is not under contract and not eligible to participate. Kiffin said he has talked to Jordan but won’t elaborate. Burgess is an annual no-show, because as he said dryly last year, “It’s voluntary.”
– Wide receiver Ronald Curry, defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, center Jake Grove, safety Stuart Schweigert and strong safety Jarrod Cooper and linebacker Isaiah Ekejiuba were among the players who were injured or rehabbing and did not participate in practice.
Curry had surgery on his foot two weeks to go and could be ready in another two weeks, Kiffin said. Kelly, who had reconstructive ACL surgery after seven games last season and was awarded $18.125 million in guaranteed money, is shooting for the start of training camp.
Grove was also rehabbing a knee injury, while Schweigert, Kiffin said “tweaked” a leg and is expected back next week. Ekejiuba missed the end of last season with a foot injury.
– Javon Walker and Drew Carter got most of the work with Russell and the first team at wide receiver with Curry away. Todd Watkins, who excelled at the rookie/free agent minicamp, also has had a strong OTA, Kiffin said.
Walker said his injury problems last season occurred because he came back too soon from arthroscopic knee surgery and that he is healthy now. As for playing with Russell, Walker compared it to his early years in Green Bay when the quarterback was Brett Favre.
“He has a good arm. I’ve been fortunate enough in my career to play with a quarterback who had a strong arm, and that’s something I developed into, catching a fast ball,” Walker said. “He’s one of those guys that has that ball. The more and more we work together, the better that we’re going to be.”
– Watkins, Michael Bush and a few others were eligible play in the OTA after participating in the rookie minicamp. However, true rookies (draftees and undrafted free agents) were not eligible to participate and are expected next week. That means the first hookups between Russell and first-round pick Darren McFadden.
“I can’t wait until he gets here,” Russell said. “I played against him. To see that guy going against me and the rest of my teammates at LSU it will be a lot of fun to have him as a teammate. I’ve seen him do numerous things on the field. I just can’t wait to be a part of it.”
– Kiffin said he expects Asomugha to attend the June minicamp even if he has not yet signed his tender as a sign of solidarity. With Asomugha out, Stanford Routt still got most of his work as a slot corner, indicating the Raiders are planning on having Asomugha around.
– Fred Wakefield, a tight end/offensive lineman who was on injured reserve last year, is working at defensive end during the OTA. Kiffin said the Raiders simply wanted to get a look at him on that side of the ball and already know what he can do on offense.
– The Raiders will hold three-day OTAs in each of the next two weeks, with one day availavble to the media.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 1:53 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Aside from one ball that slipped out of his hand as he dropped back to pass, there were no glaring errors from JaMarcus Russell Thursday, and no sensational plays either.
On balance, the Raiders would probably take that level of performance right into the regular season if they could.
Russell made his first public appearance as the Raiders quarterback since last Dec. 30, the day he completed 23 of 31 passes for 224 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a 30-17 loss to the San Diego Chargers.
That Russell was a marked improvement over the Russell who was 7-for-23 for 83 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in a 49-11 loss to Jacksonville, a game which coach Lane Kiffin was mystified by his quarterback’s decision-making process.
Judging from a single OTA practice, always a risky proposition, the Raiders are working on getting Russell to make quick, safe decisions, get the ball out of his hands, and sacrifice risk-taking in the name of efficiency.
“It’s going to get better,” Russell said. “Everything doesn’t get better in a day.”
Russell threw mostly short and medium range passes, never once showing off his legendary arm with a laser 50 to 60 yards in the air. He rarely threw from a dropback position, rolling to his left or right. Infrequent dropbacks were short and usually deliveries were made quickly.
And to hear Kiffin tell it, the Raiders were wheeling and dealing.
“We’re throwing a lot at him right now to let him still make those mistakes right now,” Russell said. “Then, as we get closer, we’ll go back to exactly what we’re going to do in the order on game day. But right now we’re still taking a lot of chances with him and see what he can do and let him make those mistakes now.”
Maybe all those chances happened on Tuesday and Wednesday, rather than Thursday. Or maybe Kiffin was simply filling time answering questions. Either way, there wasn’t a lot flash in the Raiders offense Thursday, and that’s a good thing. Better to get the young quarterback making smart plays from the ground up and work in the bells and whistles at a later date.
Russell cheerfully addresed the story of his supposed out-of-control weight problem, with CNN-SI reporting Russell was north of 300 pounds. Although it was tough to tell body definitition in loose fiiting red jersey, Russell’s face looked thinner than it did last year and he looked nimble and quick, covering a lot of ground on his rollouts with a giant stride.
His weight?
“Right now I’m 269,” Russell said. “I was never close to 300 pounds.”
(Maybe not. But if Russell weighs 269 now, then he had to be 285 when he reported after his contract impasse last year, and he probably hasn’t seen the officially listed weight of 255 since high school).
Russell said he’s looking to lose five or six more pounds, but no more. He seemed relaxed, confident and in control. He said the report of his weight caused Kiffin to give him a call, with the coach greeting him, “Hey, big boy!”
“They said I was 300 and that was before I had gotten back to California and no one had seen me. That’s why it was kind of funny,” Russell said. “People have their opinions. They get paid to make a story and a reason for people to read it. That’s why they get paid.”
Kiffin made no pretense about the fact that the Raiders are all about JaMarcus, his comfort level with the system and his relationship with his teammates.
“We really feel good about JaMarcus’s shape and the way he’s throwing the ball,” Kiffin said. “Now we’ve got to get all the pieces around him to come together and working with him at his OTA days. As important as anything out here, as far as the rest of our team, is getting that chemistry.”
More OTA news and snap shots:
– The Raiders spent a lot of time playing 3-4 defense, but Kiffin said it was only because the media happened upon a red zone day during which the Raiders go heavy with the 3-4.
“You happen to hit the red zone day which is the first day we install 3-4 and we’ve done it before down there,” Kiffin said. “It may be a little more but it’s not a major change.”
In the 3-4, the Raiders put Robert Thomas on the inside along with Kirk Morrison, with Thomas Howard and Sam Williams on the outside.
The first team 3-4 defensive front was Kalimba Edwards at left end, Terdell Sands at nose tackle and William Joseph at right end.
– Linebacker Edgerton Hartwell, signed last week, worked as a middle linebacker in the 4-3 and on the inside in the 3-4, the positions he played with Atlanta and the Baltimore Ravens.
“That’s where we’re looking at him right now. We’ll give him a shot to make the team and he’s got a lot of work to do,” Kiffin said.
– Just a guess _ if Hartwell looks like he could handle a fulltime gig in the middle, don’t rule out the possibility of Morrison moving to the strong side. His coverage skills match up well with tight ends and running backs over the middle, and he wasn’t always stout last season in terms of playing off blocks in the middle.
– With Robert Gallery away, the Raiders first team offensve line lined up with Cornell Green at right tackle. Cooper Carlisle at right guard, Chris Morris at center, Paul McQuistan at left guard and Kwame Harris at left tackle.
Morris consistently played with the No. 1 team offense, with free agent acquisition John Wade lining up with the second team.
Kiffin warned against attatching too much significance to starting lineups during an OTA.
“I’m not worried about that right now. We put these guys in there and let them play and we’re not really concerned about a depth chart right now,” Kiffin said. “We’ve got a lot to figure out with this team and find out who the best guys are.”
– Among the players who didn’t attend were Gallery, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, running back LaMont Jordan and defensive end Derrick Burgess.
Gallery got married recently and is expected back next week. Asomugha has not signed his tender, is not under contract and not eligible to participate. Kiffin said he has talked to Jordan but won’t elaborate. Burgess is an annual no-show, because as he said dryly last year, “It’s voluntary.”
– Wide receiver Ronald Curry, defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, center Jake Grove, safety Stuart Schweigert and strong safety Jarrod Cooper and linebacker Isaiah Ekejiuba were among the players who were injured or rehabbing and did not participate in practice.
Curry had surgery on his foot two weeks to go and could be ready in another two weeks, Kiffin said. Kelly, who had reconstructive ACL surgery after seven games last season and was awarded $18.125 million in guaranteed money, is shooting for the start of training camp.
Grove was also rehabbing a knee injury, while Schweigert, Kiffin said “tweaked” a leg and is expected back next week. Ekejiuba missed the end of last season with a foot injury.
– Javon Walker and Drew Carter got most of the work with Russell and the first team at wide receiver with Curry away. Todd Watkins, who excelled at the rookie/free agent minicamp, also has had a strong OTA, Kiffin said.
Walker said his injury problems last season occurred because he came back too soon from arthroscopic knee surgery and that he is healthy now. As for playing with Russell, Walker compared it to his early years in Green Bay when the quarterback was Brett Favre.
“He has a good arm. I’ve been fortunate enough in my career to play with a quarterback who had a strong arm, and that’s something I developed into, catching a fast ball,” Walker said. “He’s one of those guys that has that ball. The more and more we work together, the better that we’re going to be.”
– Watkins, Michael Bush and a few others were eligible play in the OTA after participating in the rookie minicamp. However, true rookies (draftees and undrafted free agents) were not eligible to participate and are expected next week. That means the first hookups between Russell and first-round pick Darren McFadden.
“I can’t wait until he gets here,” Russell said. “I played against him. To see that guy going against me and the rest of my teammates at LSU it will be a lot of fun to have him as a teammate. I’ve seen him do numerous things on the field. I just can’t wait to be a part of it.”
– Kiffin said he expects Asomugha to attend the June minicamp even if he has not yet signed his tender as a sign of solidarity. With Asomugha out, Stanford Routt still got most of his work as a slot corner, indicating the Raiders are planning on having Asomugha around.
– Fred Wakefield, a tight end/offensive lineman who was on injured reserve last year, is working at defensive end during the OTA. Kiffin said the Raiders simply wanted to get a look at him on that side of the ball and already know what he can do on offense.
– The Raiders will hold three-day OTAs in each of the next two weeks, with one day availavble to the media.
READ THE LINE ABOUT JAVON WALKER.. NOT A GOOD LOOK..
OTA leftovers
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 7:07 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Shaking out the notebook from Thursday’s organized team activity availability:
– One of the biggest misconceptions about JaMarcus Russell is that he is suited only for the sort of play-action, dropback passing attack as run by Norv Turner when Kerry Collins was the quarterback.
It’s a stereotype which has nothing to do with skin color and everything to do with size. Russell is a big, strong-armed quarterback, ergo, he should be throwing deep every play.
Russell could play in that style, but he’ll be infnitely more interesting moving to his left or right and finding targets out of the pocket. He is nimble afoot, takes up huge chunks of yardage on each step of his rolls, and looks natural throwing on the run. He won’t be using his legs to run, necessarily, but to get off passes.
–There were a couple of nice passes on seam routes over the middle to tight end Zach Miller, with whom Russell seemed to develop a chemistry in his two extended performances at the end of the season.
– Hopefully Ronald Curry’s foot surgery is not a big deal. He will be important in sustaining drives as a third-down receiver.
– As for the rest of the receiving crew, Drew Carter outperformed the more expensive Javon Walker, who Kiffin said needs to improve his conditioning. Todd Watkins is the sleeper, a big, active, former BYU receiver who could make a run if he continues his progress.
– Didn’t see much from Johnnie Lee Higgins, who may stick if the Raiders want to keep one smallish receiver on the roster (assuming it isn’t Drisan James _ a safe assumption) but who may need to prove he can be an explosive kick returner to make the 53-man roster.
– One of Oakland’s biggest decisions heading into training camp will be whether to go with Andrew Walter as the backup or find a more experienced veteran.
Jeff Otis and Erik Meyer are not a factor, merely camp arms.
While Russell looks smooth on the move, Walter does not. Last year, line coach Tom Cable described the shift of Robert Gallery from left guard to left tackle as a situation of not keeping a square peg in a round hole.
The same could be said for Walter. He still looks like a play-action, dropback passer stuck in a system which doesn’t suit him. The Raiders had former Arizona State teammate Sam Keller in during rookie camp, but didn’t sign him to a contract.
If the Raiders gear their offense toward Russell’s ability to operate on the perimeter and then are forced to go to Walter, and in the process are forced to change the emphasis of the offense, it won’t go well.
– Interesting to see Chris Morris opening up as the No. 1 center over John Wade, although it’s worth noting that the same thing happened last year with Jake Grove over Jeremy Newberry. We all know how that turned out.
Morris, however, is the kind of player who occasionally flourishes in a zone blocking system. He doesn’t look like much physically, but he can move, is extremely smart, and Cable has faith in him. It was Morris who was Gallery’s backup at left guard last year.
As a rookie seventh-round pick, Morris won a “game show” of sorts on everything the rookies had learned at the NFL rookie symposium in Carlsbad, getting a leased Hummer for a year free of charge.
– Kiffin was downplaying the significance of Michael Huff playing deep and Gibril Wilson being closer to the line of scrimmage, but it seems clear Oakland is intent on seeing if Huff can be a playmaker at free safety. He covered tight ends well as a strong safety, but didn’t force fumbles, recover them or intercept passes.
– Defensive tackle Gerard Warren seemed active and interested during the OTA practice, more than just a guy going through the motions. The knock on Warren throughout his career has been that he plays when he wants to play, and disappears in others. There was nothing to dispel that notion last year, when Warren seemed to excel against his former teams.
– Offensive tackle Mario Henderson worked with the second team on the right side, and will get extensive work to see if he is up to the task of challenging Cornell Green at right tackle. No one will say it out loud, but the Raiders would like to see Henderson seize the job from Green, a cagey veteran who most any team would love to have as a reserve.
– Line play is one of the most difficult things to judge to the untrained eye during no-contact scrimmages and drills. We probably won’t know about the viability of the likes of Kalimba Edwards and Greg Spires as outside pass rushing threats until July and August, during full-contact training camp drills and preseason games.
I watched film with Jon Gruden in the his Napa Marriott office one time where he was breaking down tape of Darrell Russell in a blocking drill with Mo Collins. Gruden was grousing about the “brother-in-law” blocks Collins was attempting, saying that both men were taking it easy on each other rather than going all out and getting everything out of the drill.
I have to admit he had to run it back about three times _ juxtaposed with players who were expending full effort _ before I could tell the difference.
– A relatively quiet practice from cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who did break up one pass in a goal line situation but made no sensational plays and seemed to be making an effort to blend in with his teammates.
OTA leftovers
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 7:07 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Shaking out the notebook from Thursday’s organized team activity availability:
– One of the biggest misconceptions about JaMarcus Russell is that he is suited only for the sort of play-action, dropback passing attack as run by Norv Turner when Kerry Collins was the quarterback.
It’s a stereotype which has nothing to do with skin color and everything to do with size. Russell is a big, strong-armed quarterback, ergo, he should be throwing deep every play.
Russell could play in that style, but he’ll be infnitely more interesting moving to his left or right and finding targets out of the pocket. He is nimble afoot, takes up huge chunks of yardage on each step of his rolls, and looks natural throwing on the run. He won’t be using his legs to run, necessarily, but to get off passes.
–There were a couple of nice passes on seam routes over the middle to tight end Zach Miller, with whom Russell seemed to develop a chemistry in his two extended performances at the end of the season.
– Hopefully Ronald Curry’s foot surgery is not a big deal. He will be important in sustaining drives as a third-down receiver.
– As for the rest of the receiving crew, Drew Carter outperformed the more expensive Javon Walker, who Kiffin said needs to improve his conditioning. Todd Watkins is the sleeper, a big, active, former BYU receiver who could make a run if he continues his progress.
– Didn’t see much from Johnnie Lee Higgins, who may stick if the Raiders want to keep one smallish receiver on the roster (assuming it isn’t Drisan James _ a safe assumption) but who may need to prove he can be an explosive kick returner to make the 53-man roster.
– One of Oakland’s biggest decisions heading into training camp will be whether to go with Andrew Walter as the backup or find a more experienced veteran.
Jeff Otis and Erik Meyer are not a factor, merely camp arms.
While Russell looks smooth on the move, Walter does not. Last year, line coach Tom Cable described the shift of Robert Gallery from left guard to left tackle as a situation of not keeping a square peg in a round hole.
The same could be said for Walter. He still looks like a play-action, dropback passer stuck in a system which doesn’t suit him. The Raiders had former Arizona State teammate Sam Keller in during rookie camp, but didn’t sign him to a contract.
If the Raiders gear their offense toward Russell’s ability to operate on the perimeter and then are forced to go to Walter, and in the process are forced to change the emphasis of the offense, it won’t go well.
– Interesting to see Chris Morris opening up as the No. 1 center over John Wade, although it’s worth noting that the same thing happened last year with Jake Grove over Jeremy Newberry. We all know how that turned out.
Morris, however, is the kind of player who occasionally flourishes in a zone blocking system. He doesn’t look like much physically, but he can move, is extremely smart, and Cable has faith in him. It was Morris who was Gallery’s backup at left guard last year.
As a rookie seventh-round pick, Morris won a “game show” of sorts on everything the rookies had learned at the NFL rookie symposium in Carlsbad, getting a leased Hummer for a year free of charge.
– Kiffin was downplaying the significance of Michael Huff playing deep and Gibril Wilson being closer to the line of scrimmage, but it seems clear Oakland is intent on seeing if Huff can be a playmaker at free safety. He covered tight ends well as a strong safety, but didn’t force fumbles, recover them or intercept passes.
– Defensive tackle Gerard Warren seemed active and interested during the OTA practice, more than just a guy going through the motions. The knock on Warren throughout his career has been that he plays when he wants to play, and disappears in others. There was nothing to dispel that notion last year, when Warren seemed to excel against his former teams.
– Offensive tackle Mario Henderson worked with the second team on the right side, and will get extensive work to see if he is up to the task of challenging Cornell Green at right tackle. No one will say it out loud, but the Raiders would like to see Henderson seize the job from Green, a cagey veteran who most any team would love to have as a reserve.
– Line play is one of the most difficult things to judge to the untrained eye during no-contact scrimmages and drills. We probably won’t know about the viability of the likes of Kalimba Edwards and Greg Spires as outside pass rushing threats until July and August, during full-contact training camp drills and preseason games.
I watched film with Jon Gruden in the his Napa Marriott office one time where he was breaking down tape of Darrell Russell in a blocking drill with Mo Collins. Gruden was grousing about the “brother-in-law” blocks Collins was attempting, saying that both men were taking it easy on each other rather than going all out and getting everything out of the drill.
I have to admit he had to run it back about three times _ juxtaposed with players who were expending full effort _ before I could tell the difference.
– A relatively quiet practice from cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who did break up one pass in a goal line situation but made no sensational plays and seemed to be making an effort to blend in with his teammates.
Russell begins Year 2 with Raiders
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -JaMarcus Russell just laughed when he heard reports that his weight had ballooned to more than 300 pounds in the offseason.
Coach Lane Kiffin began calling him "Big Boy'' and his friends teased him a bit, but Russell just went on with his offseason workouts as he prepares for his first full season as a quarterback in the NFL.
"It was funny to me,'' Russell said Thursday. "But most of my family, like my grandmother, she kind of took it hard. But at the same time I think it's all fun and jokes, just a reason to get myself better and just keep myself in shape.''
Russell said he weighed in at 269 pounds and looked thinner than he did a year ago as the Raiders began their offseason workouts and wanted to drop five or six more pounds before the season begins.
The 6-foot-6 strong-armed passer will never be svelte, but the Raiders are happy with the offseason work from their franchise player. Russell returned to the Raiders facility for workouts, classroom work and individual drills March 10.
He made it back to the practice field with his teammates this week for organized team activities.
"I think it shows his commitment to the team and to the players. They see that,'' Kiffin said. "They notice his body being different, he's got great energy about himself, and he looks really good. He's moving around great and making plays on the run. I know it just creates a good feeling around the locker room as well.''
The Raiders have become Russell's team after a difficult rookie season. He played catch up after missing all of training camp before signing his $61 million contract three days after the season began.
He didn't step on the field until December, playing as a reserve in three games before starting the season finale against San Diego.
He completed 23 of 31 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers after turning the ball over four times the previous week against Jacksonville.
"I'm happy those guys got me out there early so I could get a chance to get a feel and see what it's like,'' Russell said. "Now I kind of got an idea what it's going to be like and now I just get ready and try to prepare for it.''
Kiffin said the difference in Russell's knowledge and comfort level is "night and day'' from last season.
Russell wasn't asked to throw deep much in Thursday's practice and was off-target with some of his shorter throws, but Kiffin has been impressed with what he has seen so far.
"His confidence level is so much different,'' Kiffin said. "He knows his team, he knows his teammates, he has a different presence about him. Instead of being in the huddle and just trying to get the play call out and getting to the line of scrimmage, he's giving them reminders in there. He's way more comfortable than he was before.''
Russell has some new play-makers to work with this season, including first-round pick Darren McFadden. Oakland also signed a pair of veteran receivers in former Pro Bowl player Javon Walker and Drew Carter.
Walker began his career in Green Bay with Brett Favre and said that was good preparation for trying to catch Russell's hard passes.
"I've been fortunate enough in my career to play with a quarterback who had a strong arm, and that's something I developed into, catching a fast ball,'' Walker said. "He's one of those guys that has that ball. The more and more we work together, the better that we're going to be.''
The rookies aren't allowed to join the team until next week. Most of the other veterans were on hand, with a few notable exceptions. Defensive end Derrick Burgess stayed home as usual for the voluntary workout and running back LaMont Jordan also was not here, although he is expected to be released next month. Offensive lineman Robert Gallery was excused because he got married
Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly (knee), receiver Ronald Curry (foot), safeties Stuart Schweigert (leg) and Jarrod Cooper (knee), and center Jake Grove (knee) were among the veterans on hand rehabbing instead of practicing.
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -JaMarcus Russell just laughed when he heard reports that his weight had ballooned to more than 300 pounds in the offseason.
Coach Lane Kiffin began calling him "Big Boy'' and his friends teased him a bit, but Russell just went on with his offseason workouts as he prepares for his first full season as a quarterback in the NFL.
"It was funny to me,'' Russell said Thursday. "But most of my family, like my grandmother, she kind of took it hard. But at the same time I think it's all fun and jokes, just a reason to get myself better and just keep myself in shape.''
Russell said he weighed in at 269 pounds and looked thinner than he did a year ago as the Raiders began their offseason workouts and wanted to drop five or six more pounds before the season begins.
The 6-foot-6 strong-armed passer will never be svelte, but the Raiders are happy with the offseason work from their franchise player. Russell returned to the Raiders facility for workouts, classroom work and individual drills March 10.
He made it back to the practice field with his teammates this week for organized team activities.
"I think it shows his commitment to the team and to the players. They see that,'' Kiffin said. "They notice his body being different, he's got great energy about himself, and he looks really good. He's moving around great and making plays on the run. I know it just creates a good feeling around the locker room as well.''
The Raiders have become Russell's team after a difficult rookie season. He played catch up after missing all of training camp before signing his $61 million contract three days after the season began.
He didn't step on the field until December, playing as a reserve in three games before starting the season finale against San Diego.
He completed 23 of 31 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers after turning the ball over four times the previous week against Jacksonville.
"I'm happy those guys got me out there early so I could get a chance to get a feel and see what it's like,'' Russell said. "Now I kind of got an idea what it's going to be like and now I just get ready and try to prepare for it.''
Kiffin said the difference in Russell's knowledge and comfort level is "night and day'' from last season.
Russell wasn't asked to throw deep much in Thursday's practice and was off-target with some of his shorter throws, but Kiffin has been impressed with what he has seen so far.
"His confidence level is so much different,'' Kiffin said. "He knows his team, he knows his teammates, he has a different presence about him. Instead of being in the huddle and just trying to get the play call out and getting to the line of scrimmage, he's giving them reminders in there. He's way more comfortable than he was before.''
Russell has some new play-makers to work with this season, including first-round pick Darren McFadden. Oakland also signed a pair of veteran receivers in former Pro Bowl player Javon Walker and Drew Carter.
Walker began his career in Green Bay with Brett Favre and said that was good preparation for trying to catch Russell's hard passes.
"I've been fortunate enough in my career to play with a quarterback who had a strong arm, and that's something I developed into, catching a fast ball,'' Walker said. "He's one of those guys that has that ball. The more and more we work together, the better that we're going to be.''
The rookies aren't allowed to join the team until next week. Most of the other veterans were on hand, with a few notable exceptions. Defensive end Derrick Burgess stayed home as usual for the voluntary workout and running back LaMont Jordan also was not here, although he is expected to be released next month. Offensive lineman Robert Gallery was excused because he got married
Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly (knee), receiver Ronald Curry (foot), safeties Stuart Schweigert (leg) and Jarrod Cooper (knee), and center Jake Grove (knee) were among the veterans on hand rehabbing instead of practicing.
