Silver and Black Report

Oakland Raiders offensive coordinator Hue Jackson finally talked to the media yesterday and divulged his thoughts on varying topics surrounding the club. Here are some highlights:

What do you look for in a quarterback?

Hue Jackson: His ability to lead men. I think it’s very important that the quarterback is able to take players and get those guys around him to follow him, to understand exactly what the message is that’s being sent, not just on the field but also off the field. And I think we’ve got four very capable guys, and they’re working at it each and every day, and I feel good about direction that we’re going in.

Who is backing up Jason Campbell?

Hue Jackson: Who’s our number 2 quarterback? Well that’s yet to be determined. Obviously Jason is our starter at this point in time. Obviously Bruce is going to play I this game. Kyle has done a wonderful job. We’re just kind of going to let this thing sort itself out over the next couple of weeks.

On the backfield carries; Michael Bush and Darren McFadden:

Hue Jackson: Well I don’t know. Darren hasn’t played yet. Obviously he’ll get an opportunity in this game and then we’ll kind of see where it goes from there. I’m excited about getting a lot of our pieces out on the football field and watching them play. I have not seen Darren play in a game. That’s going to be exciting. I haven’t seen Bruce perform in a game. That will be exciting for me as a coach finally seeing the other pieces we have to have an opportunity to go out and compete in a game-type environment.

On Darrius Heyward-Bey:

Hue Jackson: I think the sky’s the limit for the young man. I just think he needs to go play and I think he will this week. Obviously we’ve been in one game with him, he didn’t play very much the first game, didn’t make it to last week’s game. I’m looking forward to watching him play. Again, that’s what I’m saying. I’m excited about watching a lot of our pieces finally come out and play together for an extended period of time and see where we are.

Working with Tom Cable cohesively:

Hue Jackson: There’s no question. Tom’s one of those old throwback coaches. He likes to get down in the dirt and get after it, and so do I. We kind of do it with a little flair. There’s a flair to what we do. I think our players enjoy it. I think you guys have talked to our players. I think they like the direction we’re heading. That’s the biggest thing. There’s a confidence about this football team. It permeates everywhere. It’s not just our team. It’s in the equipment, it’s in the weight room, it’s with our media people. It’s everywhere. This is a different time in Raider football, and I’m excited about it, and we all are.

What does the team lack?

Hue Jackson: I think the biggest thing for our football team right now is just game experience with me and them, just us spending time together and them understanding exactly what I’m looking for and how I want it done. And I think our guys are doing that. I really believe that. I’m not just saying it. Our players to a man, it’s been very fun for me. Sometimes you can go places and people put up a stop sign until they get to know you. Our guys have really embraced my attitude and the things that I’m looking for because the bottom line is we want to win, and we expect to win here. And that’s the difference. There is an expectation here. The Raiders are supposed to win. And that is our expectation and that’s what we are going to do.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

The Oakland Raiders (2-0) will host the San Francisco 49ers (2-0) on Saturday evening. Both teams are expected to go with their starters for extended periods in the yearly Bay Area match-up. For San Francisco, two of their cornerstones on offense will see action for the first time. As for the Raiders, expect Jason Campbell to see first half action and then give away to Bruce Gradkowski who is fired up to finally get on the field. “Yeah, I feel good. I’m ready to rock and roll,” Gradkowski commented this week. “Shoot, I miss it. I’ve been champing at the bit. I’m just excited to get back out there this weekend.”

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

Breaking News: Hue Jackson has spoken – publicly. Yesterday, the first year Raiders offensive coordinator briefed the media and gave a lot of insight on the 2010 offense for the Silver & Black.

“I hope it’s already looking different,” said Jackson when asked if the attack looked different. “The most important thing is we’re striving for balance. We want to be a team that we can run the football when we need to run it and we can throw it when we need to throw it. We’re a multiple formation team. We have some no huddle. We do a little bit of everything. We do whatever it takes to win football games. That’s the most important thing that I’ve stressed from our coaches to our players that whatever it takes to win that’s what we’re going to do.”

One of his more eye-popping statements was: “Honestly, we’re trying to build a bully here.”

This third pre-season game will go a long way in doing that. Oakland will start Jared Veldheer at centerfor the injured Samson Satele. Satele and the rest of the line has not been punishing opposing front-seven’s and if they want to run the ball as Jackson will like, they have to assert themselves quickly. Veldheer is a project and the transition to the pros as a rookie along the trenches is very daunting. But if Oakland can get any tough play in the interior with their mammoth draft pick, he may be their best option to start bullying opponents.

On Defense:

Everyone is all smiles on defense, so far. Oakland’s best player believes that this edition of the Raiders is headed into the campaign with as much positivity as any other club he has been on.

“We’ve accomplished a lot, and being able to put out good practices and win games in the preseason, it goes a long way,” Nnamdi Asomugha said. ` Just getting the wins, even though it’s preseason, it’s just getting those wins builds your confidence and gets you used to it.”

One player with loads of confidence right now is Kamerion Wimbley. His four-sack performance has injected a lot of high expectations for the rebuilt linebacker unit. “I’m just happy we got him,” Tom Cable stated  “I’m glad they didn’t want him, if that’s the case, and he’s ours.”

“Since I have been in the league, that’s what teams have been trying to stop with me,” Wimbley said. “Pressuring the quarterback. The momentum-changing sack. Beating up their quarterback.”

Oakland has pounced on quarterbacks 12 times this pre-season – most in the NFL.

A reason the Raiders look better on defense is the addition of Mike Waufle. His tutelage and experience has added a lot to a staff that already consisted of solid teachers such as, Defensive coordinator John Marshall, linebackers coach Mike Haluchak and secondary coach Lionel Washington.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

On Offense:

Quarterback Alex Smith will have a full complement of starts around him this Saturday. Running back Frank Gore and second year target Michael Crabtree are expected to make their pre-season debuts against the Raiders.

“I just want to see our guys continue to take another step — just continue to execute and continue the progression,” head coach Mike Singletary stated.

Newly acquired running back Brian Westbrook is also slated to take some reps, but the athletically gifted tight end Vernon Davis will be out after an injury to his knee during the team’s first pre-season game.

On Defense:

One of the concerns for the 49ers in 2010 is their secondary and ability to defend the pass. Oakland does not feature a potent aerial attack so this could be a good match-up for them to start building their confidence.

Veteran linebacker Takeo Spikes has noticed that the defensive backfield is getting feistier this summer. “In the back end, guys are more competitive,” Spikes said. “I think we’ll have a better idea of what’s expected from us. And that’s the big thing. Everybody is playing together and everybody is understanding.”

Aubrayo Franklin is still unsigned. And the 6-foot-1, 317-pound defensive lineman is a vital cog to the defense. “I’m not going to try and dictate one thing or another,” Singletary said at the start of camp. “I’m just going to let him do what he has to do, and at the same time, we’re going to do what we have to do as a football team.

“But we will not sit back and say, ‘Is he coming in today? Is he coming in tomorrow?’ The most important thing we have to do is really continue to focus on what we control.”

GAME NOTES

Darrius Heyward-Bey on the game Saturday: “I mean, you always want to battle for it, you know, a team that’s in the same area as you,” Heyward-Bey commented in comparing it to Navy vs. Maryland . “At Maryland, we never had a chance to do that because we’re the only team in Maryland. Matter of fact, we play Navy this year so I guess that will be something.”

Tom Cable on the end of Camp: “We came with our plan, we got through everything, we installed everything that we wanted to. The mission was to try and get better every day, not have those days where you’re really disgusted or disappointed as a coaching staff, that, ‘Man, we really went backward today.’ We didn’t have any of those days.

“So, well done by this football team. Now the real issue is to continue that when we go home. Eliminate the distractions that come with living back at home and all those kinds of things, travel and such, and being able to handle that and eliminate those distractions.”

GAME INFO

When: Saturday, August 28 – 9:00 pm ET

Where: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Here are some major storylines heading into training camp for the Oakland Raiders. Depending on the outcome of these stories, the Silver & Black could continue their miserable losing stretch or finally show signs of being a respectable football club.

• Can Jason Campbell stabilize the offense and be a starting caliber QB for Oakland?

In 2009, Campbell topped all his career marks with 327 completions, 507 attempts, 3.618 passing yards, 20 touchdowns a completion percentage of 64.5% and a rating of 86.4. That was with a Washington team that had a new offensive hierarchy practically every season and a leaky offensive line. The Raiders will gladly take numbers like that. But this is Oakland – a wasteland for talent many times – and if Campbell can’t continue his growth and prove to be a starting caliber passer, the Silver & Black will be shuffling to find a passer on their roster full of back-up signal callers.

• What will the offensive line alignment look like, and can it be cohesive?

Mario Henderson at left tackle and Robert Gallery at left guard are the only two players set in stone along the trenches.  Yes Samson Satele is the projected center, but nothing along this offensive line screams out solid or cohesive. They have some youthful alternatives in Bruce Campbell and Jared Veldheer, but giving rookies a lot of reps is always a risky proposition. Campbell’s success and the rush attack will be reliant in this group. If there is a mess on this unit, the offense will struggle mightily.

• Will the run defense be a joke, again?

The deficiencies here have been well documented since 2003. But now Richard Seymour has a year under his belt, John Henderson has been added and rookie Lamarr Houston looks promising. The woes of the defense have stemmed from their inability to stuff the run. More talent appears in place for John Marshall, but will it finally get fixed?

• Is the mix at linebacker the right one?

This revamped grouping will be interesting to observe. Kamerion Wimbley, Quentin Groves and rookie Rolando McClain are all new faces in 2010. And it’s conceivable that all three start together. Thomas Howard is under the radar for the first time in Silver & Black and veterans like Sam Williams and Ricky Brown at this point appear to be special team contributors. If the defensive line protects this group, they have enough ability to support versus the run. But how they fare against opposing passing attacks and play in space will be the major question mark.

• Will a running back finally step up?

There is no denying that the Raiders have ability in the offensive backfield. Darren McFadden and Michael Bush could combine to give Oakland a solid ground game. But can either one break out? Who will give Hue Jackson the consistent battering ram they need to move the chains and control the clock? Their third rusher could be just as important, since McFadden will likely be used all over the formation to present match-up problems. Rock Cartwright or Michael Bennett are two veterans that could get more carries than expected because of Jackson’s intentions.

• Are the wide receivers young and exciting, or too raw and not ready for the spotlight?

Darrius Heyward-Bey could not have had a worse rookie campaign. But he did work hard during the off-season and is putting the effort in to prove naysayers wrong. That alone won’t change the opinions of those still wonder whether or not he can be a well-rounded target. Louis Murphy has starting caliber potential and Chaz Schilens wets the coaching staff’s appetitive, but his fragility is a major concern along with the looming question of whether or not he can be expected to play with expectations on him for a 16-game stretch. They are no veterans on this unit with past success and that could hurt Jason Campbell. The rest are late draft picks, projects and talents that may not make it on any other roster in the league.

• Is Tom Cable really the right coach for this team?

Cable has talked up the team and the new aura surrounding them. But it is his job to get them to believe they can win and ultimately, prove it on the field. That’s a difficult task considering their current losing streak and the sense of failure this Raider bunch has had since 2003. Another losing season and Cable will be gone. If Oakland wins and turns the page, Cable will be in a nice position to negotiate a multi-year deal to remain as coach.

• How much influence can Hue Jackson have in year one?

The offense has been anemic. The play calling, uninspiring. Enter Hue Jackson, who want to pound the football on the ground and make this offense more diverse. With Campbell at quarterback, Oakland can expand on their playbook and not be such an easy group to dissect for defenses. If Jackson can squeeze out a respectable offense out of this roster, he’ll be looked at as a savior in Raider land.

• Which young player(s) on defense shine in 2010?

McClain and Houston are two highly touted rookies. But Tyvon Branch, Trevor Scott, Matt Shaugnessy and Mike Mitchell are players that will receive significant playing time and can prove to be surprise performers. Oakland has a lot of youth on defense. If they get a few to play up to their potential, John Marshall’s group could be in the top half of total defense in the league.

• Who on special teams can shine other than the place kicker and punter?

Johnnie Lee Higgins was the break out player for the Raiders two tears ago. After a pedestrian performance from all their return specialists in 2009, a return to form for Higgins could help this special teams get back to respectability. Yamon Figurs, Jacoby Ford and Nick Miller will try to unseat Higgins. Sam Williams, Ricky Brown, Jon Condo, Travis Goethel, Mike Mitchell among others will have to cover kickoffs and punts a lot better. Which linebackers that are not in the starting line-up will wind up on special teams?

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Here are some highlights of the Oakland Raiders training camp session on Friday:

• Hue Jackson’s bravado from OTAs has not toned down, as he continues to shout at the defense, let them know what’s coming and calls that same exact play for the offense to execute. At one point he forecasted to the defense that the ball was going to Zach Miller – Jason Campbell then completed a toss to the tight end.
• Nick Miller has been seeing action. Last years training camp standout got in on some plays with the back-up signal callers, once snaring a deep ball from Bruce Gradkowski.
• Chaz Schilens sat out and head coach Tom Cable stated that his WR will be monitored throughout camp.
• Darrius Heyward-Bey’s off-season work is paying dividens, as the second year target is looking more and more like a guy who can contribute on a more respectable level.
• RB Michael Bennett is making a case for being the third back in a top heavy rotation.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Here are some highlights of the Oakland Raiders Thursday training camp session:

• Wide receiver Chaz Schilens, who had a marred season in 2009 with foot injuries, departed the practice field early yesterday due to an undisclosed ailment. He was observed walking around after practice without a limp, but at this point, you have to worry about his fragility and the lack of experience and depth at this position for the Raiders.
• Second round choice Lamarr Houston saw a lot of action with the first team at left defensive end. The fiery lineman got into scraps and was every bit of the instigator, a role he played well during OTAs.
• Defensive tackle Ryan Boschetti and wide receiver Damola Adenjii were waived.
• Darrius Heyward-Bey remained on the practice field after the session was over, getting extra work in with cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.
• Linebackers on the second team: Thomas Howard, Travis Goethel and Quentin Groves. Scout squad consisted of: David Nixon, Sam Williams and Slade Norris.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

The Oakland Raiders are just days away from starting their 2010 training camp in Napa, California. SBReport.net will be there to cover all the action: with images, audio and video from the Raiders training facility. Here are glimpses of the Silver & Black’s OTAs and a sneak peak of what we will see more of in the summer:

Wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal challenging Johnnie Lee Higgins (#15) at the line of scrimmage

Linebacker David Nixon (#56) striking a pose…

Darrius Heyward-Bey (#85) snatching a pass.

Erik Pears (#72) will attempt to grab a starting spot along the offensive line.

Robert Gallery (#76) has become an anchor along the trenches.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Here are more looks into the Oakland Raiders OTA sessions captured by photojournalist DeMarcus Davis. The Raiders will be headed into the summer with more optimism after an off-season of purging and solid acquisitions. Here’s a glimpse of what we saw in the Spring:

Roland McClain (#55) – Linebacker

Todd Watkins (#19) – Wide Receiver

Mike Mitchell (#34) – Strong Safety

Hue Jackson – Offensive Coordinator

Darrius Heyward-Bey (#85) – Wide Receiver

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Here are more views exclusive to SBReport.net of the Oakland Raiders Organized Team Activities (OTA). The Silver & Black are just weeks away from beginning their training camp and kicking off their pre-season campaign. Stay logged on to SBReport throughout the summer for a peek into all the happenings in Raider-Land.

Safety Tyvon Branch (#33) will be looking to break out in 2010. An underrated player in the AFC, his tackling ability around the line of scrimmage and coverage skills has improved since entering the league. Oakland boasts a young and talented defensive backfield that will only get better with Branch’s maturity and will get more recognition as the defender makes a name for himself this season.

Rookie Jacoby Ford (#12) is fast – very fast. In college, he was dubbed the “fastest player on the East Coast,” an attribute that Oakland will put to the test on special teams and as a wide receiver this summer.

Jerome Boyd (#30), a one-time linebacker, will try to sneak onto the roster as a safety. While in college, he was a two-time Honorable mention All-Pac 10 (2007-2008). Boyd was clocked running a 4.33 in the 40-yard dash in Oregon. Hiram Eugene is most likely his obstacle for a roster spot.

Elliot Vallejo (#62) is a 6’7, 315 pound tackle, who was initially signed to the Raiders practice squad on December of 2009. Released a few days later that season, Oakland brought him back on June 8, 2010. The offensive line is a major question mark for the Silver & Black, but it is unlikely that Vallejo impacts that depth chart, unless he has an impressive summer and Tom Cable’s bunch suffers crippling injuries.

Yes, the above image is of Darrius Heyward-Bey attempting to snag a pass during drills. All reports have been good so far. But his rookie season was so bad; you may have to temper the enthusiasm until the 2^nd year pro actually sees live action in a regular season game. Heyward-Bey was so bad in 2010; any signs of improvement will be received with high praise.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

The Oakland Raiders were back on the practice field for Organized Team Activities on Wednesday. Here are some notes about today’s session:

• Defensive back Stanford Routt missed action with a tight back.
• Quarterback Bruce Gradkowski will miss action till training camp, while he continues to rehab his pectoral injury.
• Right tackle Langston Walker went through a procedure to fix an ailment in his elbow. He’s expected to be back on the field during training camp.
• Richard Seymour, Tommy Kelly, Nnamdi Asomugha, Shane Lechler, Sebastian Janikowski are some Raiders that were not in attendance.
• Rookie Lamarr Houston continues to be aggressive and boisterous this spring, this time, going after veteran Samson Satele.
• Darrius Heyward-Bey had another solid outing, beating rookie CB Walter McFadden and looking good getting into the end zone on a few tosses.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

The Oakland Raiders took a break from Organized Team Activities this week. Here’s a schedule of their remaining sessions: June 8-10, June 15-17.

In the meantime, here’s an exclusive look of more images captured by SBReport.net photojournalist DeMarcus Davis during recent OTAs. Stay logged on to SBReport for comprehensive coverage of the Raiders throughout the summer.

Rookie Jared Veldheer and veteran Khalif Barnes at work during drills.

Wide receiver Todd Watkins is in for a battle against some of the other young wide receivers on the Raiders’ roster. He could be out of a roster spot, especially if some of the other players show their versatility on special teams.

Rookie Lamarr Houston has been one of the bright spots so far; his attitude and aggressiveness may just change the dynamic of the Silver & Black’s defensive line.

Darrius Heyward-Bey was overwhelmed as a rookie. As a second year pro, he’s putting in a lot of work to silence many of the critics that scolded the Raiders for taking him so high in the draft.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist