Silver and Black Report

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 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 just last month:

Yamon Figurs (#13) – Has been working at wide receiver, but Oakland would like to see him take a special teams return job after a lackluster effort in that area in 2009 from a revolving door of candidates.

Paul Hubbard (#16) – A long shot to make the club, but definitely a talent that could wind up on the practice squad eventually.

Allen Smith (#61) – The 6′4, 300 pound rookie out of Stanford could be a surprise along the trenches where Oakland is looking for anyone to step up.

Stanford Routt’s (#26) playing time could be cut into, especially if some of the rookies or younger players on the roster can be playmakers in the secondary.

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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

Here are more exclusive images captured by our photographer DeMarcus Davis of the Oakland Raiders at work during Organized Team Activities. Visit SBReport in the coming days for more eye-popping visuals from the Silver & Black’s workouts.

Hue Jackson (pictured on the right) has been one of biggest acquisitions this off-season for the Silver & Black, He has been vocal in practices, authoritative and demanding; holding every player along the depth chart accountable for their assignments and knowledge of the playbook.

Chaz Schilens (#81, pictured below) must stay healthy and give the Raiders a full season worth of production. The team expects a lot out of the former 7^th round draft choice, but the facts are, his 44 career receptions for 591 yards are not indicative of a player that can be an effective starter at the pro level.

Recently signed Damola Adeniji (#84) was in action with the rest of the wide receivers recently.

Free safety Michael Huff (#24) was getting his hands on the football during drills. The product out of Texas is looking to build off his solid season in 2009 in a very talented Raiders secondary.

Bruce Gradkowski may be sitting out till training camp with his pectoral injury, but that has not prevented him from being present during workouts and being a positive influence on and off the field.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

The Oakland Raiders will have two of their Organized Team Activity sessions cancelled by the NFL after violation rules about the team’s off-season program. The team will not be in action on June 16 and 17 because the league ruled they violated the tempo and time limit for the workouts.

These sessions cannot be rescheduled and players are not allowed at the facility in those days revoked.

This is the second time since 2007 that Oakland has been flagged during these workouts.

As for Langston Walker, head coach Tom Cable stated that the tackle, “had some elbow clean-up surgery, taking out some loose bodies, some things like that,” and will be out till training camp. Erik Pears in the meantime took snaps with the first team at right tackle.

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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

SBReport.net will be in attendance when the media is allowed in for the Oakland Raiders next Organized Team Activities this week. So far, rookie Lamarr Houston and his aggressiveness, Darrius Heyward-Bey’s work, ethic in trying to rebound from a horrific first season, and Jason Campbell’s presence have been some of the highlights of the work Oakland is putting in this Spring.

Log on to SBReport.net for exclusive images and news from the practice field. Also, head over to www.Raiderfans.net to chat about the off-season and the 2010 Oakland Raiders with thousands of member of the Raider Nation.

Here are more images from our coverage of prior OTAs:

Ricky Brown will try to keep his roster spot as a special teamer and reserve linebacker.

Rookies Travis Goethel and Rolando McClain working against each other. The product out of Arizona State needs to make a statement on the field in pre-season games to sure up his future as a member of the Silver & Black.

Johnnie Lee Higgins is all smiles, all the time.

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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

OAKLAND — Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable wraps up another OTA workout and discusses the current status of the team and answers media questions.