Oakland Raider News: Raiders break training camp with many questions remaining

Thoughts from the Dark Side

August 14, 2008

Oakland Raider News: Raiders break training camp with many questions remaining

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It seems like only yesterday that TFDS was excitedly reporting that Nnamdi Asomugha had signed his tender and would report to training camp on time. Many posts later, the Raiders are breaking training camp and preparing to fly back to Tennessee to face the Titans. The Nation had hoped to have many questions answered, but unfortunately many questions remain. There seems to be a lack of depth both on the offense and the defense, and JaMarcus Russell has not been tested as of yet.

Injury bug biting the Raiders

Rookie Tyvon Branch and DeAngelo Hall both are wearing casts on a hand, which is not a good thing for defensive backs. This has already hindered Branch's chance to win the return job for which he was expected to compete. Hall is an interception machine, and needs both hands to catch and secure the ball. Nnamdi Asomugha is slowed by a foot ailment, which will limit his game until healed. Terdell Sands has been fighting a knee problem all camp, which in a big guy can become chronic, and the Raiders need him healthy. Shane Lechler will miss the Titans game and Sebastian Janikowski will miss his second game. These players need to be healthy by the opener or its going to make for a long game for the Raiders. Ricky Brown was slowed earlier in camp, but seems to be healing. Arman Shields, John Bowie, and Darrell Strong will all be out against the Titans as well.

Receiving issues

The Raider receivers are still not looking to be up to par. Ronald Curry has been the most consistent of the receivers, but that is not saying too much. Javon Walker has shown precisely nothing. Drew Carter and Todd Watkins started strong and then faded. Johnnie Lee Higgins may have cemented his once tenuous place on the team with his punt return for a touchdown against the 49ers. The Raiders need production and not drops out of their wide receiver corps if Russell is going to be successful.

JaMarcus to play longer

Lane Kiffin has announced that JaMarcus Russell is going to play an entire half against the Titans. Hopefully, in that half Russell will be allowed to attempt more than five passes. The bigger question is whether or not the offensive line will be able to protect him. It is much better to find things out like that in week two of the preseason, rather than in the home opener.

Maybe Kiffin reads TFDS as this was suggested in this very space yesterday:

The Oakland Raiders NEED JaMarcus Russell to develop, and there is only one way for him to develop and that is to get actual game experience. Kiffin cheated him out of a chance to get some experience against the Niners by not giving him a chance to make some throws. Russell needs to get some passing experience in the next three preseason games to get ready for the real games, where he will NEED to pass to be successful.

Probably not, but its a good thought anyway.

Cornering the market on kickers

With Shane Lechler joining Sebastian Janikowski on the injury report, the Raiders cut Ed Hartwell to sign a new punter in Glenn Pakulak. The question is why? Aaron Elling who is filling in for Jano can do double duty, and Kiffin has shown a tendency to take advantage of it being preseason and going for it on fourth down quite frequently. The Raiders need depth at position players, and the injury to Lechler is not thought to be serious.

Answers to come

There will be many more answers provided once the Raiders take on the Tennessee Titans. Can the offensive line pass block? Will the receivers step up? Can the defense continue to stop the run? And many more...

66th Mob Sendoff

Thursday at 11.30 am the 66th Mob will assemble at the Oakland Raiders Headquarters for their annual sendoff. This is a rally to show the team that the fans are behind them. For more information on the 66th Mob check out their site.

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A previous sendoff

A Thank You

Thanks to all of you who have been coming to Thoughts from the Dark Side for Raiders training camp coverage. Rob and I look forward to continuing to provide the best possible coverage of the Oakland Raiders throughout the season and beyond.

Tags: NFL, Oakland Raiders, Raiders

Discussion

26 Comments on "Oakland Raider News: Raiders break training camp with many questions remaining"

Posted by KUSHMAN, August 14, 2008 12:04 AM

haha bill i couldn't agree with you more about walker. very good predication on his stats.. that's pretty plausable. I realy think he just had some conditioning to do to get back in shape is all.. and was getting down on himself when he wasn't showing up like he thought he should have been in camp, which caused him to want to retire... and al obviously got his confidence back up... and like pat said in that article ... i want AD's motivational speach tapes HAHA!

Posted by LDizzle, August 14, 2008 12:44 AM

Yeah I think Walker will be fine. He reportedly is getting back to his old self. As KUSH mentioned, he just needed to get back into shape and get his confidence back. He looked good in the Niners game and the RNC as well. There is no doubt though that Curry is our most reliable receiver. He is a baller with some serious smarts from his days as a QB and PG at North Carolina.

Posted by Bill, August 14, 2008 12:51 AM

Walkers playing wieght was 220lbs, this year he is at 206lbs. This guy will be a faster Walker then we know. Curry is battleing with Carter for the #2 job, as of now Kiffin says neither has the edge. Here is the WR break down (as I see it)

#1 Walker #2 Carter #3 Curry

WCC = West Coast Champs

#4 Higgins #5 Wakins #6 Shielins

I think Shields will be lucky to make the practice squad

Posted by Bill, August 14, 2008 12:56 AM

Hey no one is talking about Hartwell getting cut. Who is going to back up Morrison?

Posted by Logan, August 14, 2008 4:37 AM

Just wanted to drop a comment to let you guys know that you're a big part of my day, I check and read stories here as soon as their posted nearly every single day.

Can't go wrong with the Silver and Black, and you both do the shield justice.

Posted by Coach Elkins, August 14, 2008 6:41 AM

Patrick, be careful buddy, there seems to be no room for honesty in your business, you're making the other writers look bad.....

To piggy back Logan, great job!

Posted by KUSHMAN, August 14, 2008 7:57 AM

thanks for your comment there elkins(mikewhiner) ...

yea pat this season could get ugly real quick when plagued by injuries, which hurts russell's transition as well.. im starting to come back down to reality with my raiders... but i hope for the best as usual in my team... still keeping the faith baby

Posted by Coach Elkins, August 14, 2008 8:38 AM

Common Kushman, don't be bringing injuries into this already...that would be a total cop-out...

p.s.

Are you calling me by another handle? Trust me, I don't need an alias...

Posted by OregonRaider, August 14, 2008 8:48 AM

Common Kushman, Coach can't really be Mike. Mike has never said a nice thing in his life and Coach has never really gotten personal in an attack. His problem is usually with Lane and never with a reader.

Every team is having injury problems. Hopefully this too shall pass, like gass after good Mexcan food.

Ready for the nest game! GO RAIDERS!

#10

Posted by The Fifth Horseman, August 14, 2008 9:19 AM

hehehe you guys are really going to have an awful team this season. Six straight seasons with double digit losses, can you feel it? hahaha. My only question is, who is Al Davis going to blame everything on? You know that everyone is at fault but him, never mind the fact that the only constant through the six seasons of losing is HIM! lol

#11

Posted by KUSHMAN, August 14, 2008 9:38 AM

haha yea elkins i was jk :P i just compared you to him cuz of all the pessimism.. haha

as usual you have nothing to back your stupid claims up horsesass.. and you still cant tell us your team so that makes you a lil bitch us usual HAHA. thanks for stopping by pansy.

#12

Posted by Bill, August 14, 2008 11:03 AM

I'm still excited for the season even I'f Patrick was telling the truth. I do have to disagree with Patrick on one tid bit of information. Javon Walker has taken the #1 job at WR. This was not an appointed position at the begining of camp. Coach Kiffin said yesterday he earned it the passed week of practice. Some in the bay area media are reporting Walker looks explosive and his hands have all of the sudden become great. Mabey he was doggin it during the long months of mini camp and regular camp. Who cares? Wlkers back now, my prediction is 900yds 8TDs. Not the greatest #s for a WR. We will be running it so much Rice in his prime would have trouble getting 1000yds.

#13

Posted by LDizzle, August 14, 2008 1:23 PM

Perhaps if Hartwell is still out there after this weeks game the Raiders will re-sign him since they only need that punter for the one game. And if not, I believe there are still a couple of LB on he waiver wire that are worth a look. Not sure who, I would have to look.

#14

Posted by xobn1050, August 14, 2008 1:33 PM

Have you guys noticed the game is not going to be televised thru the NFL Network, even though the games of all the other teams will be including the Brett Favre debut with the Jets which will be aired and retransmitted. But for us Raiders fans out of the team market, we won't be able to see the game at all. This is a shame because NFL Network is claiming to transmit all preaseason games but conveniently chose not to air the Raiders vs. Titans game. Is this some kind of bias against the Raiders. Last week game was on Thursday and we got to see it first on Saturday at 12:00AM after showing games that happened on Friday (Cowboys-Chargers). Don't show your bias so soon NFL Network!

#15

Posted by LDizzle, August 14, 2008 1:34 PM

Well the two guys that I have liked for a while are still out there. That being Rosevelt Colvin and Rob Morris. I think either guy is worth a look.

#16

Posted by LDizzle, August 14, 2008 1:35 PM

Actually xobn1050 the Raiders/Niners game was on Friday not Thursday.

#17

Posted by Bill, August 14, 2008 1:52 PM

Colvin would be a good guy to have at SLB and Morris would be a great back up to Morrison. The last time Colvin was in a 4-3 he was dominate. Then the Pats got him and put him in thier 3-4 and he did not do so good. I say bring the guy in and let him try to regain his form in a 4-3.

#18

Posted by Bill, August 14, 2008 1:56 PM

If the Raiders shut down the Titans run game(under 125 yards) then I will say Playoff bound!

#19

Posted by Coach Elkins, August 14, 2008 5:39 PM

It's official, Bill has lost all credibility with his last comment!

j/k Bill---not really

#20

Posted by silver&black88, August 14, 2008 8:32 PM

xobn1050, the game is on fox or cbs I think. It's definitley televised for me at least. Hopefully, we can see how well Jamarcus fares this week and people will bounce back from injuries be it now or soon enough

#21

Posted by Raider Blues, August 14, 2008 9:56 PM

I'll be watching at 0430 on AFN!

#22

Posted by Bill, August 14, 2008 10:45 PM

I think if the Raiders can stop the run. Then what will stop them from going to the playoffs? There has been a few teams of late that went to the playoffs and actually won the superbowl with a great D, Great running game, and an so so passing game. Baltimore and pittsburgh come to mind. I'm not saying the Raiders will go to the superbowl I'm just saying I like where our team is heading.

#23

Posted by LDizzle, August 14, 2008 11:29 PM

That is awesome for you Blues! I missed so much sports when I was overseas. You must be stoked to get to see the game. Hopefully you will be home soon and get to see many more games on regular TV.

Bill stopping the run in the 2nd preseason game is not a big accomplishment. I wouldn't put much stock in it. That said, of course I would like to see the Dline stop the run. And I always want to see the Raiders win even if it is a meaningless game. VY better break out the KY cuz he is Fucked!

#24

Posted by Ryan Brown, August 15, 2008 12:35 AM

I love Raider fans -

Javon Walker signs - the entire nation predicts Super Bowl appearances and the return of the Silver and Black dynasty

Javon Walker gets ass-raped in Vegas - Raider Nation proclaims Walker a wasted investment, and that they never should have signed the guy. Doom and gloom abound.

Javon Walker has one good week of camp, his first since...2004? - Raider Nation predicts a playoff appearance, Super Bowl appearances and the like.

Good to see that a guaranteed contract can coax at least one good week of practice out of the guy. So now his total weeks of solid practices equals the number of times he's threatened to retire this offseason - you gotta love that!

Go Chiefs!

www.mvn.com/nfl-chiefs

#25

Posted by Raider Blues, August 15, 2008 2:27 AM

Well I've been here 2.5 years now so if I continue to hold out maybe we'll be authorized to drink too : )

#26

Posted by Markus, August 15, 2008 7:56 AM

Wuzzup RaiderNation!!?? Should be a great game tonight and a perfect way to size up the good, the bad, and the ugly. I'm a HUGE Titans fan and decided to visit this forum to see what's good. Seems many of you are down on your team...don't be. You will see tonight that the Titans/Raiders game features mirror images of each other:

a tough, fast defense

young QB

strong ground game

no receivers to fall back on (we Titans are used to that though)

Time to see what the season may hold...good luck!