Fight! Fight!
by Rich Langford on Aug 4, 2010 11:44 PM PDT
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The least shocking news of training camp happened today when LaMarr Houston got into the first fight. Houston sounded less than remorseful about the fight:
It’s just football. It happens. We’re in practice and things get a little fiery.
Houston got a little extracaricular on Tony Stewart. Stewart was less than grateful for this extra infusion of fire.
The last thing person you’d expect would be me. It all happened so fast I don’t know what happened. I’ll stick with that story.
Don't worry, they quickly kissed and made up. Cable guy doesn't seem overly concerned about it. In fact, I think he may be encouraging it.
You want to become as a team, but it’s going to get hot, you’re going to get sore and tired and that’s starting to kick in a little bit, so tempers are going to flare. But at the end of the day, they’re teammates and they took care of that right afterward so that was good.
On the less hockeyish news of the day: With the health of the Raiders WR's opening up more questions about the depth of the position, Tom Cable decided to take things into his own hands. That's right, he is going to play the position himself. Cable ran a couple of impressive routs before practice. Sure the first one bounced off of his hands like it hit something concrete only harder, but I am sure he'll find his game soon. Cable:
This is my team, and we go at it together
On the defensive side of the ball, the hope that John Marshall will, and is allowed to, put his creativity to use are beginning to look like a reality. Check out some of the tinkering...
- Mike Mitchell had a strong day of practice and spent time as the 3rd down LB with McClain. Mitchell broke up at least two pass plays from the LB position.
- Houston saw his first action on the interior line and generated some QB pressure.
- Trevor Scott saw some time on passing down situations as LE.
The most interesting creative use of talent came on the offensive side of the ball as Alex Daniels got run as a FB today. Who knows if he can make it. At 275 with some athleticism I'd love to see it. If he doesn't it won't be because of his attitude. Daniels:
I played running back before, but now I’m going to be a blocking back, and if I’ve got to block for McFadden I’m going to block for McFadden. If I’ve got to block for Bush, I’ve got block for Bush. If I’ve got to block for President Obama, if it’s going to help the Raiders win, then that’s what I’ve got to do.
Whatever I can do to help the team win, that's what I'm going to do.
If I gotta play fullback, if I gotta play center, if I gotta go get the water, then I'm going to do it. Commitment to excellence, that's what I want to do
He just made a fan out of me. As a Sophomore at Minnesota Daniels did play some RB where he averaged 4.6 yards per carry while gaining 309 yards and five touchdowns.
Cable had this to say about the switch:
It's an experiment. He's got some running back in his background. We just feel like we need to continue to develop that position. ...We'll work with that experiment and see if something is there.
- CJ got most of the day off today. This allowed McFadden to run with the 1st team Nickel. He was reported to have a solid day of practice.
- Chaz Schillens was also back on the field in limited action and his foot is still attached and working.
- DHB had the day off and still looked better than he did last year.
- Nick Miller reminded everyone why a roster spot was held for him despite being hurt almost the entire year as he made a spectacular divining over-the-shoulder catch.
- Apparently the offensive line looked less than stellar today when practicing 3rd and long situations, but Cable guy is always the optimist. He chooses to focus on the D-line's ability rather than the O-line's inability. Cable:
We definitely upgraded in that department, in terms of the pass rush on third down. It’s a great battle for those guys and it’s going to make us a lot better.
- One report mentioned Tyvone Branch as struggling today and another that Jason Campbell looked blah. I'm not exactly sure what blah entails, but I'm pretty sure that is still an upgrade over the adjectives used to describe the starting QB play of last year.
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Living in El Paso all my life, I can't vote against Johnnie Lee Higgins.
Hopefully the drafting of Ford will allow him to focus more on being a true receiver. He was a beast on both of couse at UTEP but again the speed of the NFL game is no comparison. Maybe he finds his stride this year now that he has a full training camp with real NFL QBs passing to him as well as this regular season. As a homer and a life-time Raider fan I’m knocking on wood.
Cowards die many times before their deaths
The valiant never taste of death but once.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, Julius Caesar
"LaMarr Houston got into the first fight"
Goooood , now unleash your anger and join the dark side!
This is my sig, what do I do with it?
Love to hear a kid say the things Daniel is saying and meaning it
And I can’t wait to see how that experiment pans out. Could be a great goal line FB both blocking and pushing the pile for short yardage. I love the willingness to try whoever wherever, and believe that strengths will be exploited this year as a result.
I’ve also said the early predictions of who will play what positions mean nothing. We already know Seymour, Houston, Henderson, Scott, Shaughnessy, Kelly, and Richardson will all get lined up inside and outside. The great news is that almost all of these combos can be effective, and add in rush edge specialists like Wimbley and Groves, and the possibility of blitzing the corners and Mitchell and Branch, and you’ve got a very disruptive defense that will give its secondary some great opportunities on balls with pressures, hurries, and errant passes and panics by qbs with big men in their faces.
Bring it on! Tennessee could be the best opponent we can face first. An excellent test of how ready we are. We need the win.
"If your only ambition in life, is to be a better person; well, that's just the best ambition you can have..." Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew
Don't forget Mitchell at LB in passing situations.
I would think he is a great blitz threat and of course a solid coverage option.
You are right on about Daniels. If nothing else I hope they stick him on the practice squad and let him work on those FB skills.
Life's a garden...dig it!
by Rich Langford on Aug 5, 2010 3:02 AM PDT up reply actions
Ever see that dude's workout he's been doing every year, almost, forever?
video dude’s freakin’ ripped! and he loves to lay the wood. I say we set aside a fine fund for this guy for violation of looking like Jack Tatum trying to kill someone with a hit! You know he’d kill wideouts trying to come over the middle on the crossing patterns from the lb position too! I can’t wait to see this D.
"If your only ambition in life, is to be a better person; well, that's just the best ambition you can have..." Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew
Just watched the Guided Missile's workout (every Mon & Wed for 6 (now 8) continuous years).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYH2X2GNSr8
S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.
by Sons-of-Blanda on Aug 6, 2010 5:30 AM PDT up reply actions
lol! I'd much rather see him working his ass off playing that position. I'm not surprised he's being given reps at lb
He has the physique to show it. It’s amazing he keeps the speed he has for the muscle mass he carries. It equips him to win most battles against bigger receivers, and when he goes one on one with the league’s bigger bruiser backs and TEs. Tyvon’s a similarly built guy.
"If your only ambition in life, is to be a better person; well, that's just the best ambition you can have..." Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew
MY,MY,MY !!!!
Inovation !!! How long has it been since we could use that word on OFFENSE, let alone on the DEFENSE !!! MY,MY,MY !!!! Let the Games begin !!! Hold on…….4 or 5 different looks on the DEFENSE, I just said That, wow !!!! And I Believe IT too !!!! MY,MY,MY. I can just hear them FOOLS on ESPN(Tom RASHY AZZ Jackson esp) after we stomp some Donkey AZZ, This isn’t the same old Raiders, Biting his tongue the whole time !!! LMAO !!!!And Then My Boy,damn what’s his name(to early in the morn) Going …..THE RAIDERSSSSSSS !!!!! MY,MY,MY !!!
O-line
Needs major improvement if this wants to become a legit contender especially on the Tackle positions. I’m kind of worried that JC is going to be in essentially the same position he was in last year with having barely any time to throw the ball.
I was rewatching the Super Bowl and both QBs had a ton of time to throw the ball and a large pocket. That is an essential ingredient to make it to the Super Bowl.
This is an understatement. We will only go as far as our O-line will take us this season despite marked improvement on D
and in the O-backfield.
S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.
by Sons-of-Blanda on Aug 5, 2010 6:29 AM PDT up reply actions
really need to see
nnamdi getting swtiched up in coverage. not always just on the number one reciever or on one side of the field, but all over the place.
do some things with him, mix it up. have him blitz out of a nickel package, line him up at safety, put him over the middle in a zone, or have him as a spy or something, just mix it up to keep qb’s on their toes
I agree completely.
He has been outstanding in covering man to man for so long he needs to be utilized in all other facets of his game. Its the same reason the Packers had so much success with Woodson since he is so talented they had to take advantage of that. He was Defensive Player of the Year being voted over Revis because of this even though Revis was the better shut-down corner.
Cowards die many times before their deaths
The valiant never taste of death but once.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, Julius Caesar
Mitchell at Backer in passing situations? YES!
That’s one of the better points brought to light by your report Noon. It puts a guy with pass defending skills and a bad ass reputation for jacking people up on the field when we need him most. I like J.L.H. but something tells me Nick’s going to be something special down the line,I don’t know why it’s just a feeling.KUDOS to dubzfan for the Davis -Vader photo,nice touch!
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