Finally, it’s time to smack around somebody not wearing blue and white.

Today’s brief walk-through practice brings the Dallas Cowboys to the two-week point of training camp, 14 consecutive days without a break, leaving everyone eager to get on with the preseason opener Thursday night at the Oakland Raiders.

"You get tired of beating up on your own team, 17, 18 practices now," tight end Jason Witten said. "We’re excited to go against somebody else and see where we’re at and there’s a lot of challenges in that. This team is excited about that. You can beat and bang on your team, but that’s when it all gets started, when you go against somebody else."

The Cowboys should have their full complement of offensive weapons ready to roll. Running back Felix Jones and tight end Martellus Bennett, both of whom sat out one of two practices with minor injuries Monday and practiced Tuesday, will play.

Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett’s revamped "Tony Romo-friendly" offense will provide at least a glimpse of things to come, featuring Jones, Marion Barber and Tashard Choice in the backfield, two tight-end sets with Jason Witten and Bennett, plus Roy Williams and Patrick Crayton as the starting receiving duo.

"Very anxious, very anxious," Williams said. "We just want to be productive. We might not score, but we might drive it down and kick a field goal. That’s productive. Just don’t turn the ball over. That’s one thing that, if we want to be in the playoffs and want to win the Super Bowl, you can’t turn the ball over."

Defensively, minor injuries will keep starting cornerback Terence Newman (groin) and second-year cornerback Mike Jenkins (ankle), the leading candidate to start opposite Newman, on the sidelines. Neither player has practiced since Saturday.

Orlando Scandrick and Courtney Brown are likely to start at the corners against the Raiders.

Hodge on hold

Rookie linebacker Stephen Hodge will have to wait another week to make his Cowboys debut. The former TCU safety is being held out of the game as a precaution.

Hodge recently returned from arthroscopic knee surgery as well as a calf strain.

Fort Worth native Brandon Williams will travel, but is questionable with a sore shoulder. Coach Wade Phillips said if soreness in the shoulder eases the converted linebacker will play.

Anderson dinged

Fullback Deon Anderson returned to Dallas to have his knee examined. He won’t make the trip to Oakland. That opens the door for Julius Crosslin and rookie Asaph Schwapp.

With the Cowboys employing more two tight end sets this season, the fullback position will be used even less. Anderson holds the edge to keep the job because of his special teams ability.

Not traveling

Other injured players who will not make the trip to Oakland include running back Alonzo Coleman (knee), linebacker Steve Octavien (groin) and cornerback Michael Hawkins (knee).

The Oakland Raiders have spent plenty of time in training camp preaching the importance of being in the right spot to stop the run.

With the team doing almost no tackling in practice, the focus has been entirely filling the right gaps, making the correct calls and communicating as a defense. In the exhibition opener on Thursday night against Dallas, coach Tom Cable will get to see if the improvement he has seen in practice will carry over into games.

"I've certainly seen it get better," Cable said. "We're starting to squeeze things, have people overlapping gaps where we're supposed to be. But we'll find out starting Thursday. Dallas is a big, physical team, likes to run in it, too. So we'll find out pretty quick."

With Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice in the backfield, the Cowboys figure to have one of the best running games in the league. Then again, it hasn't mattered much of late who was running the ball against the Raiders. Almost everybody has had success on the ground.

Since going to the Super Bowl following the 2002 season, Oakland has had the worst run defense in the NFL, allowing 141.7 yards per game on the ground and 122 rushing touchdowns. The Raiders have allowed a 100-yard rusher in more than half of their games the past three years, with journeymen backs such as Ron Dayne, Maurice Morris, Kolby Smith reaching the mark.

That led to a change at defensive coordinator this season, with John Marshall taking over for Rob Ryan. Marshall has said it wasn't an issue of talent but of being in the right place at the right time.

"I think a lot of times last year, sometimes you get frustrated when you see guys in their gaps and a run hits us here and a run hits us there and everyone's trying to make the play instead of saying, 'Hey, let's trust what we're doing and we can't make every play, let's make sure we're in our gaps and the guy who is supposed to make that play needs to be there,'" middle linebacker Kirk Morrison said. "That's why it's a trust factor and why we trust and believe in what we're doing."

While the players believe in the new system, they know the true test comes when they can tackle in games.

"The biggest thing in practice right now is running to the ball," linebacker Thomas Howard said. "I try to tell everyone, 'Run to the ball, run to the ball.' Thursday is going to be live so you will be running to the ball and making a tackle. So it will be good for us, for both teams."

Most of the defense is back from last season, although there could be one big change. Morrison, who has led the team in tackles the past three seasons, is being pushed for the starting job at middle linebacker by Ricky Brown.

Cable did not say who would start there Thursday, although there's a chance Brown could slide outside because of a foot injury to strongside linebacker Jon Alston.

Morrison, a staple on the defense since entering the league in 2005, has the second most tackles in the NFL since entering the league as a third-round draft pick out of San Diego State. He is using the challenge from Brown as motivation this season.

"The opportunity for me right now is still earning a linebacker position," he said. "It's keeping me hungry, keeping my focused, regardless of what they're doing, it's helping me right now so far focus on my position and take this training camp and elevate me as a football player. ... I think that now I have to elevate this team, and elevate this run defense and make sure we're stopping the run. I think more notice will come with that."

NOTES: Second-round pick Mike Mitchell had his hamstring worked on late in practice. ... Along with Alston, other Raiders who missed practice with injuries were QB Jeff Garcia (calf), DB Jason Horton (toe), S Michael Huff (ribs).

Preseason Picks Dallas Cowboys vs Oakland Raiders NFL Betting Odds - The fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum will be treated to a preseason game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Oakland Raiders when they take their seats on Thursday. The NFL Betting Odds list Oakland -1 favorites to Dallas heading into this NFL Preseason Predictions matchup.

Safety Mike Mitchell and wide receiver Louis Murphy had an altercation during practice today. Following the session, both men agreed that it was behind them and, in fact they are still, close friends.

Murphy was blocking mitchell on a play, and the two players got into it. At one point, Murphy hauled off and whacked Mitchell after Mitchell had taken his helmet off.

Coach Tom Cable played down the incident, saying, "Them having little quarrels is good, remember that. This is football and they’re men. If you have a brother you know that it’s OK to settle some things once in a while."

Louis Murphy said that they were firends who just had a spirited moment during the heat of battle. "We just got into a heated moment. Mitch is the kind of player that you run that play, you’re blocking, but me and Mitch we’re good friends. We quarrel just like close friends. We get into it on the field but after that, it’s the end of it.”

Mike Mitchell echoed Murphy's sentiments in a more loquacious manner."Mitchell: Louis is one of my best friends, actually, in life. We bonded over the summer and he’s definitely one of my guys. It was hot out there today. I don’t know, things happen, but we talked about it afterward. He’s going through some stuff right now so it’s all good."

Mitchell had joked earlier in camp that he wanted to "get Murphy good" becuase the Florida State product had talked smake about Mitchell's native Ohio. However, he "didn’t want to get him like that. I wanted to get him in the field."

Camp Cable has been a spirited affair, which bodes well for the coming season.

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Camp Cable pressed on through unlucky day 13 without any bad luck striking. Robert Gallery was back in practice sooner than expected. Darrius Heyward-Bey had a day without noticable drops. Louis Murphy and Mike Mitchell managed to get in a wrestling match. Just a few more days until the Dallas Cowboys, and the excitement is making its way around camp.

• Left guard Robert Gallery returned from his emergency appendix operation several days ahead of schedule. He will still be held out of the Dallas game, however.
• Mike Mitchell and his self described best friend Louis Murphy got into a wrestling match after a blocking drill got intense.
• Other than putting too much air under his deep throws, JaMarcus Russell is starting to find his accuracy.
• The often injured John Bowie is injured again.
• Javon Walker is giving the appearance that his "mystery surgery" is paying off. The real test will be once he is cleared to practice with the team instead of just doing drills on the side.
• Jon Alston missed practice with foot soreness. Slade Norris got his first reps with the first team.
• It took a double team to do it, but Terdell Sands got knocked on his butt. Marcel Reece and Chris Morris did the honors.
• Nnamdi Asomugha actually got thrown on in practice. He got a pick six.

Javon Walker ready to come back after super surgery

When asked yet again to describe his "secret surgery," Javon Walker replied, "Yeah, well I'm not going to sit here and explain that. I'll let you know about it when I get ready to release that, but uh...yeah. [laughter] Yeah, you know, yeah." However, he is looking much better. In fact, in a complete reversal from last year, he is excited to show what he can do. "Oh yeah, and you know what? I'm excited about it because I'm still in my prime. I'm still a young receiver compared to a lot of the guys who are doing--who are still playing and, you know, pretty much putting up the numbers that they normally put up and like I said, I'm excited. I feel like I'm getting drafted with the rookies who just got drafted again, getting a whole fresh new start, feeling good and I'm excited because I'm also excited about giving the Raiders fans what they brought me here for."

He won't reveal the nature of his surgery becuase it is new, and its 'bigger than him.' "Well because it's the process that's gonna' be exposed to a lot of athletes that are having a lot of the same problems, that just don't know what to do. Me and my nature of, as far as competing, trying to play--I just did my research on a lot of things and seeked the help that I needed to get to put me back to this point that I'm at right now. So, that's why I'm not revealing nothing because it's bigger than me. It's a whole--it's really, really bigger than me and so, it's going to help a lot of athletes in every sport."

He is ready to put all of the drama of 08 behind him and have a fresh start, "Oh, last year I mean trying to do this last year, I didn't know what was wrong, I didn't know what was going on and like I say, we play a game that's very, very tough and when you got something bothering you, it's constantly in your mind everyday and you don't know what's wrong...for the nature of this game. And now, when you can finally play this game, feeling good, nothing's bothering you, which is kinda' hard. In football, something's always bothering you, but when you can play knowing that you're pain-free. You can go out and do what you did elementary through high school, through college and it made you get to the pro's, so that's the best feeling in the world playing football whenever nothing is bothering you."

When he gets back, he says that "The sky is the limit"

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One of the key problems with the Oakland Raiders defense has been missed tackles. This has been an ongoing problem for several years, and has been responsible for the Raiders dismal standings in the run defense. The newly revamped coaching staff needs to insure that the Raiders defense is fundamentally sound if they hope to fulfill Tom Cable's goal of the tournament.

Besides tackling, there are other issues that are fundamental to defensive success, which have also been lacking. The Raiders defense has been over aggressive meaning that they have lacked the necessary gap discipline to contain the other team's running game. Rob Ryan has borne the brunt of the criticism for the defensive failings, regardless of how much culpability that he actually had. With Ryan now in Cleveland, it is now on the shoulders of his replacement to insure that the Raiders defense is sound.

Tackling dummy:

The first thing the Raiders need to do is to work on their tackling. Far too often, the Raiders seemed to have a runner trapped in the backfield only to see him break free for a big gain. This would seem like something that defensive players would have been working on since they played in Pop Warner, but it is an ongoing problem in Oakland.

The rumor mill has Michael Huff likely being cut. The biggest knock on him was his tackling or lack thereof. Even the vaunted "Law Firm" has taken their share of criticism for their own missed tackles, as have the defensive line. It would seem that tackling drills should be a high priority for the Raiders come training camp. A team will play like they practice. The key is to reapeat their tackling over and over again until they can get it right every time.

Discipline:

After the Patriots game, the defensive breakdown was attributed to communication problems. The issue is that communication problems among the players on defense should have been taken care of by the end of the preseason. The Raiders defense is a veteran squad that has played together for several years. These are other issues that need to be addressed starting in mini-camps and drilled into their heads by the end of training camp. They need to know their gaps instinctively and stay in those gaps to make sure that opposing backs don't get a cutback lane to brak off huge chunks of yardage.

Marshall also needs to stress to the team that games are played for four quarters. In several games the Raiders had two score leads in the fourth quarter that the defense could not hold. Again, the blame fell on Ryan. The defense needs to hold on to those late leads for the team to turn their fortunes around.

The Raiders have a young core on offense that looks to get better, but they need this veteran defense to hold up their end of the bargain. This is an important area that needs addressed this offseason.

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The morning practice of day 14 of Camp Cable was fairly uneventful. However, Russell did have a streak where he looked really bad. The defense kept working on bringing the blitz. The Raiders are t-minus two days until they get to face off against the Dallas Cowboys.

One of the biggest criticisms of former defensive coordinator was that he didn't call enough blitzes to bring pressure. Linebacker Thomas Howard said that would not be the case under John Marshall in 2009. "That's a good one man. John (Marshall) called up a good one. We are learning how to disguise it. We are not know for bringing as much pressure so I thing I have learned is to show our regular (inaudible) don't be telling everybody... (laughter)... I didn't really see it coming I had a good one come off the back side, it would have been a big hit."

Ryan would blitz in camp, but when it came time for the game they never seemed to materialize. Howard says that won't be the case this time, "John has not been shy about calling them and I kind of know when he is going to call them now. He calls them in good situations and he brings them calls different ones. He did this in Seattle so I am excited about this."

With his speed, Howard is looking forward to getting the opportunity to shoot into the backfield and run down a quarterback or two. " I am not even worried about the past any more. I am worried about now and John likes to call pressures. We have so many from out base, our 45 packages , nickel packages we have a lot of pressures in, from both sides, DB's, safeties, linebackers, got the D-line, got so much in right now. I am just so excited about it, and he is calling it. The biggest difference is we are calling the plays now."

JaMarcus's off day:

JaMarcus Russell reached a point where Russell's accuracy evaporated. Coach Cable said it was a matter of timing, and would be fixed by continued repetitions. "You saw that stretch where it’s like 100 mph fastballs everywhere. Just be on time, not trying to throw it hard. Be on time when you let it go.” Cable continued, "He just needs to speed up, just speed up, just speed up. You keep reminding him of that. You don’t have to make up with the big arm, just make it up with your timing.”

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Nick Miller went speeding past a pair of defensive backs in Oakland's secondary, then jumped and turned to catch a long pass from quarterback JaMarcus Russell near the sideline as several teammates roared with approval.

It's a scene that has played out several times in the Raiders' training camp this season, with Miller the unlikeliest of participants.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound wide receiver is the smallest player on Oakland's roster yet has some of the biggest plays through the first 10 days of training camp.

"Nick is a guy (we) knew about, that's why we signed him," Raiders coach Tom Cable said Saturday. "Guys like that, particularly with his size, you've got to see what they can do. Will they go in the middle? Can they get open in those windows? Can you find him in those windows? So far, we've been able to do that."

Miller has had to find a way to stand out in his first NFL training camp, and not just because of his size.

The Raiders have plenty of wide receivers in camp and will likely only carry five or six into the regular season. Javon Walker, who had offseason knee surgery and has yet to practice in camp, is the projected No. 1 receiver for Russell and the only receiver with extended experience in the NFL.

Chaz Schilens and Johnnie Lee Higgins were the team's top two receivers a year ago but have only nine starts between them. Oakland also used two of its first four draft picks on wide receivers, including first-round selection Darrius Heyward-Bey.

That leaves little room for Miller but that's nothing new for the Southern Utah player, who has beaten long odds on the football field for years.

He started his collegiate career at Scottsdale Community College in Arizona then transferred to Southern Utah where he led the nation in all-purpose yards among Football Championship Subdivision schools while being selected the Great West Conference's special teams player of the year.

Miller has sub-4.3 speed so Oakland signed him as an undrafted free agent to back up punt returner Johnnie Lee Higgins and kickoff returner Justin Miller.

Through the first 10 days of camp, Nick Miller has had more of an impact on offense than on the Raiders' special teams.

"For me, it's whatever they want me to do," Miller said. "There's 70 other guys here they could have doing returns so to come in as a rookie and be second string behind those big names and to learn from them is big. They're not going to take most of the reps in the preseason so for me I'll get to show people what I have."

He's done that, making a believer out of Oakland's secondary on a daily basis.

Miller has also convinced Russell that he has the tangibles to be an NFL receiver — even at his size.

"Oh man, we have some guys that aren't so tall, I would say," Russell joked early in camp when asked about Miller. "That's why you call him a professional. You put the ball in places where they can make plays or you lead them in the right direction. Hopefully it will work out for him. It has so far."

Notes: Starting cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha (hip) and Chris Johnson (back) returned to practice after sitting out the previous two days. ... Cable said that the knee surgery Walker had in the offseason was "a major deal" after downplaying it earlier in camp. Walker has yet to practice and will sit out the team's preseason opener.

At SUU, 2007: Set SUU records with 41 kickoff returns for 914 yards. Finished second on team in receptions and receiving yards, with 35 catches for 435 yards and a touchdown, also had 19 carries for 50 yards; led the team with 19 punt returns for 175 yards. At Scottsdale CC: Caught 20 balls for 400 yards and four touchdowns at SCC in 2006. Personal: Graduate of Mesa, Ariz., Red Mountain HS, where he was a first-team all-region receiver and defensive back as well as a second-team all-state honoree and a first-team all-Tribune selection at DB. Racked up 656 receiving yards and eight touchdowns his senior season when he also intercepted five passes and helped his team to an East Valley region championship. Also lettered in baseball and track at RMHS. Parents are Kristy Myers and Keith Miller. Majoring in criminal justice.

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Let's play name that rising big-timer.

In December, he shut down esteemed pass rushers Richard Seymour, Mario Williams and Gaines Adams, all in a three-game swoop.

He recently signed with a sports super agent, Drew Rosenhaus. He even has his own Web site, complete with a personal blog.

One more hint: former Raiders coach Lane Kiffin wouldn't have guessed it in a million 4-12 seasons.

"Aw, man, I had nothing to do with the Web site," said Raiders left tackle Mario Henderson, a bit embarrassed to be the correct answer. "I didn't even know how to log in or e-mail or none of that stuff."

Don't let the aw-shucks act fool you.

The days of playing Kiffin's kick toy are over. Henderson is nothing less than the Raiders' best chance to keep the back gate closed behind quarterback JaMarcus Russell this upcoming season.

Teammates love him, coaches praise him, fans adore him. Who knows? Maybe one of these days, Henderson, too, will believe the hype.

"No, not yet, not at all," Henderson said. "That's the kind of guy I am. I don't like all the publicity and all that."

Truth is, Henderson has gotten nothing but unsolicited pub since the day he arrived.

The Raiders didn't just draft him in the third round in 2007. They traded a future pick to the Patriots to do so. That immediately made him a person of interest in the wake of the lopsided Randy Moss-to-New England switcheroo.

Soon enough, Kiffin questioned his ability and desire to play the game. Asked if Henderson would ever get off the inactive list, Kiffin said "no chance" every which way during the season.

"I guess they were trying to make him tougher, because you've got to be a tough dude to play left tackle," said tight end Zach Miller, adding that he hardly recognizes the "totally different guy" next to him in the huddle. "He was just nervous and afraid to mess up."

It got worse at training camp last year. When declaring Henderson would start a preseason game at Tennessee, Kiffin smirked and said, "That'll be interesting." Henderson then needed three in-season chances to replace Kwame Harris, the most penalized offensive lineman in all the league.

So, if anyone wonders why Henderson had a self-esteem complex, that's as good a place to start as any.

"I'm not going to say it was too harsh," Henderson said. "I'm going to take the blame. Maybe I wasn't doing what they were expecting of me. But, of course, I took that as motivation.

"If I didn't play here, I was going to show them that one day I can play in the league."

Now, that attitude is more like it.

Remember when the Raiders signed Jaguars left tackle Khalif Barnes a few months back? Henderson said that, though the competition was welcome, he would make it unnecessary, because the job was his.

Barnes went down with a preseason-ending ankle injury last week, but no matter. Henderson was well on his way to an Opening Day assignment against Shawne Merriman and the Chargers.

In camp last week, Henderson brushed off defensive end Trevor Scott, last year's sack leader, in every pass-rush drill. He'd roll into the second level and blast unsuspecting linebackers. He'd pull inside and knock back nose tackle Terdell Sands.

In short, he acted like a legitimate NFL tackle, and when is the last time the Raiders had one of those? (Answer: Barry Sims, the four-coaches-ago version).

So, if Kiffin has anything else to add, Henderson would love to hear it. All the public flogging kind of grew on him.

"I'm still a little nervous because I haven't played a full season," Henderson said, because someone's got to put him down. "I'm really ready to see what I can do."





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Day nine of camp Cable is now completely in the books. The defense once again won the day with Kirk Morrison and Ricky Brown both racking up numerous mythical sacks. (Can't tackle the quarterback, so the play continues.) The nature of the offensive line is taking shape, now that Mario Henderson is entrenched on the left side, and Barnes is out. Lorenzo Neal is having a major benefit to the team, and Derrick Burgess is no longer with the team.

* To update my earlier report, the Raiders received a 3rd round pick in 2010 and a 5th round pick in 2011 for Burgess, as opposed to both picks being from 2011 as I reported earlier.

* Offensive lineman Robert Gallery, who is one of the longest tenured Raider position players, (Kickers Sebastian Janikowski and Shane Lechler share the honor of the longest tenure, dating back to 2000 and the Jon Gruden regime) had nothing but praise for his teammate Mario Henderson, "He’s getting better. He’s taking big steps from last year and he’s just like everybody else out here, working on stuff he needs to and trying to win a job like everybody else on the team... I think Mario’s a professional, and just like the rest of us, he knows he’s got stuff to work on and he’s going to keep grinding and once I get back we’ll get our stuff down and we’ll be all right.”

* Kirk Morrison is determined to hold on to his job as starting mike linebacker, despite Ricky Brown making a push for that job. "That's what the whole camp is all about, it's competing. I've been a starter in this league for four years and my play kinda' speaks for itself, so I definitely understand that there's a competition thing, but I've been playing for a long long time and I understand all about it."

* Tight end Zach Miller is looking forward to being more of a receiver this season. "Yeah definitely. Just with the way the wideouts have been playing. They've been opening up a lot more things for me and that will continue to the season. With Heyward-Bey's speed and Murphy continuing and of course we have Chaz and Chaz is looking so much better than his rookie year last season. We're going to be a lot better at wideout." He has been getting less balls thrown his way, but he sees that as a positive for the offense as a whole, "That's definitely a good thing. I want him to get as much timing and as much trust in all those wideouts because teams can just bracket me, they can put guys on me to jam me, they can things like that. If we have wideouts that they're scared of or they have to pay attention to, that only opens me up more. So we'll get our throws and we'll get our thing going but I'd like to see the ball spread around as much as possible."

* Jay Richardson said that former teammate Burgess can not going to be replaced, but "we’ve got plenty of weapons here on this defense. We’ve got a lot of young guys, a lot of talent. We’re ready to go."

* Gallery also had praise for veteran fullback Lorenzo Neal, "He’s great. I mean, the guy was playing professional football when I was in junior high so that’s impressive. If you look up an NFL football player, a professional, his picture would be there. Everything he does, the way he goes about it, he’s probably almost 40 years old and he’s still hitting like he’s 20. He’s a great guy. He takes a lot of leadership, not only with the football but just talking and the type of guys he is. He cares, and he’s a great addition.”

* Mario Henderson said that it was bittersweet that his competition for the left tackle situation was won at the expense of an injury to teammate Khalif Barnes. However, Henderson is not taking it for granted that he will be automatically starting, "I mean, like I said, the position still ain’t mines yet, technically, because I still got work to do. But I mean, I treat it like he was still here. I go out there and work hard everyday, no matter who’s there, whether it’s a new guy or Khalif or whoever it is.”

The Raiders most glaring defenisve weakness has been against the run. Much has been made of the issues with the defensive line, but linebackers do share in that responsibility as well.

The "Law Firm" of Morrison and Howard are fan favorites, and have been spectacular at times in pass coverage. The sdtrong side linebacker position has been a revolving door of late featuring Ricky Brown, Jon Alston, and Robert Thomas among others.

PROJECTED STARTERS:

* WLB Thomas Howard
* MLB Kirk Morrison
* SLB Jon Alston

For all the talk coming from training camp about Ricky Brown pushing Kirk Morrison at the starting mike linebacker position, there is no way that Brown will take that spot. Morrison has started every game for the last three seasons at that position, after starting fifteen games his rookie year as an outside backer, and for all of the criticism he has taken, he has led the Raiders in tackling for each of the last four years.

Thomas Howard is probably the fastest linebacker in the NFL, and there is no one in camp who will challenge his starting position. Howard has shown a knack for the ball, and is one of the best pass defending linebackers in the league.

The battle to watch here will be Jon Alston versus Ricky Brown for the strong side linebacker position. Brown broke camp last year as the starting SLB, however when he went down Alston took over and played well in relief. Despite the old adage that "you don't lose your job to injury," Alston has taken the majorty of snaps at SLB during camps, and looks to have the inside track.

Projected depth:

The loser of the Ricky Brown v Jon Alston scrum for strong side linebacker will be the primary depth. This is an area that is full of special teams standouts who may not be the best on the field as linebackers. Sam Williams has proven himself to be astrong special teams player, but may be nearing the end of his time on the Al Davis scholarship program. He never materialized into the pass rusher he was expected to become when he was drafted in 2003. He will have to defend his roster spot from the challenge of Slade Norris.

The ink has not yet dried on Isaiah Ekejiuba's three year contract. He was a Pro Bowl alternate as a special teams player in 2008, and he is raring to take that next step come 2009. However, he is not a player who should be on the field much as a defender. He is strictly a special teams guy.

On the bubble:

Undrafted free agent David Nixon has a long way to go to earn a slot on the final 53. However, he is a prime candidate to be put on the practice squad.

In Memoriam:

Linebacker Marquis Cooper was lost at sea last March. He is still listed on the roster.







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John Marshall played coy when asked how his Oakland Raiders defense would differ from the one run the previous five seasons under former coordinator Rob Ryan.

Marshall said he preferred to wait and let others make the judgment, saying all he knew was that "my hair won't be as long" as the wild-haired Ryan. The Raiders are hoping that the differences in Marshall's defense are much more substantial than hairdos.

Oakland's new defensive coordinator spoke to the media for the first time since being hired in the offseason, vowing to fix the shoddy run defense by focusing on fundamentals and to do whatever it takes to "bring pressure" on the opposing quarterback.

The switch from Ryan to Marshall was one of the most substantial the Raiders made on defense after last season, with nine of the 11 starters from the second half of the season back in Oakland this year.

Ryan had been one of the few constants on the team during his five years as defensive coordinator. The team went through four head coaches, four offensive coordinators and six offensive play-callers in that span, posting a 20-60 record.

Ryan endured through it all, surviving even after former coach Lane Kiffin wanted him replaced following the 2007 season. While he did have some success, most notably with the third-ranked defense in 2006 when Oakland's offense was so bad that the opposing teams spent most of the second halves running out the clock, the Raiders defense under Ryan was often a problem.

In his five years, the Raiders allowed an NFL-worst 101 rushing touchdowns and the second-most yards per game at 138.7. Oakland's 154 sacks in that span were the seventh fewest in the league.

The run defense was one of the glaring weaknesses that stood out for Marshall when he watched film of every game from the past two seasons after taking over the job. He said the talent was there to succeed, but players were too often in the wrong spots.

"That has everything to do with technique, and it has a whole lot to do with attitude and tackling," Marshall said. "Those are the areas, disengaging blockers, fundamentals."

Marshall has been an NFL defensive coordinator in four other stops since entering the league in 1980. He ran defenses in Atlanta, San Francisco, Carolina and Seattle before being hired by the Raiders. He won two Super Bowls as an assistant with the 49ers and a national championship in college with Southern California.

He has placed a heavy emphasis on fundamentals this training camp, making sure players know where they are supposed to be so that all the gaps are filled on each play.

"I've never been of the belief you can't teach old dogs new tricks," he said. "You just kind of have to stay with it longer, have patience and push them harder. Sure, it's a matter of developing new habits for these guys and that's not easy. That's why the transition is not easy on the players."

The Raiders under owner Al Davis have almost always been a man-to-man defense team that rarely blitzes. Davis is known for his involvement on defense, with players and former coaches talking about how he helps shapes the philosophy of his team.

Marshall says he enjoyed his opportunity to talk football with Davis, who was once again out at practice Friday afternoon.

"I know he knows defense," Marshall said. "The great thing is, is he is like me. He's long in the tooth and he's old school. It's line up, there's your guy, cover him. And there goes the ball, you go out there and tackle him. ... He's old school. Keep it simple and play hard. And he's very smart. He knows his football. Believe me."

Marshall says he has never had the cornerbacks to run as much man-to-man defense as the Raiders will employ. They have been showing more blitzes in practice this training camp, but some of that may be to prepare the offense for what opposing teams will bring. Marshall said that if the defensive line can't generate enough pressure on the quarterback, then he will start sending extra rushers.

For players who have been here awhile, they want to see what happens in games before believing there has been a change.

"That's like a wait-and-see type of thing because even in camps previously we were doing a lot of blitzing and doing multiple things defensively and then we got into games and we were pretty basic," star cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said. "So, it's like a wait-and-see type of thing."







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Camp Cable completed its tenth day with a single practice this afternoon, and the Raiders had a less than stellar practice. Darrius Heyward-Bey had some drop problems again. Chaz Schilens is still excelling. Jon Alston didn't get in a fight for a change. William Joseph had a big day and the Raiders are getting ready for the Raider Nation Celebration this afternoon.

* Coach Tom Cable described it as hitting the 'camp wall,' "Not really sharp today you can tell we are hitting that camp wall if you will we need to kind of push through that. I talked to them about it afterwards and its a lot like how you handle a bad half. How you regroup kind of answers how you are going, how you are developing as a football team. Disappointed that we could not really push through this afternoon, but at the same time a lot of good work in terms of situations that we did."

* Cable praised JaMarcus Russell for spreading the ball around more, saying that would only help Zach Miller, "It is a product of having more talent on the football team and having more options to throw the football to. Obviously the receiving corps continues to get better and improve and that is going to do nothing but get better and enhance Zach and his play, as I have talked about before, so I think it is a product of everybody around him."

* Defensive coordinator John Marshall said that since being hired he had watched tape of Raiders defense from every game for the last two years multiple times. He offered this as the solution to the Raiders woes against the run,"We need to improve the run game. That has everything to do with technique, and it has a whole lot to do with attitude and tackling. Those are the areas, disengaging blockers, fundamentals … better fundamentals."

* Speaking of the run game, Justin Fargas made the bold prediction that the Oakland Raiders could have THREE 1,000 yard rushers on their team. That is a feat that has never been accomplished in the history of the NFL. "We plan on being a top running team. We plan on making the playoffs and having an extended season. There’s going to be plenty of carries and plenty of yards out there for each of us. I feel like we can all have great seasons and all complement each other well. Three 1,000-yard backs isn’t out of the question.”

* Bush agreed with Fargas's assessment, "Yeah, with the fullbacks that we have, we’re going to rock things with Lorenzo and Big O. He’s back to being 100 percent, as you see. He’s dropping his pads and being that hammer that he was (in 2007), that guy that catches out of the backfield. It’s a good thing. The zone scheme is made to have at least two 1,000-yard backs. It’s possible.”

* My prediction, if each of the Raiders three headed monster has 1,000 yard seasons, the Raiders will be a Super Bowl contender.








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The good news for Darren McFadden was that it didn't take him long to prove he could make an impact in the NFL.

In Week 2 last season, McFadden exploded for 164 yards on 21 carries, leading the Raiders to a win at Kansas City. McFadden had a 50-yard run and quickly displayed why Oakland took him with the No. 4 overall pick in the draft. It was a great start to his career.

The bad news: That performance was the last impactful game of his rookie season. He never ran for more than 46 yards or had more than 14 carries in a game the rest of the season. Because of nasty turf toe injuries, the former Arkansas game-breaker was unable to live up to expectations. He missed three games because of the injuries and had only 113 carries and 29 receptions.

"Last year wasn't what I expected," McFadden said recently at Oakland's training camp. "It was frustrating, but I know I can do it ... I think about that Kansas City game, because it showed what I can do. But it was just one game. I have to put it all together."

There is little doubt in Oakland that McFadden can put it all together as a second-year player. Health is the key and now McFadden is completely recovered from his injuries. He looked crisp and explosive in the training camp practices I saw. His speed is off the charts.

McFadden's true value is his versatility, and it's the primary reason why Oakland bypassed other pressing needs in 2008's draft. In addition to being a gifted runner, he is dangerous as a receiver and he can return kicks if needed. And don't be surprised if McFadden, who was a Wildcat star in college, is used in the formation more in his second year than the Raiders did last year.

Watch for McFadden to line up wide as a receiver in several formations. This can confuse opposing defenses, and with an unproven receiving crew, McFadden can help give life to the passing game.

It is clear that Raiders coach Tom Cable is counting the days to unleash the many faces of Darren McFadden.

"It's better for everyone," Cable said of McFadden's ability to play receiver. "It's a real key for us."

I simply get the feeling that the McFadden we all expected to see will show himself in his second season. If Oakland's offense makes significant strides, it will be because of a strong reliance on McFadden.

There are, of course, limitations. McFadden will make an impact but he is probably more Reggie Bush than Adrian Peterson. He would have a difficult time being a workhorse because of he isn't the biggest back in the league and he has a history of injuries. McFadden will be much more effective carrying the ball 15 to 18 times a game rather than 25 to 30.

That is a realistic proposition. Oakland is as deep as any team in the NFL at tailback. The Raiders also posses intriguing power back Michael Bush and yardage-eater Justin Fargas. The Raiders want McFadden to be the first option, but he'll have help.

McFadden believes the three-headed monster will work in Oakland after some rough spots last season.

"I love that we have three guys," McFadden said. "We can really throw different things at defenses. Plus, every running back in the NFL is going to get banged up. Having three guys will keep us fresh ... We can be really dangerous."

McFadden can be the most dangerous of all three. His performance thus far in training camp shows there could be many days ahead that will make people remember Week 2 of the 2008 season.

"That game gave me a good taste," McFadden said. "I can't wait to show people that I can do that on a regular basis. That's what I'm looking to do in 2009."

Up to today, the Raiders had gone through OTA's and training camp without a hitch. Besides Derrick Burgess' hold-out, Robert Gallery's appendectomy, and Javon Walker having an unannounced surgery in an undisclosed location, the offseason has been quiet and uneventful.

Today, that might have changed.

Several players were shaken up in practice and one may be out for an extended period of time. Khalif Barnes went down towards the end of the morning practice when Ryan Boschetti was blocked into his knee by James Marten on a passing play. Barnes was taken for an MRI on his knee and ankle, but no word at this time on the results.

Mike Mitchell came off the field, shaken up after breaking up a pass thrown by Charlie Frye to Todd Watkins. His awkward landing gave him a helmet full of grass, but he was able to come back in after a few minutes.

Mark Wilson left the field after getting back spasms during a pass rush drill, but it shouldn't be an issue going forward.

The biggest news was that of Nnamdi Asomugha going down with what appeared to be a hip pointer. Asomugha left the field and was attended to by trainers for several minutes as they stretched his legs. Asomugha came back on the field and didn't seem to have a problem running, but he was still holding his hip. Later, when asked about it, he said that his hip flexor had tightened up on him and that he was fine.

Oh yeah, my hip flexor was tight. Oh, nothing gets past you all. Nothing gets past you. It was a little tight, but I'm -- it's fine, it's nothing, I just need to stretch a little more.

- Asomugha telling reporters about his non-injury after practice Tuesday morning

Here are this morning's quick hits:

* Jeff Garcia was wearing a jersey and a ball cap, but he wasn't wearing pads or a helmet during the day. Coach Cable did say that he was, "progressing very well." After practice, Garcia was working on his legs with weights and isometric excercises and he didn't look like he was having too much trouble with either.

* Robert Gallery and Javon Walker are still out, but they are not expected back for another week. Gallery was on the field watching his teammates, but I didn't see Walker until after practice when he was walking out of the weight room.

* Justin Miller, Nick Miller, Samie Parker, and Johnnie Lee Higgins all practiced catching punts from the juggs machine.

* Mark Davis, Steve Wisniewski, Zack Crockett, and William Thomas were all watching at the start of practice.

* The beginning of practice starts out similarly to the 'learning intensive' sessions that the Raiders went through until Monday night. The defense was practicing blitzes, but only at walking speed. Ricky Brown is getting work as the starting middle linebacker.

* Nick Miller continues to impress. During passing drills, Miller went out on a 20-yard crossing pattern and the ball looked like it might be thrown too far ahead of him. It was almost as if he had another gear when he sped up and made the catch. At 5'9" and 180 lbs., he's easy to root for, but many don't see him with a shot at cracking the 53-man roster. I don't agree. If the media is anticipating his next catch, chances are that the coaches are too. Later in practice, while being covered, Charlie Frye threw a 35-yard pass over to the right sideline. Again, the pass looked out of reach, but Miller got there, dove and caught the ball in his outstretched arms to a chorus of 'oohs' and cheers from his teammates and onlookers.

* Louis Murphy continues to put in solid days. He has deceptive speed and he doesn't drop many balls -- if any. While he hasn't been the story of camp, he has shown to be, quite possibly, the Raiders' best draft pick of 2009.

* While we're on receivers and draft picks, we may as well talk about Darrius Heyward-Bey. On a go-route down the left sidelines, Charlie Frye threw a beautiful bomb of about 35 yards that would've caused DHB to catch the ball over his shoulder. Frye hit his receiver in stride, but the first-round pick's hands careened the ball into his helmet as if they were made of cement. I would estimate that during camp he has dropped about 40% of the balls thrown to him -- a percentage that shouldn't be anywhere near 10% when you are the seventh pick of the draft as a receiver.

* JaMarcus Russell looked better today, but we didn't get a chance to see him throwing many intermediate routes, a definite weakness of his. In fact, the few routes that he had trouble with were 10 to 20 yards. His consistency needs to improve and that may have to do with his footwork. Some of his throws were without setting his feet, which caused some of his passes to sail off-mark.

* Starting offensive line had no changes, with McQuistan playing left guard. He and Chris Morris are still rotating.

* Jay Richardson was playing with the first team. Greg Ellis started practice, then he was stretched out, but he never returned to the field -- at least not with a helmet on. He watched with everyone else not playing. Cable was asked if Ellis was just getting rest, "Yeah, that's all, just being smart with the veterans, and you'll see that as we go now. If there's someone that's not dressed it may not mean they're injured or anything like that, just want to make sure we're taking care of their bodies." We'll see later today how accurate that answer was.

* Ricky Brown took most of the snaps at middle linebacker with Thomas Howard on the weak side and John Alston on the strong side. It's hard not to read anything into it, since the Raiders attempted to get a middle linebacker this offseason in the draft and with undrafted free agents. We'll chalk it up to coincidence for now, but we'll keep our eyes open too.

* The defense looked much better today. They seemed to pressure the quarterback regularly and stopped the run better than we are used to seeing. The only problem is they are still having breakdowns. On one play, Cooper Carlisle cleared a hole so big that an actual Mack Truck could have fit through it. On another play, Louis Rankin busted through another huge hole on the left side of the line and scampered for a 70-yard touchdown. These breakdowns are a problem, but IT IS only the second day with pads on. There was a period where the defense was making their way by the offensive line with ease. Jay Richardson had what would've been a sack if it were an actual game, Matt Shaughnessy had one, Ryan Boschetti and Shaughnessy rushed Charlie Frye out of the pocket on consecutive plays and a few plays later, Morrison blitzed into the backfield to get to Rankin. This prompted Cable to instruct the offensive line, which seemed to help.

* Hit of the day was a pop that Mike Mitchell gave to backup halfback Gary Russell. Russell stayed upright and kept running, but Mitchell eased up on the hit. Russell had performed a nice cutback run when Mitchell came zooming over and the two met with a thunderous "POP". Mitchell has looked good in coverage, minus some rookie moments. As of yet, there is nothing to indicate that he wasn't worth the second-round selection.

* After practice had ended and Cable had addressed the team, a fight broke out between Tony Stewart and Jon Alston. No punches were thrown and nobody confirmed that it was a fight, but one reporter overheard Stewart telling another teammate that Alston had brushed his facemask during a play in practice that he thought had ended. I tried to get Stewart after practice, but like a good receiver, he was able to juke me and make it to the parking lot before I or anyone else could ask a question.

* Terdell Sands and Tommy Kelly have been putting some time in on the cardio machines after practice. I don't know if they need to lose weight...yet. They are definitely getting a better workout after practice than they do during the course of practice.







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The first practice of day seven of Camp Cable is in the books. They are now two practices removed from the infamous "teaching practices" and are in pads and making contact. Now that the contact has started, the camp battles are heating up and the team is getting ready for football with Mike Mitchell offering a glimmer of his hitting ability, and Darrius Heyward-Bey still struggling with his hands.

However, with the second day of contact came some fresh injuries, with Khalif Barnes spraining an ankle and reserve tackle Mark Wilson having back spasms. In an encouraging sign, fullback Oren O'Neal was on the field practicing despite being less than a year removed from tearing his ACL, MCL, and LCL.

JaMarcus Russell looked a bit shaky today, despite either the pass protection being improved or John Marshall not dialing up as many blitzes. It didn't help that Heyward-Bey had a couple of drops, when Russell did the ball near him.

Following the practice, Coach Cable faced the local media:

Okay, biggest emphasis you saw there was the move-the-ball period. Kinda' get 'em out there, get the coaches and the rest of the players away from them. Let them have to problem-solve in the huddle a little bit and kind of decipher things. Get the call, make the call and adjust and all that. So, some good stuff there. Injury-wise, couple of guys -- Khalif Barnes sprained an ankle, that's what you saw over there, and Mark Wilson got a back spasm in a pass rush drill. Guys still the same, you know Walker with the knee still doing his thing, Gallery with the appendicitis still doing his thing, all progressing very well and Jeff Garcia was better today.

Cable thinks that the cure for Heyward-Bey's hands issue is to just keep pushing him through it. That as long as he keeps getting the reps, it will come to him.

I think like everyone, he's coming along, coming along and just keep giving it to him, keep teaching him how to put the negative play behind him, you know, and that's kinda' where we're at. But much better today in terms of doing that. He dropped a ball on a go-route, came back and made a big catch on an out-route, so just gotta' keep pushing him that way.

He also believes that the Raiders have an offensive core that will be something special down the line.

That's the great thing about what we've done in the draft, and getting some players, and a nucleus of them together that can be here a while, so we just gotta' get them headed in the right direction and they're getting it. They're getting it.

When asked if going against Nnamdi Asomugha every day in practice will help Heyward-Bey, Cable responded:

I think it’s great. I think it’s good for all those receivers. And Nnam’s done a nice job of teaching them. As you said, there’s some time he’s running the route for them, they’re giving it away, and letting them know that, hey, this is what you’re doing, this is what I saw. I think it’s great for them, it’s great for all those guys. What I’m most impressed with is Nnamdi’s want to teach those guys to get better.

In a potential camp battle upset, Cable says that Ricky Brown is pushing Kirk Morrison for the mike linebacker position.

I think everything is serious competition. We wanted to do that for a reason. We want to push Kirk, and we want to push Ricky, and we want to get the right combination in there, so you know, we just want to give everyone the opportunity when it fits, an when they’ve earned it to do that....They’re very similar players. It’s just trying to press the competition as coaches.

Cable had this to say about Oren O'Neal being ready to go this soon after his catastrophic knee injury:

I’m very happy for him. Very excited for our team. You see the team’s response when he goes in there, and puts it on someone and that’s good for everybody. It’s uplifting, because he went through quite a bit, obviously, and to come out and do those things, I think is good for our team. I’m happy for him.

Cable singled out Mike Mitchell for some praise, after he put a hit on a teammate, but didn't go full bore into him:

What I like is he has really committed to the learning part of it. He’s always trying to ask questions, always around with his coaches, so to me, he recognized the fact that he missed all that and he’s making up for it, and doing fine. He’s obviously an intelligent, guy, but just his want to, to press it, go after it and find out and get the answers has been the most important thing.






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One of the lasting images of the 2009 NFL Draft was Chris Berman waving around Mel Kiper, Jr's book ranting about the Raiders reaching with their selection of Mike Mitchell in the second round. During day two of the draft coverage, the NFL Network's Mike Mayock apologized for having ripped on that selection the day before, since he had found another team that had been eyeing the safety out of Ohio University.

The impression of Mitchell was not helped by his missing most of minicamp and all of the OTAs with a hamstring injury. However, it was Mitchell who laid the first wood of the camp giving running back Gary Russell a hard pop that was heard throughout the facility.

Mitchell is a physical safety who has been itching to get the pads on since minicamp. In fact, during minicamp he said, "It’s really not football when you don’t have pads on. So there’s a lot of things they can get away with and we can get away with when there’s no pads on. Obviously there’s a reason you play the game with pads on. I just can’t wait to get them on and give out a couple of love taps and really let people see who I am."

He got his first chance with the play where he had a clean shot at Russell. (Gary, not JaMarcus.) Of course he took that shot, but rather than drive through him as he normally hits, he just delivered a pop. However, that pop was loud enough to get the attention of everyone in the facility. Mitchell recounted the play this way, "It was a cloud call. I was going to be in the deep third. It worked out perfectly. He got boxed in. He had nowhere to go, I had nowhere to go. That's what you dream about right there so it's a good one." When asked how the play would have ended had it been a real game, "He's going to be on his back and I'm going to be up yelling. That's how it usually ends"

He describes his hitting style as inspired by his idols Jack Tatum and Ronnie Lott. "I'm trying to hit the person behind him, not him. That's just how I play. I don't talk any trash or anything like that. I'm just a physical player. When it's game time, I'll let that speak when I play."

The fear in the Raider Nation that Mitchell is nothing more than Derrick Gibson 2.0. However, besides hitting, Mitchell has been making plays in coverage including making an adjustment when tight end Zach Miller peeled off for a route and Mitchell broke up the pass. He has also been praised for his learning of the game.

In addition to being a hard hitter, Coach Tom Cable says that Mitchell has been a student of the game. "What I like is he has really committed to the learning part of it. He’s always trying to ask questions, always around with his coaches, so to me, he recognized the fact that he missed all that and he’s making up for it, and doing fine. He’s obviously an intelligent, guy, but just his want to, to press it, go after it and find out and get the answers has been the most important thing."

Mitchell also acknowledges that he missed out because of the rule that wouldn't allow him at OTAs because his college class had not yet graduated. "Yeah I had a lot to do just because it was so tough not being able to practice and have those reps. Even, if I could have just been watching reps, that would have been huge but to not have anything I was pretty much coming out here really, really a rookie. I didn't know the defense, I didn't know where to go so I'm looking out here and the game was going way faster than it should have been. Now, I've had the time for those four days and I actually stayed here my whole summer rehabbing my hamstring so I had another month to stay out here and learn the defense. Now I know what I'm doing. Now it's a matter of playing and when it's down to just playing, that's when it's just a game."

He definitely has the right attitude for a safety. When he was asked at the end of practice who he laid the hit on, his response was classic, "I have no idea. He had the ball, so."






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"Oakland Raiders OLT Khalif Barnes was injured during Tuesday morning's training camp practice. Barnes, who signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal with Oakland in March, suffered a hairline fracture to his left ankle, a league source told Scout.com.

Barnes is expected to miss four to six weeks, which puts him out until at least the beginning of the regular season. Third-year OT Mario Henderson is expected to fill in at left tackle."


The Oakland Raiders now have eight days invested in Camp Cable, with three of them now actually containing contact. It was an up and down day for top pick Darrius Heyward-Bey. He had a rough morning session, but bounced back and had his best session in the afternoon. Charlie Frye has been impressive, but he won't be beating out JaMarcus Russell. The clock is ticking towards their first preseason game where it will be seen how close the Raiders are to being ready for prime time.

* Nnamdi Asomugha left the field for a bit today to get stretched out. He described it as "nothing," and informed the local beat writers that "nothing gets by you all."

* Jeff Garcia missed his second day with a sore calf. He expects to be back by Thursday.

* Ricky Brown has been getting reps with the first team at middle linebacker. Tom Cable reiterated that it is open competition accross the board.

* Undrafted free agent Nick Miller has become something of a camp sensation, catching everything in thrown in his zip code, despite being undersized. Having too many good players at a position is a good problem to have. However, he seems destined for a practice squad with Johnnie Lee Higgins, Chaz Schilens, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Louis Muprhy, and Javon Walker all ahead of him.

* Javon Walker has continued to look impressive in his rehab workouts.

* After struggling in the morning, Heyward-Bey turned in his best perfomance yet in the afternoon, going 14 of 16 with one of the misses woefully underthrown, and the other nearly picked by Chris Johnson.

* Chaz Schilens has still been lights out. He and Johnnie Lee Higgins are both have a very good camp.

* Darren McFadden is looking like he is ready to be the playmaker the Raiders were hoping for when they drafted him last year.






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Give Raiders rookie Darrius Heyward-Bey credit: He tried to be all smiles after a rough practice, even if he wasn't all hands.

"I'm confident," Heyward-Bey said. "You're going to catch some, you're going to drop some."

Heyward-Bey dropped four spirals Monday in the Raiders' first padded practice with actual contact since training camp opened six days earlier in Napa. He also caught his fair share, including two deep throws over the middle with touchdown potential.

But oh, those drops. It's hard to notice when little-known Jonathan Holland puts one on the grass. It's hard to ignore when it's a No. 7 overall draft pick who just signed a contract with $23.5 million guaranteed and plenty of critics to disprove.

And yes, his coaches and teammates have picked up on the daily trend. That's why they go out of their way to encourage Heyward-Bey between muffed plays, whether it's quarterback JaMarcus Russell, wide receivers Javon Walker and Chaz Schilens, or Raiders boss Al Davis himself.

"They tell me all the time, 'Forget about that one, move on to the next one,' " Heyward-Bey said. "I'm just trying to work through the kinks. That's football. It happens."

On his first play against the defense, Heyward-Bey double-bobbled a sharp pass to linebacker Thomas Howard for an interception. When he didn't come close to catching a sideline pass on Nnamdi Asomugha, Heyward-Bey clapped his hands twice in frustration.

"He understands his job is to catch footballs," coach Tom Cable said. "He is just pressing. You know he wants to impress you. That is what it is.

"It is just a process of gaining confidence and getting comfortable every day."

If nothing else, Heyward-Bey looks a lot better than 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree, the No. 10 overall pick who has yet to report to training camp. And he isn't the first wide receiver to have a case of the dropsies as a rookie.

The sooner Heyward-Bey gets it straight, the sooner the Raiders' vertical passing game will be born again.

"He's very anxious to succeed," Russell said. "I told him to make it easy for himself. Sometimes you jump for passes you don't have to. Those guys know you can catch, so go out there and show them."

Briefly: Backup quarterback Jeff Garcia, 39, is out with a strained calf and listed as day-to-day. ... Defensive end Derrick Burgess' holdout reached Day 6 with no end in sight. He can be fined up to $15,888 per day. Cable continually declines to comment. ... Pro Bowl punter Shane Lechler seems ready for the season to start. He had punts of 75 and 77 yards at the start of practice.









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Raiders defensive end Greg Ellis leaned forward and squinted his eyes in concentration. He was in the middle of answering a question about young teammates making him feel old when one of them went and made him feel old.

"They got music like that going," Ellis said, as rap music suddenly cranked to full blare behind him. "I guarantee that guy is not 30 years old, whoever's playing that."

Ellis isn't 30 years old, either. That was so three years ago. He'll turn 34 in 11 days. That makes the newest member of the Raiders one of the oldest members of the Raiders, all in the same June free-agent signing.

The Raiders brought in Ellis to act his age off the field. He has 12 years of experience with Pro Bowl credentials. This young defensive line (average tenure: 3.4 years) needs his leadership.

More urgently, the Raiders are now hoping Ellis won't act his age on the field. Former Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Burgess is a training camp holdout with no arrival in sight. The void came out of nowhere.

Just like that, Ellis became the starting left defensive end, surrounded by 20-somethings, remembering the way he was when their age.

"Obviously, I'm the old man," said Ellis, who looks his age with a well-worn beard. "But that's how it goes. One thing they give me is their energy. It's a young team, so I need to pull off them for that."

Raiders owner Al Davis, who just turned 80, isn't sweating the birth certificate. He personally recruited Ellis when the lineman was released by the Cowboys, knowing some of Ellis' best work came when he was pushing 30.

At age 29, Ellis had a career-high nine sacks for the Cowboys. At age 32, Ellis topped that with 12.5 sacks to make the Pro Bowl as the league's comeback player of the year. All this came as a linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, when Ellis said he is more comfortable as a 4-3 defensive end.

Ellis added eight sacks last season, and that was with the Cowboys limiting his playing time off the bench. Ellis' eight sacks as a 33-year-old part-timer was three more than anyone on the Raiders last season.

"He's a veteran, he's a real pro," coach Tom Cable said. "We signed him for a purpose, to come in and play for us. Where it all worked out would be decided."

Burgess chose not to report to training camp in his contract year. He is being fined up to $15,888 a day. The Raiders show no indication they will end the stalemate by giving him a restructured deal, trading him or releasing him, according to a high-ranking team source.

If the Raiders hadn't signed Ellis, Burgess could have been the one with leverage right now. Burgess was the veteran leader with two Pro Bowls and 47 career sacks. No other defensive end on the roster has more than two years of playing experience or five career sacks.

Enter Ellis with 77 sacks in 11 seasons. Exit any worries the Raiders had when Burgess no-showed. If Burgess were to show up today, he'd most likely be on the second team.

"New beginnings, man," Ellis said.

Hitting time: The Raiders will finally put on the pads for contact today after four days of "teaching intensive" two-a-days, as Cable called them.

If the idea was to get these players amped to hit somebody, it worked.

"It's good that we'll finally be able to get our hands on the ball and judge how well we're actually doing," cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said. "Because right now you really don't know.

"Maybe there will be a fight or two, get the juices flowing that way."

Briefly: Backup quarterback Jeff Garcia, 39, was limited in practice Sunday. He isn't injured but wants to stay fresh in his 11th camp. ... One benefit of non-contact practices: no injuries after five days.

Camp competitions

Here are the starting jobs up for grabs when the Raiders finally put pads on for hitting today at training camp. Keep in mind, running back and receiver will be by committee, for now.
Left tackle

Front-runner: Mario Henderson

Challenger: Khalif Barnes

Handicap: Barnes is the import with experience, but Henderson has Al Davis' seal of approval.
Wide receiver

Front-runner: Johnnie Lee Higgins

Challenger: Darrius Heyward-Bey

Handicap: Higgins hasn't been an every-down producer, DHB is getting paid to be one.
Middle linebacker

Front-runner: Kirk Morrison

Challenger: Ricky Brown

Handicap: Morrison is the team's leading tackler, but Brown will give some push.
Cornerback

Front-runner: Chris Johnson

Challenger: Stanford Routt

Handicap: Routt gets a chance here, just in case Johnson was a one-hit wonder for half of last season.
Free safety

Front-runner: Hiram Eugene

Challenger: Michael Huff

Handicap: Maybe Huff wins his job back. Maybe he gets cut. It's that hard to tell after three tough years.










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