Skip to main content

Mini Camp Day 3 Recap

You have to wonder why so many of the rookies missed practice because
of hamstring cramps. I guess they just weren't used to the rigors of
the NFL.

It is concerning, but we know nothing was major. Were the Raiders
playing it extremely safe? Or, were the Raiders trying to alleviate
some of the media scrutiny on the young guys?

Whatever the reason practice was sloppy with many non-contibutors.

Because of the sloppiness and with so many guys sitting out it was a
difficult day to gauge.

I hope the coaches are truly making strides with these guys' mental
game and fundamentals.

Neal is already looking like a great pickup. He is older than a normal
FB but he still has game and is in shape. Provided he stays healthy he
is just the right kind of FB to complement O'Neal and improve the run
game and pass protection.

Most impressive camp: TE Chris Oneil. Everyone was raving about this
guy.

Least impressed: WR Lious Murphy because he couldn't stay on the field
with cramps.

Cramps are easily avoidable with proper hydration and vitamin levels.
This is one of those things that irk me. Pro athletes should be versed
in proper nutrition so these problems can be avoided. I know that bad
cramps can actually create a strained feeling in that muscle, so that
could be why these guys couldn't practice. Why not avoid this by
drinking some water eatig a banana and popping a Men's multi-vitamin?

I digress. I think the real practice goes on behind closed doors. The
media friendly practices are more of a show and tell / meet and greet
than anything. Not that things aren't happening, they are, but this is
more of an evaluation period for the coaches. After OTAs and as
Training camp arrives, playbooks will be memorized and players will
know each other. The coaches will know what they have and the battle
is on. Win or die.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Oakland Raiders Swing for the Fences in 2016 NFL Draft

[embed align="center"]http://gty.im/153039819[/embed] These aren't your daddy's Oakland Raiders or even your younger self's Raiders. If anything, these are your newborn's Raiders or your puppy's Raiders. These are the Raiders we've never seen before. Indicative of the freshness of the franchise was their 2016 NFL Draft. No longer slave to a high draft pick and desperate needs, the theme of the draft for the Raiders was upside. It's as if general manager Reggie McKenzie got so used to hitting his draft picks out of the park that he started swinging for the fences. We'll have to wait a couple of years before we know if he struck out or if he'll continue his Ruthian ways. First, McKenzie boldly went with a safety at No. 14 overall. Kyle Joseph is coming off a torn ACL and fills a major need, but safety isn't a premium position. Only a handful of safeties have been drafted in the first 14 picks in the last 15 years and include names like Ea

The Raiders aren't who we thought they were....they're better

The Oakland Raiders are tired of being the team that will be good in a year or two. The team expects to win now and it is winning now. We thought the Raiders needed more talent. We thought that being in the playoff hunt was a year away for this team, but we were wrong. This isn't the team we thought they were, they're better. On Sunday, they moved to 3-3 on Sunday with a 37-29 win over the San Diego Chargers that wasn't close until the final minute. It was also the Raiders second road win of the season. The last time the Raiders had two road wins by their sixth game was 2011. Before that, a five-year streak from 1998-2002. The Raiders went 8-8 in 1998, 1999 and 2011 and narrowly missed the playoffs each year.  They made the playoffs in 2000, 2001 and 2002. They didn't have a losing record in any of those seasons because teams that can win on the road are usually pretty good. As the season matures, there is more and more evidence that some of the "best-case scenario

Looking Forward: Raiders 2012 Free Agents

Khalif Barnes - Weakest link on the offensive line with youth behind him. Raiders will look for for other options. It's not as if there aren't a dozen Khalif's on the street each year. Darryl Blackstock - Was a Chuck Bresnahan guy, but found a home on special teams. Would have to make the team as a reserve LB and special teams guy next training camp. Wouldn't be surprised to see him back as a camp body or gone entirely. Kyle Boller - Hue didn't have enough confidence to turn to Boller. Expect the Raiders to look elsewhere for a backup to Carson Palmer. Jerome Boyd - Was nothing more than a reserve and special teams player. Some good moments and some very bad ones. Camp body again and fate will depend on the defensive coordinator. Tyvon Branch - About the only consistent producer in the secondary. Raiders will want to bring him back. Desmond Bryant - He's been great in limited action and can play inside and out. Key reserve. Michael Bush - He'll find a home a