Raiders to lose wide receiver
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It appears that the Oakland Raiders are going to lose WR Chaz Schilens because of knee surgery. Schilens knee injury was most likely due to a foot injury he suffered and was over compensating. Raiders head coach Tom Cable wasn’t positive that Schilens will be lost for an extended period of time, hinting that perhaps the knee situation could be rectified with a simple scope procedure and that he might be ready at the start of the season.
That assessment might be a bit optimistic. Schilens was expected to figure into the Raiders offensive scheme this season and now will likely miss all of pre-season which sets back his timing with new QB Jason Campbell. Just expect TE Zach Miller to be more involved in the Raiders passing game.
Raiders Darren McFadden:Boom or Bust?
Each year about this time, fantasy football players are drafting Oakland Raiders RB Darren McFadden thinking he will finally have his “breakout” season, so is he a boom or bust?
Raiders Brennan expects to play Thursday
The Oakland Raiders signed another former Washington Redskins QB this week, Colt Brennan and he expects to play on Thursday against the Dallas Cowboys. Brennan has little chance of making the Raiders final roster but another arm was needed for the Raiders game on Thursday.
Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye are both nursing injuries right now and only Jason Campbell and kyle Boller are healthy.
When asked about being pressed into duty so quickly, Brennan sounded confident. “Basically I’m just trying to get somewhat of a game plan for Thursday night just so I can be ready. I can at least look like I know what I’m doing out there and have a chance to move the ball and have some success with that third team”, Brennan told reporters.
Brennan grew up in Southern California and was actually a Raiders fan. “I grew up in Southern California , my dad had Raiders tickets growing up. I was looking at my helmet the other day right before I put it on and I was thinking it’s kind of wierd but it’s also kind of cool to be putting on the Silver and Black”, Brennan told the ContraCostaTimes.com
Brennan also had some evaluation of starting quarterback Jason Campbell, who he played with in Washington. “Already they have an all-around good guy, a hard worker, a guy that’s going to be a leader and gets respect from his players. Jason is a natural, kind of prototypical NFL quarterback. Six-four, he moves really well, he’s got a big arm, can throw the ball down field”.
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Cable- Oakland Raiders ‘different mentality’
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Oakland Raider head coach Tom Cable senses something different about the 2010 squad, he claims there is a different mentality. He heads into this season with more of a sense of calm around the team. Gone is JaMarcus Russell and the problems surrounding him. In, is the most under appreciated quarterback in the league, Jason Campbell. Lost in the whole Donovan McNabb trade to the Redskins was the fact that Campbell and McNabb had almost identical stats last season. Campbell is going to open some eyes this year along with the Raiders as a team.
Given the holdout situation in San Diego and the injuries in Denver, the AFC West division might be thrown for a loop this coming year. Cable was a guest on KNBR in San Francisco this week, you can hear the entire interview right here. He claims that there is a big difference between last years camp and this years. “I think in many ways it is just night and day. It is just a different mentality, a different energy level that is going around this football team and even with the additions to this team and kind of with this coaching staff, it has kind of helped us in the big picture, and the draft was good for us”.
Cable likes what he sees in Jason Campbell, (as transcribed by sportsradiointerviews.com)
“I think a guy that can be consistent. I think that is the first thing that jumps out of your mind. What I like most about him is that he takes care of the football. If you look at his career thus far, all that being in Washington until now, he really did a nice job of not throwing many interceptions and I think if this team just gets where he has been, you know that low number of interceptions and kind of that medium number of touchdowns, we will be one hundred times better. I think the fact that he knows how to take care of the ball, he is good at making decisions, very, very professional, works at it very hard and I think if he will be just who he is, he will be fine.”
Oakland Raiders try new options in backfield
It appears the Oakland Raiders are trying to mix it up in the backfield. Yesterday the Raiders moved DT Alex Daniels into the backfield to practice as the teams full back. The undrafted rookie said he is happy just to contribute. “Whatever I can do to help the team win, that’s what I going to do. If I gotta play fullback, if I gotta go get the water, then I’m going to do it”, Daniels told reporters. Now that is a positive attitude. Send memo to Albert Haynesworth.
Daniels isn’t the only shake up on the defensive line. DE Richard Seymour has been practicing mostly at the defensive tackle position. Seymour had played every single position last season but is penciled in as the starter in the tackle position.
Darren McFadden is working hard to shed the bust label which surrounds his name at times. Last season he dealt with a bout of turf toe and knee surgery, but he wants to prove he was worthy of being picked in the first round.I feel this is going to be a great year for McFadden. The addition of Campbell at quarterback will pay huge dividends for the Raiders running game. I plan on taking McFadden on my fantasy teams this year, he should be a late round steal this year, especially in leagues where people haven’t really been paying attention this offseason.
