Rookies swimming upstream, catching on
By Steve Corkran
Monday, August 6th, 2012 at 1:40 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Rookie linebacker Miles Burris made a nice play on a goal-line pass Sunday. That, no doubt, caught the eye of coaches. However, the coaches also recognize the not-so-good plays.
To that end, Raiders coach Dennis Allen said, Burris still has a ways to go before he develops into a consistent player and someone that the Raiders can depend upon on an every-down basis.
“He’s been up and down,” Allen said. “He plays really hard, he’s an energetic guy, he understands football but yet, at the same time, we’ve thrown a lot of things at him. He’s still got to continue to improve to get better. He’s going to be a good player. We just got to work through some of the consistency issues.”
Burris isn’t alone, of course, in struggling to grasp everything thrown at them so early in their NFL careers. It’s all part of the learning process, Allen said.
“It won’t be this year,” Allen said, when asked how long it takes a player to grasp everything necessary. “As far as having everything, no, it takes awhile. This is a complex game, and we throw a lot of things at them. What you’re looking for is, every day you wan to see them improve a little bit.
“We call them repeat-mistake offenders. We don’t want to see guys that make the same mistakes over and over. He’s done a pretty nice job of getting some things corrected, but every day is something new. We put in something new defensively, our offense puts in a new look for them, so it’s just getting a chance to see all those different looks.”
Even so, Burris has done a commendable job filling in for injured weak-side linebacker Aaron Curry the first week-plus of training camp.
He looks instinctive, aggressive, fast and willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. Once he gets the consistency part down, he figures to be a solid player for the Raiders for years to come.
Fellow rookie linebacker Nathan Stupar isn’t getting anywhere near the same amount of reps as Burris. He also has further to go in terms of grasping the nuances of playing the Raiders scheme, according to Allen.
“He’s a little further behind,” Allen said. “Nate’s got to step up from the standpoint of just knowing what to do and how to do it. He’s had a little bit more of an issue with making some of the same mistakes over and over. We got to get him corrected in that regard.”
– Running back Taiwan Jones (hamstring), wide receivers Eddie McGee (hamstring) and Denarius Moore (hamstring), defensive tackle Richard Seymour (knee), Curry (knee) and punter Shane Lechler (knee) missed practice.
Defensive end Matt Shaughnessy tweaked an ankle late in practice. Allen said he isn’t sure of the severity of Shaughnessy’s injury, believed to be a bruise.
– Cornerback Ron Bartell practiced with his teammates for the first time since camp started. He missed the first six practices with a hamstring injury that he suffered before camp.
Bartell was allowed to participate in every drill. However, he isn’t allowed to don pads until Wednesday.
At one point, Bartell jumped a pass for wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and delivered a hard enough hit to prevent Heyward-Bey from hanging on to the ball.
Bartell was the Raiders’ most impressive cornerback in the offseason workouts. It’s not a stretch to envision him taking over for jettisoned veteran Stanford Routt as the No. 1 cornerback.
– Allen said Lechler (knee) is, perhaps, a week away from being able to pun for the first time since training camp started.
That means that rookie Marquette King likely will handle all the punting duties in Oakland’s exhibition opener against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.
King has been punting quite a bit most days in practice. He certainly is punting more than Lechler is accustomed to in training camp.
“He’s a young dude, man, he’ll be all right,” Allen said of King.
– Quote of the day: “Reggie Roby! Go get yourself a job. Just not here.” — defensive tackle Tommy Kelly to King, in reference to King punting well in the face of competing against perennial Pro Bowler Lechler
– Play of the day: Free safety Michael Huff ran stride for stride with wide receiver Rod Streater on a fly route down the right sideline, broke up the pass from Carson Palmer and watched from the ground as safety Matt Giordano made a diving interception just before he landed out of bounds.
– The Raiders committed four obvious penalties — six officials presided over practice — fumbled three times and had one pass intercepted.
Those are the things that Allen and his staff are working hard to become less of a problem. Call it a work in progress.
“Those are the things that cost you games,” Allen said. “We’re really preaching the message of, to learn how to win in the NFL, the first thing you have to do is learn how to not beat yourself. Penalties, turning the ball over, those type of things cost you football games. Until we get that corrected, we’re going to stand up here and say the same things over and over.”
– The Raiders went live in a session at the end of today’s practice. It’s something Allen intends to do from time to time as a means of gauging where his players are at.
“That was the plan all along,” Allen said. “It was a short-yardage session where we wanted to see who would come off the ball and knock people back and who was going to play physical.”
Tight end David Ausberry said he and his teammates enjoy the live sessions.
“It was good,” Ausberry said. “We don’t take each other to the ground too much because our team’s got to take care of each other, but it was good. I feel like we’re playing physical ball and that’s what we’re going to need to do.”
Allen also wants his players to be better tacklers than they were last season.
“At times it was definitely an issue,” Allen said, “and we’ve talked about tackling and how we’ve got to be a great tackling team if we’re going to be a good defense.”
– Kelly admitted that old habits are hard to break when it comes to staying onside. Well, Allen said he has a plan on how to help Kelly get over the hump, so to speak.
“We’re going to try to do things to incentivize Tommy not to anticipate so much,” Allen said. “But Tommy’s done a good job. He’s working, he’s trying to do everything that we ask him to do, and we’re going to continue to work on that part of his game as well as the fundamentals and technique.
“He’s a real talented player, and if he’ll just clean up a few things he’s got a chance to be one of the better interior linemen in the league.”
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August 6th, 2012 at 1:42 pm
1 NATION
August 6th, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Jhill,
Yeah you were right about Kolb. I wonder if Larry Fitz might ask for a trade after next year? To an extent it kind of reminds me of how Randy Moss’ talent was being wasted in Oakland…of course Larry will still play hard even if he has no QB to get him the ball, but you know what I mean.
Great WRs who have no QB is just a tragedy!
August 6th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
J Hill Says:
August 6th, 2012 at 1:28 pm
Welker!! The guy who had 122 catches for 1600 yards last season.
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who??????
Oh, the guy who dropprf the pass that would have won his team the SB????
$$$$$$$$
Yeah that guy. The guy who has more catches than any other WR in the league since 2007 including A Johnson and Fitz. 4 PBs and 4 All pros. That guy!
August 6th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
Thec Says:
August 6th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Just when you think you got the WRs covered, here comes a beast running through your secondary for a TD or long gain.
++++++++++
After the catch of course…///////////////Yacabilling down the field.
August 6th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
The D is going to be much better … the Offense will be a few spots better …
Lets just all hope the “hamstring virus” goes away.
August 6th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
513.Marks hair Says:
August 6th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Reece isnt a te.. Cant inline block.. it would key the defenses. He only creates mismatches as a fb. He’s gonna have a good yr.
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I thinking of Reece as more of a TE like NE runs. Everyone knows Gronkowski isnt in there to block. But either way Reece will be a force.
August 6th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
Hammy issues again?
I thought Brad Roll was gone…..
August 6th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
* Marks Hair Says:
August 6th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
514. Me too. Dont get me started.. I wanted either ely, big ben, or crybaby.. But I had to make due with that long haired bltch gallery for x-mas… Thanx santa al…
August 6th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
Personally I am thrilled for DVD, he struggled and has a lot of bad moments as a rookie, but you could see he has the ball hawking tools but his instincts were hindered. If he can play without thinking he will be a guy getting 8 picks next year.
August 6th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
That’s some frank talk from the coach. Interesting.
August 6th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Tommy Kelly sticking up for Shane! Gotta love it but I hear King is booming it all over the place!
August 6th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
DonManoukiansNeighbor Says:
August 6th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
513.Marks hair Says:
August 6th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Reece isnt a te.. Cant inline block.. it would key the defenses. He only creates mismatches as a fb. He’s gonna have a good yr.
—————————————————
I thinking of Reece as more of a TE like NE runs. Everyone knows Gronkowski isnt in there to block. But either way Reece will be a force.
$$$$$$$$
I think you are talking about A Hernandez. Gronk is a solid blocker.
August 6th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
Maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t Brad Roll’s fault and indeed, $3it happens…
August 6th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
Hwnrdr Says:
August 6th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Tommy Kelly sticking up for Shane! Gotta love it but I hear King is booming it all over the place!
$$$$$$$$$$
How hard s it to find a Mexican soccer player with a strong leg in Ca that can punt it 70+ yards?
August 6th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
Even so, Burris has done a commendable job filling in for injured weak-side linebacker Aaron Curry the first week-plus of training camp.
He looks instinctive, aggressive, fast and willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. Once he gets the consistency part down, he figures to be a solid player for the Raiders for years to come.
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Uh oh.
Hope this isn’t the Corky Kiss Of Death.
He has to be right about something eventually, doesn’t he ?
August 6th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
Is JB posting again? I hope all is well with him.
August 6th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
Blocking at the los with your hands is alt different than blocking out of the backfield.. But you could shift reece wherever..
August 6th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Raider O Says:
August 6th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
Hwnrdr Says:
August 6th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Tommy Kelly sticking up for Shane! Gotta love it but I hear King is booming it all over the place!
$$$$$$$$$$
How hard s it to find a Mexican soccer player with a strong leg in Ca that can punt it 70+ yards?
About as hard as it to find a burrito and carne asada fries!
August 6th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
15.haha.. I think we can trust DA.. Burris sounds like a guy that might start one day.. even a broken cork is right twice a day..
August 6th, 2012 at 2:02 pm
Reece is a weapon …. a great weapon. and in the zone blocking scheme he just has to clean-up for the backs rather than be a dominate punishing blocker like Schmitt. Schmitt has great value on special teams and short yardage. Tonga will find work elsewhere.
August 6th, 2012 at 2:02 pm
Hwnrdr,
Exactly!
LOL
August 6th, 2012 at 2:04 pm
How hard s it to find a Mexican soccer player with a strong leg in Ca that can punt it 70+ yards?
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that is comedy. raider o will be here all week
August 6th, 2012 at 2:04 pm
Raider O Says:
August 6th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
DonManoukiansNeighbor Says:
August 6th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
513.Marks hair Says:
August 6th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Reece isnt a te.. Cant inline block.. it would key the defenses. He only creates mismatches as a fb. He’s gonna have a good yr.
—————————————————
I thinking of Reece as more of a TE like NE runs. Everyone knows Gronkowski isnt in there to block. But either way Reece will be a force.
$$$$$$$$
I think you are talking about A Hernandez. Gronk is a solid blocker
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My bad! You are correct Sir!
August 6th, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Raider O Says:
August 6th, 2012 at 2:02 pm
Hwnrdr,
Exactly!
LOL
LOL, well…how many can also pass for a TD every now and then….wait, Hue ain’t here anymore!
August 6th, 2012 at 2:05 pm
If reece learns how to block im buying his jersey.. Really like that kids game. Great story.
August 6th, 2012 at 2:06 pm
516.RAIDERMAN99 Says:
August 6th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
Welker lit the Raids up pretty good last year.
You watch the guy and think ‘this shouldn’t be that hard to stop’.
Somehow, no one does.
Kind of a head scratcher.
—
I think it’s his consistency, effort and willingness. He’s never afraid to catch the ball in traffic and take a big hit. He runs exact, crisp routes and never gives up after the catch.
What’s kept him from injury for the most part is his ability to dodge would be head hunters and/or run out of bounds…after eeking out every possible inch of yardage.
I think he utilizes his size to his advantage by slipping underneath coverage and has a quickness about him. Not fast per se…but quick.
August 6th, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Cut the Lechler, long live the King! Did you know that Lechler is the name of a Swedish condom?
August 6th, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Glad bartells back. We NEED to stay healthy.. We’re so thin in spots..
August 6th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
Quickness is more important than speed for a wr..
August 6th, 2012 at 2:10 pm
East,
lol
I’m joking, but a punter with a $5.75 million cap hit who doesn’t kick in the off season, and is injured now is not a joke.
August 6th, 2012 at 2:10 pm
Never heard of this bartell guy normally to me thats a bad thing plus the fact he came from the rams who’s defense hasn’t been exactly stellar lately
August 6th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Looks like TO will be in Seattle!
August 6th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
The only guy ppl recognize in our secondary is huff.. And thats because of college & draft status.
August 6th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Hwnrdr,
We should use TP for those plays IMO. He can throw and run.
The jets traded for Tebow to help them score, and we have a guy like him on the roster, and I think we should use him in certain situations like Tebow (wildcat, STs, and GL situations).
August 6th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Any body ever notice that DA (Dennis Allen) has AD (Al Davis) innitials backwords? just notice and tought it was cool.
August 6th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Go back to college coaching pete..lol
August 6th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Never heard of this bartell guy normally to me thats a bad thing plus the fact he came from the rams who’s defense hasn’t been exactly stellar lately
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My good friend has been a hard core Rams fan since forever.
He told me that Bartell was solid before his neck injury.
August 6th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
I think he utilizes his size to his advantage by slipping underneath coverage and has a quickness about him. Not fast per se…but quick.
================================================
Yep, I agree. Although I think his speed is underrated, quickness is his real strength.
Doesn’t hurt having Brady throwing to him either. There’s a real chemistry there.
I remember thinking ‘that’ll be the last we see of this guy’ when he tore his knee up against the Ravens.
Should have realized that even if he lost a half step, he had the quickness to still get the job done.
Pretty amazing recovery he made from that ACL tear.
August 6th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Raider O Says:
August 6th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Hwnrdr,
We should use TP for those plays IMO. He can throw and run.
The jets traded for Tebow to help them score, and we have a guy like him on the roster, and I think we should use him in certain situations like Tebow (wildcat, STs, and GL situations).
True!
August 6th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
35.McFaddens_Sneakers Says:
August 6th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Any body ever notice that DA (Dennis Allen) has AD (Al Davis) innitials backwords? just notice and tought it was cool.
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Now DA just needs to buy the team. Would he rename them srediaR?
August 6th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
35. DA is the bizaro AD…. Zones, blitzing, accountability.. New era
August 6th, 2012 at 2:20 pm
i heard it was made official that the chrgers and rams were moving to LA is this true?
August 6th, 2012 at 2:20 pm
DA is the bizaro AD…. Zones, blitzing, accountability.. New era
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This blog needs a like button!
August 6th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Anyone take a look at the Game last night? I get all pumped up from reading the blog and camp tweets…..Then I see a Top shelf offense come out and drive 75 yards and get 7 on the opening possession. Kinda brings me back to earth a bit. Geeezze….We got them on the schedule too.
August 6th, 2012 at 2:25 pm
LOL good 1 #40 that was my thinking its opposite davis offence, allen defence. Just hope the opposite of the last 10 years happen on the next 10. which is winning football games.
August 6th, 2012 at 2:28 pm
ESO raider. Have not heard anything. wish someone would move to LA already and stop all this raider to LA talk. they belong in Oaktown.
August 6th, 2012 at 4:57 pm
http://www.silverandblackpride.com/2012/8/6/3224380/raiders-release-depth-chart-for-preseason-opener