By Jerry McDonald

Robert Gallery doesn’t need to look any further than Alex Smith to see how quickly he can go from draft bust to potential star.

Smith, the No. 1 pick overall in the 2005 draft, had his share of detractors following a horrendous rookie season that had a great deal to do with his supporting cast.

Then came his preseason breakthrough against the Chicago Bears, and while that doesn’t make Smith the next Joe Montana, he isn’t looked at as the new Jim Druckenmiller, either.

Gallery, the No. 2 pick overall in the 2004 draft, has surrendered sacks and had a false start penalty in each of the first two games. The more reactionary segements of Raider Nation have already proclaimed him a bust.

Which he is. As of this moment.

Should Gallery bury a few 49ers Sunday night, wall off a potential pass rusher and avoid flinching before the snap, he will instead be on the right track, and hailed as just the man to deal with Shawne Merriman when the San Diego Chargers come to town Sept. 11.

Bust? You mean the one in Canton?

That’s how things work in the NFL, where instant gratification is a way of life.

Gallery’s intro to pro football has hardly been ideal. He has felt every tremor in what is the NFL’s most unstable organization.

A left tackle at Iowa, the Raiders immedately began tinkering with Gallery at guard. He even played there for a few snaps in his NFL debut.

Then when Pittsburgh’s Clark Haagans used Langston Walker as a set of starting blocks, Gallery became a right tackle _ where he played for two seasons.

Moving from the right side to the left might not seem like much. But on an ESPN show the other day, former NFL lineman Mark Schlereth was explaining how it’s like being right-handed and suddenly being told to be a left-hander. He was preaching patience with Gallery.

And this was Mark Schlereth _ an ex-Denver Bronco whose first impulse seems to be to dump on his former AFC West rivals and who seems to have a good time doing it.

To make things more complicated, Gallery hears more voices than a schizophrenic who can’t find his meds.

His position coach as a rookie was Aaron Kromer. Who gave way to Jim Colletto. Who gave way to Irv Eatman, Jackie Slater and Art Shell.

Shell said the Raiders have essentially told the Oakland lineman to forget everything they ever knew about blocking and re-learn things his way. So far, it’s been slow going _ not only for Gallery, but every member of the offensive line.

When Shell insists, “Robert will be fine, I’m not worried about Robert,” take note that he has not said the same thing about Walker on the other side.

      — A pretty intense practice Friday afternoon, one of the most lively of the season. Far from error-free, but mistakes were made with enthusiasm _ which beats the alternative of going through the motions.

     — Still tough to discern whether Andrew Walter is worthy of holding off Marques Tuiasosopo as the backup quarterback. Barring injury, it’s a foregone conclusion Aaron Brooks will start.

   — TE Randal Williams bulked up quite a bit since last year in an effort to become a full-fledged tight end, but you wonder if worked too hard in getting so big. He has been sidelined by back trouble and spent Friday’s practice pacing back and forth while his teammates practiced.

    — Oakland’s efforts to become more sure-handed on defense suffered a minor setback as Stanford Routt, Fabian Washington and Danny Clark all dropped potential interceptions.

   — Wide receiver Doug Gabriel had a conspicuous drop off a nice throw from Tuiasosopo, and Jerry Porter continued to build momentum to challenge for playing time.

   — One’s misfortune is another’s opportunity. DeJuan Green left practice after Shell said he was “dinged,” and Reshard Lee responded with his most sustained opportunity and looked good running the ball.

   — QB Kent Smith, the No. 4 quarterback, got some action in team sessions but Shell said it is unlikely he would play against Minnesota.

   — TE John Madsen, showing no sign of the oblique strain which slowed him earlier in the week, made a nice catch of a low throw over the middle from Tuiasosopo, outwrestling middle linebacker Kirk Morrison for the ball.

    –  Oakland’s goal line defense was stout in holding off the offense. Grant Irons dumped Justin Fargas for a loss on one play, and Tyler Brayton came up with an interception off Walter when off a ball deflected by Jarrod Cooper.

    — WR Johnnie Morant, second in the NFL in yardage in the preseason in 2005, caught a deep post for a long gain from Brooks but juggled the ball before holding on.

     The battle at wide receiver beyond Randy Moss, Gabriel and Porter is a close one, with veteran Alvis Whitted, Morant, rookie free agent Will Buchanon and seventh-round draft pick Kevin McMahan competing for what could be three spots. Carlos Francis remains on the outside looking in with a hamstring pull. Francis is still walking gingerly and rehabbing in the pool.

   — Haven’t seen a lot of Zack Crockett as the goal line runner, but Shell warned that may not be the case later on.

    “I know what Crockett can do,” Shell said. “I want to find out what the other guys can do.

     — Jerry  McDonald