Head Coach Hue Jackson works with the offensive line. Photo by Tony Gonzales.
News and notes from Napa: The Raiders re-signed LB Kamerion Wimbley.
The Raiders took to the field on Monday afternoon for their second practice in pads and fifth practice since camp began. Head Coach Hue Jackson continued to push the players to execute. When he didn't see what he wanted, he made sure to let the players know. "I think what you emphasize you are going to get," said Coach Jackson. "The more you emphasize something the more your players start to understand and believe that that is what needs to happen. I think they are starting to get it."
Players are doing their best to live up to the high expectations that come with wearing the Silver and Black. Practices continue to be high-tempo, competitive and intense. "Everything we do is about competing and if we compete and have that mindset, we have a chance just to raise that bar just a little bit," said Coach Jackson.
Veteran DT John Henderson appreciates the energy Coach Jackson gets out of the team. "The tempo was good," said Henderson. "Coach made it livelier. Guys were running to the ball, getting most of their wind with their pads on, getting our timing together, and everything is good."
Coach Jackson's style of practice is no surprise to the veterans. "If you know Hue's personality, it's expected," said LB Quentin Groves. "Nothing surprises me. I think it's a good thing and what we need."
Rookie WR Denarius Moore, the Raiders fifth round pick out of Tennessee, is adjusting to practicing at the next level. "Second day in pads felt kind of good, adjusting to the speed, because things out here are much faster. I just have to get down the concepts and learn the offense. I have to get used to learning my plays a little faster before I line up and to be fast enough so I can get the ball in my hands because the defensive line is almost as quick."
After the first day of practice in pads on Saturday, the players had the opportunity to watch film and see what improvements needed to be made. "I got a chance to watch tape and there are some things to correct and I feel like we worked on some of that today," said second-year T Jared Veldheer. "We have a long way to go, but it is a process and I feel that we are on the right track."
LB Kamerion Wimbley, after signing a new contract with the Raiders earlier in the day, reiterated the need to continue to improve. "There are so many areas I feel like I can get better in," said Wimbley. "I'm working on that every day and I'm just taking it one day at a time. I'm going in and watching film and making corrections and coming back out here and working on that and trying to perfect the craft."
The team has a day off tomorrow before returning to the training camp grind on Wednesday. Check Raiders.com, Facebook, and Twitter for news and updates.
