In just over a week, the Oakland Raiders will have traveled over 10,000 miles.
Let that sink in.
In the span of nine days, the Silver and Black will have traveled more miles than seven NFL teams travel throughout the course of the season, and while dealing with the realities of the schedule is a challenge, the coaching staff taken the proper steps to ensure the team is ready to go Sunday afternoon.
"I just try to stay hydrated, drink as much water as I can, and get as much rest as I can," said rookie linebacker Cory James. "I feel like if I do that, I feel like my body will be good, and I'll be able to produce on Sunday."
Head Coach Jack Del Rio routinely talks about the importance of learning how to travel well, whether that's the players taking care of their bodies, or approaching the trip with a business-like mentality. However, the focus this week is the former, as recovery and hydration have been points of emphasis up and down the roster.
"Just take care of your body, and I know he [Head Coach Del Rio] emphasizes drink a bottle of water every hour we're on the flight," James said. "That's what we all try to do on there, so that helps out a lot with it."
Rookie running back Jalen Richard has also been keyed in on his recovery this week, making sure that he's especially keyed on doing all he can to make sure that the constant travel doesn't wear him down.
For him, the areas of focus have been sleep, and being more cognizant about he's eating during the week.
"What I've been trying to do is up my sleep, and just kind of ask some of the veterans what they do," Richard explained. "You try to find any little thing. You try to find a formula, so you add different new things, like maybe this week I'll try to clean up my eating a little more, like I said, get sleep, or hit the cold tubs about 30 minutes more, just to try find that edge. It's something that you dibble dabble with, and play around with until you find that formula that works with you."
The rookie running back also stressed that there's no generic formula that works for everyone – each player's body is different, so it's a matter of finding out what works for you.
"Everybody's body is different, and some things are going to work for [some] people that won't work for you," Richard said. "You kind of just see what everybody says, and there's just some things that the majority works for everybody, and then there's some things that other people do that are just specific for them because they know their bodies. You just try to pick out those little things, and see how they work for you, and like I said, just try to find a formula for yourself, and for your own body."
Kickoff against the Ravens is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. PT at M&T Bank Stadium.
Injury Report:
S – Nate Allen – Quad – Did not participate – Out
T – Austin Howard – Ankle – Did not participate – Out
C – Rodney Hudson – Knee – Full – Questionable
RB – Taiwan Jones – Knee – Limited – Questionable
T – Matt McCants – Full – Questionable
T – Menelik Watson – Calf – Did not participate – Out
Notable:
-Following the "Fast Friday" session, Head coach Jack Del Rio announced that safety Nate Allen, tackle Austin Howard, and tackle Menelik Watson would be "out" of Sunday's Week 4 matchup.
-However, after being a limited participant in Thursday's session, center Rodney Hudson was a full go Friday and is questionable for the bout with the Ravens.
-After wrapping up practice, the Silver and Black headed to the airport to catch their flight to Baltimore. Kickoff against the Ravens is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. PT.
Quotable:
Head Coach Jack Del Rio talks about the performance of rookie linebacker Cory James:
"It really went, really, the way we hoped. He went in. Don't feel like the moment is too big for him. We feel like he settled in and competed. We'll clean a few things up with technique and making sure the eyes are exactly where they belong, all those kinds of things, but he plays hard. He's got a little ruggedness to him. So yeah, he did a good job."
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