Oakland Raiders training camp preview

July 28, 1:31 AMOakland Raiders ExaminerPatrick Patterson

Previous Next

8 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Oakland Raiders Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

DHB stretches out at an offseason workout.
Photo by Patrick Patterson (EXAMINER.com/TFDSspports.com)

---

Related Articles

• Is Russell turning the corner?
  
• Rookie salaries need reformed
• 09 Raiders a work in progress
  
• No excuses: Russell must shine in 09
  
• Russell and DHB must gel
  
• Raiders have a promising offensive core
• Oakland Raiders future: JaMarcus Russell
• After minicamp defensive checkup
• Defense tops to do list
• Defensive line should be next on agenda

It is time for the cast of characters who are going to come together and form the 2009 Oakland Raiders football team are set to report to the Marriott in Napa. This is the end of the waiting, as it is about time for the 2009 season to commence. Here is a preview of the story lines that will be prevailing at the Raiders training camp

If the Raiders are going to field a winning team in the coming season, they appeared to have a long way to go as the organized team activities concluded last month. However, with training camp starting, they will have a month of intense immersion in nothing but football. It is in training camp that championship teams get their start.

• Darrius Heyward-Bey-As of this writing, DHB has not yet signed his contract. Any holdout would cost him precious time, as he already missed nearly all of the offseason workouts with his hamstring injury. With the controversy surrounding his selection by the Oakland Raiders at number seven, all eyes are going to be on him, and if he doesn't produce the "I told you so"s will come fast and furious. The most important thing for DHB will be to show that his hamstring has rehabilitated, and that he can catch the ball. He also needs to get on the same page with quarterback JaMarcus Russell.
• JaMarcus Russell-There are many in the sports media who are trying to make it seem like there is going to be a quarterback controversy with Russell and Garcia. That is not going to happen, except maybe in the minds of the fans. Russell has Al Davis's seal of approval, not to mention his failure would set the Raiders back immensely. Russell was up and down during the offseason workouts, and at one point was called out by head coach Tom Cable for not showing enough leadership. He has to take the reigns and show that third year leap.
• Defensive line-Going into the offseason, this was the position group that was in most need of upgrading. The Raiders have been horrendous against the run for years, and there were top notch defensive tackles available with both of their top two picks, but they chose to pass on them. It is up to the Raiders defensive tackles to get the job done.