Photos from the Raiders Week 9 Friday practice - October 31, 2014.
A little bit of rain didn't stop the Raiders from getting back on the practice field on Friday at their Alameda facility, as they made their final on-field adjustments prior to Sunday's game versus the Seattle Seahawks.
After practice, Interim Head Coach Tony Sparano ruled David Ausberry, Vincent Brown, Chimdi Chekwa and Keith McGill out for the Seattle game. WR Kenbrell Thompkins, who missed Thursday's practice for personal reasons, was back at work and a full participant and is expected to play Sunday.
As the Silver and Black travel north to take on the Seahawks, they will be heading into one of the most hostile environments in the NFL, but Coach Sparano isn't concerned about the poise of rookie QB Derek Carr.
"I think he's been in that environment before in college in several situations," said Coach Sparano. "He's certainly been in that environment right now when it's been loud in some of the stadiums. This is going to be a loud place. We're totally prepared for that and we've been practicing all week."
LB Sio Moore also spoke about the issues of dealing with crowd noise, but like Coach Sparano, didn't seem overly concerned by it.
"For us, we have to go out there, and the atmosphere is going to be the atmosphere," Moore said. "If that's going to be what it is, then what we have to do, is do what we do out there and execute and play as one-entire defense, one-entire unit."
The second-year linebacker also has another big challenge coming his way on Sunday in the form of Pro Bowl running back Marshawn Lynch.
"Marshawn's a good running back," he said. "They have a good offensive line. They know how to get downhill. For us, we just have to be able to execute our plan, get vertical, and make sure we wrap-tackle and bring it."
Coach Sparano echoed Moore's remarks about Lynch and what makes him such a vital part of the Seattle offense.
"He's a physical, tough, reckless runner," Coach Sparano said. "If you don't tackle him, and you don't get both arms around him and wrap-tackle him and those sorts of things, he's going to make yards after contact. He's going to end up making some big plays, so there are some definitely challenges there."
The Raiders will pack their bags and fly to Seattle tomorrow where they will take on the Seahawks in the hopes of securing their first win of 2014.
"For us, it's just about executing," Moore said. "As long as we execute and take away reads and close in on the quarterback and play top down and we're relentless, we'll be good."
The game kicks off at 1:25 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field.
