Photo by Tony Gonzales
It was another Thursday at the Raiders facility in Alameda, meaning the Silver and Black were back on the practice field preparing to fly east and take on the Patriots.
After missing yesterday's practice session, several starters, including Justin Tuck and Carlos Rogers were back at work today, as well as Maurice Jones-Drew who had been out of commission for about a week and a half.
After practice, Head Coach Dennis Allen spoke to the assembled media and gave his daily remarks, speaking about the health of his team and the challenges of facing Tom Brady.
He also spoke about LB Miles Burris and the versatility that he provides to the Oakland defense.
"Miles is doing a good job for us," said Coach Allen. "He's competing his tail off. Obviously with Nick [Roach]'s injury he's had to play a little bit more 'Mike' than what we had anticipated, especially early in the season, but he's continuing to work. He'll keep getting better every day."
In addition to Coach Allen, both coordinators were at the podium after practice, and Offensive Coordinator Greg Olson made sure to compliment rookie G Gabe Jackson for his early season play.
"I think he's doing fantastic," Olson said when asked about the rookie lineman. "I really do. He's got great practice habits, really works his craft and works his technique. He's another guy, to me, like Derek [Carr], that's one of those young players that I think will continue to get better each week with more experience that he gets."
During his press conference, Defensive Coordinator Jason Tarver fielded questions about the effectiveness of the New England offense and what it's going to take to return to winning ways in Oakland.
"We need to win our one-on-one matchups, up front and in the secondary," Tarver said. "We're this close. The other thing is winning our one-on-one matchups up front. We've got to win. We've got to shed blocks and go to the ball."
Starting tomorrow, the Raiders will head out on the road, first to Boston and then to London, but DL C.J. Wilson said the team is taking things slow and focusing on each day as it comes.
He also spoke of an increased intensity that is present throughout the facility.
"We've picked up the energy in practice and in everything we do, even in the meetings," Wilson said. "The intensity has definitely picked up, and we're just trying to get this win."
The Raiders hold a final practice tomorrow in Alameda before they hit the road and fly to Boston for their match-up with the New England Patriots on Sunday at 10:00 am PST.
