Photo by Tony Gonzales
The Oakland Raiders concluded their final week of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) Thursday afternoon. The Silver and Black will hold Mandatory Mini-Camp June 17-19 to wrap up the offseason program. The players and coaches will then reconvene at the end of July for Training Camp 2014.
Photos from the first practice of Week 3 of Organized Team Activities - June 9, 2014.
WR Greg Jenkins
FB Marcel Reece
WR Rod Streater and WR Denarius Moore
WR Greg Little
WR David Gilreath
RB Maurice Jones-Drew
RB Maurice Jones-Drew
WR Brice Butler
RB Maurice Jones-Drew
RB George Atkinson
LB Sio Moore gets instruction from LB coach Bob Sanders.
LB Justin Cole makes the catch.
LB Kaluka Maiava
LB Miles Burris
RB Latavius Murray
K Sebastian Janikowski kicks from the hold of P Marquette King.
DT Ricky Lumpkin
DT Torell Troup
RB George Atkinson
RB Jeremy Stewart
WR Juron Criner
RB George Atkinson
RB Kory Sheets
OL Austin Howard
T Donald Penn
Head Coach Dennis Allen
DE LaMarr Woodley
T Menelik Watson
K Sebastian Janikowski
Head Coach Dennis Allen
DT Justin Ellis
DT Pat Sims
K Sebastian Janikowski kicks from the hold of P Marquette King.
QB Derek Carr
QB Matt Schaub
DE LaMarr Woodley
CB TJ Carrie
CB Chimdi Chekwa
QB Matt Schaub
Head Coach Dennis Allen
RB George Atkinson learns from offensive quality control coach Justin Griffith.
TE David Ausberry
FB Marcel Reece
QB Derek Carr
QB Matt Schaub
SS Tyvon Branch
TE Brian Leonhardt
S Usama Young
WR Brice Butler makes the catch.
Defensive coordinator Jason Tarver works with LB Khalil Mack.
Offensive Coordinator Greg Olson
QB Matt Schaub and WR James Jones
G Gabe Jackson
T Jack Cornell, OL Jarrod Shaw and T Erle Ladson
TE David Ausberry
FB Marcel Reece
DE Shelby Harris
CB Taiwan Jones
Special Teams Coordinator Bobby April
FS Charles Woodson and former RB Napoleon Kaufman chat on the sideline.
TE Mychal Rivera
QB Derek Carr
QB Matt McGloin
TE Jake Murphy
QB Matt Schaub
WR Rod Streater
WR Seth Roberts
WR Greg Jenkins
WR Juron Criner
RB Jeremy Stewart
RB Maurice Jones-Drew
RB George Atkinson III
RBs coach Kelly Skipper hands the ball off to FB Marcel Reece.
LB Kaluka Maiava
LB Carlos Fields
LB Bojay Filimoeatu
LB Marshall McFadden
LB Kaelin Burnett
LB Miles Burris
LB Khalil Mack
LB Justin Cole
LB Marshall McFadden
LB Carlos Fields
RB George Atkinson III
DE Shelby Harris
Head Coach Dennis Allen and his staff used OTAs as an opportunity to begin to define the identity of the 2014 Raiders. Some of that development was noticed on the offensive line. "Any time you have as much turnover as we've had, I think the exciting part is trying to figure out exactly what that identity is going to be," said Coach Allen. "I think we have a core set of values of what we want to be able to do and how we want to be able to attack people offensively. Now it's about breaking it down to the minute details and really being precise in what we're doing, not only offensively, but defensively and in the kicking game as well."
Over three weeks of OTAs – nine practice sessions – Coach Allen has seen the offensive line progress. "I like where we're at. I like the versatility; I like the depth," he said. "It's all about using this time in OTAs, mini-camp coming up next week and then when we get into training camp, meshing together as a unit. The one thing that we didn't have an opportunity to do a lot of last year was get the same five guys working together and I think that's important, especially at that position because all five guys at that position, the offensive line, really have to work as one. I've been pleased with what we've been able to accomplish offensive line wise and I like where we're at."
Photos from the second practice of Week 3 of Organized Team Activities - June 10, 2014.
Head Coach Dennis Allen addresses the team at the conclusion of practice.
FS Charles Woodson
WR Rahsaan Vaughn
WR Seth Roberts
WR Juron Criner
WR Andre Holmes
WR Brice Butler
WR Rod Streater
A LB makes the grab during a drill.
LB Sio Moore
WR Denarius Moore
CB Taiwan Jones
LB Bojay Filimoeatu
LB Khalil Mack
QB Trent Edwards
LBs Khalil Mack, Marshall McFadden and Justin Cole.
The LBs go through drills at practice.
LB Bojay Filimoeatu
LB Khalil Mack
LB Khalil Mack
LB Sio Moore
QB Trent Edwards
WR Rod Streater
WR Mike Davis
QB Derek Carr
QB Matt Schaub
WR Greg Little
QB Matt McGloin
LB Khalil Mack
S Brandian Ross
S Jonathan Dowling
FS Charles Woodson
SS Tyvon Branch
Head Coach Dennis Allen
DE LaMarr Woodley
DE Justin Tuck
CB Carlos Rogers
FS Charles Woodson
S Brandian Ross
The defense has also been working on their cohesion, which ultimately comes down to communication. "I think when you play this game long enough, you start to realize that the communication is a very important part of it," said S Tyvon Branch. "When you have guys that have had a lot of success in this league, they know what it takes to win and communication is a big part of it."
Branch has seen improvements on the defense with the addition of proven winners. "Talent wise, there's a lot of winners on our defense; a lot of guys that have had a lot of success," said Branch. "Guys like [Justin] Tuck and [LaMarr] Woodley. There's a lot of great defensive players out there, so one of the most talented defenses [I've been on], I can definitely say that."
Photos from the third practice of Week 3 of Organized Team Activities - June 11, 2014.
FB Marcel Reece
WR Greg Jenkins
WR Rod Streater
WR Rod Streater
WR Juron Criner
A WR goes up to make the grab.
WR Brice Butler
WR Juron Criner
WR Brice Butler
WR Greg Little
WR Greg Little
FS Charles Woodson and Assistant Defensive Backs Coach Marcus Robertson.
Head Coach Dennis Allen addresses the team.
Willie Brown, LB Bojay Filimoeatu and CB Keith McGill.
TE David Ausberry and T Donald Penn.
G Kevin Boothe and G/T Austin Howard.
QB Matt McGloin
RB George Atkinson III
RB Kory Sheets
FB Karl Williams
RB Jeremy Stewart
RB Latavius Murray
The RBs focused during practice.
FB Marcel Reece
WR Brice Butler
WR Seth Roberts
Head Coach Dennis Allen address the team.
QB Matt Schaub, RB Darren McFadden and RB Maurice Jones-Drew.
WR Brice Butler and QB Matt Schaub.
Head Coach Dennis Allen
T Menelik Watson
FB Karl Williams
WR Andre Holmes
LB Khalil Mack
The offensive line jogs to the next drill.
QB Matt Schaub
QB Matt McGloin
QB Trent Edwards
Special Teams Coordinator Bobby April
Head Coach Dennis Allen and Linebackers Coach Bob Sanders.
G Jarrod Shaw and QB Derek Carr.
T Donald Penn
G/T Austin Howard
QB Matt Schaub
FS Charles Woodson
G Tony Bergstrom
DL C.J. Wilson
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Vernon Stephens
T Menelik Watson
TE Nick Kasa
T Matt McCants
QB Matt Schaub
LB Sio Moore
CB TJ Carrie
TE Mychal Rivera
Defensive Line Coach Terrell Williams
DE Denico Autry
SS Tyvon Branch
WR Greg Jenkins
Head Coach Dennis Allen
K/P Michael Palardy
G Gabe Jackson
DL C.J. Wilson
T Donald Penn
Quality Control- Defense Eric Sanders
CB Chimdi Chekwa
FS Charles Woodson
LB Khalil Mack and DE Justin Tuck.
The offensive line heads to the next practice drill.
K Sebastian Janikowski
RB George Atkinson III
RB Darren McFadden
Offensive Assistant Nick Holz
LB Sio Moore
QB Matt Schaub
FB Marcel Reece
WR Andre Holmes
T Donald Penn
G Gabe Jackson
G Tony Bergstrom
An offensive lineman going through drills.
DE Ryan Robinson
DL C.J. Wilson
LB Khalil Mack
The defensive line getting ready for the next drill in practice.
WR Juron Criner
WR Brice Butler
WR Greg Little
WR Rahsaan Vaughn
TE Jake Murphy
TE David Ausberry
The team huddles at the end of practice.
Offensive Coordinator Greg Olson
T Donald Penn
WR Greg Jenkins
WR Greg Little
WR Seth Roberts
QB Derek Carr
C Stefen Wisniewski
T/G Khalif Barnes
The Raiders 2014 draft picks have been developing throughout OTAs as well, particularly the top three selections. Veteran T Donald Penn has been watching 1st round pick LB Khalil Mack and is very impressed with the young linebacker.* *"I see is in between all the drills, I see him picking at Tuck's ear all the time, getting advice. Khalil is a special athlete," said Penn. "I can tell by watching some of his movements, and the way that he can put his foots in the ground and change direction, for him to be doing that as a defensive end, he looks like he's a defensive back. For a guy that size to be doing that, I think he's going to get a lot of sacks late in the down because he has a motor on him that's relentless. As a tackle that's tough. You have to stay on him. You have to stay on him until you hear the whistle blow or until you hear the crowd cheering and he's going to be relentless."
Photos from the final practice of Week 3 of Organized Team Activities - June 12, 2014.
SS Tyvon Branch
SS Tyvon Branch
LB Khalil Mack
S Larry Asante
LB Khalil Mack
The LBs participate in practice drills.
The team huddles up before the start of practice.
FS Charles Woodson and LB Sio Moore.
K Sebastian Janikowski kicks from the hold of P Marquette King.
P Marquette King
TE David Ausberry
FB Marcel Reece
RB Kory Sheets
The RBs going through practice drills.
DE Denico Autry
DT Ricky Lumpkin
RB Maurice Jones-Drew
WR Greg Little
WR Juron Criner
FS Charles Woodson
It's all business during practice.
Justin Tuck and his famous facemask.
K/P Michael Palardy kicks from the hold of QB Matt McGloin.
LB Sio Moore talks with Defensive Coordinator Jason Tarver.
WR Brice Butler
RB Darren McFadden and RB Maurice Jones-Drew.
WR Brice Butler
RB Darren McFadden
QB Matt Schaub
LB Carlos Fields
DE Justin Tuck
LB Kaluka Maiava
The defensive line chatting during practice.
DE Ryan Robinson
G Jarrod Shaw
G Gabe Jackson
G Jack Cornell
S Usama Young
QB Matt Schaub
DE Justin Tuck
LB Khalil Mack
FS Charles Woodson
DT Justin Ellis
QB Derek Carr and Quarterbacks Coach John DeFilippo.
Wide Receivers Coach Ted Gilmore
The WRs gathered during practice.
RB George Atkinson III
Wide Receivers Coach Ted Gilmore and WR Rahsaan Vaughn.
QB Trent Edwards
QB Matt McGloin
WR Rahsaan Vaughn
QB Derek Carr
QB Matt Schaub
WR Rod Streater
A WR comes down with the catch.
DT Torell Troup and DE Jack Crawford.
DT Stacy McGee
WR Mike Davis
WR Seth Roberts
WR Juron Criner
WR David Gilreath
WR Andre Holmes
RB George Atkinson III gets ready for the throw from QB Matt McGloin.
RB Kory Sheets
FB Karl Williams
WR Andre Holmes
WR Rahsaan Vaughn
LB Kaelin Burnett
LB Sio Moore
Defensive Assistant Travis Smith
S Jonathan Dowling
S Brandian Ross
S Shelton Johnson
S Usama Young
CB Jansen Watson
DE Shelby Harris
Strength And Conditioning Coach John Grieco
Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Tony Sparano
Wide Receivers Coach Ted Gilmore
DE Justin Tuck
DT Justin Ellis
LB Khalil Mack
QB Matt McGloin
QB Matt McGloin talks with Offensive Coordinator Greg Olson.
Tight Ends Coach Mark Hutson
Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Tony Sparano
QB Matt Schaub
WR Greg Jenkins
DE Shelby Harris
DT Ricky Lumpkin
Wide Receivers Coach Ted Gilmore
Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Tony Sparano
Sam Williams, QB Derek Carr and Running Backs Coach Kelly Skipper.
Second round pick QB Derek Carr has made strides throughout the three weeks. "Well, I think he's had significant improvement," said Coach Allen on QB Derek Carr. "From a reps standpoint, he probably hasn't got as many reps as the other guys, but again, like I said before, he's very smart. He's a highly intelligent guy. He comes out here and he works every day and that's to be expected. That's one of the reasons why we took the player, because we liked the player, we like his skill set and we like his mindset."
And G Gabe Jackson, selected in the 3rd round, has made an impression on the head coach as well. "I've liked what I've seen on the practice field," said Coach Allen. "The things I like about Gabe, I think he's a good athlete for a player of his size and I think he's got very good power, and he's a lot better pass protector than people might think. I've been impressed with him. I'm pleased with his progress and he's got to continue to work."
The Raiders got better during OTAs, but they still have a lot of work to do. They will have one more opportunity to work together as a full squad before substantial time off before training camp.
Log on to Raiders.com for full coverage of Mandatory Mini-Camp and follow along on all of the Raiders social media platforms.
