Oakland Raiders Training Camp 2010: Week In Review

Well, the first full week of practice is in the books, folks.

The Raiders started practicing in pads, started taking the lessons to heart, and kicked off training camp in earnest in California, ready to shrug off the previous seasons' decay and dust.

For the Raiders, new blood mixed with veterans, looking for a future with the Silver and Black. For others, the hope of playing for a new team gives their careers a new future and a new direction.

Both groups look at this time, as all fans do, with hope and optimism...every tackle, every pass, and every barked order is another chance to do something right.

Some players started out their chances very well. Rolando McClain, simply put, has been as impressive as advertised in college. Alabama did this boy proud. Darrius Heyward-Bey, who many have labeled a bust-in-waiting, showed signs of dedication early in the offseason and continued to impress, making catches at different times. Of course, Jason Campbell was able to show his trade is giving both him and the Raiders new life...and how much of an "addition by subtraction" was made when the Raiders traded for him.

The running game, ranging from Darren McFadden to Marcel Reece, has been an interesting ensemble. Marcel recently broke loose and made big yards, Michael Bennett was chided for "not staying up," and Darren McFadden today had an issue with a hamstring...something to keep an eye on.

One aspect that is difficult to gauge with the camp is how good our offense or our defense is doing. Obviously, if you see Darrius Heyward-Bey making a catch while covered by Asomugha...it is pretty impressive. If Jason Campbell splits Hiram Eugene and Bryan McFadden...it may have been a good pass, but would it work against say, Champ Bailey or against another club? Time will tell.

Today, several names didn't practice, for various reasons. Jacoby Ford, who is nursing a foot injury, was out, along with Robert Gallery, Bruce Gradkowski, the aforementioned Holland, Luke Lawton with a concussion, and Richard Seymour.

Some other notes that were interesting to see did involve Stevie Brown, who was featured earlier, as being "on the bubble." It turns out that he has picked off two passes in two days, helping his own cause for the Raiders...if that will occur during the Dallas game remains up in the air. It can be imagined that Tom Cable's game plan will be a creative one, trying to fully evaluate all the players, the options, and the different styles of play.

One last interesting note: with the Raiders working only two quarterbacks, Campbell and Kyle Boller (Charlie Frye and Bruce Gradkowski are both hurt), the Raiders picked up Colt Brennan, another pickup from the Washington Redskins. Odds are good he is simply a camp quarterback, but he may be useful for us, if Frye does not heal in time...but at this stage, it does not seem he would make the final roster.