Oakland Raiders: Training Camp Quick Hits

The Oakland Raiders opened training camp for the 2012 NFL season on Sunday, in Napa, California. There are some key elements to follow as camp progresses closer to the season opener against the San Diego Chargers on September 10.

The first thing to keep in mind is that this is the first training camp for new general manager Reggie McKenzie and first-year head coach Dennis Allen. It is already evident how McKenzie is going to run an organization. Now what remains to be seen is how Allen handles his duties now that the dawn of the season is here.

Allen's job is pretty cut and dry: improve this team and get them to the playoffs. That will be easier said than done with both the offensive and defensive units ranked 29th overall in 2011. Do not be surprised if Allen decides to "trim the fat" and make some surprising moves along the way, but he has this team headed in the right direction.

Now we will take a quick look at the positional units on the team and go over some quick keys to keep in mind for the opening of camp.

• Quarterback: Keep watch on how starting quarterback Carson Palmer adjusts to the new offensive system run by coordinator Greg Knapp. His West Coast scheme calls for a lot of quarterback movement with play-action and bootlegs. Mobility is key and Palmer lacks that. Also note that this is Terrelle Pryor's first full length training camp. His progression will determine what kind of future he has with the team.
• Running back: There is a lot of buzz going around on who exactly will back-up Darren McFadden. Will the team sign either Cedric Benson or Ryan Grant? Is Mike Goodson capable of holding on to the football? Is Taiwan Jones ready to step into a larger role? That development will be key for this team. The signing of fullback Owen Schmitt will be a key contributor to the backfield as well.
• Wide Receiver: Trading Louis Murphy made two statements. The door is open for rookies Juron Criner and Rod Streater to contribute this season. Both did well in OTA's and now will hope to continue the trend in camp. The other is that if you are not on board with what is going on with this team, you are out.
• Tight End: The progression of David Ausberry is key. He is the most talented one of the bunch and if he can show he can block, he'll be a key weapon for Greg Knapp's tight-end friendly system.
• Offensive Line: The one thing this unit has to do is cut down on the penalties. Allen seems like he is going to run a tight ship and will not tolerate sloppiness. Stefen Wisniewski should transition nicely over center. Watch how they handle the zone-blocking scheme.
• Defensive Line: This unit is one of the strong points on this team. They have potential to cause a lot of havoc in opposing backfields. Look for Tommy Kelly and Richard Seymour to be very motivated this season. Getting a healthy Matt Shaughnessy back is huge and look for him to take the next step and be an anchor on this line.
• Linebacker: This unit will be interesting to watch. Rolando McClain's off-field troubles are well documented. If he is lost due to suspension or jail, who fills in for him? Miles Burris may end up being one of the steals of the 2012 NFL Draft. He has already impressed and hopefully that continues on into camp.
• Cornerback: The big issue here is depth. Will the Raiders try and address it anymore than they already have? Doubt it. But they will most likely have to make due with who they got.
• Safety: Tyvon Branch is locked-up to a new deal and that is good news to a secondary that relies on his play so much. This may be Mike Mitchell's last camp with the Raiders if he does not show them something this season.
• Special Teams: This unit is the best in the league in terms of who they have placekicking and punting. There is nothing new to report or look into here. The return may be key. There are a lot of capable candidates, but the coaching staff is waiting for someone to step up and and grab that role.

Look for more updates and news as camp progresses but there are some things to keep in mind as the Raiders set to open training camp Sunday.

Posted in: Carson Palmer,Darren McFadden,NFL,Oakland Raiders,Richard Seymour,Tommy Kelly,Training Camp,Tyvon Branch