djcalvin79 Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 check out this link Raiders adjust to different camp under Cable By JOSH DUBOW, AP Sports Writer 5 hours, 16 minutes ago NAPA, Calif. (AP)—For most of the Oakland Raiders, the first few days of training camp under coach Tom Cable are like nothing they’ve been through before as football players. Quarterbacks are forbidden to pass the ball in seven-on-seven drills. They practice barking out audibles in the corner of the field while their teammates do other drills. The whistle blows almost as soon as the ball is handed off as coaches make sure each player is in the right spot. And then the process repeats itself. “It seemed like it was weird at first when he talked about the concept, but you go through it and it’s a great concept,” linebacker Isaiah Ekejiuba(notes) said. “We’re doing a lot of learning, get all the mistakes out the way.” The Raiders spent Saturday participating in their third straight day of what Cable has called a “learning-intensive” approach to football, eschewing pads, contact and running actual plays in favor of drilling fundamentals in this outdoor classroom in wine country. Fullback Lorenzo Neal(notes) told Cable he hadn’t seen anything like it in 17 years in the NFL. The approach is in stark contrast to what the Raiders’ cross-bay rivals are doing under coach Mike Singletary. The 49ers opened camp Saturday with two contact practices in pads as Singletary tries to instill a physical mentality with his team. Cable says there is plenty of time for hitting later in camp, in preseason games and the regular season. So for the first four days of his camp, he’s focusing on the mental part of the game. “When you hand them a set of pads and it’s time to go do that, they get into that part of it rather easily. That’s the way they’re wired,” Cable said. “Remember now, the NFL season starts now and it hopefully ends sometime in February for you. The human body can only take so many car crashes.” For the Raiders, those crashes won’t begin until Monday, the fifth day of training camp. For now, they have one more day of drills that may look mundane but are ones Cable says are vital for the Raiders to reverse a six-year slide of losing. In seven-on-seven passing drills, the quarterbacks drop back, survey the field as receivers run their patterns, then stop without making a pass. JaMarcus Russell(notes) pleaded with his coaches to be able to show off that strong arm of his to no avail, although defensive coordinator John Marshall did shout out at one point, “It’s time for a pick.” Later in practice, the quarterbacks line up near a fence, calling signals and taking simulated snaps. They bark out audibles, hand signals and all, as quarterbacks coach Paul Hackett calls out different defensive looks. Defenders practice their run fits, going to a particular spot to fill a gap in the defense even though no plays are being run. Then when the team lines up for 11-on-11 drills, the quarterback takes the snap and hands off the ball, only for a whistle to blow after the blockers and defenders take just a step. That’s repeated over and over again, as coaches watch footwork and other small details. “You’re really trying to get their mind into the who and the how part,” Cable said. “When you throw pads on, you add that combative part of it, and that really changes everything. … You’ve trained them, and now it’s just handling it the right way.” Cable says one benefit of the approach that he first used as a college coach at Idaho is that younger players can get more practice time as the first and second teams are on separate fields, with no fear of injuries. The players say the back-to-basics drills have been helpful, reinforcing what they learned in offseason workouts and allowing them to get back up to speed without the risk of injury. “I think it’s great,” offensive lineman Mario Henderson(notes) said. “In my opinion, at camp when you get out the first day, you sometimes are not really focused on trying to do the right things. You’re just focused on going out there and trying to win the starting job. Sometimes that can be bad because you are going fast, but you’re not really doing your assignments. Now we have four days where we get everything down pat so then when it comes time Monday to earn a job, it’s not your assignments slowing you down.” While the players like the approach, they’re also eager to put on the pads and hit each other like football players again. “They are like, `Come on coach, let’s go play,”’ Cable said. my question is, does our training camp have a 'theme' to it, a particular aspect being focused on or are we just going out there and doing basic drills? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zazie Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 check out this link my question is, does our training camp have a 'theme' to it, a particular aspect being focused on or are we just going out there and doing basic drills? "The guys are working really hard, they really like each other, lets have some time off" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 "The guys are working really hard, they really like each other, lets have some time off" Sounds like the kind of philosophy that would come out of nearby Berkeley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steely Dan Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 check out this link my question is, does our training camp have a 'theme' to it, a particular aspect being focused on or are we just going out there and doing basic drills? I think the way DJ, and I think most coaches, like to teach players is by running plays and in position groups. They tape each practice and go over the film later. Cable's idea is interesting. I can't decide if it's a really stupid way to do things or a brilliant way to do things. I'm not sure what you mean by a "theme"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDD Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 check out this link my question is, does our training camp have a 'theme' to it, a particular aspect being focused on or are we just going out there and doing basic drills? The question becomes has Jauron or Cable dropped their pants? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartacus Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 The question becomes has Jauron or Cable dropped their pants? well we know Dick's way gets you to 7-9. Cable's method is a good way to break old habits and indoctrinate a young team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluv Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 well we know Dick's way gets you to 7-9. Cable's method is a good way to break old habits and indoctrinate a young team And Singletary's method will break bodies or lead to late season breakdowns as bodies breakdown! These "old school" mentality coaches don't realize that NFL football today is different than when they played because there is no off season so players don't have to get into shape at camp and with additional offseason programs and OTA's it wont take much to overwork players; its not like they are all young HS/college bodies with speedy recoveries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rackemrack Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 it seems cable is teaching the raiders how to play football again before they start throwing passes, which is good for them because they suck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcalvin79 Posted August 2, 2009 Author Share Posted August 2, 2009 it seems cable is teaching the raiders how to play football again before they start throwing passes, which is good for them because they suck i don't know if that kind of approach would actually be good for us too! a team that hasn't made the playoffs this decade cannot really point fingers and telling other teams they suck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ganesh Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 And Singletary's method will break bodies or lead to late season breakdowns as bodies breakdown! These "old school" mentality coaches don't realize that NFL football today is different than when they played because there is no off season so players don't have to get into shape at camp and with additional offseason programs and OTA's it wont take much to overwork players; its not like they are all young HS/college bodies with speedy recoveries. It didn't seem to impact the Dolphins who under Parcells went through a tough grind during training camp parlaying into an AFC East crown. A tough camp allows the players to be mentally focussed through the season, not just a portion of the season as the Bills seem to be doing the last 10 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rackemrack Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 i don't know if that kind of approach would actually be good for us too! a team that hasn't made the playoffs this decade cannot really point fingers and telling other teams they suck! good point, dick should hammer them with fundamentals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcalvin79 Posted August 2, 2009 Author Share Posted August 2, 2009 I think the way DJ, and I think most coaches, like to teach players is by running plays and in position groups. They tape each practice and go over the film later. Cable's idea is interesting. I can't decide if it's a really stupid way to do things or a brilliant way to do things. I'm not sure what you mean by a "theme"? when i said theme i was referring to for example, Singletary focusing on the physical pads-on approach, Cable focusing on the basics of formations etc. one would think that DJ would try something new, after all, his methods don't really seem to work now, do they?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjprime Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 i don't know if that kind of approach would actually be good for us too! a team that hasn't made the playoffs this decade cannot really point fingers and telling other teams they suck! I don't know about that. Buffalo hasn't been world beaters the past few years but he Raiders have won the FEWEST games in the NFL since 2003, 2 less than Detroit who spotted them an 0-16 season. Buffalo's bad, but hopefully they get better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluv Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 It didn't seem to impact the Dolphins who under Parcells went through a tough grind during training camp parlaying into an AFC East crown. A tough camp allows the players to be mentally focussed through the season, not just a portion of the season as the Bills seem to be doing the last 10 years. And who knows next season they may wilter! All it takes is a few key injuries, losing, and players feel they are being overworked with no results to bring a franchise down as key veterans will bolt and key free agents will not want to go to a team that overworks its players and treat them like they are Marine recruits! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThereIsNoDog Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 well we know Dick's way gets you to 7-9. Cable's method is a good way to break old habits and indoctrinate a young team A "good" way? LMAO! It's different, but "good" remains to be seen. Most likely they'll dream to even be 7-9. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason268152 Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 And Singletary's method will break bodies or lead to late season breakdowns as bodies breakdown! These "old school" mentality coaches don't realize that NFL football today is different than when they played because there is no off season so players don't have to get into shape at camp and with additional offseason programs and OTA's it wont take much to overwork players; its not like they are all young HS/college bodies with speedy recoveries. I 49's came to buffalo in December and made us look like a High School team. They were so much more physical than the Bills. That day I was embarrassed to have that team represent buffalo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewildrabbit Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 It is tough to win in the NFL...so we will try and steal a win here and there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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