Raiders notes: Offseason programs wrapped, team eyes Napa

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ALAMEDA -- The Raiders concluded their three-day mandatory minicamp Thursday, as well as their entire offseason training program.So when next they get together as a team on a field, it will be July 30 in Napa for the start of training camp."I was pleased with the progress," said rookie coach Dennis Allen. "Obviously, we're not near where we need to be yet, it's always going to be a work in progress. But I specifically thought over the last couple of days that I could feel we were figuring out what we were asking them to do, and I thought the guys really responded over the last couple of days.So how much have they "installed" in a voluntary veteran minicamp, a rookie minicamp, three weeks of voluntary OTAs and the just-concluded mandatory minicamp, which had 100 percent attendance?"Most of it," Allen said. "It's always an ongoing process, but I think for the most part we've installed really who we are and what we are."Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said "90 percent" of the offense has already been installed."You always have little extras when you start preparing for game plans and in-season, but the core stuff is in, yes," Knapp said."But I was very pleased with what I saw at the beginning of OTAs and how we finished. I can see theres a sense of a better feeling and understanding of what we want as coaches from our players, and the players, what we want from our coaches. Thats worked out well. And understanding the schemes, I see a lot more quicker transfer of knowledge from the classroom to out on the field in the last week of practice here.So until the players start reporting on July 28, the players are essentially off-limits to the Raiders coaching staff."We cant talk football with them," Allen said, "But what we can do is communicate with them, make sure theyre doing OK. Were really going to use this time for both coaches and players to recharge, get our batteries ready to roll again, because its a long grueling season and we all need a little bit of time to get recharged."Nine players did not practice Thursday -- receivers Denarius Moore (hamstring), Louis Murphy (hamstring) and Eddie McGee (hamstring), center Stefen Wisniewski (shoulder), linebacker Aaron Curry (sore knees), defensive end Dave Tollefson (calf), fullback Manase Tonga (knee), safety Mike Mitchell (knee) and tight end Brandon Myers (hamstring).Nose tackle Travis Ivey, meanwhile, returned after suffering a concussion in a weight-lifting accident.There's a common theme, though, in which body part has been injured among the pass catchers -- strained hamstrings."Thats kind of been the injury of choice around here," Allen said. "So were going to continue to look at that and try to evaluate why thats occurring. But those guys will be around rehabbing and theyll be ready to go for training camp."I expect everybody weve got on the 90-man roster right now to be fully ready for training camp."Knapp acknowledged there is a concern with Wisniewski, who played last season with a torn shoulder labrum and is still recovering from offseason surgery, falling behind, due to a lack of reps that hinder communication and his understanding of the new scheme."You can't get better at any position unless you have reps," Knapp said. "And since he has had no reps with us, it's going to take a little bit of time for us to get him caught up to speed because of the reps as well as the communication."A position group that Allen sees as being particular interesting to watch in Napa? The wide receivers."I think thats been a position thats pleasantly surprising, theres a lot of depth there, some athletic guys, a couple of the young guys been able to step up, (Rod) Streater and (Juron) Criner in particular," Allen said. "I think that will be one position that will have a lot of competition in training camp for sure."

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