Palmer speaks out after first start

ALAMEDA -- Carson Palmer's in-season training camp continues. As such, so too grows his understanding of his new surroundings, particularly the toys at the new Raiders quarterback's disposal.In anticipation of Thursday's primetime game at San Diego, Palmer spoke to reporters following Tuesday's practice and spoke of their attributesOn the passing game picking up 332 yards in his first career start with Oakland, the 38-24 loss to Denver on Sunday: "Very excited. Obviously the goal is to win, and that was extremely disappointing, but I really think the sky is the limit for this passing game. Having Michael Bush, and when we get Darren (McFadden) back, we'll be great, but we have some young talented receivers that are hungry and want to be good. We got a taste of what we can do, and we need to keep expanding on it, keep getting better at it."MIDSEASON REPORTS: OffenseDefenseSpecial teams
On if he's ever had a fullback with the skill set of Marcel Reece: "Not a fullback that can run like him. He is one of a kind. There's not another fullback in the league like him. He can block, he can pass-protect, he can run-protect, he can run iso's and go downhill on linebackers. He is a mismatch for safeties, and he might be a mismatch for some corners because he is so much bigger."On if former Bengals teammate T.J. Houshmandzadeh might see more targets against the Chargers: "I think he has a good chance to play more than he did last week. I think he got his feet wet, getting his pads on and knocked around a little bit. The more he studies and the more he is around this offense, the more he will tell the coaches to put more on him, to give him more responsibilities and opportunities."On Jacoby Ford, and his acrobatic 18-yard touchdown reception vs. the Broncos: "That was a play -- we run that play quite a bit -- and I hadn't thrown it to him necessarily, I've thrown it to other spots on the field. It was just kind of a weakness of the defense in that instance. But I have a ton of confidence in him. I don't have a lot of playing experience with him but I've seen about every play he's made in a Raider uniform. I remember him in college, I know what he's capable of. He may be short but he plays a lot bigger than he is."On if he has to create a calm atmosphere in the locker room with so many young players on offense: "I haven't noticed that yet. I know it is a young team but everybody is pretty even-keeled. Denarius Moore doesn't say a word and he's one of the better players on this teamJacoby Ford is the same on Sunday as he is Tuesday morning waking up, probably. It's not a group that is overly confident or overly expressive. They're just kind of like, let's go to work, let's grind, and let's have fun on Sunday, but let's just be ourselves. Guys don't act too out of character on Sunday."On how welcomed he has felt: "Just being a group, there's some times you've got to motivate young guys and stay on young guys. But it couldn't have been an easier locker room to walk in and be a part of the team."