The Oakland Raiders have been one of the most interesting teams to watch this offseason as general manager Reggie McKenzie rebuilds the team after taking over a few years ago and in training camp a number of new players are making impacts, including Matt Flynn, Nick Roach, Mike Jenkins and most of all, Charles Woodson.
According to ESPN.com write Bill Williamson, Woodson is making a huge impression on his teammates in camp and in his second stint with the team, the safety is setting an example for everyone else on how to work and prepare. The report says that Woodson is doing his part on the defense and he is helping the young players get the playbook and is helping with footwork and other fundamentals on the field. Woodson is 36 and is the elder statesman of the team after playing previously with the Raiders from 1998 to 2005 and now coach Dennis Allen is happy to have him back.
Allen said that he has been very helpful with the young stars in the secondary, including DJ Hayden, who has been sidelined while recovering from surgery this offseason. The Raiders knew that Hayden was a risky pick and did it anyway because of his talent and Allen said that he is getting closer to coming back on the field. The team is dealing with some injuries in camp, as Jacoby Ford, Latavius Murray and Menelik Watson all have been sidelined at various points and while Ford's injury isn't serious, Watson has yet to get on the field in camp.
Allen said that the addition of Omar Gaither is helping the linebackers and the team likes what it has seen from Sio Moore, who was intense on the field on Monday and got into a bit of a scuffle with another player. The team has added Nick Roach, Kevin Burnett and Moore this offseason and the LB group looks like it will be improved despite losing Philip Wheeler.
The team has liked what they have seen from converted cornerback Taiwan Jones, as he is moving from being a running back in college to defense this season. The team selected him back in 2011 in the fourth round and now he is getting the chance to get onto the field as corner, Reggie McKenzie said that he has all the skills to play at corner and that's where he scouted him back with the Packers. Andre Holmes was suspended for the first four games of the season and despite that he has shown some great speed and skills on the field and the team may decide to hang onto him.
The Raiders went just 4-12 last season and are expected to improve greatly with Matt Flynn taking over at quarterback and so far he appears to have the starting job in Allen's eyes over Tyler Wilson and Terrelle Pryor.
