ALAMEDA — Every year, the Raiders preach the importance of reducing penalties. Players are made to run laps or do push-ups for infractions during practice. Players set up fine pools. Lineup changes are made.
To little or no avail. Once again, Raiders coach Lane Kiffin is intent upon changing the penalty-flag-inducing ways of his troops through whatever means necessary. So far, he has achieved encouraging results.
"The easy thing to say is it's discipline," Kiffin said Wednesday, "but it's a mentality."
Kiffin's research of last season showed that a disproportionate number of Raiders penalties occurred in three areas: third-down plays, late in games and in road games. Also, the Raiders led the league in penalties committed by offensive linemen.
Hence, Kiffin and his coaching staff try to recreate those situations by practicing longer, harping on details in crucial situations and pumping in noise during practices.
The message is getting through to players, Kiffin said, especially the offensive linemen.
"Our offensive line penalties have been down through two games," Kiffin said. "We praised our offensive line for how well (it) played all last year and how well we ran the ball, but we led the league in penalties on the offensive line. We're not skipping over that."
Oakland committed 219 penalties for 1,598 yards in 16 games last season. Almost 55 percent of those penalties (120) and more than 54 percent of those yards came on offense.
Center John Wade is with his third NFL team. He said keeping penalties to a minimum is a collective effort by the coaches and players.
"Everybody has to be conscious of it," Wade said. "That means all positions. From what I've seen, we're working toward that direction. At the same time, we have to concentrate on playing football. We can't always be thinking about penalties. We just have to be smart and not put ourselves in bad positions."
Having the same quarterback throughout training camp and the regular season is bound to help, as well, Kiffin said. The Raiders used four quarterbacks last season, which necessitated the offensive players adjusting to each quarterback's cadence and operating speed.
Hall update
Starting cornerback DeAngelo Hall said he's confident his injured right hand will heal enough so that he can play at full strength in Oakland's regular-season opener Sept. 8. He received assurance from noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews last week that the injury he sustained early in training camp is a torn ligament or tendon and not a broken bone. "I'll be all right depending upon how well I can protect (my hand) from here on," Hall said Wednesday.
Dropsies continue
"Unfortunately I haven't seen it. I don't how many (Wednesday), probably seven drops, and a number of them with our front-line guys. So, we'll see. We'll come out here (today) and the plan is for these guys to play a lot in the game and get some shots to produce." — Kiffin on the failure of his top three wide receivers, Javon Walker, Ronald Curry and Drew Carter, to stand out on a consistent basis.
Extra points
Kicker Sebastian Janikowski (hamstring), punter Shane Lechler (quadriceps), linebacker Grant Irons (back), cornerback John Bowie (knee) and safety Hiram Eugene (hip) did not practice. Eugene is the only one of the aforementioned quintet who might play Saturday against the Arizona Cardinals, Kiffin said. "... Managing general partner Al Davis attended his first practice since the Raiders returned to Alameda on Sunday.
— Steve Corkran
http://www.contracostatimes.com/raiders/ci_10258274
