Raiders training camp: Chip Kelly, offense ready for the pads to come on

New York Times

3 days ago

HENDERSON, Nev. — Chip Kelly is ready for contact. When asked to assess various elements of the Las Vegas Raiders offense, the coordinator repeatedly noted that he couldn't make full evaluations until pads come on next week.
'Pads — I'll go back to that one,' Kelly said for about the 10th time during his news conference Thursday. 'I've seen guys look great, and then all of a sudden you put pads on and you're like, 'Where did he go?''
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Running back Ashton Jeanty is also itching for the sessions to get more physical. He has been able to work on his receiving skills, fundamentals and knowledge of the offense, but wearing shorts, he can't show what makes him truly special.
'As a running back, it's really when we put the pads on,' Jeanty said. 'I'll let that happen when it happens.'
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And don't forget about the defense.
'We haven't even put pads on yet,' linebacker Elandon Roberts said. 'When the pads come on, then we'll start seeing what we got.'
The Raiders' sessions in Week 1 of training camp still hold value, particularly for the offense as Kelly continues to install his complex system. Still, the players are starting to get excited about what it'll look like by the time the season gets here.
'Oh my gosh, I love Chip Kelly's offense,' receiver Tre Tucker said Wednesday. 'He's very good at putting guys in the right spot to succeed. I feel like, sometimes, people can just put people places and expect you to run a certain thing. But he's more of a players guy, not a plays guy.
'And it's just an explosive offense, man. … We're just breaking it in. But you guys will see. Over camp, it's going to pick up, and it's very explosive.'
On the flip side, Kelly is getting to know his players and tweaking his system to optimize their abilities. Having a talented quarterback in Geno Smith has allowed him to be creative in that process.
'The beauty is that the guy pulling the trigger can run everything,' Kelly said. 'If we're with Geno and say, 'Hey, we'd like to do this,' he can do it. Whether it be quick game, he can do it. With throwing the deep ball, he can do it. With the intermediate parts, he can do that. He's got so much experience. To have a veteran quarterback there is such a comforting feeling.'
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Here are more observations from practice on Thursday.
• Dont'e Thornton is getting more comfortable and has stood out among the rookie receivers. He has been a constant in the starting lineup.
'He's done a really nice job — and (receiver coach) Chris Beatty does a great job with him — in terms of picking up our offense,' Kelly said. 'He's been sharp. And I know it's comforting for Geno knowing he's got someone that fast and that tall out there who's a big body to throw to.'
Jack Bech has also started to rotate in with the starters as an outside receiver. He came along slowly during OTAs but is starting to get more comfortable.
'For all those guys, it's just really truly understanding the offense,' Kelly said. 'It's just him getting more comfortable in our scheme. … He's sharp and he's picking things up, but him and Dont'e and Ashton, they're still rookies.'
• New arrival Jamal Adams was working with the linebackers on Thursday. The 29-year-old has played safety most of his career, but he doesn't have the same speed or athleticism he once did after suffering multiple significant leg injuries. At this point, Adams' skill set is best used operating primarily in the box. He has the size and strength to be an effective run stopper and blitzer as a weakside linebacker.
'It'll be second nature for him to walk down in the box with the 'backers,' Roberts said. 'He's an instinctual guy. He's got stuff you can't teach.'
Even if the Raiders don't use Adams as a traditional deep safety, though, he'll still need to improve what he's put on tape in recent years in pass coverage to hang. During team drills, he was working with the second- and third-team defenses.
Roberts and Devin White have continued to be the primary starters at linebacker. Germaine Pratt, who signed right before the end of OTAs, is working in slowly as he learns defensive coordinator Patrick Graham's scheme.
• Offensive lineman Thayer Munford returned to practice Thursday after missing Wednesday's session due to the birth of his child. He was working at guard, which he started to do toward the end of OTAs.
The Raiders tweaked their starting offensive line Thursday, with Jordan Meredith handing center duties over to Jackson Powers-Johnson. Meredith started games at guard last year, but he also has experience at center.
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The rest of the starting O-line remained the same with Kolton Miller at left tackle, Dylan Parham at left guard, Alex Cappa at right guard and DJ Glaze at right tackle. The Raiders are likely getting Meredith more reps to get him comfortable working with Smith and to protect themselves in case of injury.
'You're only going to have seven or eight guys (active) on game day,' Kelly said. 'They've got to be able to go no matter who goes down.'
Powers-Johnson held down center duties with the second-team offense. It'd take a major development for him not to be the starter for the Raiders, but he's behaving as if that's not guaranteed.
'I'm just trying to earn it every day,' Powers-Johnson said. 'Nothing's been given to me.'
• Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (foot/physically unable to perform list) was the only player who missed practice Thursday.
• Cornerback Decamerion Richardson got a notable number of reps with the starters on Thursday. He struggled as a rookie but has looked solid during practices. He's tall, long and fast, so he fits what coach Pete Carroll looks for at corner. He has a lot of potential if he can put it all together.
• Tyree Wilson spent a lot of time with the starting defense lined up as a defensive tackle. He has rotated inside throughout his career, so that isn't new, but the Raiders could use him there more often if Wilkins misses time.