NAPA - Observations from tonight's practice...
*Just so you know, the Raiders are preparing for best-case scenarios.
During special teams, the team worked on punting with the lead and two minutes left in a game and ways to run out the clock with the lead late.
*The team is serious about making player that commit penalties run a lap around the field as punishment.
Rookie defensive end Trevor Scott, Tommy Kelly and Jay Richardson all ran after jumping offsides.
Left tackle Kwame Harris clearly false started but managed to stay on the field, but not for long.
Defensive tackle Terdell Sands made a fuss during the play and offensive coordinator Greg Knapp sought out Sands to let make sure he saw Harris running his lap a few plays later.
*JaMarcus Russell threw some crisp passes that looked as if they would knock the receiver down.
The best of the night was a pass that traveled more than 20 yards I the air that Russell completed to a diving Drew Carter.
Russell was running to his right and Carter's route had him running the opposite direction.
*Defensive end Derrick Burgess seems to have his way no matter who blocks him.
*The Raiders re-signed quarterback Jeff Otis to fill the roster spot vacated when LaMont Jordan was released.
Otis was waived Thursday.
*Backup quarterback Andrew Walter missed tonight's practice with a sore right wrist. He hurt in during Friday morning's practice. Defensive end Fred Wakefield was held out with flu like symptoms. Safety Greg Wesley (back spasms) was held out after missing the morning session, too.
*Defensive end Greg Spires (hamstring) practiced for the first time during camp. He looked good backing up Burgess and earned a "way to (mess) it up" from defensive coordinator Rob Ryan after getting into the backfield to disrupt a running play.
*Marcel Reece (hamstring) didn't practice tonight after Lane Kiffin said he'd try to use him after he missed the morning practice.
Reece was a wide receiver in college, but has been hanging out with the running backs.
*Rookie Arman Shields had a long catch on a play in which he got by Nnamdi Asomugha on a deep route along the sidelines.
In a game situation it's unlikely Shields would have had the time to get 40-50 yards down the field, but it was fun to watch.
Asomugha yelled, "All right, Knapp" after the play.
Knapp had a retort.
"You've got fresh legs," a joking reminder that Asomugha wasn't with the team during the offseason before signing his franchise tender this week.
*When Scott isn't jumping offsides, he's shown some pass rush ability.
*Harris is looking more comfortable at left tackle. He won't be confused with Walter Jones, but his pass protection during drills this evening looked better than in the morning practice.
Kiffin said today if Harris is going to be successful, he's in the right system to do that.
*After wearing shoulder pads, helmets and shorts for the first two practices of camp, the team didn't practice in pads tonight.
--Jason Jones
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