NAPA, Calif. -- A daily review of the hot topics coming out of Oakland Raiders training camp:
It is no secret the Raiders have suddenly become media darlings, a sexy pick to supplant the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos atop the AFC West after much improvement last season and a strong offseason. So how does coach Jack Del Rio keep his team focused? "Too much of anything is not healthy," Del Rio said, "Whether it's paying attention to criticism or people tooting your horn ... it's about respecting everybody, fearing nobody. We set our own agenda."
Kelechi Osemele, one of the Raiders' four big-name free-agent acquisitions this offseason along with linebacker Bruce Irvin, free safety Reggie Nelson and cornerback Sean Smith, is an imposing figure at 6-foot-5, 330 pounds. So what does the team's new left guard bring to the table? "Power," he said. Anything else? "Strength and power." And then some.
Gabe Jackson started all 16 games at left guard last season but has made the move to right guard with the addition of Osemele. "He's handled it beautifully," Del Rio said of Jackson's attitude in making the switch.
Receiver Michael Crabtree continued his strong camp with the move of the day, shaking cornerback DJ Hayden, who was playing on the outside rather than in the slot on the play, and then catching a slant pass from Derek Carr in a huge gap before taking for a big gain.
The catch of the day was turned in by tight end Clive Walford, who, in individual drills, went up and pulled in a one-handed grab on a Carr throw down the right seam, eliciting oohs and ahhs from the fans.
Safety Dewey McDonald had a pick-six of backup quarterback Matt McGloin. It was at least the second camp pick-six surrendered by McGloin, who was victimized by Hayden over the weekend.
Rookie defensive end Greg Townsend, Jr., who began training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list, practiced Wednesday for the first time.
Raiders owner Mark Davis and his mother Carol will depart Thursday morning for Canton, Ohio, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony of the late Ken Stabler. You can read more about when Stabler and the Al Davis mended fences here.
The Raiders practice Thursday from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. PT. SportsCenter will be on site.
A few Tweets from Wednesday's training camp practice:
Fans are geared up for another padded Raiders practice after the team took Tuesday off. https://t.co/gPV1eOCXfj pic.twitter.com/shVOBwnLDD
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 3, 2016
Mychal Rivera looks in the pass from Derek Carr. https://t.co/liRXffyeQc pic.twitter.com/pKVEU7hFNr
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 3, 2016
Marcel Reece hauls in Derek Carr's pass. https://t.co/hUUYbemOkQ pic.twitter.com/tQbuB1AwLc
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 3, 2016
#Raiders QB @derekcarrqb hits @AmariCooper9 in practice pic.twitter.com/yhyJkn9Tqp
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 3, 2016
#Raiders WR @SethTRoberts gets his post-practice work in. pic.twitter.com/STmgUOUyRi
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 3, 2016
