Broncos report: Raiders may turn to newcomer Lelie

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 3, 2008 at 9:58 p.m.

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Ashley Lelie, WR

Javon Walker, WR

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With Lane Kiffin as their coach, the Raiders already have taken plenty of pages from Broncos' offensive playbook in the run game with a similar system.

The right side of the Raiders' offensive line is manned by former Broncos, Cornell Green at tackle and Cooper Carlisle at guard.

The defensive line is anchored by former Broncos defensive tackle Gerard Warren.

And, now, after their move earlier this week, the Raiders could line up on offense Monday night with two former Broncos receivers in the formation. Earlier this year, Javon Walker signed a six-year $55 million contract that included $16 million in guaranteed money.

Then Tuesday, the Raiders signed Ashley Lelie, whom the Broncos traded in 2006 after he stayed away from offseason workouts and training camp because of what he said were concerns about his potential playing time and his opportunity to continue to be a starter after the Broncos had traded for Walker that year.

Kiffin said the Raiders were trying to get Lelie up to speed in the offense and there was a chance he could play Monday night (8:15 MDT, KDVR-Channel 31, ESPN).

"I don't know, we'll try . . . ," Kiffin said. "We'll give him an opportunity to be active on game day."

"I would think if (Lelie) does play it would be run as fast as he can downfield . . . because he's going to go deep," said Bob Slowik, the Broncos' defensive coordinator.

For his part, Walker has not been what the Raiders had hoped when owner Al Davis signed him to the deal. He was injured when he was robbed and beaten in Las Vegas during the offseason.

He since reportedly has considered retirement, struggled in the Raiders offense, been openly criticized by Kiffin and finished the preseason with four catches for 30 yards.

"Javon had a tough offseason," Kiffin said. "He was heavy in the offseason and had his altercation in Las Vegas, and then coming back he missed some practices due to injury during camp as well. It has not been a very good offseason for Javon. . . . He's had a better past two weeks . . . he's the best he's been since we had him right now."

Because of a season-ending injury to Drew Carter, the Raiders are thin at receiver with Ronald Curry and Walker expected to be the starters. Before Lelie was signed, the team's other four backups had six NFL receptions combined.

Asked Wednesday if he believed Walker still would be the team's No. 1 receiver, Kiffin said, "I don't know that. That'll show during games, in production on game day. There's not been enough done to be able to say that yet."

"We all liked Javon when he was here," Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley said. "I feel bad for him."

GOOD LUCK

Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell threw only seven passes against the Broncos last season.

This time, Russell is the player for whom the Broncos have game-planned.

"He hasn't played a lot, so we haven't seen a lot of him," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "We have watched a lot (of him) on film. . . . Like all other young quarterbacks, it's a growing process."

At 6-foot-6, 260 pounds, Russell is one of the biggest players to ever appear at the position.

"And once you get there, he's hard to get down," Slowik said.

Kiffin said he treated Russell like a rookie when the 2007 season ended - "we took him back all the way" - as they worked on his mechanics and footwork.

Russell did not play in the teams' first meeting last year because of a contract holdout and was only 4-of-7 passing for 56 yards in the Raiders' win in December.

Because of an extended contract holdout after the Raiders had chosen Russell with the first pick of the 2007 draft, the quarterback did not appear in a game until that Dec. 2 appearance against the Broncos.

Oakland's starter in that game, Josh McCown, threw three touchdown passes in his 14 completions.

NOT YET

Broncos center Tom Nalen, who missed virtually all of training camp and all four preseason games with pain in his left knee, continues to do conditioning work.

But Shanahan said Wednesday he still has no timetable for Nalen's return to the practice field. But, he said, Nalen has had some "good workouts, so we'll wait and see how it goes."

Nalen, who is second in team history with 188 career starts and has started all 16 games in 10 seasons, has not played in a regular-season game since Oct. 7, when he tore a biceps muscle against the San Diego Chargers.

ETC.

* With Brandon Marshall serving his suspension, Darrell Jackson and Eddie Royal have been the receivers in the Broncos' starting offense.

* The Broncos held linebacker Louis Green (hamstring) out of practice. Defensive end/tackle Ebenezer Ekuban, who missed some practice time in recent weeks with back pain, practiced Wednesday.

• September 3, 2008

  10:20 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Spider writes:

  Brandon don't feel too bad for him, he brought it on himself. Am I the only one but do the above photos remind anyone of the Compton, CA police mug shot book?

• September 4, 2008

  12:52 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Omahas_Bronco_Fan writes:

  I love the irony of Lelie's situation.. Is he going to demand a trade from Oakland now? He wouldn't want to be on a team where he isn't going to be the #1 guy!

• September 4, 2008

  5:30 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  CourtneyBrown98 writes:

  Lane Kiffin is just trying all tactics as possible to try to get on Shanny's nerves. And rally up players that are ex-broncos to try to get them riled up we cut their sorry a**es!!! You definetely can't build a team around a guy with spite! Jovan and Lelie are hangovers from other teams. And when you're trying to find a groove in coaching, you need raw talent! Russell is a little bit selfish to me also. He doesn't like the Raiders. He sat out basically all of last year when they needed a QB the most. They should have given DOnald Curry a chance to be #1 and stop kissing a**. He is the best reciever they have right now. oh well who cares. We are going to stomp a mud hole in the black hole Monday night!!Lmao

• September 4, 2008

  2:07 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  NERAIDER writes:

  I understand this is a Bronco site, but at least get your facts correct. Javon had 4 catches for 60 yards, not 30.

  A real journalist would not botch stats like that. But the false statement helps to prove you point better, doesn't it.

• September 4, 2008

  4:49 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  incognitoboy writes:

  NERAIDUH - so what are you doing here, hmm? looking for bulletin board material so you can inspire a lackluster team?

  trying to find even ONE broncos fan who wishes javon had never left, thereby justifying the HUGE BUCK$ that al tracksuit paid him?

  you want false statements? go talk to javon 'me first' walker or his buddy, ashley 'no, ME first' lelie and ask them how pouting about self-made problems worked out for them.

• September 5, 2008

  9:15 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  NERAIDER writes:

  All I said was get the facts correct. You ranting about Javon and Lelie shows you have some unresolved issues.

  Calm down buddy.

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