Darren McFadden

The strength and conditioning phase of the Raiders offseason is four days old and Carson Palmer can’t work with position coaches or coordinators on the field, but he’s in the formative stages of learning the playbook and has spent time in meetings as the offense has been installed. To say Palmer is excited would be an understatement.

Some of his observations during an interview late Thursday afternoon:

– “I think it’s really going to fit the personnel we have. The style of play with the offensive line and the zone running scheme, and the speed we have in the backfield, it’s built for making a read, making one cut, and getting vertical and putting pressure on the defense with our speed and our running backs just heading north when they find the hole in that zone.”

– “I spent time talking with Darren McFadden and Taiwan Jones about it, and obviously the running game is going to be big for the Oakland Raiders this year. And what comes off the running game is really cool. All the play-action stuff really utilizes what we have on the outside. There’s not a lot of routes where guys are stopping. They’re using their speed, they’re on the move. It’s going to fit the strong suits of a lot of guys we have on offense, including myself.”