cutthemdown
08-23-2006, 09:09 PM
Raiders dealt bad news with Grove injury before breaking camp
By JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer
NAPA, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Raiders center Jake Grove will an
undergo a second MRI on his injured left shoulder, dealing the team
a potentially bad break at the end of a smooth training camp.
Grove hurt himself in practice Tuesday and will miss Friday’s
exhibition game against the Detroit Lions. He will be replaced by
Corey Hulsey, meaning all five starters on the line will be at
different spots from where they played last season.
“It’s a hell of a curveball. That’s a bad thing,” coach Art
Shell said Wednesday before the Raiders left Napa to return to
their headquarters in Alameda. “But you know, these things happen.
It’s unfortunate that they do happen. He’s a great guy, a great
player and he’ll be back. His teammates just have to rally around
each other and trust each other.”<QA>
The extent of Grove’s injury won’t be known until at least
Thursday. But for now the Raiders’ center will be Hulsey, who
played last season mostly as an extra tight end and on special
teams.
Hulsey, entering his fourth season with the Raiders, started at
guard in place of Barry Sims in last week’s exhibition game against
the San Francisco 49ers and played well. He has little experience
at center outside of a few preseason games.
“I’ve played center enough in my life to where it’s comfortable
enough,” Hulsey said. “It’s definitely going to be an adjustment.
It’s different playing guard. Now, you have to direct the line,
you’re making the calls and then you got to snap the ball, too. So,
it’s definitely different than guard.”<QA>
Shell decided to go with Hulsey in Grove’s place instead of
veteran Adam Treu, who started 10 games at center last season when
Grove went down with a knee injury. Shell said he was not concerned
about Hulsey’s inexperience at center.
“It won’t be a problem plus he’s got other guys in there who
can help him,” Shell said. “They’re all interchangeable and they
can do those types of things. So he’s handling the calls that
they’ve been making. And though he’s a backup, he’s an intelligent
guy. He can do those types of things.”<QA>
Without Grove, the Raiders offensive line will have a completely
new look from last season. Robert Gallery has shifted from right
tackle to left tackle, Langston Walker moved from right guard to
right tackle and rookie Paul McQuistan is playing right guard after
playing at tackle during college.
Sims has moved from left tackle to left guard but is sidelined
with a sore right elbow. Kevin Garmon is expected to start in Sims’
place on Friday.
Other than the uncertainty with Grove, the Raiders have come out
of camp relatively healthy. Backup defensive tackle Michael
Quarshie is sidelined with an ACL injury to his left knee, and
backup receiver Carlos Francis has been out since the beginning of
camp with a partially torn left hamstring.
“We were healthy up until today when I got the news on Jake,”
Shell said. “That really, that shook me. That really shook me.
He’ll be back and we’ll move on until he gets back.”<Q
By JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer
NAPA, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Raiders center Jake Grove will an
undergo a second MRI on his injured left shoulder, dealing the team
a potentially bad break at the end of a smooth training camp.
Grove hurt himself in practice Tuesday and will miss Friday’s
exhibition game against the Detroit Lions. He will be replaced by
Corey Hulsey, meaning all five starters on the line will be at
different spots from where they played last season.
“It’s a hell of a curveball. That’s a bad thing,” coach Art
Shell said Wednesday before the Raiders left Napa to return to
their headquarters in Alameda. “But you know, these things happen.
It’s unfortunate that they do happen. He’s a great guy, a great
player and he’ll be back. His teammates just have to rally around
each other and trust each other.”<QA>
The extent of Grove’s injury won’t be known until at least
Thursday. But for now the Raiders’ center will be Hulsey, who
played last season mostly as an extra tight end and on special
teams.
Hulsey, entering his fourth season with the Raiders, started at
guard in place of Barry Sims in last week’s exhibition game against
the San Francisco 49ers and played well. He has little experience
at center outside of a few preseason games.
“I’ve played center enough in my life to where it’s comfortable
enough,” Hulsey said. “It’s definitely going to be an adjustment.
It’s different playing guard. Now, you have to direct the line,
you’re making the calls and then you got to snap the ball, too. So,
it’s definitely different than guard.”<QA>
Shell decided to go with Hulsey in Grove’s place instead of
veteran Adam Treu, who started 10 games at center last season when
Grove went down with a knee injury. Shell said he was not concerned
about Hulsey’s inexperience at center.
“It won’t be a problem plus he’s got other guys in there who
can help him,” Shell said. “They’re all interchangeable and they
can do those types of things. So he’s handling the calls that
they’ve been making. And though he’s a backup, he’s an intelligent
guy. He can do those types of things.”<QA>
Without Grove, the Raiders offensive line will have a completely
new look from last season. Robert Gallery has shifted from right
tackle to left tackle, Langston Walker moved from right guard to
right tackle and rookie Paul McQuistan is playing right guard after
playing at tackle during college.
Sims has moved from left tackle to left guard but is sidelined
with a sore right elbow. Kevin Garmon is expected to start in Sims’
place on Friday.
Other than the uncertainty with Grove, the Raiders have come out
of camp relatively healthy. Backup defensive tackle Michael
Quarshie is sidelined with an ACL injury to his left knee, and
backup receiver Carlos Francis has been out since the beginning of
camp with a partially torn left hamstring.
“We were healthy up until today when I got the news on Jake,”
Shell said. “That really, that shook me. That really shook me.
He’ll be back and we’ll move on until he gets back.”<Q