Coach Lane Kiffin would rather Russell simply work the system rather than take it upon himself to make a big play -- and be forced into a turnover in the process.

Russell understands.

"Just stay to the roots of it," Russell said. "Try not to become Superman. There's only so much you can do by yourself. There are 10 other guys on the field. Just pay close attention to the small things and just try to execute as much as possible with the entire team."

Other than a Friday night practice when Russell put on a spectacular passing exhibition, there have been a lot of dumpoff passes and short routes. The Raiders are bringing the sort of blitzes and pressures Russell is sure to see in his first season as a starter, and Kiffin likes what he sees, particularly in the red zone.

"We're seeing great production out of him the checkdowns," Kiffin said. "That's hard to do when you want touchdowns. You see that little window and you want to stick it in there and throw a touchdown to the guy. That's the hardest place to be a disciplined quarterback."

--Wide receiver Javon Walker has looked nothing like the Raiders expected when they signed him to a contract with an $11 million signing bonus and a $5 million roster bonus next season -- essentially a $16 million guarantee.

In the wake of being beaten and robbed in Las Vegas, his shaky training camp and a history that includes being present in the shooting death of teammate Darrent Williams, Walker walked to the office of coach Lane Kiffin and talked about retiring, only to be talked out of it by owner Al Davis.

"He talked to a number of people," Kiffin said. "He talked to his parents, he talked to his agent, he talked to me, and he talked to Al, and he came back himself and said that he wanted to come back and keep going."

Retirement would mean paying back the initial $11 million in bonus money.

Walker's reaction? No big deal. Move on, nothing to see here.

"That's a done issue. That was something, I'm not really sure what happened but it's a done issue. That's something that obviously, people hear stuff ... I'm here, practicing, waiting, obviously until the season starts."

Walker wasn't concerned, but his coach admitted to having his doubts.

"For someone to discuss retirement, and then come back and change his mind a day later, I'm worried a lot about it," Kiffin said. "I'm worried about where he is mentally, because these things happen and sometimes they come up again ... we're going to continue to communicate with him and push him out there on the field and get him better."

--Derrick Burgess is on the move, and is OK with it. Burgess played almost exclusively on the left side last season, allowing opponents the luxury of knowing where the Raiders' most dangerous pass rusher was at all times.

The result? Double teams, tight ends put on his side and chip blocks from running backs. Burgess, who got a late start in training camp because of hernia surgery and a calf bruise during the season, finished with eight sacks -- his lowest as a Raider.

In training camp, Burgess has not only played both sides but even standing up, occasionally working with linebackers during seven-on-seven drills.

"It was kind of a mutual thing," Burgess said of the meeting with defensive coordinator Rob Ryan that resulted in altering his role. "I was kind of stubborn about it before. But I'm with it. Like I told Rob, whatever will help the guys or help the team."

Burgess said he can't remember a time where he had a single defender to beat to the quarterback, and the theory is moving him around will give him a chance for more sacks.

"That's what we hope," Burgess said. "We'll see how it works out. I'm still going to be on the left side and play both (sides). We just hope it will single me up a little more and open up our rush lanes a little more."

--Oren O'Neal, a soft-spoken second-year fullback from Arkansas State, is having a strong camp as a blocker and appears to have elevated his game as a receiver.

O'Neal had a strong goal-line session against Raiders linebackers, opening holes for Justin Fargas, Darren McFadden and Michael Bush. Just don't expect O'Neal to blow his own horn.

"He doesn't say a word. He's never going to give a speech," Lane Kiffin said. "He's never going to talk to the guys. Sometimes he doesn't talk the whole day. He lets his play do the talking."

--Fred Wakefield is on the move again, this time back to the offensive line.

Wakefield originally signed with the Raiders last year to become a blocking tight end, his season coming to a premature end following knee surgery. He spent the season on injured reserve.

With a background that included play on the offensive and defensive lines of the Arizona Cardinals, coach Lane Kiffin decided to shore up the Raiders depth on the defensive front by making Wakefield an end.

Which lasted until lineman Mark Wilson went down with a knee injury. Wakefield played right guard one practice and right tackle the next.

"It doesn't really bother me," Wakefield said. "I want to play. If I can keep bouncing around wherever they need me to help us win some games, I'll do it."

--The Raiders hoped Mario Henderson, who the team traded up with New England to take in the third round of the 2006 draft, would be challenging veteran journeyman Cornell Green for the starting position at right tackle.

It isn't happening.

"He's not pushing him," Lane Kiffin said. "Mario is not improving the way we'd like him to so we'll just continue to push him. But it's not close right now."

When asked if there was a particular area Henderson needed to shore up, Kiffin was blunt.

"No, unfortunately it's everything right now."

Henderson, who didn't start at Florida State until his senior year, said he thought perhaps Kiffin was simply trying to get more out of him, but conceded he had plenty of room for improvement.

"I'm happy of course, to still be in the league," Henderson said. "I'm used to starting from the ground up. It's just that, when you come here, you don't have any scholarships. You can't sit around for four years. You better get it now. I still can get cut, drafted or not.

"I just have to work hard to show them that I was worth that pick that I was picked at."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "And they said we were out of money." -- Raiders coach Lane Kiffin, addressing the media from a new podium at training camp.

Play FOX FANTASY FOOTBALL TODAY!