Question: I've been following the Raiders all offseason. There has been a lot of word on the offensive line and certain members of the o-line (Robert Gallery, Barry Sims, Paul McQuistan and Jake Grove.) My question is, where is Kevin Boothe? Has he not picked up the scheme well? I haven't heard one peep on the guy. I didn't think he had that bad of a rookie campaign to not to be mentioned as a possible starter. Any word on Boothe and how he's been doing would be great.
Jorge, Flagstaff, Ariz.
Answer: Ah, the forgotten man up front. I spoke with Boothe briefly at the end of last week's minicamp. He's in good spirits. After starting 14 games as a rookie at right guard, he has been playing left and right guard. The Raiders signed Cooper Carlise from Denver as a free agent, and he took most of the snaps at right guard during the offseason.
Boothe appears to be caught in a numbers game right now. The Raiders will give Gallery every chance to win a starting job, even if that means playing him at left guard. Coach Lane Kiffin has said no one has locked up a starting job. So Boothe will have to wait his turn, but Boothe believes once the team gets on the field in training camp in July, he'll show he can start. I think he can operate in the new scheme and look forward to seeing if he can get with it the first time in Napa.
- Jason Jones








About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.