Brown making strong push at linebacker

<p>NAPA — For two years now, Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard have formed an exciting duo at linebacker. They can cover more field than just about any pair in the NFL, and are so good in pass coverage that they both stay on the field in some of the Raiders’ dime packages.</p><p>The only problem? Finding a third linebacker to flesh out the position.</p><p>Sam Williams and Robert Thomas have alternated at strongside linebacker the last two years. Williams is tall and athletic, but doesn’t make plays consistently, and is injury-prone. Thomas is smart and sound, but not really big or fast enough to dominate.</p><p>Find a way to combine them and you’d have Lawrence Taylor. Split in two, neither has been able to take charge of the position.</p><p>This year, the Raiders added veteran Edgerton Hartwell to the mix. Hartwell started 46 games for a very good Ravens defense from 2002 to 2004, but has yet to distinguish himself in Napa. Grant Irons, in his second stint in Oakland, injured his hamstring the first day of practice and hasn’t seen the field much.</p><p>But there is another contender for the starting job. It’s Ricky Brown, who joined the Raiders’ practice squad two years ago as an undrafted rookie out of Boston College, was promoted to the 53-man roster after three games, and quickly became a special-teams standout. He now looks ready to make a pitch for playing time on defense.</p><p>“He really just plays so consistently,” coach Lane Kiffin said of Brown. “Doesn’t make mistakes and just keeps pounding away in there and can play Mike (middle linebacker), and that’s where he’s played more for us. But we’ve moved him (to the strong side) and opened up the competition and he continues to do things really well, and he’s had a great offseason.”</p><p>Through the first six days of training camp, Brown and Thomas split most of the first-team repetitions, with Williams primarily working with the second team. It could be a rags-to-riches tale for Brown, who got pushed around during his first camp two years ago and didn’t really look the part of an NFL linebacker as a rookie.</p><p>Brown, 24, says he weighs only five pounds more than he did in 2006, but he certainly has added some muscle. He is listed at 6-2, 235 pounds. More important than power, he is figuring out the nuances of the position.</p><p>“When I first came to the Raiders, it felt like I didn’t know anything about football,” he said. “And then all of a sudden, you start talking situations. And sometimes you’re out there seeing a play and you’re thinking, ‘You know, I bet they’re gonna run that play,’ and then they do end up running that play.”</p><p>Brown became a primary backup last season, but mostly behind Morrison inside. With about two weeks to go in offseason practices this year, linebackers coach Don Martindale approached Brown and suggested he work on the strong side. It could be paying off.</p><p>Tuesday morning, Brown made back-to-back hits in 11-on-11 team period.</p><p>Unless Thomas runs away with the job or Williams is motivated enough to win it back, Brown could be lining up next to Morrison when Denver comes to town on Sept. 8. Don’t worry, though. He won’t stop chasing down kickoffs and punts alongside guys like Jarrod Cooper and Isaiah Ekejiuba.</p><p>“Special teams is always gonna be a part of me,” Brown said. “Whether I start or whether I don’t, I’m still gonna be out there for coach (Brian) Schneider because, I mean, I know Coop’s not gonna let me not play. And I actually enjoy playing special teams.”</p><p>He may enjoy strongside linebacker, too. He just hasn’t played there long enough to know yet.</p><h3>EXTRA POINTS</h3> <p>Quarterback JaMarcus Russell banged his elbow on Darren McFadden’s helmet during the morning practice. He threw at the beginning of the evening practice, but coach Kiffin decided to shut him down for the night when the elbow stiffened. He is expected to practice today.</p><p>CB John Bowie injured his knee during a 7-on-7 passing drill Tuesday morning and left the field. The team is awaiting word on his condition.</p><p>S Greg Wesley (back) and Irons missed practice.</p><p>DE Derrick Burgess, who has played left end almost exclusively the last two years, is getting some work on the right side. When he does, Jay Richardson usually flops from right to left.</p><p>Fred Wakefield, who already began working at defensive end in addition to tight end this offseason, now is getting snaps at right guard and right tackle.</p><p>Sebastian Janikowski nailed a long kick at the end of Monday’s practice, ensuring that the position coaches would buy dinner for their players. The defensive linemen reportedly rang up a king-sized tab at Cole’s Chop House in downtown Napa, courtesy of assistant Keith Millard.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Phil Barber at 521-5263 or phil.barber@pressdemocrat.com.</p>