Raiders take wing on their Florida adventure
Team to spend 10 days in Sunshine State for games with Jags, Bucs
ALAMEDA — The Raiders interrupted their regular-scheduled program Friday for a 10-day trip to Florida, but Disney World isn’t part of the schedule.
“That’s for the family, not for us,” quarterback Derek Carr said.
One of three NFL teams with a 3-0 road record — the others are Dallas and Seattle — the Raiders hope to keep it that way starting Sunday in Jacksonville, and will remain in Florida to train and practice for the following week’s game in Tampa against the Buccaneers.
At the time the schedule was being formed, the Raiders made a request with the NFL that the Jacksonville and Tampa games be backto-back to avoid making another cross-country trip.
With the logistics mapped out, all coach Jack Del Rio and his team have to do is show up for chartered buses and flights and concentrate on what is in front of them at that moment.
“Right now, the focus is just on Jacksonville, the talent they have, the things they like, and dialing in our preparation that way,” Del Rio said. Then once we get to Sunday and the game is over, we’ll transition into the following week.”
The odyssey began when five buses and three truckloads of equipment left Friday after practice to Oakland International Airport for a 2 p.m. charter to Jacksonville with an 11 p.m. arrival time in Florida.
The football operations department brought computer systems for set-up similar to training camp in Napa. Equipment was loaded and shipped.
“That’s who has the real strain,” Del Rio said. “There’s a lot of work behind the scenes. For players and coaches, it’s going to be very seamless. Basically football preparation as we know it, just doing it in a different environment.”
After the Jacksonville game, the Raiders will fly to Sarasota on Sunday evening and arrive at a four-star hotel, which will be their base of operations until Friday.
Each day, the Raiders will be bused to the IMG Academy in Bradenton for practice, then return to the hotel. Media sessions will be conducted at the hotel, as will Del Rio’s normal Monday news conference.
As closely as possible, the daily schedule will mirror the one the Raiders have in Alameda.
“All of the way we operate, the time the guys have, when we meet, how we meet and the material they get, when we feed them, are going to remain as much on schedule as possible,” Del Rio said.
On the morning of Oct. 29, the Raiders will be bused to Tampa for the game against the Buccaneers the next day.
Families are welcome on the trip, and some will stay at the team hotel.
“I think it’s going to be great,” Carr said. “Just to be out somewhere different with everybody. My family will be there, we’ll be together. But when you get those times at the hotel to be around each other and eat every meal together, I think that’s a good thing.”
Running back Latavius n Murray (toe), who “had a great week of practice,” according to Del Rio, was limited in practice and listed as questionable. Also questionable is tackle Menelik Watson (calf) who has been inactive for the past three games after being injured against Tennessee.
Others limited at practice and questionable are guard Jon Feliciano (calf), center Rodney Hudson (knee), guard Gabe Jackson (knee), running back Taiwan Jones (knee) and safety Brynden Trawick (shoulder).
All players listed as questionable are expected to be available. The only player listed as doubtful was tackle Vadal Alexander (ankle), who didn’t practice all week and last week was replaced by Austin Howard.