Originally published on SBReport.net on June 13, 2013

Third-round draft pick Sio Moore has signed his contract with the Oakland Raiders, the front office announced Thursday.

The linebacker's signing was announced shortly after the team finished up their third and final day of their mandatory mini-camp, the last team activities until training camp begins in the end of July.

The young linebacker has quickly become a fan favorite after stating the team drafted the "best linebacker in the draft" after being drafted 66th overall.

The 6-foot-one, 240-pound linebacker appeared in 41 games at the University of Connecticut with 31 starts while earning first-team All-Big East Conference honors during his tenure with the Huskies.

Moore is a versatile linebacker that can be moved all around the field in order to give him the opportunity to make plays. He has quick speed that allows him provide adequate coverage while also possessing the ability to play with his hand down and provide a pass rush, something the Raiders need badly.

The Raiders just have three more draft picks to agree to terms with after previously signing six draft picks last week. Cornerback D.J. Hayden (12th overall), offensive tackle Menelik Watson (42nd overall), and quarterback Tyler Wilson (112th overall) are not yet under contract.

The Oakland Raiders returned to the fields at Alameda to partake in the first session of a three-day mandatory mini-camp.

The defensive side of the ball looked to be moving at a much faster pace than the offense, moving around the field and getting to the ball carrier.

Defensive end Lamarr Houston consistently got into the backfield and applied pressure on the quarterback while the offense struggled to find any consistency at all. Head coach Dennis Allen recognized the inconsistent play and knows his team still has a lot of work to do.

"Today's practice, really at the end of the day, what we have to continue to work on is the consistency," Allen said of his team. "I thought at times we executed well; we made some plays, both offensively and defensively, but the consistency at which we got to execute on a day-in-day-out basis, we've got to continue to work on."

The Raiders quarterbacks were amongst the most recognizable inconsistency in today's practice, looking good at times but then proceeding to have balls batted down at the line and also finding defensive players as opposed to the desired offensive players.

Starting quarterback Matt Flynn looked solid in the individual drills but his ball seemed to flutter when taking his throwing to the team drills. Flynn was able to complete some deep passes to fullback Marcel Reece and Denarius Moore, though the ball wasn't pretty and it took nice leaps from his two receivers to haul in the catch over their defenders.

"I'm a perfectionist and what I want to do is I want to make the perfect throw every time, but I also have to understand that I'm going to have some guys out there that are playmakers and have good body control," Flynn said of the throws. "I want to give them the chance to make the play and sometimes when it comes out bad, it's not always because I had the feet set, or had the perfect set. Sometimes you throw it off balance but the bottom line is they made the play."

Flynn recognizes that the team isn't where they want to be if they had to play a game that counted, but he knows that everybody is still learning after so many new faces being brought together.

"Each and every day we're going to want to come out and complete every pass and throw 10 touchdowns but realistically, right now, everyone's still learning. Everyone's still learning each other, everyone's still learning a new playbook. Things are coming, things are formulating but we've got a long time until game one."

The same inconsistency seemed to plague fellow quarterbacks Terrelle Pryor, Tyler Wilson and Matt McGloin as each of them went through struggles in which the defense won the battle.

Rookie linebacker Sio Moore, who came out to his interview wearing Spongebob Squarepants pajamas, once again stood out as he got time with the first-team defense.

Moore has been taking advantage of his time with the first-team defense by trying to obtain as much knowledge from the veterans while he can.

"With the linebackers, I always talk to Kevin [Burnett] a lot; Kevin gives me a lot of pointers. And when I go to work with the lineman, Andre Carter a lot and Lamarr Houston. Those guys help me a lot and they help me as far as using my hands. It's good being able to be around a lot of older guys."

The team is filled with many new faces brought in during the offseason that will need to mend together and play with a consistency that both fans and coaches expect.

The Raiders resume their mini-camp with practices on Wednesday and Thursday before they break before returning for training camp in Napa at the end of July.

Originally published on SBReport.net on June 6, 2013

The Oakland Raiders announced the signing of six of their picks from April's 2013 NFL Draft.

The Raiders signed sixth-round picks tight end Nick Kasa (172nd overall), running back Latavius Murray (181st overall), tight end Mychal Rivera (184th overall), defensive tackle Stacy McGee (205th overall) and their seventh-round picks wide receiver Brice Butler (209th) and defensive end David Bass (233rd overall).

Murray has shown his upside during the young offseason by demonstrating his strong pass-catching ability out of the backfield as well as his downhill running style reminiscent of his running-mate Darren McFadden.

McGee and Bass represent the only two defensive lineman drafted by the Raiders during April's draft, which came as surprise after the team lost Tommy Kelly, Richard Seymour and Desmond Bryant.

Butler, out of San Diego State, is another wide receiver prospect looking to make an impact on a receiving corps that is searching for a true number one receiver the team can depend on.

Rivera and Kasa provide two complimentary tight ends that can grow together. Kasa's strengths lie in his size and blocking and will need to become a better pass catcher. Rivera is an athletic tight end with great pass-catching ability but is a little undersized and needs to develop his blocking skills.

The Raiders still have four draft picks to sign: cornerback D.J. Hayden (12th overall), offensive tackle Menelik Watson (42nd overall), linebacker Sio Moore (66th overall), and quarterback Tyler Wilson (112th overall).

Originally published on SBReport.net on June 6, 2013

The Oakland Raiders are set to host a NFL PLAY 60 Character Camp at their facility in Alameda, Calif. on Saturday and Sunday.

The camp aims to make a positive impact on local children through the teachings of football in a non-contact football camp that will see over 300 attendees from Oakland Parks and Recreation Department, the YMCA of Oakland, Oakland Boys & Girls Club, Alameda Boys & Girls Club, East Oakland Youth Development Center and Playworks.

The main goal of NFL PLAY 60 is to get kids active for at least 60 minutes a day in an attempt to help battle childhood obesity, though this weekend's camp aims to teach football technique while emphasizing exercise and the importance of character in life and athletics.

The Raiders are just one of 12 teams hosting a NFL PLAY 60 Character Camp, with the others being Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Miami, Pittsburgh, San Diego, San Francisco, Tampa Bay and Tennessee.

Players assisting in "coaching" the attendees include QB Matt Flynn, DE David Bass, G Tony Bergstrom, LB Billy Boyko, LB Kaelin Burnett, CB Chance Casey, G Jason Foster, LB Eric Harper, S Shelton Johnson, LB Sio Moore, FB Jamize Olawale, WR Rod Streater, CB Mitchell White, DT Vance Walker. Ex-Raider Sam Williams and the Raiderettes will also be in attendance.