ShareThisBy JASON JONES
Sacramento Bee
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Dominic Rhodes started and came off the bench effectively as a running back for the Indianapolis Colts.
The free-agent acquisition's preference with the Oakland Raiders is simple.
"Getting the ball," Rhodes said earlier this week at the team's voluntary mini-camp. "I just want to get the ball and make plays. As long as that's happening, I'm cool with it because I feel like the more I'm touching the ball, the more plays I can make."
Rhodes said the Raiders' offense fits him "perfectly" _ even if he does not start.
Rhodes also is getting acquainted with being a receiving threat.
"They're going to put me in a lot of situations where I'm matched up with linebackers and safeties and make plays," Rhodes said.
Running backs were part of the passing game for the Colts (Rhodes had 36 catches last season). But Peyton Manning is that offense's centerpiece. And his job is to get the ball to Pro Bowl receivers Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison.
The Raiders plan to make the running game reign supreme this season, which is fine with Rhodes.
"Teams played us in a lot of cover two in Indy because we were more of a passing team," Rhodes said. "Here we're going to be a running team, so they'll have guys in the box and it'll leave running backs one-on-one on the outside with people to make big plays."
Rhodes knows if he does that, it won't matter if he starts because he'll do plenty of finishing.
As for who will be quarterbacking Rhodes' new unit, coach Lane Kiffin said rookie JaMarcus Russell's performance Monday was his "best practice since he's been here." With Andrew Walter out with a knee injury, Russell splits snaps with Josh McCown instead of getting a third of the snaps.
Kiffin said he got an idea during a workout last week of the leader he believes Russell will be.
"He really performed well, and you saw a take-charge side of him in the huddle," Kiffin said. "Everybody else was off the field besides me, and I could really feel him in the huddle. He was really good."
McCown, meanwhile, continues to be the steady veteran.
"Very accurate, very great decision-maker," Kiffin said.
