Heyward-Bey "shines bright" in Raiders minicamp has 0 comments

May 27th 2010, 08:33 | FFN-Score: 20 points

Wednesday’s surprise name to be making the rounds in the news: Darrius Heyward-Bey.

The Raiders made the second day of their three-day OTA session open to the media Wednesday, and it coincided with what sounds like an all-world performance by Heyward-Bey. Oakland Tribune columnist Cam Inman called it Heyward-Bey’s best practice in a Raiders’ uniform, and explained why. David White of the San Francisco Chronicle passed along that CB Nnamdi Asomugha also considered it the best practice he’s ever seen out of Heyward-Bey.

“I don’t think there’s any question, Darrius was really on today,” Raiders coach Tom Cable told reporters. “I thought a lot of things went into that. The quarterbacks threw him a lot of balls on time. He caught the ball well, made a move with it after the catch, which was most impressive. That was a very good day for him.”

That comment could be (and probably should be) viewed as a slight at any former quarterbacks (see Russell, JaMarcus) who previously didn’t throw the ball on time.

Jerry McDonald of the Contra Coast Times also liked what he saw of Heyward-Bey and while noting Jason Campbell got most of the work, suggests there is no quarterback competition to speak of. Cable offered this on the early chemistry between Campbell and his receivers:

“When you have someone throwing the ball where you can catch it and on time and those kinds of things, it gives them a chance to have success, and build their confidence and grow as a unit,” he said. “I think it’s having a lot to do with what’s going on.”