Raider Camp : Sean Jones Follows in Howie Long’s Footsteps

OXNARD — The Raiders have a history of drafting defensive linemen from colleges that are not exactly known as football factories.

For example, Howie Long, arguably the best defensive lineman in the National Football League, was one of the last players to be drafted out of Villanova--a school that at one point dropped football entirely.

The Raiders continued this trend last season by drafting Sean Jones in the second round out of Northeastern--a Boston school whose football field is about two miles from the campus and whose crowds average about 500 per game.

Jones, 6-7 and 265-pounds, didn’t know much about blocking schemes when he arrived at camp in Santa Rosa last year.

“We thing he’s an excellent prospect,” Raider Managing General Partner Al Davis said. “It’s up to us and him to get the most out of him. He fits a mold on our team and we feel that we have a great prospect on our hands.”

Making the transition from prospect to player is up to Jones.

“I don’t want to put a rap on the coaching staff where he played (Northeastern),” Raider Coach Tom Flores said, “but he didn’t know much when he came in here because they didn’t have the drills and the blocking combinations that he needed.”

The transition to the NFL was a tough one.

“It was like night and day,” Jones said. “It was really tough, but I made it harder on myself by thinking about it too much.”

Last season, Jones played about half the time in the final six games and, last Saturday, he played three-quarters of the exhibition against the San Francisco 49ers.

“He is a physical talent and needs repetition and more repetition,” Flores said. “With each play he seems to get better and better.”

Jones may have a gotten a Raider education in football last season, but got his bachelor’s degree in business last spring.

Northeastern is a cooperative-education school, where students work at in their chosen major for six months and attend classes for the other half of the year. Jones’ co-op job on his resume was listed as “Playing for the Raiders,” and he boosted the average co-op earning in the school’s business department by $20,000.

He went back to school for his last six months in the off-season and got his degree.

The Raiders cut five players Tuesday, among them five-year veteran running back Chester Willis. Also released were linebackers Rickey Hagood of South Carolina and Ken Rose of Nevada Las Vegas, defensive back Raymond Polk of Oklahoma State and Kevin Smith, a former basketball player from Utah State.

The Raiders have now cut two former basketball players named Smith. Former Georgetown guard Gene Smith was released earlier in camp.

The Raiders (0-1) will play their second exhibition game against the Washington Redskins Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Coliseum.

Jay Schroeder, the UCLA quarterback who left the Bruins after losing a battle with Tom Ramsey, will be back in town with the Redskins. Schroeder, formerly of Pacific Palisades High, is in a battle with Babe Laufenberg, who went to Crespi High, for the No. 2 spot behind Joe Theismann.

“Jay is going to have to play a lot during the preseason to gain some more experience,” said Redskin General Manager Bobby Beathard. “He has all the tools and the poise to be a quarterback in this league. His progress has been good and he has great work habits.”

Schroeder is expected to play about half of the game.

Linebacker Reggie McKenzie, a 10th-round draft pick from Tennessee, who has been the surprise of the camp according to Coach Tom Flores, will get a chance to face his twin brother in Sunday’s game.

Raleigh McKenzie, a center who also played at Tennessee, was an 11th-round pick of the Redskins.

“I never dreamed this would happen,” said Reggie. “I’m so fired up for this game.”

According to Beathard, Raleigh already has made the Redskin squad.

Raider Notes

Tom Flores said that since Trey Junkin has been moved from linebacker to tight end he is the other big surprise in camp. . . . Dave Stalls who sat out last season while going to veterinary school, hasn’t gotten it together in camp, according to Flores. “We realize that he hasn’t played football for a year and we’ll give him time, but he’s nowhere near what he was when he left us two years ago.” . . . Flores said on the switch of 6-6, 260 pound Don Mosebar from guard to center: “So many teams are playing the three-man line now and they’re getting stronger. Look at the 49ers. They have (281 pound Olympic shot-putter) Michael Carter playing the nose and he’s really strong. Look at Kansas City with Bill Maas (6-4 1/2 and 265).”