ALAMEDA Jeffery Simmons Jersey , Calif. (AP)Jon Gruden yelled out instructions, called out plays and ran an NFL practice for the first time since leaving coaching nearly a decade ago in Tampa Bay.This was the day Gruden had been waiting for ever since he was hired for a second stint as Oakland Raiders coach.The Raiders opened their first voluntary minicamp under Gruden on Tuesday with optimism that a change in coach can alter the fortunes of a team coming off a down season.”The practice field has always been a laboratory for a coach,” Gruden said. ”That’s where we earn our pay. We have to develop this team. We have to learn a lot about them quickly. We have a lot of things to teach, a lot of things to improve. It was fun to be out there. I don’t want to be too deep or philosophical or I might start crying.”While only the first 30 minutes of practice were open to the media, there was a different vibe than in previous years with Gruden’s loud voice replacing music as the soundtrack on the field.There were even large video boards on the field, allowing players to watch replays of practice plays immediately after they happened to make corrections more quickly. Gruden said that was something his first saw watching Jim Harbaugh’s practices at Michigan and adopted it himself.Gruden viewed this minicamp as an examination to see how well the players have learned the plays and system in meeting rooms the past two weeks. Gruden said he tried to throw a few extra wrinkles at quarterback Derek Carr and was pleased with how he responded.”He threw everything at me Nate Davis Jersey ,” Carr said. ”He tried to get me to see if I was listening to him in the meetings. We had a lot of fun doing that. It’s always fun to accept his challenge and hopefully do good at it and look at him or wink at him or something like that. We have fun together because we both have the same goal of putting the ship in the water and hitting this thing running.”Gruden takes over a team that fell from 12 wins in 2016 to just six last season, leading to the firing of coach Jack Del Rio and a second stint for Gruden in Oakland. The Raiders’ facility looks far different than it did during Gruden’s first tenure from 1998-2001 with a workout center that Del Rio initiated and new fields.The team needs plenty of work after last year’s disappointment.The Raiders had major drops in scoring (26 to 18.8), yards per game (373.3 to 324.1) and committed twice as many turnovers (14 to 28) this past season as Carr took a major step back in his development while dealing with a back injury for part of the season.But Gruden sees great potential that Carr can get back to the level he was in 2016 when his play helped earn him a $125 million, five-year extension in the offseason.”I got really excited out there today,” Gruden said. ”You can have a really creative imagination with that guy at the quarterback position. He can make every throw. It comes out of his hand fast and accurate. He’s mobile and sharp. He’s a great leader.”The defense became the first in NFL history to fail to record an interception in the first 10 games of the season and generated only 14 takeaways all season compared to 30 in 2016.The Raiders have brought in more than 20 free agents this offseason as Gruden has tried to put his own imprint on the team with one of the most significant moves being the signing of receiver Jordy Nelson to replace Michael Crabtree, who was released to make room.But there are also some key pieces missing Tytus Howard Jersey , most notably 2016 AP Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack, who is not participating in the offseason program while seeking a long-term contract before he can become a free agent next offseason.Starting left tackle Donald Penn is still recovering from foot surgery and last year’s top two draft picks, cornerback Gareon Conley (shin) and safety Obi Melifonwu (hip), aren’t taking part in team drills.— RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Safety Bradley McDougald, running back Chris Carson and right guard D.J. Fluker headlined a list of seven Seahawks players listed as questionable to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.McDougald (knee) Gary Jennings Jr. Jersey , Carson (hip) and Fluker (calf) each were forced out of last week’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers due to their injuries. Only McDougald was able to get any practice work in this week for the team as he was limited in Friday’s workouts.All three are expected to be game-time decisions.Delano Hill, a third-round pick in 2017, would make his first career start in place of McDougald if he is unable to play. It would leave the Seahawks with a starting secondary consisting entirely of players in their first or second year in the NFL against one of the league’s most explosive offenses.“He had a good week,” head coach Pete Carroll said of Hill. “These are two really good weeks. I mentioned it to you at the end of last week, too, that he had really stepped up in the preparation Ugo Amadi Jersey , he got a lot of work.”Mike Davis is set to go in place of Carson with first-round pick Rashaad Penny and C.J. Prosise available as well. Carroll wouldn’t say who would start in place of Fluker, but Ethan Pocic would be the most likely option.Linebacker K.J. Wright (knee), defensive tackles Shamar Stephen (foot) and Nazair Jones (illness) and guard Jordan Simmons (calf) are also listed as questionable.Carroll indicated that Wright and Jones should be able to play. Stephen had been away from the team this week getting treatment on his injured foot but has told the team he expects to be able to play as well.Cornerback Neiko Thorpe is doubtful to play due to a groin injury. It would be the third straight game he’s missed due to injury.