Rookie's performance leads to promotion

Originally Published: September 16, 2004

Email Print Share

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Archive

Exactly half of the 32 first-round picks in the 2004 draft started their teams' season openers, the most in at least the past five years, and that number will grow by at least one come Sunday afternoon.

Raiders offensive lineman Robert Gallery, the draft's second overall choice, is slated to make his first NFL start at right tackle when Oakland hosts the Buffalo Bills. He replaces third-year veteran Langston Walker, who moves into the swing role Gallery filled last week. Walker still figures to see considerable playing time.


	Gallery

"It's what I came here to do," Gallery told The Associated Press. "I'm glad they decided what they're going to do. Now I'm ready to play. I was going to be ready to play if I was starting or not, but now I know I can go out and play."

Gallery was regarded by many personnel directors and scouts as the "surest" pick chosen in April, and the former University of Iowa player was assessed as the premier left tackle prospect of the last several drafts. Some talent evaluators rated him in a class with veteran left tackles like Jonathan Ogden of Baltimore, Orlando Pace of St. Louis and Walter Jones of Seattle.

Such assessments might have been hyperbole, but there was little question of Gallery's talent and character.

In training camp, however, Gallery could not dislodge incumbent left tackle Barry Sims, and saw time in preseason games at left guard and right tackle. In the season-opening loss at Pittsburgh last week, Gallery replaced Walker for 17 snaps at right tackle and also got 15 snaps at left guard, filling in for Frank Middleton.

Gallery is still thought to be more of a pure left tackle, but Raiders coach Norv Turner said he has no qualms about playing the prized rookie on the right side, a position that had been manned by Pro Bowl player Lincoln Kennedy for eight seasons until his retirement this spring.

"When you watch him," said Turner, "he looked very natural over there [on the right side]. He's a very, very natural player."

Gallery had said the biggest adjustment switching from left tackle to right tackle was the footwork. On Thursday, the 6-foot-7, 325-pound rookie talked about being a work in progress at the position.

"It just takes time," he told the AP. "I feel more comfortable than I did even during the game (in Pittsburgh). I work on that stuff every day. It's just getting a feel for it, more than anything."

Only the third offensive lineman chosen by the Raiders in the first round in their past 17 drafts, Gallery hasn't played extensively at right tackle since his freshman season at Iowa, after being converted from tight end. But the Raiders, who signed Gallery to a contract that could be worth $54.75 million, are eager to begin collecting dividends on their pricey investment. And his play in Week 1 clearly merited a promotion.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.