Raiders notes: Taking a Guess at long snapper

ALAMEDA -- The Raiders signing long snapper Nick Guess to the practice squad Wednesday was a preemptive strike in case concussed Pro Bowl long snapper Jon Condo is not cleared to play Sunday at Miami."We would anticipate," coach Dennis Allen said, "if (Condo) isn't able to go, that (Guess) would come in and take that role."NEWS: Raiders sign LS Guess
Allen, though, said Condo was involved in the protocol to get cleared."Thats going to go all the way up until Saturday before we know for sure," Allen said. "Or at least theres the potential that (it) could go to Saturday before we know."Guess, a rookie free agent from Tennessee who was in camp with San Diego, won a reported long-snapping competition with five others -- Bryce Davis, Kyle Nelson, Travis Tripucka, Ryan Pontbrian and Ryan Senser.RELATED: Condo has Raiders scrambling
"I was definitely thinking about getting a call, absolutely, because the Redskins snapper broke his arm and then this happened to Jon," Guess said. "I was definitely hoping to get a phone call. I didnt know. Im a rookie, so I dont know how this process work. After I saw the hit, I just felt bad for Jon because I know it was just like a freak accident."Monday night, backup middle linebacker Travis Goethel, who last long-snapped in high school, had a nightmarish turn replacing Condo as he rolled two of his snaps to punter Shane Lechler. A third resulted in a blocked punt.REWIND: Goethel: 'I wish it never happened'
"Theres so much time that goes into making everything that perfect rep so you get that perfect punt off every time," Guess said. "Its tough to snap the ball and then make the block and get the right guy."And in case you're wondering why regular centers Stefen Wisniewski and Alex Parsons don't simply jump in there, Allen said it's a completely different skill set."Its totally different," Allen said. "When youre a regular center and youre snapping the ball, whether it be shotgun, its a one-handed snap, its five yards, theres not quite as much zip on that as it is for a long-snapper. Its totally different. Its not something that you just come out here and youre able to do. Theres a skill set thats required to do that."Receiver Rod Streater's first-quarter fumble not only ended the Raiders' initial drive and shifted momentum into the Chargers' favor, but also served as a learning experience for the undrafted rookie."It wasnt a bad play by him, its just something you learn with experience," said quarterback Carson Palmer. "As you have catches and years in this league you understand on third down to get down. I love his heart. I love his fight. Hes trying to get an extra yard-and-a-half, which you love to see. Thats who he is as a person. Thats who he is as a player."Next time Ill almost guarantee hell get down. Hell dive on the ground. Hell know he has a first down. Getting us the first down and then getting downI dont think it affected his confidence. Hes a naturally very confident person. I looked him in the eyes right after the play and I could tell he was disappointed but he wasnt (shaken up). He bounced back and made plays later on in the game."Streater was targeted 10 times by Palmer and caught four passes for 27 yards and a touchdown, plus the ensuing two-point conversion."Just tuck and go down next time," Streater said. "It wasn't worth it."Catch the ball, tuck and get down."Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly had a pair of costly offsides penalties on third down to prolong a Chargers scoring drive. So with Kelly jumping being a point of emphasis this offseason, did he expect to be disciplined for his jumping at quarterback Philip Rivers' hard count?"They can pretty much do what they're going to do to me but at the same time, me as a player (I have) to be able to stop listening to Phil instead of just watching the ball," Kelly said. To me, you can fine me, do whatever you want to do to me because he's the coach, but at the same time, it's on me."I've got to correct that; he can't correct that."Receiver Derek Hagan, on the Chargers taking away the Raiders' deep threat Monday night: "We definitely werent expecting that. Watching tape, and playing them last year, we felt that they were a Cover 1 team and come Monday night, I guess, our speed, just forced them to back off. They were playing about 15, 20 yards off and it was one of those things where Carson just kept having to check the ball downyou've got to take what the defense gives you and thats basically what we were doing."Added Streater: "They played a lot of bail technique. They were pressing, then turn around and run back. A lot of bail technique and they pretty much bailed a lot."