National Football League

Pass-rushing Ellis still going strong with Raiders

Published Dec. 24, 2009 12:09 a.m. ET

foxsports

Greg Ellis spent most of Wednesday afternoon indoors watching film while his teammates practiced for 2 1/2 hours.

That's become a regular pattern for the Oakland Raiders' veteran defensive end, who underwent minor surgeries to his knee and shoulder in November.

``For me, now at this point in my career, that serves me better,'' Ellis said. ``For younger guys they probably have to get out there and get more reps. For me, it's study the film, make sure I know what I'm supposed to do on blitzes and things like that but just study the film.''

Ellis hasn't practiced over an entire week since the first month of the regular season yet still leads the Raiders with seven sacks. He had two in Oakland's 20-19 win over Denver last Sunday, including a 7-yard sack of Kyle Orton on the Broncos' final possession.

Ellis has also been a growing force in Oakland's locker room, part of the reason the Raiders didn't go into the tank after losing six of seven games earlier this season.

``One of the things we're fortunate here is because of a guy like Greg and a guy like Richard Seymour,'' Oakland coach Tom Cable said. ``It's important that you have people like that. Go back and look at the history of this game, some teams have been young with the right amount of elder statesmen, if you will, or experience, however you want to call it. And there's been other teams with older guys that really just jelled together and know how to do things right, take care of themselves on and off the field.''

Staying on the field has been the biggest issue for Ellis this season.

He had three sacks in the Raiders' first four games before his troublesome left knee started giving him problems.

Ellis underwent arthroscopic knee surgery during Oakland's bye week and also had minor shoulder surgery at the same time. He missed one game while recovering from the operations and returned with a sack against Cincinnati on Nov. 22. But he sat out the second half against Dallas on Thanksgiving Day and did not play at all the following week against Pittsburgh.

Doctors have advised Ellis to have additional surgery on his knee in the offseason, but the 34-year-old is resisting.

Ellis' two sacks against Denver give him 84 for his career, sixth-most among active players. It was also an indicator of just how effective and productive he can still be when healthy.

``Obviously it affects me but I did the best I could do with it right now,'' Ellis said. ``If I had more time, if we as a team had more time, it would probably get better and 100 percent again. But unfortunately we don't have the time so I try to sneak in to play when I can play.''

When he's not playing, Ellis is either buried in the room watching film or busy mentoring the Raiders' younger players both on defense and offense. One of his main pupils has been rookie Matt Shaugnessy, who has four sacks while filling in for Ellis.

That, along with what he says is considerable progress made by the Raiders this season, has been enough to convince Ellis to put off talk of retirement for at least another year.

``I still feel like I have other things in football I want to do and I want to be a part of,'' Ellis said. ``The main thing is here. I wouldn't be giving myself or this team a fair chance if I said, 'OK, I played one year and I want to shut it down.' When I came here Tom Cable told me, 'Greg we have a lot of work to do.' I committed to him and committed to (owner Al Davis) to try to get this organization turned around.

``I see things are changing around here. That doesn't mean I'm the answer to everything. But I do see that team concept, it's being developed here. We just have to continue sticking together as a team, playing as a team, being disciplined on and off the field, then hopefully it will get turned around and going in the right direction.''

NOTES: QB Charlie Frye, who sustained a concussion early in the fourth quarter against Denver, has been cleared to play and will start against Cleveland, his former team. ... TE Zach Miller, who missed his first NFL game last week after a concussion against Washington, was limited in practice. ... RB Justin Fargas (knee sprain) and WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (foot) were held out of practice.