-- One of the few bright spots in Sunday's 28-0 loss to the Chiefs was the play of outside linebacker Aaron Curry, who finished with four tackles. Curry, the No. 4 overall pick in 2009, was acquired from Seattle two weeks ago for late draft picks in 2012 and 2013.

"I've seen tremendous progress in him," Raiders head coach Hue Jackson said. "I think this guy's been one of the brighter spots on our defense. He's done a good job. He brings an energy, a passion. He's making plays. He's around the ball, and I think he loves playing football."

Curry's job here is simple: run and make plays. But in a twist, he said the freedom the Raiders have given him means he is studying video more than he ever did with the Seahawks.

"Because my responsibility is simple," Curry said. "There's not a lot to it. Now I'm able to study the (opposing) offense and I'm picking up stuff from people on film that I had never picked up before."

While with the Seahawks, Curry was forced to study his team's defense more than the opponents' offense. "I played a lot of positions and wanted to perfect the defense that we played," he said. "Now that I'm in a role where there's not too much thinking, it's not hard. I'm picking up tendencies, I mean, little small stuff, that I'm seeing on film.

"One of the O-linemen from Cleveland, they gave it up every play, most of the time, I'd say about 70 percent of the time, whether it was run or pass. They had no clue they were doing it, but I figured it out from just watching the film."

Curry doesn't want to look back too much on his frustrating days in Seattle, where he was benched early this season.

"This game of football, it got snatched from me for about three weeks. ... I'm not saying it got snatched, I gave it away," Curry said. "For coach Jackson and (defensive coordinator) Chuck (Bresnahan) to give me a chance, it's like, never again. Never again will I give this game away nor let it be taken away from me.

"It's a huge appreciation for coach Jackson taking the shot and having the confidence that he had. There's a difference between, 'Hey, let's give him a try, see if he can fit in and weed him in or weed him out', and come in on Day 1, and the first thing the coach says is, 'We're starting you on Sunday. We're calling you out of the tunnel because I believe in you and know you can play football and know you're a great football player, and I'm going to make you a great football player.' "

Briefly: Middle linebacker Rolando McClain (ankle) missed practice again but was walking without a protective boot on his left foot. ... Safety Matt Giordano (neck) was back after missing one day. ... Jackson's last words to his 4-3 team before its four days off? "Represent this organization. ... Don't do anything stupid," he said. "Make sure you spend time with loved ones. ... Really think through what your goals are. We have some lofty goals that we're right in the thick of it to attain."