PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Green Still Waiting to Break Loose

The Raiders traded for running back Gaston Green during the off-season to give them a home-run threat in their backfield, but he has not lived up to expectations during the exhibition season.

After four games, Green has struggled, gaining only 36 yards in 15 carries, a 2.4-yard average. With one game remaining before the start of the regular season, Green would like nothing better than to break lose against his former Ram teammates Saturday night at Anaheim Stadium.

“I really hope so because so far I haven’t had the type of (training) camp I (wanted),” said Green, who was acquired from the Denver Broncos in April.

After being drafted from UCLA by the Rams in 1988, Green was used infrequently during his first three seasons before being traded to Denver. With the Broncos, Green gained 1,037 yards in 1991 and averaged 4.0 in his two seasons, attracting the attention of the Raiders, who planned to use him as a third-down back.

Adding to Green’s training-camp problems has been the effectiveness of the Raiders’ starting backfield. Tailback Nick Bell has averaged four yards per carry and fullback Steve Smith has averaged 4.8.

“I wouldn’t say that I’m frustrated,” Green said. “But I am definitely ready to break loose.”

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Coach Art Shell said that some regulars will see more playing time against the Rams. “We want to look at certain things and most (starters) will get a lot of playing time with some playing into the third quarter,” Shell said. “But I’m more concerned with injuries. We don’t want to lose anybody. We need them for the regular season.”

Starting offensive left tackle Gerald Perry, who has sat out the last two exhibition games, has practiced this week, but might not play Saturday. “I will make the final decision on whether he plays,” Shell said. “And I’ll probably not make it until the day of the game.” . . . The only other Raider who might sit out is rookie safety Patrick Bates, who sat out last week’s loss to Indianapolis because of an ankle injury. . . . Despite the trade of Sam Graddy to the Rams this week, the Raiders still have a logjam at wide receiver. Daryl Hobbs replaced rookie James Jett as the team’s third wide receiver this week, behind starters Tim Brown and Alexander Wright. With rookies Olanda Truitt and Charles Jordan the probable choices candidates for practice-roster spots, veterans Willie Gault and James Lofton are fighting to make the final cut.