Rookie coach Lane Kiffin is challenging Ronald Curry to take his game to another level of consistency.

The Oakland Raiders’ flanker is taking the boss’ request to heart.

“I think he’s a great coach. He doesn’t take slouching from anybody,” said Curry. “He holds everybody accountable the same way, regardless of who you are. I think he brings what we’ve been needing here for the last four years.”

Curry comes off a 62-catch season, his biggest year in the NFL. The 2006 season for Curry wasn’t just highlighted by impressive statistics (727 receiving yards, 11.7 yards per catch, one touchdown), but also by being honored with the Raiders’ Ed Block Courage Award.

Curry earned the award — which is named in honor of Ed Block, the longtime head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts who was a pioneer in his profession and a respected humanitarian — by overcoming a season-ending torn Achilles tendon injury in 2005 and returning to the playing field.

Each March in Baltimore, the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation honors those recipients from every team in the NFL who have been chosen for this distinguished honor. Courage Award recipients embody everything that is positive about professional athletes as they serve as inspirations in their locker rooms as well as constructive role models in their communities. They are often players who have overcome devastating injuries or tragedies in their personal lives to return to the NFL.

The accolade has become one of the most important honors presented to a player in the NFL each year. Curry received the award along with the other recipients at the 29th annual Ed Block Courage Awards Dinner. The Foundation serves to also raise awareness of abused children.

The recipients were selected by their teammates for displaying a commitment to the principles of courage and sportsmanship.

“I take pride in everything I do,” Curry said after a practice last week at the Raiders’ Napa Valley training camp complex at Redwood Middle School. “It’s how people look at you. If I go out there and work hard, my productivity is going to speak for itself. I’m out there to make plays and I take pride in doing that.”

Curry, a seventh-round pick who is in his sixth year, has been sharp and productive in camp for the Raiders, who are putting in a new offense under Kiffin. In Sunday’s mid-afternoon practice, Curry made a very nice catch for a touchdown in the back of the end zone from Josh McCown. He also caught a short TD pass from Daunte Culpepper.

“He’s done a lot of really good things,” said Kiffin. “He really catches the ball extremely well, a very consistent catcher.

“The quarterbacks should be able to put a blindfold on him and throw to him. That’s how consistent he needs to be to be a great player for us.”

Curry, who has played in 46 league games, is working each day in camp to become familiar and to also develop a trust with the team’s three quarterbacks — Culpepper, McCown and Andrew Walter.

If and when JaMarcus Russell, the team’s No. 1 overall selection in the draft, comes to terms and agrees on a contract, Curry and the rest of the receivers will need to get on the same page as the rookie quarterback.

“He’s responded extremely well,” Kiffin said of Curry, from Hampton, Va. “I can’t say enough good things about him.”

Curry played in 12 league games with three starts before suffering a season-ending Achilles tendon injury against Kansas City on Dec. 5, 2004. He saw action in the first two games of the season before tearing his Achilles tendon and prematurely ending his season in 2005.

But Curry came back last year in a big way. His season featured:

• Catching 11 passes for 106 yards Dec. 23 against Kansas City.

• Catching nine passes for 87 yards Dec. 17 against St. Louis.

• Catching eight passes for 99 yards and a touchdown vs. Cincinnati Dec. 10.

• Catching five passes for 47 yards Dec. 31 against the New York Jets.

• Catching five passes for 85 yards in a game Nov. 6 against Kansas City.

“I think it was just the opportunity of playing,” said Curry. “I think you hit different levels in your career — the first for me was just making the team and then playing and now starting. I just can’t wait to hear my name called over the loudspeaker as a starter for the Oakland Raiders — Ronald Curry.”

He has 119 career receptions for 1,449 yards and seven TDs.

“Just to be playing the game of football and being a starter, that’s what you play the game for. Coming out here and not being a starter or being a third receiver, not playing as much as I could ... once I was on the field I took advantage of that,” he said. “All of my hard work is finally paying off.”

Growing up, Curry said he learned at a very young age that if you want something bad enough, “you’ve got to go out there and take it, you’ve got to work hard for it. And once you get it, try your best not to give it up. That’s just the way I was raised.”

He said that’s how he lives his life.

He was a two-sport athlete (football-basketball) at North Carolina. In football, he holds school career records with 4,987 yards passing and 6,236 yards in total offense. In basketball, he was the starting point guard on Carolina’s ACC regular season championship team in 1999.

Curry led Hampton High School to three consecutive football state championships. Hampton was 13-0 his last year and posted a state record 40 consecutive wins.

He’s already projecting an improved look for the Raiders.

“We’re just trying to build something within. I know we’re going to be better than last year. You’ve got to go out there and make plays — that’s what we’re here for. I think as long as we don’t turn the ball over and we execute on offense, I think the sky’s the limit for us.”