Thursday, May 16 Do the additions on defense give the Raiders enough for a Super Bowl push? The whole season may come down to whether the Raiders are better on the defensive line. They had to redo the tackle position. Darrell Russell is out because of a drug suspension. Grady Jackson left for New Orleans. John Parrella is the perfect run-stopper to fill in for one, but more is needed from Roderick Coleman now that he is the only other dependable tackle. Coleman, an overachiever, needs to supply pass rush from the inside. Trace Armstrong's recovery from an Achilles' heel tear is critical for leadership at the defensive end position. There is no question the Raiders added great speed and brains at linebacker and cornerback. Speedy rookies Napoleon Harris at linebacker and Phillip Buchanon at cornerback will be phased in. Having veterans Bill Romanowski at linebacker and Rod Woodson at free safety will make the Raiders a smarter defense. Of course, their Super Bowl chances might come down to how well the team responds to new head coach Bill Callahan.

There'll be no more "Chucky" dolls or yells of "Gru" at Network Associates Coliseum, but expectations haven't changed for the Oakland Raiders -- getting back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1983 season. And if the Raiders do reach the promised land this year, they will have done so in part to coach Jon Gruden's departure.

For more than a year, speculation ran rampant that Gruden was off to Ohio State, then Notre Dame. When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came calling, owner Al Davis took the goods and ran -- four draft picks over the next two seasons plus $8 million. Now, Gruden's former offensive coordinator, Bill Callahan, has the challenge of finishing what his predecessor couldn't.

The Raiders go into 2002 believing they're a legitimate contender more so than a year ago when they we're coming off a home loss in the AFC title game to eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore. Their offense, which struggled mightily during a three-game losing streak at season's end, has all of its key components back -- quarterback Rich Gannon, wide receivers Tim Brown and Jerry Rice and running back Charlie Garner. One noticeable absence is the retirement of guard Steve Wisniewski, but the additions of Tom Ackerman, Brad Badger, the re-signings of Frank Middleton, Barry Sims and Darryl Ashmore plus a healthy Mo Collins will more than solidify the line.

Defensively, the Raiders brought in some old foes to fill holes. Former rival Bill Romanowski, who played across the bay with the San Francisco 49ers and more recently with the Denver Broncos, should serve as a solid replacement for retired linebacker William Thomas. Rod Woodson, who also spent a season with the Niners, joins a secondary that has provided spotty play in postseason losses the past two years. The Raiders got rid of Marquez Pope this offseason and likely will make Anthony Dorsett a dime back.

Perhaps the biggest concern in the secondary now is cornerback Charles Woodson. Even though Woodson made the Pro Bowl last season, he literally had his most painful campaign. He sat out chunks of games because of "turf toe" and was a liability at times when he played because of the injury. After Woodson, the biggest question is the defensive line. Grady Jackson apparently wanted more than the Raiders were willing to give him, so he signed with the New Orleans Saints. Darrell Russell is in the midst of legal issues and won't suit up in 2002 -- if ever again. They tried to address their needs in part by signing former San Diego defensive tackles John Parrella and Mike Mohring. They'll also count on defensive end Trace Armstrong -- their major defensive offseason acquisition in 2001 who was limited to two games last year because of a ruptured Achilles tendon.