RAIDERS AT A GLANCE
	Tim Brown
	Last year: 8-8, tied for second in AFC West Key returnees:: RB Napoleon Kaufman (217 carries, 921 yards, 2 TDs); WR Tim Brown (81 rec., 1,012 yards); DT Darrell Russell (10 sacks); CB Charles Woodson (5 INTs); DE Lance Johnstone (11 sacks) New faces: QB Rich Gannon (Chiefs), FB Zack Crockett (Jaguars), WR Chris T. Jones (Eagles), PK Michael Husted (Bucs), OG Michael Skrepenak (FA) New places: QB Jeff George (Vikings) Watch out: Gannon doesn't have George's arm but he is more mobile. Better than '98: Raiders were 0-4 vs. Broncos and Chiefs. It can't get any worse. Worse than '98: They open with road games in Green Bay and Minnesota. -- Scripps Howard News Service

Head coach Jon Gruden's response? He let quarterback Jeff George become a free agent, cut kick returner Desmond Howard and intensified the competition at just about every position.

"We're not going to stand pat with the players we have and feel good about what we accomplished last season," Gruden said. "We had a good year considering all the injuries, but that's not what we're here for. To a man, you won't find anyone gloating over us finishing 8-8 and missing the playoffs. We have some unfinished business to take care of."

Gruden is entrusting Rich Gannon with the reins to his complex offense. Oakland signed Gannon after it decided against paying George a $5 million buy-back bonus to activate the final three years of the contract he signed before the 1997 season. Gannon received $16 million over four years, despite starting only 58 games in 11 NFL seasons.

Gruden also challenged starting running back Napoleon Kaufman to get healthy, return with renewed enthusiasm and regain the form that enabled him to gain 1,294 yards in '97. New backs Zack Crockett, Rashaan Salaam and Tyrone Wheatley should take pressure off Kaufman in short-yardage and goal-line situations and help keep him fresh after an injury-plagued '98.

The Raiders added yet another Super Bowl hero in cornerback/punt returner Darrien Gordon. Howard and cornerback Larry Brown, both Super Bowl MVPs, flopped during their brief stays with the Raiders, but Gruden is counting on Gordon to bolster Oakland's punt-return average -- his 13.2-yard average is the best in NFL history -- and secondary on obvious passing downs.

Even with the aforementioned changes, the Raiders face a formidable task in bidding for their first playoff berth since the '93 season. Oakland has the toughest schedule in the league (its opponents had a .570 winning percentage last season), including six of its first eight games against '98 playoff teams and four of the first six games on the road.

The Raiders also need to cut down on the number of sacks they allow after giving up a league-worst 67 last season, keep Gannon healthy and avoid the injury bug that plagued them last season.

Here's a position-by-position look at Oakland's roster:

Quarterbacks
Gruden opted for Gannon over George in hopes the former Vikings, Redskins and Chiefs quarterback is better-suited to running the Raiders' complicated offense. Gruden prefers a mobile quarterback capable of making plays on the run. Gannon has not entered a season as his team's starting quarterback since 1992, but he insists that isn't a problem because of how much playing time he logged the past two seasons with Kansas City.

		The focus is on the Raiders' offensive line. Can they protect the quarterback? Rich Gannon is a major upgrade at quarterback, but they need to keep Gannon healthy and making the plays he's capable of making. The Raiders are trying to get depth on the offensive line. They drafted tackle Matt Stinchcomb, who might start. But they can't afford an injury on the offensive line. It's hard to find good, premium offensive linemen, especially after camp is over. The Raiders have given up too much punishment to their quarterbacks the last few years. Oakland has the talent to be thinking playoffs -- maybe not the division title, but at least a wild-card berth. They have improved their defense and are a lot tougher. I think they will surprise people in the AFC West.

Wade Wilson, 40, is the backup and appears to be in great shape. Pat Barnes is battling for the third spot with Bobby Hoying, acquired from the Eagles in late August. Rookie Scott Dreisbach is a candidate for the practice squad or injured reserve after breaking his right fibula in August. Grade: C

Running backs
Kaufman contemplated retirement during the offseason. Now, he is fully healthy from a groin injury suffered last season and is seeking a three-year contract extension. He averaged only 4.2 yards per carry last season after averaging 5.0 in his first three seasons combined. Kaufman still will not play in short-yardage and goal-line situations. That role will go to Crockett, Salaam or Wheatley.

FB Jon Ritchie's primary role will be as a lead blocker and pass catcher out of the backfield. Randy Jordan provides added depth. He has shown he is capable of spelling Kaufman for long stints. Grade: C+

Receivers
Tim Brown had perhaps the best camp of any Raider and is eager to team with Gannon in an offense designed for short and intermediate routes, Brown's strong suit. James Jett is the projected starter opposite Brown, but Jett could get lost in Gruden's offense unless he learns to come back for the ball and catch over the middle as he did so well two seasons ago.

Terry Mickens, Chris T. Jones, Rodney Williams, Dameane Douglas and Kenny Shedd have performed well enough to warrant Gruden keeping seven receivers.

TE Rickey Dudley was the forgotten man in Oakland's offense last season, with Gruden preferring to use him primarily as a blocker. Second-year player Jeremy Brigham was one of the biggest surprises of camp and is pushing Dudley for playing time. Derrick Walker will be the third tight end. Grade: B-

Offensive linemen
Oakland returns four of its five starters, with right guard being the lone exception again. Second-year player Gennaro DiNapoli is the fourth projected starter there in four years -- following Kevin Gogan (1996), Lester Holmes ('97) and Derrick Graham ('98) -- despite not playing a single down last season.

Mo Collins will start at left tackle, Steve Wisniewski at left guard, Barret Robbins at center and Lincoln Kennedy at right tackle. The unit that allowed 67 sacks last season will benefit from Gannon's scrambling ability and another year's experience in Gruden's precision offense.

Rookie Matt Stinchcomb, Oakland's first-round pick, is not polished enough to crack the Week 1 starting lineup, but he will merit consideration for playing time before the season is over. Veterans Adam Treu, Greg Skrepenak and Darryl Ashmore are the leading backup candidates. Grade: C-

Defensive linemen
DT Darrell Russell emerged as an All-Pro last season and anchors a solid unit. Grady Jackson and Chuck Osborne back up Russell and Russell Maryland, giving the Raiders one of the best DT rotations in the league.

DEs James Harris and Lance Johnstone are free to make plays with the tackles receiving so much attention, but only Johnstone capitalized on a regular basis last season. Harris is being pushed for playing time by rookie Tony Bryant and veteran Ferric Collons. Grade: B

Linebackers
Strong-side LB Terry Wooden is gone. Holdover James Folston is expected to fill the void alongside Greg Biekert and Richard Harvey.

Free agent K.D. Williams, rookie Eric Barton and Travian Smith are developing into dependable backups and solid special-teams players. Biekert and Harvey are fine against the run but remain susceptible to the pass. This group will make most of the routine plays but also will give up its share of big plays. There is a strong possibility the Raiders might re-sign Wooden or another free agent before the regular season begins. Grade: B-

Defensive backs
When healthy, the Raiders have one of the better secondaries in football in CBs Eric Allen and Charles Woodson and safeties Eric Turner and Anthony Newman. They rarely played together last season, and the Raiders went 1-5 after Allen suffered a season-ending left knee injury.

The addition of Gordon provides much-needed depth and should fill the void if Allen or Woodson gets injured. S Albert Lewis is gone, but Charles Mincy is an able replacement. Marquis Walker is effective as the nickel back, and rookie S Marcus Ray gives the Raiders even more depth and flexibility. This will be the team's strong point. Grade: A-

Special teams
Leo Araguz solidified his standing as a solid punter with his second straight impressive season last year. He averaged 43.4 yards per punt in setting a franchise single-season record for most punting yards. Gruden called Araguz the Raiders' MVP for the first half of last season and one of their most consistent performers overall. Michael Husted will be Oakland's third placekicker in three seasons. He was signed because of his depth on kickoffs and field-goal accuracy. The Raiders finished 30th and 29th the last two seasons, respectively, in field-goal percentage.

Gordon replaces Howard on punt returns and should bolster Oakland's return game. Oakland will use several players on kickoff returns, including Kaufman, Salaam and Wheatley. Kaufman is the last Raider to return a kickoff for a touchdown (1995) and averaged 23.8 yards per return in 1995 and '96 combined. Gruden added several players who will help on kick coverage, one of Oakland's sore spots the past two seasons. Grade: C+

Material from Pro Football Weekly.
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