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ALAMEDA, Calif. – Carson Palmer gave himself a refresher course this offseason in what watching football without the modern convenience of high definition is like.

It brought him back to the late 1980s, when he watched football just because he liked what he saw without knowing the complications of the game.

This time around, it was for the benefit of his NFL career.

As part of his indoctrination into the West Coast offense, Palmer, 32, watched as much of the scheme as he could. He went all the way back to the Bill Walsh-coached San Francisco 49ers.

“It was pretty cool going back to those days,” said Palmer this week during a break in the Raiders’ organized team activities. “There were no HD films back then, so it was kind of gritty. It brought me back to when I was 8 years old and I just wanted to see (49ers running back) Roger Craig score a touchdown. You look at the game so differently now, but it was a good learning experience.”

Palmer’s West Coast cram sessions included several incarnations of the scheme. However, a primary focus was the 2010 and 2011 Houston Texans. Palmer watched every game the team played the past two seasons.

New Oakland offensive coordinator Greg Knapp was Houston’s quarterbacks coach in those seasons, and Knapp is bringing a version of the West Coast offense to Oakland. He is a disciple of the 49ers’ West Coast offense and has used versions of it as a coordinator in San Francisco, Atlanta, Oakland (in 2007-08) and Seattle.

Palmer was in a West Coast offense in his first year at USC, at age 18. In a season during which he will turn 33, Palmer must adjust to the offense in what will be a crucial year for him personally. The previous Oakland regime traded two premium draft picks for Palmer last season in a desperate attempt to stay in the playoff hunt when starter Jason Campbell went down for the season with a broken collarbone.

Oakland was 4-2 when Campbell went down. It was 4-6 after acquiring Palmer from the Bengals. Thrown into the Oakland system after holding out in Cincinnati, Palmer’s rust showed as he threw 16 interceptions and 13 touchdown passes for the Raiders.

Palmer is now comfortable in Oakland, and though he is still adjusting to Knapp’s system, he says he is thrilled with the playbook because Knapp’s offense has so many variations. There are some classic West Coast schemes, but there is also zone-blocking running and other modifications. Palmer said he believes it is the most varied offense he has been in.

He thinks it will blend nicely with Oakland’s speed at receiver. Mostly, Palmer is confident his transition to the offense will be easy because of Knapp himself.

“He’s been fantastic with me,” Palmer said. “He’s amazing. He is a teacher in addition to a coach. It will really help me get this offense down.”

New Oakland coach Dennis Allen said Palmer was a major reason why he chose to hire Knapp as his offensive coordinator. He said Palmer’s ability to adjust to Knapp’s offense made the Palmer-Knapp pairing a “great fit” in Allen’s mind.

Allen scoffs at concern that Palmer might not be athletic enough to run Knapp’s offense. He has repeatedly said he thinks that Palmer is athletic as Matt Schaub, who flourished under Knapp in Houston. Palmer often ran around the field freely on Tuesday in addition to participating in a multitude of plays, including several deep passes, which mesh with his big arm.

“He moved around today,” Allen said Tuesday. “He’s plenty athletic.”

Allen also said the key is to be flexible -- not only on offense, but on defense, where the 4-3-based Raiders will use multiple front-seven sets. Allen -- who was Denver’s defensive coordinator last season -- saw the benefit of in-season coaching when the Broncos went to an option offense for Tim Tebow midway through the season. He said Tuesday he learned from that experience.

“We are running the West Coast offense, but we’re going to do a lot of things,” Allen said. “We are going to take advantage of what Carson does best.”

While hopes are high in Oakland that Palmer will show he was worth the high price, some worry about the fit. Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. is in that camp.

“I have a lot of concerns with Palmer adjusting to the Raiders’ new offense,” Williamson said. “First off, it was the former staff/philosophy that wanted Palmer. He doesn’t anticipate routes well. When the receiver becomes open, Palmer throws it. Therefore, defensive backs get a better break on the ball and run-after-the-catch potential is more limited. Also, he has heavy feet and not a movement-based quarterback, which is ideally what they now want in Oakland. I do think Knapp will adapt his system to fit Palmer -- he will have to.”

To help Palmer adjust to playing for Knapp, Oakland signed Matt Leinart to be his backup. Leinart backed up Palmer at USC and the two Heisman Trophy winners have a close bond. Leinart was in Houston the past two seasons.

Leinart said this week he is happy to help Palmer with any nuances of Knapp’s offense. He said keys for Palmer will be to use bootlegs and rely on what should be a strong running game.

"I'm here for Carson, to help him with reads, to let him know that certain things are very good, just to stay on it," Leinart said. "Because when you're taught a new offense, there's things that you're not used to; you're used to doing it a certain way. Sometimes the reads are a little different. I told him today, 'Just stick with this route because it's a great route for us. It's going to be a great route for us.'"

And if he needs any reassurance, all Palmer has to do is flip on that gritty, grainy game film from yesteryear.

It was the first day of the NFL combine in Indianapolis and if A.J. Smith had been nervous, it would have been understandable.

He was entering the most critical offseason of his career. Already fired in the court of public opinion, Smith and Norv Turner, the coach he will forever be connected to, were given a reprieve by the San Diego Chargers ownership even though the team failed to make the playoffs for the second straight season.

San Diego is trying to curry as much public favor as possible in an effort to get a new stadium. If the team fails to reach the postseason again this season, the duo probably will be fired. The only way either man could retain his job if the Chargers don’t make the postseason would be if the team were decimated by injuries. And even that might not be enough.

Smith has to have an excellent year and the task began in earnest at the combine, where the team’s free-agency and draft plans began to unfold.

Was Smith worried in Indianapolis?

If he was, he is a fantastic actor. He looks like he’s on vacation every day. Tanned and well dressed, Smith casually sipped iced tea and spoke at length about his plan for the offseason. He was aware of his challenges and the consequences of failure but vowed not to play the offseason scared.

“I’m not going to get desperate,” Smith said then. “I’m going to do it my way.”

Fast forward more than two months later; Smith must be applauded for what he has done. Smith did everything he could to put the Chargers in a positive position headed into the season.

He decided not to tie up a large chunk of his free-agent budget in Pro Bowl receiver Vincent Jackson. Instead he focused on keeping other key in-house free agents such as offensive linemen Nick Hardwick and Jared Gaither, signed several receivers and added solid depth throughout the roster.

Smith followed up his aggressive free agency efforts by spearheading one of the best drafts. The Chargers found stunning early-round value on defense, their greatest need. At the end of Round 3, ESPN analyst Jon Gruden applauded the team's choices and said he believed San Diego would be a playoff team again.

The Chargers’ biggest offseason need was to infuse a lackluster defense with some impact performers. They had a meek pass rush in 2011 and were the NFL’s worst defense on third down.

After securing Baltimore linebacker Jarret Johnson in free agency, Smith watched his draft board fall perfectly. It started when dynamic South Carolina pass-rusher Melvin Ingram fell to San Diego at the No. 18 pick. He is a perfect 3-4 outside linebacker and should make an instant impact. He was expected to be a top-10 pick, and ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper called the choice one of the very best of the first round.

In the second and third rounds, the Chargers added defensive tackle Kendall Reyes at No. 49 and then traded up to take LSU safety Brandon Taylor at No. 73, in the third round. San Diego was considering Taylor with its second-round pick. The Chargers went on to draft value the rest of the weekend, even getting potential contributors like center David Molk and running back Edwin Baker in the final round.

Smith told U-T San Diego after the draft that he was pleased with his process, but he knows it doesn’t guarantee anything.

“All drafts are important to me,” Smith told the paper. “All I can do is concentrate on my job each and every year and do the best I can do as long as I can. Nothing’s changed here for me. There’s no outside pressure. I’m grateful to be here and have no idea how long I’ll be here.

“Everyone feels great on draft day. Some will make an impact in their first year, some will take awhile to get better, and some will never get the opportunity because of injuries, but it won’t be their fault or ours. You don’t know anything. We’ve drafted excellent college football players. They’re unproven NFL players -- all of them.”

San Diego owner Dean Spanos is pleased with the offseason Smith has put together.

“I think we were pretty patient in the draft and we think it paid off,” Spanos said in a phone interview this week. “We are happy with how the draft went. … We had a plan this offseason and we feel like we came pretty close to getting everything done we wanted to. … But we will see. We all know we need to get back to the playoffs and we are working to get there.”

Still, getting back into the postseason will not be easy for San Diego. The Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos also made significant improvements in the offseason.

“I can’t say I am sold on the Chargers,” Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said. “Over the past few years, I think their collective talent level has dropped. They did do some good things in free agency and the draft treated them well, not to mention that I am still a huge believer in Philip Rivers. … It isn’t to say that they can’t compete or get into the postseason, but right now, they are the third best team in the AFC West to me. “

If San Diego can’t break through and Smith and Turner pay for it, it will not be because of a lack of effort at the top. Smith responded to the challenge in free agency and the draft. Now, it’s time to see if it was enough.

Now that Matt Leinart has signed with the Oakland Raiders, each teams in the AFC West has a new backup quarterback.

After looking at the list, here is my advice to the starters in the division: stay healthy.

The AFC West’s group of backups is not very strong. I ranked the group and asked Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. for his opinion of my list. Williamson agreed with my rankings and that this is a weak class. He said the separation between all four quarterbacks is not big.

Let’s look at our rankings:

1. Brady Quinn, Kansas City Chiefs: Quinn is probably the best equipped of this group to help his team win on a short-term basis.

2. Matt Leinart, Oakland: Leinart is a good fit in Oakland because of familiarity with offensive coordinator Greg Knapp and starter Carson Palmer. But he has shown he can’t be trusted as a starter.

3. Caleb Hanie, Denver Broncos: The Broncos like the fit though he is warming the backup chair for second-round pick Brock Osweiler.

4. Charlie Whitehurst, San Diego Chargers: The Chargers like their former No. 3 quarterback, but I think they would have been better off keeping Billy Volek as Philip Rivers' backup. Volek, in my mind, would have been the best backup in this division.

The Oakland Raiders will now play five games in 2012 that start at 10 a.m. PT.

The Raiders’ Week 2 game at Miami has been switched from a 4:15 ET p.m. kickoff to 1 p.m. on Sept. 16. The time was changed to accommodate fans who celebrate the Rosh Hashanah holiday.

This is the first time in team history that Oakland will play in the Eastern Time zone five times. For years, West Coast teams have said playing games that start at 10 a.m. PT are quite challenging because of the early time adjustment.

In other AFC West news:

Steve Muench of Scouts Inc. writes in an Insider piece that Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore could be a late-round fit for Denver, and Chattanooga quarterback B.J. Coleman could be a late-round find for San Diego.

There is late buzz surrounding Marshall defensive end Vinny Curry. I could see him on the Charger’s radar at No. 18, or if they make a trade down.

The murder trial of former Raiders’ defensive lineman Anthony Smith ended in a mistrial.

Chicago signed Tampa Bay linebacker Geno Hayes. He visited Denver several weeks ago.

In an Insider piece, Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. looks at the draft challenges that face the Raiders.

In our AFC West chat earlier Thursday, I was flooded with questions about the possibility of Denver pursuing Detroit defensive tackle Nick Fairley in a trade.

I can see why the question was asked.

Defensive tackle is Denver’s greatest need. Denver vice president John Elway admitted that the Broncos considered packaging several draft choices to nab a falling Fairley during the 2011 draft. Fairley dealt with injuries as a rookie and he didn’t make much of an impact. He was arrested this week on marijuana charges.

Again, I get why the question was so popular Thursday. Still, I question if a trade would occur.

The Lions’ coaching staff likes Fairley and it foresees him being part of a dominant front line, so he very likely would be difficult to obtain.

Also, he’d probably be expensive for Denver to get if it wanted him. He was the No. 13 overall pick last season, so I’m sure the Lions would want a first-round pick this year. Would he be worth the No. 25 pick to Denver? Maybe, but again, there would be a lot of obstacles to get over first beginning with the Lions making him available.

I broached the idea with Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. and he didn’t see a great fit.

“It seems strange to me, as Detroit just used a high draft pick on the guy,” Williamson said. “He was hurt a lot last year, so I don’t think we ever saw the true Fairley. But I do think he is a much better interior pass-rusher than run defender. At the right price, sure, but why would Detroit give up on him so quick? And I think Denver needs more of a run plugger.”

NFL.com has the salary-cap numbers, as of Friday morning, for every team. The Chiefs and Broncos are in fine shape, while the Chargers and Raiders have much less room.

The truth is, every team will be fine. The big-spending portion of free agency is over and every team in the AFC West should be able to easily sign its draft picks and add depth. Although the Chiefs and Broncos can add more depth than San Diego and Oakland.

In other AFC West news:

I talked to Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. about the Raiders' signing of strongside linebacker Philip Wheeler. He likes the addition and he said it was a sign the Raiders will stick to a 4-3 defense.

“He didn’t play bad at all for Indy,” Williamson said. “He’s a pure 4-3 outside linebacker and a starting caliber one in my opinion. It’s a solid pick up for Oakland.”

Oakland quarterback Carson Palmer told the San Francisco Chronicle he is ready to roll in the Raiders’ new West Coast offensive system. Palmer is confident he will adjust well in the new offense.

New Oakland reserve running back Mike Goodson talks about his fumbling issues and his opportunity with the Raiders.

Reggie McKenzie’s first trade as the Oakland Raiders' general manager was another reminder the Al Davis days are over.

Friday, in a swap of backups, the Raiders shipped offensive lineman Bruce Campbell to Carolina for running back/special teamer Mike Goodson. Davis took Campbell in the fourth round of the 2010 draft. He was a combine star but never developed in Oakland. He appeared in 14 games in two seasons with no starts. The Panthers indicated Campbell, 23, will be moved from guard to tackle.

Campbell didn’t fit the Raiders’ new zone-blocking scheme. While giving up depth at the offensive line, the Raiders did add depth at running back in Goodson. I think Goodson probably replaces departed special-teams ace running back Rock Cartwright more than running back Michael Bush. Both players left in free agency.

Goodson, 24, showed some flashes as being a role player in 2010 when he had 452 yards on 103 carries and he had 40 catches for 310 yards. He fell out of favor with the new Carolina coaching staff last season and did not have any carries and appeared in just four games in 2011. I think Oakland still needs to add a running back to spell Darren McFadden and Taiwan Jones.

Update: I just caught up with Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. He thinks Goodson has a chance to have a solid role in Oakland.

“He has a lot of ability,” Williamson said. “I have no idea why he got in the doghouse in Carolina, but I see him as an excellent change of pace for McFadden and insurance for Jones. I like it, but he has fumble issues.”

UPDATE II: McKenzie issued this statement on the trade: “We wanted to acquire another player to compete at the running back position. He can do a lot of things in our scheme on offense. He’s very versatile, he has natural running skills, he’s a great receiver out of the backfield and he has kick-return ability. I’m anxious to see if he can put all that together here as aRaider.”

“We appreciate the work Bruce has put in thus far with the Raiders, and we wish him the best"

The Oakland Raiders are one of the most intriguing franchises in the NFL these days. How will the post-Al Davis Raiders evolve?

After Davis' death in October, the much-less-involved Mark Davis turned his father’s beloved franchise over to Reggie McKenzie, a respected personnel man from Green Bay, who is embarking on his first journey as a general manager. McKenzie has entrusted former Denver defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who at 39 is the youngest coach in the league, to be the next coach of a team that finished 8-8 last season and barely missed the playoffs.

The first focus for McKenzie has been clearing the Raiders’ roster of bloated contracts given to players as the Raiders desperately, and unsuccessfully, chased championships in Davis’ final years.

It has been a necessary exercise as Oakland begins the process of getting out of salary-cap jail. But Oakland has lost more talent than it has brought in the past month.

The question begs to be asked: Has Oakland fallen behind the rest of the AFC West for the 2012 season? It depends on whom you ask, of course. Asked this week if his team will be stronger or weaker in 2012, McKenzie, without explanation, said this: “Honestly, I envision it being stronger.”

However, many folks around the league wonder how.

“I think they have fallen behind,” Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. said. “They are in a tough salary-cap position and they are paying for it now. I just don’t see the improvement.”

Added Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc.: “I do think they have slipped.” Williamson, in an Insider piece, gave the Raiders one of the worst free-agent grades in the AFC.

It’s difficult to look at the list of players Oakland has added and lost and not come to the same conclusion. Even given the need for salary-cap repair, a loss of talent mustn’t be brushed aside.

Here are some of the key players who were either cut or departed Oakland as free agents: linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, running back Michael Bush, quarterback Jason Campbell, cornerback Stanford Routt, tight end Kevin Boss, defensive tackle John Henderson, running back Rock Cartwright, receiver Chaz Schilens, defensive end Trevor Scott and cornerback Chris Johnson.

The projected starters who have been brought in: guard Mike Brisiel and cornerbacks Ron Bartell and Shawntae Spencer.

“You look who has come and who has gone, and it’s scary,” Horton said. “I like Mike Brisiel. He will help. But the two cornerbacks are just guys. They are not starters for a good team. The defense needs improvement and I don’t see it. All I see is the loss of talent. Where is the coverage coming from? Where is the pass-rush coming from?”

In addition to not having much cap room, the Raiders have a small draft class. They have five picks and their first pick is No. 95, at the end of the third round. McKenzie has said the Raiders need a starting outside linebacker. He might not know who that player is for some time.

Compounding the concern in Oakland is the fact that the rest of the AFC West has been aggressive this offseason.

Denver added the big prize of the NFL offseason -- quarterback Peyton Manning. Kansas City added several players, including Routt and Boss after they were jettisoned by Oakland. The Chargers lost star receiver Vincent Jackson and key backup running back Mike Tolbert, but added several pieces and have been lauded by scouts around the league for using their resources properly and adding to their overall talent level. Speaking this week solely about his own team, Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli said he felt the need to improve his roster because of the improvement around him in the division.

Meanwhile, McKenzie and Allen are seemingly beginning their tenure in Oakland by taking a step back. Asked about the loss of talent while at the NFL owners meetings this week, Allen took a realistic approach.

“You know what, we knew what the situation was when we were going into it,” Allen said. “We knew it was going to be a tough situation. I think Reggie’s done a great job of managing everything as we’ve gone through this. You go through it every year. Every year, you have good players that you lose. And you’ve got to find a way to regroup and replace those guys, and that’s what we’re trying to get done.”

The problem is that Oakland has more holes than it did at the end of last season. In the past couple of seasons, the Raiders were intriguing because they were young and didn’t have many glaring needs. All they needed was their young talent to continue to improve. Now, though, Oakland has holes at tight end and linebacker and depth issues at all layers of the defense, at running back, along the offensive line and at quarterback.

“What if this team gets hurt a lot?” Horton asked. “There is no depth in this team.”

Still, not all is lost in Oakland. Running back Darren McFadden is an elite runner when healthy, the defensive line is an upper-echelon unit, the interior offensive line is strong, the special teams are top-notch, the receiver crew is potentially dynamic and the team believes quarterback Carson Palmer will benefit from a full offseason in the program.

The Raiders are hopeful that their talent can withstand this necessary offseason of cap repair. In a couple of years, if McKenzie continues to be financially prudent, the Raiders should be out of cap jail.

“This team wasn’t far away when I got here,” Allen said at the owners meetings. “We’re excited about trying to build on that and develop this team into a playoff-caliber team. Obviously, we took a couple hits because of the cap situation, but we’re looking forward to trying to develop the team and the players.”

The only question: Has the rest of the AFC West left the Raiders behind in the immediate future?

Matt Williamson’s grades are in.

He gives the Chiefs and Broncos high marks. The Chargers and the Raiders? Not so much.

In an Insider piece , Williamson gave both the Broncos and the Chiefs "A" grades for their work. Denver brought in quarterback Peyton Manning and the Chiefs brought in several key pieces.

Even though the Chargers brought in several players, they did lose Vincent Jackson and Mike Tolbert, so Williamson gave them a "C." Oakland had major salary-cap issues to deal with and Williamson slapped a "D" grade on the new regime that was clearly in a tough spot. What do you think about these grades? Fair or foul? Fill up the comments section below with your thoughts.

In other AFC West news:

• The Broncos are one of several teams showing interest in South Carolina's Alshon Jeffrey. He is expected to be a late first-round pick. Denver has the No. 25 pick. Because of greater needs on defense, I don’t expect Denver to take a receiver with its first pick. Perhaps it will add a receiver with another early-round pick.
• Former longtime Raiders trainer George Anderson died at the age of 82.

UPDATE: NFL.com reports the Raiders are visiting with Colts’ free agent linebacker Phillip Wheeler. He started games last season and he had 84 tackles. If he comes cheaply, he could be the player the Raiders plug into the starting lineup.

Barring a setback from the neck injury that cost him the entire 2011 season, Peyton Manning has the Denver Broncos’ offense covered. That side of the ball will be fine and will be in playoff form.

But what about the defense?

That side of the ball will be a key to Denver's season. If the 2012 Denver defense can make the strides it did in 2011, the Broncos have a chance to be a serious contender.

Bill Polian, who knows Manning well, has said he thinks the potential of the Broncos' defense is one of the reasons Manning chose to play in Denver. Polian, the Colts’ former general manager who brought Manning to Indianapolis and who is now an ESPN analyst, said last week he thinks the Denver defense could be a spark for the Manning-led offense.

“John Fox is going to coach up that defense and it has a chance to play great defense,” Polian said. “That will only help Peyton.”

However, I believe the Broncos have work to do before they can start playing great defense.

This unit is a work in progress. It went from No. 32 in 2010 prior to Fox’s arrival to No. 20 in 2011 under the guidance of Fox and coordinator Dennis Allen, who is now the head coach in Oakland. The 2011 Denver Broncos will be remembered for the wild days of Tim Tebow, but it was the defense that rose up and solidified the team. With Manning running the offense and former Jacksonville head coach Jack Del Rio running the defense, the team has a chance to go to the next level.

The defense in Denver starts with pass-rushers Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller. The pair combined for 21 sacks last season and they should be one of the most dynamic pass-rush duos in the NFL for years to come. Polian called the pair special and an anchor for the defense.

Denver upgraded at cornerback by signing Tracy Porter of New Orleans. He is a solid No. 2 cornerback and will make a strong pairing with the aging, but still dominant Champ Bailey. Porter, who has had challenges staying healthy, is an upgrade from Andre Goodman. Underrated safety Mike Adams was signed from Cleveland. He will pair with second-year player Quinton Carter, who made strides as the season went on. The team will give 2011 No. 2 pick Rahim Moore a chance to rebound from a rookie season in which he regressed. But Adams and Carter should be a serviceable pairing.

There are some problems, though. Outside linebacker D.J. Williams, one of the better defenders on the team, is facing a six-game NFL suspension for using a banned substance. He is fighting it in the form of a lawsuit. Defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley signed with New Orleans. Bunkley was a tone-setter, and even though he played only 43 percent of the snaps, he will be missed.

Denver has a major void at defensive tackle and it probably will take advantage of a strong draft class at the position and use the No. 25 pick on a player such as Mississippi State’s Fletcher Cox, Penn State’s Devon Still or LSU’s Michael Brockers. They also want to re-sign Marcus Thomas and hope 2011 free-agent signee Ty Warren is healthy after missing the past two seasons.

There is no doubt this is still a building project and that concerns Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc.

“I was very worried about this defense, but now I feel a little better about it after it signed Porter, who is a very solid No. 2 behind Bailey,” Williamson said. “But I still have my worries about the defense up the middle. Losing Bunkley hurts quite a bit, but maybe Ty Warren can help out this year. The safety position worries me. But they can sure rush the passer. The question is will be they be able to handle a physical offense.”

After being the bright spot of a surprise team in 2011, the Denver defense must take the next step in a year when, suddenly, much is expected from this team.

We knew this was likely going to happen, and the Raiders really had no choice. But now they have to deal with no longer having a special running game.

Oakland can’t be criticized for giving safety Tyvon Branch the franchise tag over reserve running back Michael Bush. Branch is a starter and a key part of a defense in transition. He had to stay. However, that decision likely meant that Oakland's wicked run attack would take a hit.

That became official Thursday when Bush signed with the Bears, joining former Oakland starting quarterback Jason Campbell in Chicago.

Now, the Raiders have to hope starting RB Darren McFadden can somehow become durable. When McFadden went down with a season-ending foot injury in October, Bush took over. When McFadden was healthy, he and Bush were a dynamic 1-2 punch.

Currently, small and injury prone second-year player Taiwan Jones is McFadden’s backup. Jones is super fast and he is a weapon, but I see him more as a change-of-pace guy and as a third-down weapon. I’m not sure if he could hold up if he had to start for a long period of time.

McFadden has missed 19 games in four seasons and has never missed fewer than three games in a season. Fullback Marcel Reece is a terrific all-around player, but he has just 47 career rush attempts.

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. believes if McFadden can stay healthy, the loss of Bush will be survived.

“I love McFadden, but he is always hurt and I think his running style lends itself to injuries,” Williamson said. “Jones is very intriguing going into his second year, but he certainly can’t carry the load. I do expect Jones to be a big-play guy this year that develops in the passing game Reece is interesting. He isn’t at all the average fullback. He just does everything, including playing a major role in the passing game.”

It appears Stefen Wisniewski is going to move to center in Oakland for his second season.

Nothing is official, but there are indications the Oakland Raiders will use former right guard Cooper Carlisle at left guard and use newly signed Mike Brisiel at right guard. That would enable the Raiders to move Wisniewski from left guard to center. He had a strong season as a rookie at left guard, but the Raiders drafted him in the second round last year the plan was to use him at center.

Carlisle was re-signed Monday after being a salary-cap dump last week. If Wisniewski is in fact moving to center, Matt Williamson of Scouts thinks it will work.

“No doubt about it,” Williamson said. “I didn’t think he was quite as good as a rookie as many made him out to be, but I also don’t have any worry that he will be a legitimate NFL starting center.”

The Raiders are expected to use the zone-blocking scheme and he thinks a interior line of Wisniewski, Brisiel and Carlisle could be a serviceable group.

“I can’t argue too much with the moves and they all are mobile and fit the new blocking scheme,” Williamson said.

The Kansas City Chiefs are giving Peyton Hillis one season to prove he is more like the 2010 version, who excelled under Brian Daboll, and not the 2011 version who struggled with several issues.

In an attempt to bolster their potentially dangerous offense, Kansas City brought the powerful running back -- who spent his first two NFL seasons with the Denver Broncos -- back to his AFC West roots. Hillis, who was traded from Denver to the Cleveland Browns in a deal for quarterback Brady Quinn two years ago, signed a one-year deal worth $3 million with Kansas City.

Under new offensive coordinator Dabol in 2010 Hillis ran for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns. Hillis will be a complementary back to Jamaal Charles, who is expected to be back after tearing an ACL in Week 2, and provides insurance if Charles is not 100 percent by the start of the season. The Chiefs are also still visiting with San Diego Chargers free agent Mike Tolbert and there is a chance Tolbert could be added to the backfield as well.

The Chiefs are a ground-based team and Hillis is a good fit. Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. loves the addition in Kansas City.

“Hillis runs with extreme aggression and also catches the ball much better than many realize since he is a big power," Williamson said. "I worry about his durability, but with Charles, he should be the complementary piece.”

Last season without Daboll, Hillis struggled in several areas. He had just 587 yards and averaged 3.6 yards a carry during a year where he graced the cover of the Madden video game.

It was a strange season for Hillis. He was questioned for missing a game when he was ill, there was a reported player’s intervention for him because of his unhappiness over his contract, he went through several agents, and he has denied a report that he thought about quitting football last season to join the CIA.

Because the Chiefs are not committing to Hills for the long term, the team is protected if Hillis does not revert to his 2010 days. I expect Hillis to play very hard as he tries to prove to the Chiefs and to the rest of the league he deserves the long-term deal he has long desired.

Hillis is another interesting component to Kansas City’s offense. An offense featuring Charles, Hills, receivers Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston, Jon Baldwin and tight end Tony Moeaki is powerful. It has the potential to both wear down opponents and to score quickly. The Chiefs are trying to make it even better. They are trying to sign Tolbert and former Houston standout right tackle Eric Winston. Plus, the team is bringing in former Oakland tight end Kevin Boss to pair with Moeaki.

Instead of trying to replace quarterback Matt Cassel, it seems that the Chiefs are bent on giving him as much help as possible. Potential Cassel competitors Jason Campbell, Kyle Orton and Chad Henne have all signed elsewhere.

With a defensive-minded head coach in Romeo Crennel, it is clear the Chiefs believe pumping up the offense is the team’s biggest priority and securing Hillis to a team-friendly deal is a solid start.

The San Diego Chargers entered the offseason with getting a top pass-rusher as one of their biggest needs.

Within the first 24 hours of free agency, San Diego secured an outside linebacker. However, in former Baltimore linebacker Jarret Johnson, San Diego didn’t get a dynamic pass-rusher, but it got one of the better run-stopping outside linebackers in the NFL. The team announced Johnson has agreed to a four-year deal.

Johnson, 31, was an underrated part of the Ravens’ defense for the past nine seasons. His last defensive coordinator in Baltimore was Chuck Pagano, who is the brother of new San Diego defensive coordinator John Pagano.

Don’t expect Johnson to improve the Chargers’ pass rush. He has 20 career sacks, four in the past two seasons and his highest single-season sack total is six. But he should improve the defense as a whole.

The Chargers will likely try to draft a pass-rusher early in next month’s draft. One possibility could be Kamerion Wimbley if the Raiders cut him.

UPDATE: Here are the thoughts of Scouts Inc’s Matt Williamson on the Johnson addition:

“He’s tough guy from a great defense in Baltimore, but also was also did benefit from all the great players around him there. But no doubt. Johnson is a fantastic run stopper. He takes away the edge as well as any outside linebacker in the league. But he isn’t much of a pass rusher. I would imagine that he gives way to Antwan Barnes on throwing downs opposite Shaun Philips.”

As the Denver Broncos wait to hear from Peyton Manning, the Tennessee Titans have emerged as a strong competitor for the superstar quarterback.

Manning, who is also considering the Cardinals and Dolphins, is meeting with the Titans’ brass and then he is expected to make a decision on his future. There has been recent chatter that Manning may be swayed to stay in the AFC South and play for the Titans. Wednesday, Manning’s former boss didn’t do anything to end that talk.

Former Indianapolis general manager and current ESPN analyst Bill Polian said on "SportsCenter" that he thinks the Titans are the most logical landing spot for Manning. Polian cited that Manning and his wife, Ashley, have ties to the state. Manning was a legendary quarterback at the University of Tennessee.

So, location could be a big stumbling block for John Elway. This doesn’t mean Manning won’t be a Bronco, but the Titans may have an emotional edge. Whatever happens, I’m sure the Broncos want a resolution so they can proceed with the rest of their free-agency plan, regardless of the outcome of the Manning sweepstakes.

In other AFC West news:

ESPN Boston is reporting key San Diego backup safety Steve Gregory will visit New England on Wednesday. If Gregory gets a starting job, he will likely leave San Diego. Denver has also been linked to Gregory. The Chargers will likely look for help at safety in the draft.

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. believes the Chargers’ re-signing of center Nick Hardwick is a top under-the-radar signing.

Robert Meacham’s deal with the Chargers includes $100,000 in bonuses if he makes the Pro Bowl for each of the next two seasons.

The word is Oakland, Washington and New Orleans may be the early favorites to land Matt Leinart as a backup quarterback. Oakland’s connection is Leinart played for new Oakland offensive coordinator Greg Knapp in Houston. The Raiders are looking for a new backup.