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If anyone still hasn’t grasped that the Oakland Raiders are a changed organization, all they have to do is watch Juron Criner run routes during this weekend’s rookie minicamp.

A player with potential, Criner has speed in the 4.7-second range. He is not the burner former owner Al Davis craved, and if Davis were still alive Criner would likely not be in Oakland today.

The Autumn Wind is still a Raider, but it blows on a different course.

When Davis died at age 82 on Oct. 8, it was clear that the Raiders were going to embark upon a major transition period. Davis was the Raiders’ decision-maker for nearly 50 years, even into his ailing final days. That just doesn’t happen in the NFL anymore. Can you imagine George Halas still running the Bears, or Vince Lombardi still on the sideline in Green Bay?

While we anticipated change, the modification since the 2011 season ended in Oakland has been swift, dramatic and wildly intriguing. The Raiders are suddenly moving on from the staunchly independent ways of Davis and emerging as a modern outfit with youthful spirit and ideas.

“I think the biggest challenge is that because the leadership has been the way it’s been done for so long, people are used to doing things one way,” new Oakland head coach Dennis Allen said earlier this offseason. “I think the biggest challenge is just getting people within the organization to open up the thought process to doing things another way. There are different ways to do things in this league. I think everyone within the organization has been open and receptive to conforming to the way (new general manager) Reggie (McKenzie) and I are trying to do things.”

Though Davis was a legend, his ways didn’t always work in today's NFL. The Raiders’ last Super Bowl title came nearly 30 years ago and Oakland hasn't had a winning season in 10 years. Its nine-year playoff drought is tied for the second-longest in the NFL.

If there has been an MVP in Oakland since Davis’ death, it has to be his son, Mark. While his father ran the team, the affable younger Davis chose to ride in the background. Once he took over as the leader of the Raiders, Mark continued that approach.

Davis -- who was being advised some of his father’s top lieutenants in John Madden, Ron Wolf and Ken Herock --- listened to advice and hired Green Bay personnel man Reggie McKenzie as general manager shortly after the end of last season. Mark Davis deserves credit for respecting his advisors' recommendations (McKenzie has a strong ties to Wolf and Herock) and for allowing McKenzie to run the team once he was hired.

McKenzie’s task is a tough one and it will take time. But thus far, McKenzie -- a former Raiders linebacker -- has put his head down and dug in. The Raiders didn’t hire an Al Davis clone in McKenzie. The new GM is doing things his way.

McKenzie hired Allen, then Denver’s defensive coordinator, as head coach. The last defensive-minded head coach in Oakland was Madden -- who was hired in 1969. McKenzie fired longtime scouts and revamped the team’s draft preparation, focusing on modernizing the process. He has reportedly already hired a new college scouting director, former Green Bay colleague Shaun Herock, and has added former Jets' executive Joey Clinkscales to the front office. More scouts are likely on the way in.

McKenzie cut several players to whom Davis gave supersized contracts in his final years -- part of what should be a new emphasis on salary-cap management under McKenzie. The Raiders also added players in free agency and in the draft who fit Allen's schemes, rather than a rigid scouting plan. Speed and measurables are no longer as important as when Al Davis was running the team.

On the first day of the Raiders’ offseason program, newly signed linebacker Philip Wheeler made some eye-opening comments.

“I actually heard some of the coaches saying we’re not just big and fast anymore,” Wheeler said. “We’re going to be big, fast and we’re going work harder and have good football players. The (Raiders) were always bigger, faster and stronger than everybody. But the awareness of the game, some of it was down or whatever. I feel like Mr. McKenzie brought in a lot of players in who actually know how to play the game and aren’t just faster than everybody. We have actual football players here now.”

Change in Oakland haven't stopped with the players. It has flowed throughout the organization in the past few months, including the hiring of a new public-relations director with whom McKenzie has a history. The Raiders have become more accessible and appear to be willing to be more transparent than under the Al Davis regime.

It’s a new NFL world and McKenzie is introducing his team to it. Allen said the plan is to meld the past and the future in Oakland.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for all of us that are involved,” Allen said. “To take over such a historic program, be a part of that tradition there with the Raiders, is obviously exciting for all of us. We’re excited about the opportunity to put our stamp on the program.

“I think with every great program in the National Football League, I think you really have to respect the history and tradition within the organization. The Oakland Raiders. It’s one of the most storied franchises in all of sport, not just the NFL. We want to embrace those, embrace the past, and the history of the organization. But yet, we want to do it our way. Reggie and I are going to work together to do it the way we want to do it, and put the best team out on the field we can put out there.”

Much of the transformation will be based on bringing stability to the franchise. The past three head coaches -- Lane Kiffin, Tom Cable and Hue Jackson -- all created distractions for themselves and for the team. Throughout the years, instability caused many former Oakland players to be relieved when they became former Oakland players.

“There’s definitely a difference,” former Raiders cornerback Stanford Routt (whom McKenzie released) told reporters in Kansas City after he signed with the Chiefs this offseason. “You know what? I think there’s a little more stability here to say the least.”

Still, Allen made it clear the building process in Oakland will involve every facet of the organization.

“Our deal is, we want to foster an organization that’s based on trust, honesty, integrity, doing the right things, doing it the right way,” Allen said. “Those are things that both Reggie and I believe in. That’s the way we’re going to run that organization. We’re going to do things the right way. We’re going to do things in a first-class manner. We’re going to build a team that’s going to be tough, smart, disciplined. Just like I talked about doing the right things within the organization, that’s the way we’re going to do it as a team.”

Call it new shades of Silver and Black.

The free-agent running back market has been slow to develop and Michael Bush has been a part of that unexpected lag.

But interest in the Raiders running back's services has been picking up. ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting Bush will visit the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday. In Seattle, he’d be reunited with former Oakland head coach Tom Cable and former Raiders tight end Zach Miller.

Bush has already visited the Bears (where former Oakland starting quarterback Jason Campbell recently signed) and he is supposed to visit Cincinnati Monday. Former Oakland head coach Hue Jackson is on the Bengals’ staff.

At this point, it seems like Bush will not get a contract to start. Because of that, you would think he would consider remaining in Oakland as Darren McFadden’s partner. But because the Raiders have some cap restrictions and other needs (they are still hunting for several cornerbacks, including Shawntae Spencer and Tracy Porter), re-signing Bush right now may not be a top priority.

But if the market for Bush cools down, perhaps a return to Oakland would become more realistic.

Lame-duck former Oakland offensive coordinator Al Saunders met with the Kansas City Chiefs about their open offensive coordinator job, according to Bob Gretz.com.

Saunders has been replaced by Greg Knapp in Oakland, but the Raiders haven’t said what they plan to do with Saunders.

“Al is there today talking with Romeo (Crennel),” former Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil told the site. “He wants to see if there’s any chance to go back to Oakland, but if not he’d love the Chiefs job.”

Saunders is a former Kansas City offensive coordinator. Chiefs quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn also reportedly has interviewed for the job. The Kansas City Star reported Zorn may quit if he is not given the job. He and Saunders worked together in Baltimore in 2010

• Fox Sports has reported Oakland is hiring former Chiefs’ special teams coach Steve Hoffman. He was just fired by the Chiefs. He replaces the highly respected John Fassel, who took a job with St. Louis. Hoffman is taking over one of the better special teams in the NFL.
• The Raiders’ defensive coordinator decision could come soon. The team interviewed Greg Manusky, fired in San Diego last month, this week. If Manusky is not the Raiders’ guy, other names should soon surface.
• The Raiders hired Houston’s Frank Pollack to run the offensive line. That could mean the Raiders will return to a zone-blocking offense, which they ran during a lot of Tom Cable’s regime. It should be an easy transition if that is the way the Raiders go.

The Oakland Raiders have officially announced the first member of Dennis Allen’s staff.

The Raiders just put out a release formally announcing the hiring of offensive coordinator Greg Knapp. His hiring was widely reported Tuesday. This is Knapp’s second tour as Oakland’s offensive coordinator. Knapp -- who was Houston’s offensive coordinator the past two years -- was Oakland’s offensive coordinator in 2007-08. He was stripped of his duties by coach Tom Cable in 2008.

Oakland’s offense was awful when Knapp was originally with the team. However, the unit has much more talent now. Here are my thoughts on the Knapp hire from Tuesday.

Meanwhile, I’ve been asked by many readers if Knapp could bring Matt Leinart with him as a backup. Leinart is under contract in 2012, but I could see him being cut because T.J. Yates will likely back up Matt Schaub. If that is the case, I could see Knapp wanting Leinart to back up Carson Palmer. The team may not have interest in bringing back Kyle Boller. He was in Oakland because of his ties to former coach Hue Jackson. Second-year quarterback Terrelle Pryor may not be ready to be a backup, so Leinart could come in and play if he is available.

With Knapp officially on board, the Raiders’ next biggest hire is defensive coordinator. The Raiders have talked to former San Diego defensive coordinator Greg Manusky. The Raiders have been denied permission to talk to multiple candidates. If Manusky doesn’t get the job, San Francisco defensive backs coach Ed Donatell could also be in play.

The Oakland Raiders have not confirmed NFL.com’s report that Greg Knapp will be brought back as the Raiders’ offensive coordinator. Still, here are some thoughts on the pending hire:

This is the most important assistant coach on Dennis Allen’s staff. Because Allen is a defensive specialist, he will be able to help the new defensive coordinator. Yet, it is the offensive coordinator who Allen will have to put his most trust in.

I don’t think this hire will inspire much excitement in the Raider Nation. Knapp has already been Oakland’s offensive coordinator and it didn’t work out well. He is a good, solid coach, but the truth is, he is not known for being one of the most dynamic offensive coaches in the league.

In fairness, Knapp will be working with a much more talented offense in his second tour in Oakland. The Raiders’ offense was anemic when he was the coordinator in 2007 and 2008. When Tom Cable took over as interim coach after Lane Kiffin was fired in 2008, Cable stripped Knapp’s duties from him. In Knapp’s only full season as the offensive coordinator (2007), the Raiders were No. 27 in total offense.

I think what we have to focus on is Allen’s past with Knapp and not Knapp’s past in Oakland. The two worked together in Atlanta earlier last decade. Clearly, Knapp was impressive enough for Allen to give him this chance.

Even though he was most recently Houston’s quarterbacks coach (he did a nice time adjusting to several injuries and he made undrafted rookie T.J. Yates a playoff-game-winning quarterback), Knapp is a run-first coordinator. That jibes well with Oakland’s talent. The Raiders have one of the best running games in the NFL.

Knapp knows some of Oakland’s talent. He had Michael Bush (a free agent who may be given the franchise tag) and starting tailback Darren McFadden in the program when he was last in Oakland. So, that adjustment will not be difficult. For the most part, most of the key offensive parts are new.

Knapp’s hiring likely means 2011 Oakland offensive coordinator Al Saunders will not be brought back, although it is feasible he could take on a lesser role. But Allen (who originally wanted former Green Bay coach Mike Sherman as his coordinator, but he went to Miami), struck fast to replace Saunders. So, it’s clear he wants to build his own staff. New Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie fired coach Hue Jackson because he wanted to find his guy, so it’s only fair Allen is afforded the same luxury.

Still, it will be interesting to see if Allen keeps anyone on Oakland’s staff. McKenzie indicated Monday that there are some coaches on Jackson’s staff that Allen may keep. I’d think perhaps offensive line assistant Steve Wisniewski may be one of them. Meanwhile, several of Jackson’s assistants are leaving. The latest is reportedly tight ends coach Adam Henry.

With Knapp reportedly in the fold, now the biggest remaining job on Allen’s staff is defensive coordinator. Former San Diego defensive coordinator Greg Manusky (he was fired earlier this month) is among those in play. Allen has been denied permission to speak to multiple candidates for the job.

Reggie McKenzie just took a big risk.

Al Davis would be proud.

In his first move as the late Davis’ replacement at the helm of the Oakland Raiders, McKenzie, a longtime lieutenant in Green Bay, made a hire few could have guessed two weeks ago when he fired coach Hue Jackson after an 8-8 season. That man is Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.

Allen was hired despite having just one year experience as a coordinator and has no previous ties with McKenzie. At 39, Allen is the youngest active head coach in the NFL.

A former Raiders linebacker, McKenzie -- who was recommended to Oakland owner Mark Davis (Al Davis’ son) by former Oakland and Green Bay executives Ron Wolf and Ken Herock -- was expected to stick to his Green Bay roots. Packers assistant Winston Moss and Dom Capers were reportedly candidates, but it was Allen who emerged after an active 14-day search. McKenzie centered his search on Allen in the past day or so. An agreement was made after Allen was interviewed a second time Tuesday.

Allen is the first Raiders head coach who is a defensive specialist since Al Davis hired a 32-year-old John Madden in 1969. While Al Davis was partial to offensive minds, he certainly wasn’t afraid to hire a young coach and he no doubt would have saluted McKenzie for sticking to his gut and hiring the coach who he thought was the most impressive. This isn't the first time a hot-shot Denver assistant has become the Raiders’ head coach, either. Al Davis hired Denver assistant Mike Shanahan in 1988.

There is no doubt Allen has a chance to be a strong coach. He is regarded as one of the better young defensive minds in the NFL, and he had instant success in Denver while earning the respect of the Broncos’ defensive players.

Denver was ranked last in the NFL in almost every defensive category following the 2010 season. After Allen took over, the unit improved immensely in 2011 and the defensive resurgence was a big reason why Denver advanced to the playoffs after a 4-12 record in the previous season.

Prior to the start of the season, Allen talked about what he liked from his new players in Denver, and I'm sure he will have the same approach in Oakland.

“I think they’re trying to play fast,” Allen said. “I think they’re trying to play physical, and at the end of the day I’ve tried to preach to them, we’ve preached as a coaching staff, that it’s not really about the X’s and O’s but it’s about the way we go out there and play the game. That’s what we’re trying to do, and I think the guys are buying in and believing in it and trying to do that.”

Allen ran a 4-3 defense in Denver, and the Raiders could stay with the 4-3, as well. Oakland has a talented defense, but it sagged badly down the stretch as the Raiders lost four of their final five games. The Raiders gave up way too many big plays. Fixing that issue will be one of Allen’s top priorities, along with solving the Raiders’ penalty problems. Oakland set NFL record for penalties and penalty yardage in 2011.

He will also be expected to provide stability where the three past Oakland coaches -- Lane Kiffin, Tom Cable and Jackson -- could not. All three of those men created their own distractions at one point.

Allen has a reputation for being hard-working and for stability, as does McKenzie. The dysfunction at the top of the organization must end in Oakland. The Raiders have not been to the postseason since 2002 -- tied for the second-longest streak in the NFL.

In McKenzie and Allen, the Raiders have two young, hungry leaders. But there are risks. Allen, who was New Orleans’ secondary coach before getting the Denver job, is fairly inexperienced, and if it doesn’t work, people will question why McKenzie didn’t go for a more experienced coach or hire somebody he is more familiar with.

But give McKenzie credit going out of his comfort zone and hiring the man he felt best about. Al Davis certainly wouldn’t have had a problem with that.

With the Oakland Raiders searching for their seventh head coach since Jon Gruden was sent to Tampa Bay 10 years ago, let’s look at three key aspects the new coach must address.

Stability: The past three coaches in Oakland -- Lane Kiffin, Tom Cable and Hue Jackson -- all created their own drama at different times in their stay in Oakland. The days of the head coach in Oakland being a distraction must be over.

Penalties: The Raiders set NFL records for penalties and penalty yardage in 2011. I have a difficult time pinning that issue all on Jackson. The Raiders have historically been one of the most penalized teams in the NFL and Jackson tried to fix the issue. The new coach is going to have to figure out a way to cut down on this problem.

Defense: The Raiders haven’t hired a defensive-minded coach since John Madden was hired nearly 40 years ago. That may change as new Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie is a former linebacker himself. At least two of the expected candidates, Green Bay’s Winston Moss and Darren Perry, are defensive coaches. Changing philosophies may be a good idea. Oakland’s defense gave up way too many big plays in 2011 and is a primary reason why Oakland didn’t make the playoffs. Jackson talked about his willingness to move to a 3-4 defense. That may happen in the post-Jackson days. Green Bay runs a 3-4 defense, so if Moss or Perry is brought in, Oakland may make the switch. That would work in my mind. The Raiders have several natural 3-4 fits on defense. Whatever the method, the new coach in Oakland must improve this side of the ball.

Oakland Raiders coach Hue Jackson has caught his share of heat in recent days.

Jackson raised eyebrows when he chastised his team in his postgame news conference Sunday after the Raiders lost 38-26 to the San Diego Chargers. The Raiders would have won the AFC West, which Jackson predicted they would do, with the win. In addition to hammering his players, Jackson said he’d be more involved with the team moving forward. Monday, he continued to talk, saying he hoped to be involved in the process of interviewing general manager candidates.

I have received several emails from Oakland fans who are concerned about Jackson’s actions. Here is a Fox Sports column that slams Jackson for several questionable moves.

There are some whispers around the league Jackson could potentially be in danger of losing his job if Oakland hires a general manager who wants to make a change. I think that thinking may be a little premature.

It is going to take some time for Oakland to hire a new general manager. Green Bay executive Reggie McKenzie remains a top candidate. I’m not so sure any general manager will want to fire Jackson. After hearing his comments about his desire for a bigger role, it could turn off some candidates. Most general managers want to have the final call.

Still, I’d think Oakland’s ownership would be encouraged by Jackson’s influence on the offense. It has made strides the past two years after being anemic prior to his arrival. Jackson was the Raiders’ offensive coordinator during the 2010 regular season.

The Raiders are young and they have a lot of talent. Assuming they have better health, Oakland should be able to contend for the AFC West and Jackson should be safe.

But he has to realize people are going to question him when he points the blame at his players. This is a team that lost four of its last five games and broke the NFL penalty and penalty yardage records. The Raiders also went 4-5 in Carson Palmer's nine starts after Jackson traded a bounty of draft picks for the former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback. Jackson should be held accountable for many of these mistakes.

He is still a young coach who is finding his way, and while the Raiders were 8-8 under Tom Cable last year and went 8-8 under Jackson this season, I expect him to continue to learn how to handle situations as he settles into the job.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 14:

Can the Oakland Raiders beat the Green Bay Packers at their own game? The 12-0 Packers are winning because they have perhaps one of the most dangerous passing games in the history of the NFL. If the Raiders are going to be the team that knocks Green Bay off its historic pace, they may have to beat the Packers with their passing. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Oakland quarterback Carson Palmer is leading the NFL with an average pass of 10.9 air yards. Oakland quarterback Jason Campbell was among the league leaders in the category before he was injured. The Packers have allowed 21 pass plays of 30 yards or more this season -- the most in the NFL. Raiders coach Hue Jackson likes to air it out, so don’t expect him to get shy in Green Bay as the Raiders try to pull off the upset.

Will Tebow’s epic fourth-quarter heroics continue? The allure of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow is how he has become such a clutch performer. Denver has won five games in a row. Of the past seven matches, five were decided late in the game. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Tebow has a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or in overtime in five of his 10 career starts. He is tied with Scott Brunner and Marc Wilson for the most by any player in his first 10 career starts since the 1970 merger.

Could the San Diego Chargers try to beat the Buffalo Bills with the shotgun? Chief among Philip Rivers' struggles this season was passing from the shotgun. According to ESPN Stats & Information, that was not an issue in a 38-14 win at Jacksonville on Monday night. Rivers completed 14 of 15 passes, averaged 13.6 yards per attempt and threw touchdowns from the formation. In the first 11 games of the season, Rivers completed just 60.3 percent of his passes and averaged just 7.6 yards per attempt in the shotgun. He has also thrown 14 of his 17 interceptions in the formation.

Coaching class of 2009 battle: When the Kansas City Chiefs visit the New York Jets on Sunday, it will pit two of the more successful coaches of the 2009 class. Nine coaches were hired after the 2008 season, including Todd Haley in Kansas City and Rex Ryan with the Jets. Many of the nine coaches have struggled, including Denver’s Josh McDaniels and the Raiders' Tom Cable (who was hired as the full-time coach after ending 2008 as the interim coach). McDaniels and Cable have already been discarded. Ryan and the Indianapolis Colts' Jim Caldwell are the only coaches in the class to have a winning percentage above .500. Ryan’s winning percentage is .613. Caldwell, of course, is in danger of being fired with his team 0-12 without star quarterback Peyton Manning. Haley joins Ryan and Caldwell as the only coaches in the 2009 class to take their teams to the playoffs. Haley is 19-25 as the Chiefs’ coach. A win over Ryan in New York could keep at bay the speculation that Haley could be fired at the end of the season.

Raiders need to get Bush going: In addition to hitting big plays in the passing game, Oakland will need to run the ball well to control the clock. The Raiders have one of the best running attacks in the NFL, but it was kept in check at Miami. Oakland had just 46 rushing yards and Michael Bush had just 18 yards on 10 carries. Bush has to have a big day in Green Bay. He has been mostly good as Darren McFadden's injury replacement. Bush has two games this season with 30 carries. The only player in Raiders history with more is Marcus Allen, who had three in a season. If Bush ties Allen’s mark Sunday, it would go a long way in keeping the ball out of Aaron Rodgers' hands.

Former Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell has given an interview to Sports Illustrated (via the Oakland Tribune). Russell has given a few interviews since being cut by Oakland in May, 2010, but not many. Russell seems defiant and he is far from taking all the blame for the Raiders’ struggles while he was there. He saved his harshest words for former Oakland coach Tom Cable.

What does it all mean? Not much. Russell just doesn't matter much anymore in the NFL scope.

Russell -- who disclosed he has a sleeping disorder -- is a former Raider and I expect he’ll remain a former NFL player. No team has been interested in even working out Russell in nearly a year. The NFL has moved on from perhaps the biggest draft bust of all time. The Raiders used the No. 1 overall pick on Russell in 2007.

In other AFC West news Tuesday:

The Oakland Tribune reports the Raiders cut kicker Dave Rayner. He was signed to kick against Kansas City. That means the Raiders are expecting Sebastian Janikowski to be able to kick Nov. 6 when Oakland hosts Denver. He has a hamstring injury. If Janikowski doesn’t improve, the Raiders could also re-sign Rayner before the game.

At the end of a chippy week between the two teams, former Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie got the last word, saying the Chargers can’t finish. That certainly was the case Sunday when Cromartie’s Jets’ outscored the Chargers 17-0 in the second half to win, 27-21.

Another look at the Broncos’ comeback in Miami. Meanwhile, members of the Dolphins’ defense admitted theu were in the wrong scheme when Denver quarterback Tim Tebow tied the game in the final seconds of regulation on a two-point conversion with a run.

Denver defensive end Elvis Dumervil is dealing with an ankle injury and is uncertain to play Sunday against Detroit. Dumervil has been hampered by injuries since the summer of 2010.

An ESPN Insider playoff predictor doesn’t expect much from the AFC West the rest of the season. For the record, I think this prediction is off the mark. I think the division winner will have a winning record for certain.

It doesn’t appear that Bruce Gradkowski will have an AFC West homecoming Sunday.

Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis said Thursday that he expects rookie quarterback Andy Dalton to start at Denver on Sunday. Dalton left the opener against Cleveland with a wrist injury. Gradkowski spelled him and led the Bengals to a comeback win.

We’ve seen Gradkowski do that before. Gradkowski became a fan favorite in Oakland the past two seasons. Time and again, Gradkowski gave Oakland a boost as a backup. However, he had trouble bottling the same magic when he was a starter.

A favorite of former head coach Tom Cable, the Raiders choose not to pursue bringing back Gradkowski as a free agent this year. Still, he will have a place in Raiders’ history because of the spunk and fire he showed. In the AFC West, we all know if Dalton suffers a setback, Gradkowski will be ready to attack Denver with his spirited play.

In other AFC West developments Thursday:

In an Insider piece, here is hope for the Chiefs after their 34-point home loss to Buffalo in Week 1.

ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reported that the appeal of the five-game suspension of Oakland rookie quarterback Terrelle Pryor lasted 80 minutes Thursday. Schefter reported that the league is not expected to rule on the appeal any time soon. Pryor is already in the second week of the five-week suspension.

It has been reported that the Raiders are appealing that Sebastian Janikowski’s field goal at Denver was actually 64 yards and not the 63 yards with which he has been credited. That is important. Of course, because Janikowski now shares the record for the longest field goal in NFL history. However, I have checked with some folks who would know if the Raiders are making that push and they said it is not a big issue for the team and that the film shows that it was, indeed, from 63 yards.

Kansas City first-round pick Jon Baldwin didn’t practice Thursday again. He hasn’t practiced in four weeks since he hurt his thumb in a reported fight with teammate Thomas Jones. There is little chance he’ll play Sunday at Detroit.

ESPN Stats and Information looks at how New England’s Devin McCourty could affect San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers on Sunday.

Friday night, new Oakland head coach Hue Jackson and former Oakland coach Tom Cable will likely talk (postgame handshake is the likely venue) for the first time since the Raiders didn't extend Cable’s contract (nice, way of saying you’re fired) and promoted Jackson from offensive coordinator. Cable is now Seattle’s offensive line coach

Jackson indicated that there is no bad blood, but the lack of communication is just part of the process. There will be a few familiar faces for the Raiders in this game. Cable helped lure free agents Zach Miller and Robert Gallery to Seattle this summer.

In other AFC West nuggets:

• With backup cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson out for the season with a torn Achilles, watch for Denver to scour the waiver wire closely for cornerbacks. It was already an area the team was thin at.
• Denver quarterback Kyle Orton (sort of) addresses if he could welcome a contract extension in Denver in an interview with a Denver radio station. He is a free agent after the season.
• San Diego receiver/returner Bryan Walters has an “outstanding” chance of making the 53-man roster.
• The Chargers will get somewhat of an advantage by not having to face Minnesota star defensive tackle Kevin Williams in Week 1. Williams was suspended by the NFL for two games as part of the StarCaps saga.

It’s prediction season. You’ll see many in the coming days. In the latest issue of ESPN The Magazine, the fine folks at Scouts Inc. breakdown each team and give an projected order of finish in an Insider piece.

Let’s check out some of what they had to say.

San Diego Chargers


Scouts Inc.’s 2011 projected record: 10-6

Scouts Inc. comment: (Philip) Rivers loves to stretch the field with his wideouts and then come back to Antonio Gates underneath. With (Vincent) Jackson back in the lineup, the NFL's top offense could be even more explosive.

My comment: If healthy, I think the Chargers could easily win more than 10 games.

Kansas City Chiefs


Scouts Inc.’s 2011 projected record: 10-6

Scouts Inc. comment: Big defenses give the Chiefs fits, so they spread the field to force sub packages and then run between the tackles. That's ideal for Jamaal Charles, who is explosive through the hole and dangerous in the open field.

My comment: The story lists the Chargers ahead of the Chiefs even though it projects 10 wins for both teams, so I assume the belief is San Diego will win the tiebreaker. With the Chiefs’ schedule, a 10-win season would be huge.

Oakland Raiders


Scouts Inc.’s 2011 projected record: 7-9

Scouts Inc. comment: A 6-0 division record couldn't save Tom Cable's job -- or his zone blocking scheme. (Hue) Jackson will implement a straight-ahead attack. With (Darren) McFadden coming off a breakout season in which he finally showed patience to match his physical gifts, the new scheme should still be effective between the tackles.

My comment: If Jason Campbell continues to improve and the defense tightens, Oakland could vie for a winning record.

Denver Broncos


Scouts Inc.’s 2011 projected record: 4-12

Scouts Inc. comment: Six coordinators in six years and a return to a 4-3 after a failed 3-4 experiment don't bode well. (John) Fox wants a physical front four, but it's unclear how that will work with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who prefers to attack with the back seven. At least (Champ) Bailey is still around.

My comment: I think Denver is clearly the fourth-best team in this division, but I think it could easily win more than four games.

Oakland coach Hue Jackson said his team went “backwards” in a 17-3 loss at San Francisco on Saturday night. I like that Jackson recognizes problems and is bent on fixing the issues. It bothered me when former Oakland coach Tom Cable put sugar on nearly every problem, downplaying major issues. Jackson seems focused on addressing problems and fixing them. That’s how a team will improve.

Denver safety David Burton was taken to a hospital with a head injury after Saturday night’s game against Buffalo.

What a tragic story of senseless violence at the Raiders-49ers game. What can you say? Just senseless. Shooting people over a game? It’s not worth it, folks.

Expect Denver rookie safety Rahim Moore to get a fine after a helmet-to-helmet hit against Buffalo on Saturday night. Moore seems like he’s an aggressive player, which is good for Denver. But that hit likely put him on the radar at the NFL offices. Players who lead with their helmets are not popular at 280 Park Ave.

San Diego-area columnist Jay Paris catches up with former Chargers executive Bobby Beathard.

NAPA, Calif. -- Hue Jackson doesn’t do anything slow.

He talks fast. He walks fast, and he coaches fast.

The Tom Cable put-your-toe-in-the-water-start-of-training-camp days are over.

There was no warm-up period to Camp Jackson. In his first camp as a head coach on any level, Jackson has not wasted any time. His team has been flying around the field and playing to the whistle on every play since the moment it stepped onto the pristine practice field in Wine Country last week.

Cable believed in getting into the groove of training camp slowly by holding glorified walk-through practices for the first few days while stressing the importance of the classroom. Jackson believes in teaching on the go.

Jackson sees a talented team in front of him, but he also sees a team that needs to block better on offense and tackle better on defense. It’s all about finishing plays on both sides the ball. If you don’t start, you can’t finish.

“It’s a fast game,” Jackson said. “We have to move fast. At all times.”

When they can catch their breath, Jackson's players can see the difference.

"This is totally different, totally different from last year," defensive tackle Tommy Kelly told reporters early in camp. "I mean, he made that plain and clear in the meetings when he was talking about what we had to do. … [Cable] wanted us to learn the stuff. But Hue ain't worrying about that. He just wants to go hard as you can. If you fall out, we'll put somebody else in there."

There is urgency in Oakland. The Raiders teased their fans with an 8-8 record in 2010 -- highlighted by an AFC West 6-0 sweep -- ending an NFL record of seven straight seasons of 11 losses of more. This young team has a chance to continue to improve. Jackson isn’t going to sit around and wait for it to happen.

“We got to go now,” Jackson said. “I talk to them every night about that.”

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. How to replace Asomugha and Miller? The Raiders have to spend training camp trying to figure out how to replace two of their best players. Not many teams are dealing with that this summer. But the departures of star cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha to Philadelphia and tight end Zach Miller to Seattle create holes for the Raiders.

The Raiders gave Stanford Routt, formerly a part-time starter, No. 1 cornerback money in the offseason and expect him to take over for Asomugha. Oakland has reportedly toyed with signing another cornerback. But for now, veteran Chris Johnson and a host of young players, including draft picks DeMarcus Van Dyke and Chimdi Chekwa (who is currently injured), will be in charge of replacing Asomugha, who is arguably the best cornerback in the NFL. Safety Michael Huff, who just re-signed with the team, could also play cornerback in some situations.

The Raiders probably need to bring in a veteran receiver or a tight end. Right now, their starting tight end is Brandon Myers, who has 16 career catches. Miller was quarterback Jason Campbell’s favorite target, and he led the Raiders in receiving in 2010. He made the passing game go. A replacement must be established in camp. (Update: The Raiders added former Giants tight end Kevin Boss Friday.)

2. Is the offensive line ready? This has long been Oakland’s weakest spot, and Jackson vowed earlier this year to improve it. Finding a suitable unit will be a top goal in training camp. The team drafted Stefen Wisniewski in the second round, and he will start at center. Joe Barksdale was drafted in the third round, and he could battle Khalif Barnes at right tackle if he has a good camp. If second-year guy Bruce Campbell gets healthy quickly, he could make a push at guard, where the Raiders lost longtime starter Robert Gallery in free agency. The team wanted to sign left tackle Jared Gaither, but he is still dealing with back issues. This unit remains a work in progress.

3. Is Campbell ready to be consistent? This is Jason Campbell’s second season in Jackson’s system, and he is expected to make strides. He must show consistency in camp, and he must continue to grasp Jackson’s offense. He started slowly last season and was replaced. But he finished strong. Jackson is a believer in Campbell. Campbell needs to continue to build chemistry with his receivers and entrench himself as the leader of this offense.

CLEAN UP THE MESS

The Raiders have long been one of the most penalized teams in the NFL. It goes back to their golden era. Whether it is a cheap hit or a false start, the yellow flag is a familiar sight for the Silver and Black.

Jackson wants to end that part of Raiders lore.

The Raiders were ranked first in the NFL last season in accepted penalties with 604. It seems penalties have been overlooked in Oakland because it’s long been an issue. Jackson said he thinks that is nonsense. Playing clean football is an emphasis of this camp.

“It’s over,” Jackson said. “It’s embarrassing. ... You can’t win if you keep going backward. I’ve told the team it’s got to stop. It’s not cool at all.”

DEFENSE STARTS UP FRONT

While the offensive line is still in flux, the Raiders are set on the defensive line. This camp is about establishing dominance for the group. If the Oakland defense improves despite Asomugha’s departure, the front four will be responsible.

There are several excellent pieces on the unit. It all starts with defensive tackle Richard Seymour. A likely future member of the Hall of Fame, Seymour is the best player on the team and the leader of his unit. Add Kelly, polished second-year player Lamarr Houston and run-stuffer John Henderson, and the Raiders are primed to dominate teams up front. Pass-rushers Matt Shaughnessy and Trevor Scott (if healthy) give this unit an important dimension.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Jackson has often lauded second-year linebacker Rolando McClain during camp. He said he thinks McClain has developed in the offseason, and McClain is expected to be a stalwart.
• Running back Darren McFadden was spectacular during camp before he suffered a broken orbital bone. He is expected to miss two weeks. The Raiders expect him to make a serious Pro Bowl push. He and restricted free agent Michael Bush should be a good tandem again.
• Second-year linebacker Travis Goethel could potentially push Quentin Groves at weakside, or Oakland could look for an upgrade elsewhere.
• The team is excited about fifth-round receiver Denarius Moore. He is polished and very fast and has a chance to contribute. It will be interesting to see him in the preseason.
• Seventh-round pick David Ausberry looks good as he makes the transition from receiver. He’s a project, but he has excellent size and speed.
• Fourth-year receiver Chaz Schilens is finally healthy, and the Raiders think he can live up to his potential. But his health is the key.
• Kelly looks tremendous. He is in great shape and looks primed to build upon his strong season.
• Trent Edwards will be given every opportunity to beat out Kyle Boller as Jason Campbell’s backup.
• Jackson said he thinks the Raiders fourth-round pick, speedster running back Taiwan Jones, could make his mark this season. It will be fun to watch him in the preseason.