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It’s May, and in the world of NFL coverage, that means it’s time to look at interesting factoids drowned out the roar of the league's busy season (which is a long, long period).

The fantastic minds of the Football Outsiders put together an interesting look at the defensive players who had holding calls go against the player blocking them. The statistic is called forced holds.

Two young AFC West players – Oakland’s Lamarr Houston and Kansas City’s Justin Houston (no relation) – ranked high on the list. Lamarr Houston, a second-year defensive lineman, forced seven holds, which was tied for the second-most in the NFL. Rookie linebacker Justin Houston -- who came on strong late in the season -- forced six holds, which was fourth in the NFL.

What does it all mean? Is it a special skill the Houstons possess? It is a compliment to their defensive prowess? Or it is just a coincidence that they were held against often?

I asked Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. for his thoughts on why the two forced so many holds.

“Both Houstons are very talented and both are up-and-coming players,” Williamson said. “But even more so, they played with guys that demand a ton of attention from pass-protection schemes in Richard Seymour, Kamerion Wimbley (they were in Oakland) and (in Justin Houston’s case) Tamba Hali. So, one-on-one matchups against average offensive tackles, often right tackles, could sure lead to a lot of holds.”

Whatever the reason, in the AFC West, Houston does have a problem attracting the yellow flag.

Bill Belichick created this dilemma.

Now, the New England Patriots’ coach must find a way to overcome one of the NFL’s better defensive fronts on Sunday in Oakland, which will be one of the NFL’s showcase games of Week 4. The catalyst of Oakland’s defensive line -- a ferocious combination of power, speed, experience and zestful youth -- is a man Belichick said goodbye to two years ago. Belichick stunned the NFL, Richard Seymour included, by shipping him to Oakland a week before the 2009 season started. Belichick had a knack for knowing when to pull the plug on veterans over the years in New England. Seymour has been the exception.

Yes, there are reasons for the Patriots to feel good about the trade. They’ve made the playoffs both years without Seymour, they saved a lot of money (Seymour was re-signed to a lucrative deal by the Raiders prior to the lockout) and they got a promising left tackle in Nate Solder with the No. 17 overall pick in April as compensation from Oakland. Still, that won’t help the Patriots on Sunday in a critical early-season game for the two 2-1 teams. Seymour and his explosive defensive line mates will be coming after New England quarterback Tom Brady all game.

The Patriots know it.

“That’s a good question,” said New England offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien this week when asked how he is going to prepare for the former New England star defensive lineman and his new mates. “That’s a tough question. These guys are really big up front. They’re a physical defense, they’re fast. Again, that’s part of our discussion right now of all the different areas of their defense and how we’re going to handle some of the problems all over the place that they present -- challenges that they present. So, there are a lot of different things you can do -- I’m certainly not going to tell you, but [Seymour is] playing really well. They’re all playing really well right now; it’s a really good football team that’s playing fast and physical.”

There is no denying Oakland’s attitude, talent and success up front starts with Seymour. Eyebrows were raised when Oakland traded for Seymour two years ago. The three-time Super Bowl winner would have been better-suited for a playoff contender. It has taken a couple of years, but the Raiders are now playoff contenders with Seymour spearheading the line.

“He’s obviously a leader for that defensive line,” Brady said at his press briefing Wednesday. “When he gets going, they all get going.”

The Seymour trade immediately improved massive defensive tackle Tommy Kelly. It allowed him to disrupt the middle. The Raiders continued to build with youth around Seymour. They added feisty, underrated pass-rusher Matt Shaughnessy in the 2009 draft and the versatile Lamarr Houston in the second round last year to round out the starting front four. Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said Houston greatly benefits from playing next to Seymour; they are similar because both are able to play each position along the line.

The line also has strong depth. Add massive run-stuffer John Henderson, young defensive tackle Desmond Bryant, pass-rusher Trevor Scott and former Denver first-round flameout Jarvis Moss (he had two sacks in an upset win over the Jets last week), and the Raiders have a steady stream of talent on their first line of defense.

"I've been around some teams with six guys, maybe seven," Raiders coach Hue Jackson told reporters recently. "To have eight, that is kind of unbelievable."

Scott has said the line is like a “tag-team match.” This unit just keeps coming against the pass and the run. Oakland is tied for fourth in the NFL with 10 sacks in three games, but is still having trouble stopping the run. It is allowing 120 yards per game. Still, opponents know the best way to get success against Oakland defensively is get the game past the front four.

“The front four are very strong penetrators,” Buffalo coach Chan Gailey said this month. “They really get after you and create. They try to disrupt the running game by penetrating and they try to create pass rush by penetration.”

Williamson said he thinks the Raiders have a top-10 defensive line that continues to get better. He said the trade for Seymour was the beginning of the dominance.

“The beauty of Seymour is that he is good at everything. He is a great interior pass-rusher on throwing downs,” Williamson said. “He can be an excellent defensive end in either the 4-3 or the 3-4, and he still is a great 3-technique for the 4-3. So when he is on the field, you don’t know exactly what front you are going to get, and he can shift effectively right before the snap to further confuse matters ... by all accounts, Seymour is a great locker-room guy and leader.”

Seymour will surely like to remind his former coach about all of those attributes that Oakland is benefiting from Sunday.

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), he 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.

They 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 on 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 guard 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 Campbell’s second season in Jackson’s system, and he is expected to make strides. He must show consistency in camp, and he most 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 was 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 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 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 a 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 has looked 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 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 2010 season.
• Trent Edwards will be given every opportunity to beat out Kyle Boller as Campbell’s backup.
• Jackson 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.

» AFC Future Stars: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

A team-by-team look at the players I expect to be the most dominant in the AFC West from 2014 to 2016.

The future looks bright in the AFC West. There are several promising young players in the division, and all four teams have hope for the future. Let’s look at the players I expect to have the most success in the middle of this decade.

Von Miller, Broncos linebacker: If the Broncos are going to rebound from their recent drought, it could start with Miller. He is an important figure in Denver and was the first pick of the John Elway/John Fox/Brian Xanders regime. The trio studied several players before deciding on the powerful Texas A&M linebacker for the No. 2 overall pick. Elway said that Miller was the most explosive player in the draft and that he reminds many NFL scouts of former Kansas City great linebacker Derrick Thomas. Miller is smart, extremely fast and athletically gifted. He seems like a can’t-miss prospect. The Broncos need him to be.

Eric Berry, Chiefs safety: Berry is going to be a special player. He is the centerpiece on a roster full of young, exciting talent. Berry was the No. 5 overall pick last year and was an immediate success. Berry was always on the field and made a huge impact. He instantly legitimized a defense that played a major role in a division title. He is a smart player who has a chance to be the NFL’s next great safety. I also considered the spectacular Jamaal Charles, but he will be 30 at the end of the 2016 season. Durability is a question mark about the speedster, so I went with Berry. Still, I expect Charles to be one of the NFL’s best running backs for the foreseeable future.

Lamarr Houston, Raiders defensive lineman: I’m taking Matt Williamson’s lead here. The Scouts Inc. brainiac is extremely high on the Raiders’ second-season defensive lineman. In fact, Williamson believes Houston could be one of the NFL’s best defensive linemen soon. He thinks Houston, a second-round pick from Texas, has no ceiling. Houston has the look of an impact player who plays with a mean streak. He was easy to notice in the preseason last year, and he made one big play after another as a rookie. He looks like he’ll be in the NFL for the next dozen years. He is versatile and can play in virtually every defensive situation. The Raiders have a host of young, intriguing players, including Darren McFadden, Jacoby Ford, Louis Murphy, Matt Shaughnessy, Rolando McClain and Tyvon Branch. But Houston seems like he can be special.

Ryan Mathews, Chargers running back: Mathews wasn’t spectacular as a rookie in 2010. But he showed enough flashes to make the Chargers excited about his future. Mathews was the No. 12 overall pick after the Chargers sent a huge package to Miami to move up 16 spots to take the Fresno State star. Mathews had injury and fumbling issues in 2010, but when he was healthy, he made several big plays and ran hard. He finished the season strong. The Chargers like the way he works and thinks he will be ready to take the next step soon. I was tempted to go with cornerback Antoine Cason or first-round pick Corey Liuget, but I think Mathews has the ability to have a long, productive career in San Diego.

» NFC Draft Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Each Thursday leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-30), the ESPN.com NFL blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today’s topic: history in that spot.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos’ top pick is No. 2 overall. Here are the previous seven players taken in that spot, with their NFL team in parentheses:

2010: DT Ndamukong Suh (Lions)

2009: T Jason Smith (Rams)

2008: DE Chris Long (Rams)

2007: WR Calvin Johnson (Lions)

2006: RB Reggie Bush (Saints)

2005: RB Ronnie Brown (Dolphins)

2004: OL Robert Gallery (Raiders)

ANALYSIS: This is the Broncos’ first top-five pick since 1991 when they took linebacker Mike Croel at No. 4. The Broncos would love to have the success Detroit had last year with the pick. Suh looks like a unit changer and Denver needs a similarly dominant defender. Detroit is the only team to have great success at No. 2 in the past seven years. Along with Suh, Johnson is a fabulous player. There are some good players on this list, though, with no flat-out duds. The Rams hope to see progress in Smith and Long, who made strides in 2010.

San Diego Chargers

The Chargers’ top pick is No. 18 overall. Here are the previous seven players taken in that spot, with their NFL team in parentheses:

2010: C Maurkice Pouncey (Steelers)

2009: LB Robert Ayers (Broncos)

2008: QB Joe Flacco (Ravens)

2007: CB Leon Hall (Bengals)

2006: LB Bobby Carpenter (Cowboys)

2005: LB Erasmus James (Vikings)

2004: DE Will Smith (Saints)

ANALYSIS: This is an interesting group. It shows teams can find franchise players at No. 18, but they can also make a major mistake with the pick. Flacco was a tremendous value for Baltimore in 2008. Pouncey looks like he’ll be at center in Pittsburgh for the next decade. Smith has also had a terrific career and was a solid pick at No. 18. James was a terrible pick, Carpenter wasn’t worth it and the jury is still out on Ayers. The Chargers know they have to pick smart. They took linebacker Larry English at No. 16 in 2009 and are waiting for a payoff. It’s interesting that there are four defensive ends/linebackers on this list. That’s exactly the position the Chargers will be looking for with the No. 18 pick.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs’ top pick is No. 21 overall. Here are the previous seven players taken in that spot, with their NFL team in parentheses:

2010: TE Jermaine Gresham (Bengals)

2009: C Alex Mack (Browns)

2008: T Sam Baker (Falcons)

2007: S Reggie Nelson (Jaguars)

2006: RB Laurence Maroney (Patriots)

2005: WR Matt Jones (Jaguars)

2004: DT Vince Wilfork (Patriots)

ANALYSIS: The Kansas City Chiefs are not used to drafting this low. Kansas City has picked in the top five the past three years. However, Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli is plenty familiar with having the No. 21 pick. He was with New England when it had the choice in 2004 and 2006. Pioli has seen teams both score and whiff with the pick. Wilfork was a tremendous choice while taking Maroney was a blunder. However, the pick has paid solid dividends in recent years. This doesn’t appear to be a bad spot to be in.

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders’ top pick is No. 48 overall. Here are the previous seven players taken in that spot, with their NFL team in parentheses:

2010: QB Jimmy Clausen (Panthers)

2009: S Darcel McBath (Broncos)

2008: TE Fred Davis (Redskins)

2007: LB Justin Durant (Jagaurs)

2006: DB Cedric Griffin (Vikings)

2005: LB Odell Thurman (Bengals)

2004: LB Dontarrious Thomas (Vikings)

ANALYSIS: It’s interesting that a quarterback was taken at this spot in 2010. Clausen was the third quarterback taken last year. If a quarterback such as Washington’s Jake Locker or Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett takes a similar tumble, we could see a quarterback taken at No. 48 again. This pick has been hit-or-miss, so it could be worth taking a gamble. Oakland picked at No. 47 two years ago and is still waiting for safety Mike Mitchell to develop. Last year, Oakland took defensive lineman Lamarr Houston at No. 44 and he had a terrific rookie season. In 2007, Oakland took standout tight end Zach Miller at No. 38. The Raiders know they can find talent in the second round.

This is the final in a three-part series of an examination of the past three draft classes of each AFC West team leading up to the NFL scouting combine at the end of the month:

Denver

First pick: No. 22, wide receiver Demaryius Thomas

Total picks: Nine

Stars: After one season, offensive linemen J.D. Walton and Zane Beadles have been the team’s best draft performers. They were both starters. Neither player was great, but they deserve credit for starting in the NFL as youngsters. Beadles, a guard who was a second-round pick and Walton, a center who was a third-round pick, may have decent futures. Quarterback Tim Tebow, the No. 25 overall pick whom Denver traded three picks to move up and take, started the final three games of the season. He might be the starter in 2011.

Duds: It’s too early to call Thomas a dud, but the Broncos have to be worried about his career issues. Thomas suffered an Achilles tendon injury last week and the team expects him to miss 6 to 8 months. Thomas, who was drafted with a foot fracture, ended the season with an ankle injury. He is very talented, but he has been unable to stay healthy. Denver bypassed Dez Bryant to take Thomas.

McDaniels’ parting gift: Josh McDaniels drafted Tebow because he thought he could make the former Florida star an NFL star. But McDaniels was fired before Tebow ever got an NFL start. Now, the John Elway-John Fox regime will decide what to do with Tebow.

What’s the future of this class? It could end up being very good or very bad. It all depends on Tebow. If he develops into a standout quarterback, it will be a great draft. If Tebow fails and Thomas never develops, it would be looked as a terrible draft. The Broncos could have a gem in receiver Eric Decker. A fine possession receiver, Decker could get a chance to play a lot in 2011. He has strong potential.

Kansas City

First pick: No. 5, safety Eric Berry

Total picks: Seven

Star: It has to be Berry. There was a lot of talk that the Chiefs would be reluctant to take a safety so high; usually safeties aren’t top-five choices. I’m sure the Chiefs are not regretting the decision to take Berry. He was an impact player as a rookie. He is a playmaker who is a tremendous anchor to this improving defense. Expect the hard-working, humble Berry to get better. The Chiefs have a star on their hands. I would not be shocked by the time every 2010 AFC West draft pick retires, the first pick of the Chiefs will be considered the best player of the pool.

Duds: There don’t appear to be any yet. Five of the seven picks contributed as rookies. Third-round pick guard Jon Asamoah appears to have a nice future. Fifth-round pick linebacker Cameron Sheffield seemed promising before he was injured in the preseason.

The next Tony Gonzalez? Third-round pick Tony Moeaki seems like a keeper. He had an instant connection with Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel. He brought excitement back to the tight end position in Kansas City for the first time since the 2009 trade of Gonzalez. One of the greatest players in team history, Gonzalez was traded to Atlanta in 2009 for a 2010 second-round pick, which turned out to be cornerback Javier Arenas. Moeaki had 47 catches for 556 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie. Those numbers were much better than Gonzalez’ numbers as a rookie. This is not suggest Moeaki will be a better player than the great Gonzalez, but it’s clear tight end is again a position of strength in Kansas City.

What’s the future of this class? It is very bright. Along with Oakland's, this has a chance to be one of the best overall classes in the NFL. The class, which also includes promising receiver/returner Dexter McCluster, is very deep. The rookies helped the Chiefs win their first division title in seven years and I expect this class will assist in winning many more games.

Oakland

First pick: No. 8, linebacker Rolando McClain

Total picks: Nine

Stars: This class is very deep, but right now the stars appear to be fourth-round pick receiver/returner Jacoby Ford and second-round pick defensive lineman Lamarr Houston. Ford had three kickoff returns for scores in the second half of the season and developed into a thrilling receiver. He could be a starter in 2011. Houston is a tough, rugged player who could be part of this defense for the next 10 years.

Duds: There doesn’t look like there will be one. This class is solid.

Al still has it: You can poke holes in many of Oakland’s recent drafts, but this one looks special. Starting with McClain, this draft appears solid. Al Davis bragged about the class at his January news conference. He deserved to brag. After several whiffs, Davis seems to have hit a home run in 2010.

What’s the future of this class? This is the type of class -- that includes promising left tackle Jared Veldheer (third round) -- that can be a nucleus for a long playoff run. Add youngsters like guard Bruce Campbell (fourth round), linebacker Travis Goethel (sixth) and cornerback Stevie Brown (seventh) and this class is very deep.

San Diego

First pick: No. 12, running back Ryan Mathews

Total picks: Six

Star: Mathews was the only player from this class to contribute as a rookie. Mathews was good, but not great. He had durability and ball-security issues. Still, Mathews averaged 4.3 yards per carry. He helped this offense when he was on the field. While his impact wasn’t great, he clearly has good potential.

Duds: After Mathews, the Chargers' next pick wasn’t until N0. 79 when they took linebacker Donald Butler. He showed promise but was lost for the year in camp. Every other pick is a future pick.

Will Smith do it again? The Chargers traded a load of picks to move up from No. 28 to No. 12 to take Mathews. This year, the Chargers, who pick No. 18, have extra picks in the second and third rounds. The Chargers could use an impact receiver or pass rusher. If they fall in love with a pick in the top 10, I could see aggressive general manager A.J. Smith moving up again.

What’s the future of this class? If Mathews can stay healthy and be a legitimate power back, this will be a good class. It would be nice if players like Butler, safety Darrell Stuckey (fourth round) and defensive tackle Cam Thomas develop and help this class. But it was clear on draft night that this class was all about Mathews. If he fails, this will likely be the worst class in the division.

OAKLAND, Calif. –- Here are halftime notes from Oakland, where the Colts lead the Raiders 17-13 after scoring on a touchdown drive in the final minute of the first half.

The Raiders’ offense came alive win the second quarter after they had 8 yards and no first downs in the first quarter. Oakland, which was given a boost on a 99-yard kickoff return by rookie Jacoby Ford to start the game, scored two field goals by Sebastian Janikowski in the second quarter. One was a 59-yarder. It was the second-longest field goal in team history. Janikowski had a 61-yarder last year in Cleveland. As long as Janikowski is still playing, the record for longest field goal (63 yards, shared by Tom Dempsey and Jason Elam) is threatened. Janikowski did miss a 54-yard field goal attempt at the end of the first half.

The scoreboard has not shown the Chiefs’ 34-14 win over Tennessee that eliminated the Raiders from playoff consideration. However, the scoreboard operators have made special notice of the Bay Area-rival 49ers losing in St. Louis, ending their playoff hopes, and the Bengals’ early lead over the Chargers.

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is having his moments, but he’s not shredding the Raiders. He has completed 12 of 19 passes for 149 yards. Oakland quarterback Jason Campbell has completed 12 of 18 passes for 87 yards.

Oakland rookie defensive lineman Lamarr Houston has played both defensive tackle spots with Richard Seymour out with a hamstring injury.

The game has been physical and got chippy late in the first half.

NASHVILLE -- Here are my quick thoughts on the Raiders' loss:

What it means: The Oakland Raiders are not ready for prime time. Expectations were sky high in Oakland this year after a productive offseason, which included the hiring of new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, a productive draft, the release of quarterback JaMarcus Russell, the trade for quarterback Jason Campbell, a completely new linebacking crew and a strong preseason. Yet, one game into the 2010 season, the Raiders appear to be far from a quality NFL team. As of right now, you have to think Oakland looks like the team that has won 29 games in the past seven seasons.

Big revelation: Campbell does not look like a top-notch quarterback. The folks in Washington have been saying that for years. He was expected to bring life to Oakland’s anemic offense. That didn’t happen Sunday. Campbell didn’t get much protection, but he made his share of mistakes and looked shaky at best.

Trending: Oakland still seems to have trouble stopping the run. Oakland used its first two draft picks on middle linebacker Rolando McClain and defensive end Lamarr Houston with improving against the run as the primary objective. Yet, Oakland gave up some big runs in the preseason and Tennessee’s Chris Johnson wore Oakland down. Oakland had its moments against Johnson, but a 76-yard touchdown run in the second quarter took the Raiders out of the game.

What's next: Oakland hosts St. Louis and rookie quarterback Sam Bradford next Sunday. Oakland can get well in a hurry, but it's clear the Raiders have a lot of work to do.

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

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 1:

The Chiefs hope to kick off New Arrowhead Stadium right: The Chiefs are one of the most proud and tradition-rich franchises in football. They put a lot of pride in the renovation of the already terrific Arrowhead Stadium. The stadium has caught up to the modern homes in today’s NFL with all the bells and whistles. The Chiefs hope the product on the field is renovated as well. They will get a chance to show off their shiny, new toys on "Monday Night Football" against San Diego. The Chiefs are improved, especially on offense, and they have a sweet rookie class. The team would love nothing more than kicking off the New Arrowhead era with an upset win over the four-time defending division champion Chargers.

Is Ryan Clady ready for action? The last time we saw the Denver All-Pro left tackle, about a month ago, he was struggling walking up a short flight of stairs. Now he is preparing to play one of the toughest positions in the NFL. Clady is expected to play at Jacksonville on Sunday, less than five months after having surgery on his patella tendon on his left knee after being injured while playing pickup basketball. Clady’s only preseason action was in a limited role at Minnesota. Clady looked rusty and was beaten a few times by average players. In a sense, it is a big victory for Clady to be on the verge of playing in the season opener. Still, how long will it take him to become the dominant player he has been in his first two NFL seasons?

The Raiders hope to handle Chris Johnson: The Raiders have been discussing and focusing on Johnson for weeks. Coaches mention him by name in practice. There is no doubt what Oakland’s primary focus will be Sunday at Tennessee: containing Johnson. Oakland’s run defense has been in shambles the past couple of seasons. Even though Oakland’s defense has looked good in the preseason, the run defense had issues this summer as well. Johnson is an unforgiving player. He has made good run defenses suffer. If Oakland, which added rookies Rolando McClain and Lamarr Houston with designs on improving the run defense, can contain Johnson, it has a chance to win this game.

The Chargers can make us forget holdouts: Many league observers believe the Chargers will take a step or two backward without Pro Bowl receiver Vincent Jackson and standout left tackle Marcus McNeill. Both players are holding out with no end in sight. San Diego will show what it has without the two top offensive players on "Monday Night Football" in Kansas City. The Chargers can make a statement to the league with a strong showing. San Diego has good depth and its offense was clicking in the preseason. It heads into this game with plenty of confidence and it is not worrying about who is not on the roster. Star quarterback Philip Rivers’ primary target will be tight end Antonio Gates, but the Chargers are confident in young receiver Malcom Floyd, Legedu Naanee and Buster Davis and new veteran option Patrick Crayton. Brandyn Dombrowski is taking over for McNeill, and the Chargers feel like he can protect Rivers’ blindside. If San Diego is at its high-octane best without Jackson and McNeill in Kansas City, it will send a message to both the holdouts and the rest of the league that the Chargers mean business in their current form.

Tim Tebow can make home-town impact: Many people thought the ticket-selling hungry Jaguars would take Jacksonville native and Florida folk hero Tim Tebow in the April draft. If not because of his potential as a quarterback, for his ability to create a buzz about the Jaguars and perhaps even keep the team in town down the road. Yet, Jacksonville bypassed Tebow at No. 10 and didn’t get another chance to select him before Denver traded three picks to take him at No. 25. Still, Tebow will begin his NFL career in his hometown. Will the home folks get a glimpse of Tebow? I bet they do. Denver will use Tebow in some special packages as a rookie.

The NFC West is accustomed to catching its share of grief, and then some.

The St. Louis Rams own six victories over the past three seasons, the Seattle Seahawks own nine over the past two and the San Francisco 49ers haven’t posted a winning record since Mike Rumph was a promising rookie cornerback for them (2002). The Arizona Cardinals have been better lately, but now they’re reduced to Derek Anderson versus Matt Leinart.

No wonder AFC West blogger Bill Williamson thinks the new-and-improved Oakland Raiders would win the NFC West. But would they? NFC West blogger Mike Sando would put them third, behind the 49ers and Cardinals, even with Jason Campbell under center in Oakland.

Bill Williamson: Advocating for the Raiders is neither easy nor perhaps sane. After all, the Raiders have been the bastion of football futility for much of the past decade. Oakland has lost 11 games or more for the past seven seasons. That is an NFL record for bad, bad times.

The misery has to end sometime and this year may be the year Oakland finally emerges from the dregs of the league and becomes a legitimate, competitive team. The horrendous JaMarcus Russell era has ended. Jason Campbell is far from an elite player, but he is an established NFL quarterback who knows what he is doing. That alone should allow Oakland to be much more productive on offense. This is a team that scored just 17 offensive touchdowns in 2009. Campbell could help the team score 20-25 more touchdowns this season.

Mike Sando: Let’s say Campbell posts a passer rating in the mid-80s and the Raiders back him with a defense ranked in the top 10. The Raiders would take that scenario, no questions asked. The reality, though, is that Campbell’s passer rating last season was 86.4 and the Redskins -- his old team -- fielded a defense ranked 10th in yards allowed. It all added up to a 4-12 record against a weak schedule. I like some of the Raiders’ talent on defense, but 25 teams allowed fewer yards per game last season. It’s a stretch to pencil in Oakland for a No. 10 ranking on defense in 2010 and a greater stretch to say they'd win the NFC West.

Williamson: The defense in Oakland is going to improve. The Raiders have added two potential stars in middle linebacker Rolando McClain and defensive end Lamarr Houston, both in the first two rounds of the draft. The run defense has been horrible in recent seasons, but it should be much improved.

Sando: I watched Frank Gore carry twice against the Raiders’ starting defense Saturday night. He gained 58 yards on those runs, and Mike Iupati, the 49ers’ rookie left guard, took out McClain pretty easily on one of those Gore carries. Preseason isn’t much to go on, but Gore probably could have had 150 yards if the 49ers had left him in the game.

Williamson: I can see why the 49ers removed Gore from the game. He’s always getting nicked up and that probably will be the case again this season. Follow me for a minute here. Oakland should easily compete to win eight games. Sure, it is not the stuff of playoff dreams -- at least in a real division -- and it won’t be enough to unseat San Diego in the AFC West, but this isn’t about the Raiders’ division. It’s about the NFC West, which managed a league-low 12 victories outside the division last season (the AFC West had 18). There is no anchor team in the NFC West, unless you count the sinking Cardinals. San Francisco? Come on. These teams are not markedly better than the Raiders. Arizona is a mess as it enters the post-Kurt Warner era and San Francisco always seems to fall short of its potential. Put Oakland in the NFC West and you’d have your 2010 division favorite.

Sando: There’s no way Campbell would hold up in the NFC West behind that horrible offensive line. The 49ers roughed him up Saturday night (Campbell has a stinger and wrist injury as a result). A week earlier, the 49ers roughed up Brett Favre (the Vikings had to yank him after only four plays). The Cardinals’ defensive front also would mangle Campbell. They feasted upon the Chicago Bears' Jay Cutler when both teams’ starting units were on the field Saturday night. Cutler had zero points, four sacks and two interceptions in five drives. Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell would feast on the Raiders’ offensive line. It'll happen soon enough. The teams meet in Week 3.

Williamson: Let’s get back to the quarterbacks. No legitimate contender in the NFC West has one better than Campbell. Matt Leinart's career is on life support in Arizona and his replacement, Derek Anderson, is the quintessential stop-gap solution. Alex Smith is as fragile as a porcelain vase. Matt Hasselbeck is very much on the back nine of his career and Sam Bradford is just not ready to carry a team on his back. Not this year, at least.

Campbell is the most reliable of all of the above-mentioned quarterbacks heading into this season. He is a smart game manager who is not going to lose games. He will trust his young receivers and his potentially strong running game.

Sando: Granted, the whole Leinart-Anderson debate isn't helping the NFC West's credibility. But the coaching in Arizona is solid and the team still has good talent throughout its roster. Jason Campbell might be an upgrade for the Raiders, but the Redskins did bench him during an ugly loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last season. Last time I checked, the Chiefs weren’t good, even by AFC West standards.

Williamson: Campbell might not win games alone, but nine times out of 10, he won’t lose them alone, either. The Kansas City game was an aberration. Campbell posted a passer rating of at least 90 in nine regular-season games last season. Kurt Warner did it eight times despite playing with a far superior supporting cast. Campbell has the potential to lead Oakland to around 20 points a game while throwing 20-25 touchdown passes and limiting his interceptions to under a dozen or so. Can any quarterback in the NFC West say that this season? In a league where quarterbacks reign supreme, Campbell would be the best quarterback in the NFC West. He'd give Oakland a strong chance to be the best team in the division.

Sando: The 49ers had a chance to go after Donovan McNabb and they chose Smith instead. I didn’t think it was the wisest move, but it’s no stretch to think Smith will finish the 2010 season with better numbers than Campbell will post in Oakland. Smith had 18 touchdown passes with 12 interceptions in 10-plus games last season. Campbell was at 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions over a full season. Smith has a clear edge over Campbell in available weaponry, and he's finally getting comfortable. Don’t tell Al Davis this, but Michael Crabtree was a better choice than Darrius Heyward-Bey. Crabtree had more catches in 11 games last season (48) than any wide receiver for Oakland, and his total would have ranked tied for third on Campbell's Redskins. Better yet for Smith, Crabtree isn’t necessarily the best option in his arsenal. Vernon Davis is a first-team Pro Bowl tight end, Josh Morgan is a decent No. 2 and newcomer Ted Ginn Jr. looks like he’ll provide a welcome speed element on the outside. It’s ironic that the 49ers have the pure burners -- Ginn and Davis -- Oakland usually covets.

Williamson: Smith and Campbell have both faced tough circumstances in recent seasons. They've gone through coaching changes, gotten knocked around and faced criticism. Campbell has persevered far more impressively. He’s held up physically and finished with more touchdown passes than interceptions in each of the four seasons he has played. Smith has done it just once -- last season -- and never as a full-time starter. He couldn’t even beat out Shaun Hill heading into last season.

Sando: Drawing the NFC West as part of the NFL's scheduling rotation is going to help Campbell, but it’s not like the Redskins played a tough schedule last season. I heard Mike Shanahan call it soft during a recent radio interview. He's right. With Campbell at quarterback in 2009, the Redskins lost to the Lions, Panthers, Chiefs and Giants (twice). They barely beat the Rams, 9-7. They scored 17 points or fewer in 11 of 16 games. That doesn’t look very good on a quarterback’s résumé.

Williamson: The Raiders are not all about Jason Campbell. Quietly, Oakland has added some very talented pieces throughout its roster. While Oakland has crashed and burned in the first round lately, it has not gotten enough credit for late-round finds. The unheralded results form the makings of a solid roster.

There are legitimate stars on this team.

Start with left cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. If league observers would take their eyes off Revis Island for a minute, they would realize there is dominant cornerback play on the left coast, sans the snazzy nickname and lengthy contract holdout. Asomugha is one of the brightest, most instinctive players in the NFL. Consider that he plays a premium position and you have a highly valuable player.

The linebacking corps has a chance to be very good with McClain and Cleveland refugee Kamerion Wimbley. Wimbley showed his pass-rushing potential with four sacks in a limited role against Chicago in the second preseason game. Three-time Super Bowl champion Richard Seymour is anchoring a new-look and potentially outstanding defensive front.

Offensively, Campbell has some young, intriguing weapons to play with. Tight end Zach Miller is a blossoming star and one Campbell should utilize often. Young receivers Chaz Schilens, Louis Murphy and Heyward-Bey all have a chance to reach their immense potential very soon. Running backs Michael Bush and Darren McFadden could give defensive coordinators fits on a weekly basis because of their varied skills. There’s talent in Oakland that teams in the NFC West simply can’t match.

Sando: Asomugha arguably would be the best player in the NFC West, but Larry Fitzgerald, Patrick Willis and Steven Jackson wouldn't be far behind. Kamerion Wimbley? I'll take Dockett, Adrian Wilson, Gore, Davis, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Justin Smith, Matt Hasselbeck, Marcus Trufant -- the list goes on, and I've probably missed a few.

This debate will be tough to settle, but we can say the scheduling rotation should help one or more teams from each division pump up their records. NFC West teams eagerly can look forward to facing the Chiefs, Denver Broncos and possibly the Raiders. AFC West teams can feel the same way about games against the Rams and Seahawks, at least.

I'll be heading to Oakland in Week 2 for the Raiders' game against the Rams. St. Louis has managed only three victories over the past two seasons, but they're 1-1 against Campbell during that time, losing by two points at Washington in 2008 after suffering a fourth-quarter fumble inside the Washington 10.

If Bradford plays as well as he has recently, I won't be shocked if the Rams make it 2-1 against Campbell over the past three seasons.

Random thoughts from Oakland’s 17-9 win over Dallas on Thursday:

The good: The defensive line looks pretty nice. Second-round draft pick Lamarr Houston had two sacks as he played well into the second quarter. Oakland had five sacks in the first half. Yes, it wasn’t all against the first unit, but it’s a nice start. Oakland played well against the run as well, which was a big goal. Dallas had just 66 yards on 22 carries. If this carries over into the regular season, the Raiders will be in good shape. The start by Houston is particularly exciting for Oakland. He could be a big-league steal.

The Raiders’ scrubs are better than Dallas’ scrubs. Oakland scored all of its points in the final 4:58 of the game.

After Michael Bush was OK with the first team, Michael Bennett ran well late in the game and finished with 68 yards. Perhaps he can help the team in the regular season in certain situations.

The bad: The offense. So far, new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, who has received a hero’s welcome from the team and fans, has not shown much of a difference yet. Here’s what is a bit concerning: Oakland’s starters played the first half, which is nearly unheard of. Usually starters play just a series or two in the first preseason game.

But Oakland’s staff let the new offense, led by new quarterback Jason Campbell, stay on the field to find a groove. It never really happened. Oakland had just one first down in three series in the first quarter and finished with five first downs in the first half. Oakland was just 2-of-12 on third downs.

Campbell looked shaky at times. He’s clearly not totally comfortable yet and that’s understandable. The first-team offensive line, the team’s biggest question mark, looked overwhelmed at times. It is a bit a bummer that Darrius Heyward-Bey couldn’t come up with a catch. He dropped Campbell’s first pass of the game. The Raiders have been talking him up like he’s Michael Crabtree or something. It’d be nice to see it in a game.

Overall, there was plenty to be excited about and plenty to be concerned about. But that’s what first preseason games are for.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- It's too bad we can't get those 60 minutes of our lives back. The Cowboys' first-team offense once again failed in the red zone, and the backups didn't do any better in a 17-9 loss to the Raiders. With the Cowboys having played Sunday, it was obvious they didn't belong on the field Thursday night.

The defense certainly had its moments, but the story of the game (from my vantage point) is that Tony Romo was sacked three times and the running game was non-existent. Other than that, it was a wonderful night of football. The Cowboys have nine days before playing a preseason game in San Diego. Maybe we'll get a better feel for where this team is at that point. But in the interest of producing a blog entry before most of you arrive at work, here are a few observations from Thursday's contest:

• The Cowboys were 0-for-4 in red zone efficiency, including a quick trip inside the 20 before Romo was sacked for a 9-yard loss. Dallas gave up six sacks in the game, three on Romo. The most disturbing to me was seeing Raiders defensive end Matt Shaughnessy beat Doug Free on a speed rush and then drag down Romo with one arm. Free was with Shaughnessy the whole time on the play, but he never delivered a solid punch. Shaughnessy's a nice second-year player out of Wisconsin, but he's not Trent Cole, Justin Tuck and Brian Orakpo. Free needs to clean things up before he meets any of those players. At least two of the three sacks on Romo were coverage sacks. He needs to do a better job of unloading the ball in those situations.
• Linebackers Bradie James and Keith Brooking were both excellent in coverage in the first quarter. James was throwing his body all over the place and Brooking was superb in not letting anyone get separation from him. Brooking still moves really well. I hope Sean Lee is watching Brooking's every move right now. The rookie needs to get past this quadriceps injury and return to the practice field. Otherwise, he's not going to have a chance to earn time in sub packages. Bobby Carpenter was replacing Brooking in the nickel last season, but right now I wouldn't replace him with anyone.
• Raiders safety Tyvon Branch was a mismatch for Jason Witten. The Pro Bowl tight end got plenty of separation and Romo hit him in stride for a big play on the first drive.
• Miles Austin made a beautiful adjustment to a ball thrown slightly behind him in the first quarter for a 24-yard catch. Austin brought a lot of energy to the field Thursday and ran some excellent routes. On the twisting grab, he beat cornerback Chris Johnson. The Raiders are vulnerable on that side of the field.
• Raiders defensive end Lamarr Houston had one of the sacks on Romo. He was able to sneak in the backside and crunch the quarterback. Romo didn't feel the pressure coming on the play. He just seemed content to stay in the pocket, and that wasn't helping matters. Of course, everyone in the stadium gasped when he took off running up the middle of the field on one play.
• It was a good night for kicker David Buehler. He nailed a 42-yard field goal and then connected on two short ones. He also recorded three touchbacks. The 42-yarder was a good sign because that's a distance that plagued the team during a miserable stretch in '09. Buehler has all the confidence in the world. If he'll trust his leg, the distance will be there.
• Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick might be the best tackler of all the defensive backs. He does a really nice job of wrapping up and you don't see guys bounce off him. Scandrick decked wide receiver Louis Murphy early in the game. Then he absorbed a blow from James. The Cowboys were flying to the ball early.
• The running game was awful, but I did see Marion Barber put a nice little move on cornerback Stanford Routt in the first quarter. He froze Routt with a little stutter-step. Barber stumbled after that and only gained 2 yards.
• Romo and Austin have tremendous chemistry on the slant. On a third-down play, Austin got Johnson on his hip and then made a nice grab across the middle. Even when cornerbacks see it coming, they have an awful time getting inside position.
• All the goodwill that Kevin Ogletree earned in the offseason is being wasted early in the preseason. He's not making contested catches and it just seems like there's a lack of concentration. I still think he'll make the roster as the fifth receiver, but he hasn't seized some of these extra repetitions that were created by Dez Bryant's absence.
• Linebacker Victor Butler picked up a personal foul on a punt return. The officials will not have any tolerance this season for those blindside hits on defenseless players. There's just too much of a risk for head and neck injuries. Butler must have better awareness on that play.
• In the first quarter, cornerback Terence Newman closed quickly to break up a Jason Campbell throw in the flat. Newman was in position to make the interception, but he opted for knocking down the ball with one arm. It was a very instinctive play and it caught Campbell by surprise.
• Free-agent rookie Bryan McCann out of SMU had one really nice punt return (28 yards) late in the second quarter when he allowed Ogletree to set him up with a good block. McCann's also getting a lot of opportunities with the second-team defense. He was late on a Campbell throw to Murphy, but you can tell that he's not far away from making those plays. I get the sense that Wade Phillips is really pulling for McCann.
• I was eager to see how former third-round draft pick Robert Brewster performed at left tackle against the Raiders. And once again, he turned in a dud. Not even the optimistic Phillips will be able to praise Brewster after Thursday's showing. His feet are stuck in neutral and there's absolutely no anchor. When you watch him, he's getting pushed directly toward the quarterback. He's most susceptible to an outside speed rush right now, and that's not a good sign. Brewster will keep getting chances, but I thought that was a poor showing. Brewster was also penalized for grabbing a defensive end as he raced past.
• Butler does an excellent job getting pressure on the quarterback. He's so much more consistent this season in causing problems for the offensive line. And the other linebacker who caught my eye Thursday was Leon Williams. He's just a really tough player who brings some attitude to the field. Inside linebacker Jason Williams is still a work in progress, but he did race through and make a nice play against running back Michael Bush.
• Safety Mike Hamlin suffered a neck strain and a concussion in the third quarter, according to ESPNDallas.com's Tim MacMahon. Some folks in the organization thought Hamlin might challenge Alan Ball for the starting role, but that hasn't happened so far in camp. The good news for the Cowboys is that Hamlin was the only player injured. That's a lot different situation than what took place against the Bengals.
• Roy Williams and Romo weren't on the same page in the first quarter. On one play, Romo rolled right and wanted Williams to come back to him. Williams sort of posted up the cornerback along the sideline and hoped for the best. There wasn't any rhythm to his routes against the Raiders. By the way, Bryant gave Williams and the rest of the receivers some new shoes.
• In one of the Cowboys' four trips inside the red zone, Jon Kitna rolled right and threw to Deon Anderson in the flat. It was a poorly conceived play on fourth-and-1. Linebacker Thomas Howard applied the pressure to Kitna.
• I thought safety Danny McCray did a really nice job hustling over to break up a deep ball to Johnnie Lee Higgins. McCray's been a camp phenom, and I'm eager to see if he can keep it up in Oxnard, Calif., next week. The Beast will be on the ground in Oxnard beginning Sunday evening.
• The Cowboys were 3-for-16 on third down. The lack of a running game put the Cowboys in third-and-long situations far too often. Losing in the preseason isn't a big issue, but this red zone issue is something that goes back to last season. The Cowboys need a touchdown from the first-team offense against the Chargers next Saturday.
• Guard Pat McQuistan simply doesn't play with any power. Every time I watch him, he's getting thrown toward the quarterback. It's about time to move on without him. The Cowboys have invested a lot of time in him, but I don't think he'll ever be a starter. And he doesn't seem like a reliable backup. On the other hand, I like the backup center, Phil Costa. The guy will stand his ground and he seems to have a little attitude. Give me that guy over McQuistan any day. I also liked the way rookie Sam Young played.

ESPN.com NFL Power Ranking (pre-camp): 24

NAPA, Calif. -- In each of the past seven offseasons, the Raiders have had a sense of optimism, but it never translated into positive results. Oakland lost at least 11 games each season from 2003 to 2009, an NFL record for futility.

But two days into training camp, the Raiders expect this year will be different.

The main reasons are the team has an experienced quarterback in Jason Campbell and the plug was pulled on the JaMarcus Russell debacle. Oakland believes Campbell will bring out the best in a young offense. Defensively, the team thinks it has the right blend of veteran leadership and youth to be much improved.

Oakland coach Tom Cable, one of the NFL's bigger optimists, is working to make his team believe this is the year. Check out what Cable said on the eve of training camp:

“We’re going to go after the AFC West. I’m not afraid to say that. If they picked someone else for it already, that’s too bad. It doesn’t work like that. You’ve got to play the games. This team will be ready to do that.’’

Added Campbell: “All we talked about this summer was winning.”

Will this finally be the year Oakland, 5-11 in 2009, stops being a bottom-feeder? The Raiders are acting that way in the early portion of training camp.

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Will Campbell ignite this offense? He is the key to Oakland's season. If he performs well, the Raiders could win two or three more games than last year.

The Raiders were remarkably better with fiery journeyman Bruce Gradkowski last season than with Russell. It was as if the offense was relieved that the unprepared and ineffective Russell was not on the field. Oakland believes the unit will react just as positively to Campbell, who is more polished and experienced than Gradkowski.

But Campbell must prove he can be a difference-maker. All he really has been in the NFL since being drafted in 2005 is a decent game manager. Washington tried to upgrade at quarterback in 2009 and then succeeded in the offseason by trading for Donovan McNabb. Still, the earnest Campbell has a big arm and he fits what Oakland wants to do in the vertical passing game.

2. Can the Raiders stop the run? Russell wasn’t the only issue in Oakland in recent seasons. The defense was not good. Oakland ranked 26th on defense overall and 29th against the run last season. Teams can't dream of winning consistently if they can’t stop the run.

A big reason why the Raiders, who open the regular season against Tennessee and rushing champ Chris Johnson, haven’t been able to stop the run is they haven’t tackled well.

The Raiders have tried to upgrade their run defense by drafting middle linebacker Rolando McClain and defensive lineman Lamarr Houston in the first two rounds of the 2009 draft. Both players were very good against the run in college. If they can make an immediate impact, the Raiders should be improved. Both got into camp on time and will get plenty of repetitions.

3. Who’ll emerge as the lead tailback? The Raiders have intriguing running backs in Michael Bush and Darren McFadden. Cable has gone back and forth this offseason on what he wants from the duo.

Earlier in the offseason, Cable said he wanted one of the two backs to emerge as starter. Then he said he thought the powerful Bush and the elusive McFadden could share carries. Now Cable said he thinks it is going to be a great battle between the two in training camp.

It really doesn’t matter what the end result is, but what does matter is Oakland finding a successful running system, whether it’s Bush starting, McFadden starting or the two sharing carries.

For all their ability, Bush and McFadden have been inconsistent and the team has not found the right way to use these players.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

The Raiders started training camp with Houston at starting defensive end and veteran Richard Seymour at defensive tackle. Seymour played mostly end last year, in his first season in Oakland. Seymour could end up back at end, but this is an interesting look for Oakland. If Houston can make an immediate impact and Seymour can clog the middle, Oakland will have a solid defensive front.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Oakland has neglected the offensive line the past few years and it is still a problem. Yes, the Raiders drafted good prospects in Jared Veldheer and Bruce Campbell in the third and fourth rounds, respectively. But it would be a stretch to expect these rookies to be difference-makers in 2010. If the Raiders can’t block, it won’t matter much if Campbell is an improvement over Russell or if the running game comes alive.

OBSERVATION DECK

AP Photo/Eric RisbergTom Cable is pleased with the team's depth at linebacker.
• For the second straight year, Cable is having the Raiders go through glorified walk-throughs for the first eight training camp practices. The idea behind it is to have the players soak in the learning aspect of camp.
• Cable said he has a good feeling about this team because of the way it responds to instruction.
• Cable thinks a big plus for the team will be depth at linebacker. Among the backups are former starter Thomas Howard (the team is trying to replace him with Trevor Scott) and newly acquired Quentin Groves.
• The Raiders struggled mightily on offense last year. They scored 17 touchdowns in 16 games, tied for the league’s lowest total. Cable said a goal in training camp will be improving in the red zone.
• Even though the Raiders are excited about 2009 first-round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey, early camp returns indicate he must be more consistent. Heyward-Bey dropped too many passes last season.
• The Raiders are cautiously optimistic John Henderson will help stop the run. But Henderson, 31, has been slowing down in recent years, so he will monitored closely in camp and not overworked.
• Houston is a fun player to watch. He plays with a lot of fire and has a knack for getting on the nerves of offensive linemen. He went at it with guard Robert Gallery on Thursday. Expect more tales of Houston getting in summertime scraps at camp.
• The Raiders have decent young receivers in Chaz Schilens, Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy, but they are not deep at the position. If Oakland suffers an injury in camp, it must find reinforcements.

» NFC On the Radar: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A player, coach or issue that should be on your radar as training camp approaches.

The Oakland Raiders have an intriguing defensive line. If this defense is going to turn around its fortunes (and in turn help the team turn around), it will start on the line.

Give Oakland credit for trying to upgrade the unit, which has been spotty, lethargic and ineffective in recent years.

Since last September, Oakland has added Richard Seymour through a trade, signed free agent John Henderson and drafted Lamarr Houston. With Seymour signing his franchise tender last week, Oakland’s defensive front appears set. Now, all it has to do is perform well.

It all starts with Seymour. He is the best defensive lineman in the AFC West and he can be a dominating force. But he was uneven in his first season in Oakland. Seymour has to be more consistent in his second season. Henderson is an interesting run-stuffer, which is key because Oakland has been terrible against the run in recent seasons. The 6-foot-7, 325-pound Henderson is past his prime, but he can still be effective against the run for 25 to 35 plays a game. That will help.

The team is very excited about Houston, who probably will play end in the NFL, although he can also play defensive tackle. He is stout against the run. The second-round pick from Texas has proved to be very feisty in Oakland’s offseason camps. It’s a lot to expect a rookie to change the demeanor of a unit, but Houston has a chance to do just that.

All three of these new players can play in the 3-4 defense, so Oakland will have flexibility.

Add these players to the likes of Tommy Kelly and promising second-year player Matt Shaughnessy and Oakland has some decent pieces on the line. The key will be finding the right rotation.

If this unit comes together, Oakland should be much improved on defense.

The Oakland Raiders have continued their annual attempt to emerge from the doldrums.

Is this finally the year that it will work?

The following is a look at some possible solutions and continued issues for Oakland as it enters the season with the odor of an NFL-record seven straight years with at least 11 losses. Oakland is a stunning 29-83 during that time.

Reasons for hope

Quarterback play: Oakland surely will be better at the most important position on the field. The Raiders, who considered several quarterback options throughout the offseason, added Jason Campbell in a trade with Washington on draft weekend.

The Raiders then cut JaMarcus Russell. The No. 1 overall draft pick in 2007 will go down as one of the greatest busts in NFL history.

Russell was 7-18 as the Raiders’ starter and regressed in 2009. The Raiders were rarely competitive with him on the field and were much spunkier with journeyman Bruce Gradkowski at the helm.

Campbell is far from a great player. He quarterbacked a 4-12 team last year and was cast aside this offseason by new Redskins coach and noted quarterback guru Mike Shanahan. But in Oakland, the hard-working Campbell should be an upgrade. He has a good arm and he fits Oakland’s vertical scheme. He is also a solid game manager. Campbell may not win games by himself, but he won’t lose many either.

With a decent running game, an excellent tight end in Zach Miller and promising young receivers Chaz Schilens, Louis Murphy and Darrius Heyward-Bey, Campbell should have a positive impact on the offense.

“Campbell is not fancy, but he’ll make Oakland better,” said Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. “The Raiders will be competent at the position and you couldn’t say that in the past.”

A young stud at linebacker: The Raiders were pretty quiet in the offseason until the draft. Other than Campbell, Oakland’s only major acquisition of 2010 who could make an immediate impact was middle linebacker Rolando McClain. The Raiders took McClain with the No. 8 overall pick.

The Raiders have earned a reputation for whiffing in the first round in recent years. I don’t think this will be an issue with McClain. Expect him to be an instant impact player. He was a key to Alabama’s national championship team and was known as one of the most instinctive and brightest players in college football. He called defensive audibles himself, a rarity in the college game.

The Raiders’ run defense needs plenty of help, and McClain should be a huge addition. He will be a big upgrade over Kirk Morrison, who was traded to Jacksonville two days after McClain was drafted.

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