Where's Bucky?

Postcards From Camp Oakland Raiders Napa, Calif.| Aug. 10, 2007 More Postcards From Camp

Daunte Culpepper has played just 11 games in the last two seasons because of problems with his knee. AP

Sitting in the middle of the Black Hole at the Raider Nation Celebration at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland. The Raiders have about 10,000 rowdy fans in attendance.

Scout's Take

1. Daunte Culpepper looks good throwing the ball. He is still a little rusty and there are questions about whether he's 100 percent back from a knee injury, but I saw plenty of zip on his passes. He is lagging behind the other quarterbacks due to his limited knowledge of the playbook, but his physical skills are still ahead of the others. "I'm working double time to catch up mentally," Culpepper told me. Based on what I saw today, the Raiders' gamble on him may turn out to be a wise investment.

2. Don't underestimate Lane Kiffin's ability to eventually turn around the Raiders. The players appear to have bought into his program; the enthusiasm they displayed during the workout mirrors the energy displayed by the young coaching staff. Several players told me the coaches' attitude was rubbing off, giving them a sense of optimism that wasn't there last year.

3. The Raiders have done an excellent job of hitting paydirt with their top draft picks on defense. Of their 11 starters, seven were picked in the top three rounds in the draft. Nnamdi Asomugha, Fabian Washington, Thomas Howard and Kirk Morrison are cornerstones of a defense that should be good for years to come.

4. Warren Sapp is setting the tone for the defense, which seems to have adopted the confidence and swagger that he regularly exudes. Sapp was bouncing around practice like a rookie, full of energy, and his teammates were feeding off that.

5. The defense will be better this season due to the addition of Donovin Darius. His presence in their "big" nickel package allows them to match up favorably against base or three-receiver sets. As a solid run defender, he can slide into the box, leaving Michael Huff to cover slot receivers. Their combined versatility will allow defensive coordinator Rob Ryan to be more aggressive attacking offenses with exotic blitzes.

Did you know?

Owner Al Davis spent three years as an offensive line coach at Southern Cal before joining the coaching staff of the AFL's Los Angeles Chargers in 1960.

Insider Fantasy Tip

Tight end Zach Miller will be a pleasant surprise as a rookie starter. He is an excellent route runner with outstanding hands. He fits in perfectly in Kiffin's pro style offense and should catch over 50 passes.

Camp Confidential

The Raiders defense could be really special this season. It finished third in total defense last year and several players expect this unit to be even more dominant.

Cornerback Fabian Washington says the defense is focusing on improving against the run, hoping that it puts opponents in positions that are more likely to create turnovers. "We need to make more plays and find a way to score on defense or put our offense in a position where they can score," Washington said.

Can it become the type of defense that can singlehandedly win games -- like the Ravens' or Bears' D? That's a tall order, but you have to respect that Rob Ryan's unit is aiming to be in that kind of company.