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Rich Gannon Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Projected starting lineup Offense No. Player Pos. 84 Jerry Porter WR 74 Robert Gallery LT 65 Barry Sims LG 63 Barret Robbins C 67 Ron Stone RG 66 Langston Walker RT 82 Teyo Johnson TE 80 Jerry Rice WR 12 Rich Gannon QB 32 Zack Crockett FB 47 Tyrone Wheatley RB 11 Sebastian Janikowski K Defense No. Player Pos. 91 Tyler Brayton DE 92 Ted Washington DT 99 Warren Sapp DT 57 Dwayne Rudd OLB 58 Napoleon Harris ILB 55 Danny Clark ILB 56 Travian Smith OLB 24 Charles Woodson CB 31 Phillip Buchanon CB 36 Derrick Gibson SS 34 Ray Buchanan FS 9 Shane Lechler P 2004 Draft Rd. Player Pos. School 1 Robert Gallery T Iowa 2 Jake Grove C Virginia Tech 3 Stuart Schweigert S Purdue 4 Carlos Francis WR Texas Tech 5 Johnnie Morant WR Syracuse 6 Shawn Johnson DE Delaware 6 Cody Spencer LB North Texas 7 Courtney Anderson TE San Jose State 7 Andre Sommersell LB Colorado State Outside the Huddle Geriatric unit Two of Oakland's top three wide receivers, Jerry Rice and Tim Brown, will be 42 and 38, respectively, this season. Both are rebounding from sub-par seasons and under pressure to prove that they aren't too old to be counted upon as significant producers. New look The Raiders could have at least 10 new starters, perhaps as many as 12, this season, one year after returning 18 of 22 starters from their Super Bowl team. Welcome back The Raiders play host to Tampa Bay in a Sunday night game in their first game at home against former head coach Jon Gruden since they traded Gruden to the Buccaneers for four draft choices and $8 million after the 2002 season. The Raider way Al Davis on the qualities he looked for in a head coach: "I'm not looking for a disciplinarian. I don't believe that's the way to go with this modern day, with this culture, with these groups of young athletes. These guys are educated guys, most of them, and we've got to inspire them and convince them. There are a couple that are tough to handle, but that's part of the group process. You bring in a disciplinarian who's going to stand up in front of them, and somewhere along the way they're going to get tired of that, and they're going to challenge it. I just don't want that. I want freshness and vitality." 2003 Revisited The Prophecy: "Charlie Garner is the most integral part of Oakland's dynamic offense." The Lie: "The Raiders compensated for the departure of tackle Sam Adams by signing Dana Stubblefield." --Athlon Sports Pro Football 2003

The Raiders equaled the league's worst record, had the worst run defense, lost every road game, led the league in penalties and changed head coaches. Naturally, they arrive at training camp with one goal in mind: Win the franchise's first Super Bowl in 21 seasons.

Huh? That's right, the team run by go-for-broke part owner Al Davis, the one that finished 4–12 and openly rebelled against its coach is back for another shot at capturing the Super Bowl title Davis feels the Raiders should have won each of the past four seasons.

Rebuilding is for other teams. The Raiders reload, line up and see what happens. So it goes, as the Raiders return with many of their core players from years past and an infusion of proven veterans such as Warren Sapp and Ted Washington, along with top draftees such as Robert Gallery and Jake Grove.

"In my experience, in growing up with the Raiders, I don't think I ever heard the word rebuild used with the Raiders," says new head coach Norv Turner. "I don't think that's what we have in mind."

Rich Gannon is no longer regarded as one of the league's elite quarterbacks. Some aren't even sure he is the best quarterback on Oakland's roster. So much has changed in one year, with Gannon going from league MVP to questionable 38-year-old in little time.

Still, the Raiders are committed to Gannon in the short term, with Kerry Collins and Marques Tuiasosopo biding time on the sideline.

Gannon has recovered well from surgery on his right (throwing) shoulder and likely won't have much difficulty learning Turner's new offense. His biggest obstacle will be getting accustomed to throwing the ball downfield more than he has the past five seasons in Turner's new-look, stretch-the-field offense.

Lead back Charlie Garner bought his way out of Oakland and landed in Tampa Bay. That leaves a sizable void in Oakland that Turner hopes will be filled by veterans Tyrone Wheatley and Troy Hambrick and inexperienced Justin Fargas. Good luck. There are few backs capable of doing the things Garner does so well, like average four-plus yards per carry, catch 80 or 90 passes and execute blocks. Wheatley performed well last season and can be expected to do a decent job. Fargas is the wild card because of his speed, decisiveness and big-play ability. If he can stay healthy, the Raiders might have Garner's replacement in hand, although they intend to keep looking.

Zack Crockett is invaluable because of his uncanny ability to keep drives alive and score touchdowns.

All six wide receivers and the top two tight ends return, but none of those players had a memorable season last year. Suddenly, what once was a strength is now an area of concern. That worry goes beyond Tim Brown, 38, and Jerry Rice, who turns 42 during the season. The Raiders still aren't sure if Jerry Porter can handle the role as the go-to guy, though they are determined to find out. Porter played well last season but missed time with a groin injury.

Rice led the Raiders in receptions and yards and tied for the team lead in touchdown catches, yet there were finally signs of slowing. Same goes for Brown, who relinquishes his starting role to Porter after his worst season in 10 years.

Backups Doug Gabriel, Alvis Whitted and Ronald Curry combined for only 13 receptions. The Raiders hope that Turner's new offense and the addition of speedster Carlos Francis, as well as the steady play of tight ends Roland Williams, Doug Jolley and Teyo Johnson, are enough to allay any concerns.

All the starters are back except for retired right tackle Lincoln Kennedy. That news is offset by the addition of three-time Pro Bowl guard Ron Stone, No. 2 overall draft pick Robert Gallery and second-round selection Jake Grove.

Injuries beset Oakland's line last season, with left tackle Barry Sims the only one who started every game. Everyone is healthy this season and facing tougher competition for roster spots.

Incumbent guards Frank Middleton and Mo Collins need to report to training camp in better shape than they did last year or else risk losing their jobs. Sims is a natural right tackle who could supplant Middleton or Collins at guard or replace Kennedy if Gallery starts at left tackle. Langston Walker and Adam Treu also have starting experience.

The Raiders pinned much of the blame for their porous run defense on the line and targeted it for a massive overhaul. Good-bye Dana Stubblefield, Rod Coleman, Trace Armstrong and Lorenzo Bromell. Hello, Washington, Sapp and Shawn Johnson.

Oakland also benefits from the expected return to full strength of tackle John Parrella, who missed most of last season with a groin injury. The Raiders have added depth in DeLawrence Grant, Chris Cooper and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila.

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will count on Washington and Sapp to anchor his line in a 3-4 alignment this season.

It took a while for end Tyler Brayton to adjust to the pros last season, but he progressed well and figures to be a solid contributor this season because of his speed, smarts and work ethic.

Nowhere is the changeover more evident than at linebacker. Veterans Bill Romanowski and Eric Barton were jettisoned, Dwayne Rudd and Danny Clark signed and a new scheme was implemented. Napoleon Harris and Travian Smith likely will join Rudd and Clark in comprising the linebacking corps in Ryan's new-look scheme.

Ryan figures to design his scheme so that the linebackers do more blitzing -- especially on third down -- disguise their coverages and provide more run support than they have in recent seasons.

Smith's speed, strength and size make him a dangerous player, but he still will find it difficult to replace Romanowski's intensity, leadership and production.

Harris struggled at times after an impressive rookie campaign. Rudd and Clark are dependable and should adapt well to Ryan's scheme and once again make the linebackers an area of strength.

Cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Phillip Buchanon, and strong safety Derrick Gibson are expected back, yet questions linger.

Charles Woodson is a fixture at left corner and one of the game's top defensive backs because of his superior instincts, recovery skills and sure tackling. There aren't such assurances with the other returning starters.

Buchanon gambles too often and still hasn't realized his potential as a shut-down corner. And Gibson still isn't the impact player the Raiders covet, because he lacks consistency in coverage and tackling.

The Raiders cut veteran Rod Woodson, who was having trouble recovering from knee suergery.

Fortunately for the Raiders, there is a bright side to all this. Woodson is as talented as any CB, Buchanon is a blossoming star, and Gibson is getting better each year. There's plenty of depth, too, with Ray Buchanan, Denard Walker, Clarence Love, Nnamdi Asomugha, Ike Charlton and rookie Stuart Schweigert.

The Raiders fired special teams coach Bob Casullo after yet another abysmal season. The job now falls into the capable hands of Joe Avezzano.

Avezzano doesn't have to worry about punter Shane Lechler and kicker Sebastian Janikowski. They were two of the few bright spots last season and seem to get better each year, though Janikowski needs to improve his depth on kickoffs.

Buchanon and kick returners Fargas and Gabriel are also solid, if not spectacular. Buchanon could be one of the best in the league if he gains consistency.

The real problem area is in kick and punt coverage. Avezzano will try to solve that lingering problem by using the same schemes that he used with the Dallas Cowboys in the early '90s.

Gannon is healthy, the offensive and defensive lines have been beefed up, and despised coach Bill Callahan is gone. There is reason for optimism for the Raiders, just as there are numerous question marks. With Turner come new schemes on offense, defense and special teams, as well as the integration of the strong personalities of Sapp, Washington and Gallery. All this points to the Raiders being a much-improved team, if not a playoff contender. However, too much would have to go the Raiders' way for them to achieve their ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl.

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