2003 RAIDERS
	Rich Gannon tossed 26 TD passes last season.
	Head coach: Bill Callahan (2nd year). 2000 record: 11-5. AFC West finish: 1st. Season opener: Sept. 7 at Titans. Schedule | Depth chart

For the Raiders, the question has never been about talent. Over the years the Raiders have put together some of the strongest rosters in the NFL, but failed to put it all together when it counted. That was until last season when Oakland, behind then-rookie head coach Bill Callahan, made its first Super Bowl appearance in nearly two decades.

Heading into the 2003 season, the Raiders find themselves poised to make another Super Bowl run. They trimmed more than $45 million from the payroll during the offseason but for the most part kept their roster from last year intact. Yet Oakland, which has won three straight AFC West titles, isn't even the favorite in its own division in some circles, a fact not lost on Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown.

"The only thing that matters," Brown said, "is what this team expects of itself. And we expect to go back to the Super Bowl and win it. You have a group of guys that are playing to win a championship. Not for numbers, not for money, not for status. These guys are back to win a championship."

Offense
Quarterbacks: Rich Gannon remains one of the game's top quarterbacks and is the league's reigning MVP. His five-interception nightmare against Tampa Bay in Super Bowl XXXVII notwithstanding, the 37-year-old Gannon is a master at running Oakland's offense. He doesn't have the cannon-powered arm that Raider quarterbacks are traditionally known for, but he makes up for it with wise decision-making. Gannon's smarts and ability to spread the ball around keep the offense from being predictable. Marques Tuiasosopo begins his third season as Gannon's understudy, which means he's had little experience in games of significance. Rick Mirer is a steady enough journeyman who will likely be the No. 3 quarterback, though Oakland was giving Tee Martin a long look in training camp.
Grade: A-minus.

Running backs: Charlie Garner might be the unsung hero of the Raiders' offense, a back as adept at running the ball as he is catching it. He can also run inside or outside with equal effectiveness. Backup Tyrone Wheatley is a power back who at times seems out of place in Oakland's pass-happy offense. He does give the team a short-yardage option, but the emergence of rookie Justin Fargas could drop Wheatley further down the depth chart. Zack Crockett returns as the goal-line back and will also see time at both fullback and running back, while Chris Hetherington will be the full-time fullback. Ronney Jenkins has speed but will spend his time primarily on special teams.
Grade: B.

Receivers: This is how good things have gotten for the Raiders: Tim Brown, who owns virtually every team receiving record and is a sure first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, might be only the sixth-leading receiver for Oakland in 2003. Jerry Rice and Jerry Porter are the play-makers of the offense, while Doug Jolley and rookie Teyo Johnson give the Raiders a pair of pass-catching tight ends. The Raiders run plenty of three-receiver formations, so Brown will get his chances, but they won't come as frequently as they once did. Roland Williams, the starting tight end from a year ago, is still recuperating from multiple offseason surgeries and has yet to participate in preseason practice.
Grade: A.

Offensive linemen: This was once a cornerstone of the Raiders' offense but lately the foundation has started to crack. First it was the disappearance of Pro Bowl center Barret Robbins on the eve of last year's Super Bowl. Then it was the dismal showing in the big game, as tackles Barry Sims and Lincoln Kennedy got windburn trying to stop Tampa Bay's speedy defensive ends. The team also let right guard Mo Collins shop himself around in the offseason before re-signing him in May. Robbins missed the first week of camp while recovering from offseason knee surgery, but his roster status is shaky at best. Oakland has been alternating long-snapper Adam Treu and Matt Stinchcomb, a 1999 first-round draft pick, at center with the starting offense, while Robbins has been working primarily with the backups.
Grade: B.

Defense
Defensive linemen: The Raiders spent a considerable amount of their offseason retooling the defensive line, signing veteran tackle Dana Stubblefield and adding a pair of pass-rushing ends in draft picks Tyler Brayton and Sam Williams. Stubblefield joins John Parrella and Rod Coleman to form the heart of Oakland's interior line, a solid 1-2-3 punch that will make it difficult for teams to run on the Raiders. Brayton could be an impact player, particularly if DeLawrence Grant's knee injury extends into the regular season. Trace Armstrong, who has suffered season-ending injuries each of the last two years, will try to give it one more go, and Oakland may need him. Second-year player Kenyon Coleman will push Armstrong for the starting job on the left side.
Grade: B.

Linebackers: Speed is the key word here, and the Raiders have it in abundance. Weak-side linebacker Eric Barton is a sideline-to-sideline player who is always around the ball and is a decent blitzer. Middle linebacker Napoleon Harris, who settled in about midway through his rookie season and began running the defense, is equally quick, while Bill Romanowski, another of Oakland's so-called "senior citizens" who found new life in Northern California, has shown he's got plenty of life left in his tank. Travian Smith, another speed rusher, gives Oakland the ability to use the 3-4 defense, which the coaching staff has said it will employ more of in the upcoming season. Eric Johnson and Tim Johnson provide adequate depth.
Grade: B.

Defensive backs: The biggest question of the preseason has been who will start at strong safety, Anthony Dorsett or Derrick Gibson? The Raiders appear intent on giving the job to Gibson, but Dorsett could end up with the job by midseason. Whoever starts will have plenty of help in the form of FS Rod Woodson, who led all NFL players with 11 forced turnovers (eight interceptions, three fumble recoveries) in '02. Cornerback Charles Woodson is also back after two years of injuries and should help bolster a unit that ranked 25th overall against the pass a year ago. Phillip Buchanon and Nnamdi Asomugha, the team's first-round picks in '02 and '03, respectively, have been hurt for much of the preseason, leaving Oakland's other starting cornerback job in the hands of veteran Terrance Shaw.
Grade: B-minus.

Special teams
Placekicker Sebastian Janikowski has the strongest leg in the league and last year improved his accuracy -- and maturity -- dramatically. He got off to a rough start this preseason, but Raiders coaches were working on his timing to slow his rhythm down. Shane Lechler, the team's punter, is equally solid and should be even more effective now that he's dropped close to 15 pounds from last season. The offseason acquisition of Ronney Jenkins, coupled with Buchanon returning punts, should give the Raiders the most explosive return game in the NFL, provided Buchanon recovers from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for most of training camp.
Grade: B-minus.

Mike Wagaman covers the Raiders for the Silver & Black Illustrated.

Material from Pro Football Weekly.
Visit PFW's web site at http://www.profootballweekly.com