Dan Pompei

When Al Davis pulls the string, Lane Kiffin refuses to move his mouth.

The problem came to a head when Kiffin reportedly wanted to replace defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, but Davis would not let him. Davis subsequently asked for Kiffin to quit, and reportedly even drafted a letter of resignation for him to sign. Kiffin refused.

So all hail the head coach of the Raiders. He doesn't have the backing of his owner. He might not work well with his defensive coordinator and other assistants he did not want on the staff. Assistants already have agreed to wink, wink deals with other teams for the 2009 season. And the owner doesn't have his usual pipeline to the sideline.

This is the backdrop for what probably will be the extended debut of quarterback JeMarcus Russell, the first pick of the 2007 draft.

The Raiders took it very slowly with Russell last year. After missing all of training camp and preseason, Russell signed three days before the start of the regular season, and then didn't see the field until December. He came off the bench in three games before starting the season finale, throwing 66 passes for a team playing out the string.

The Raiders have been very enthused about how Russell has grown in the offseason—figuratively, that is. Rumors that Russell's weight was in nose tackle territory apparently were unfounded despite the face that Kiffin has been calling him "Big Boy." Russell at one point of the offseason said he weighed 269.

Raiders players have admired how hard Russell has worked, which has enabled him to take a leadership position. Kiffin has praised Russell for how he has absorbed the playbook. He says his understanding of the offense is far greater than it was last season.

The Raiders also have tried to make it easier for Russell by surrounding him with better players. This year, he'll have running back Darren McFadden to hand off to and wide receiver Javon Walker to throw to.

Assuming he can beat out Andrew Walter, Russell's biggest dilemma might be decided whose advice to take—his head coach's or his team owner's.

Hot seat
Kiffin's seat is so hot he should carry a fire extinguisher instead of a whistle. Then again, he doesn't seem to care that Davis does not approve of him. In face, Kiffin might welcome a change of scenery.

Overheard at camp
The Raiders ran the ball well last year, finishing sixth in the league in rushing yards. But they believe they can run it better this year with McFadden joining Justin Fargas for a one-two punch.

McFadden may have been the most gifted player in the draft at any position, but he does bring some concerns. One of them is how he will behave off the field. Another is how quickly he will adjust to a pro style offense. And yet another is whether he will hang onto the ball.

Toward that end, Raiders defenders are being instructed to swipe at the ball whenever McFadden is carrying it. Coaches are trying to get him to keep his elbow tucked in with the ball in his hands. Ball security will be a big issue in Raiders training camp.

Comings and goings
Two areas of the defense will look significantly different this summer. In the defensive backfield, DeAngelo Hall will replace Fabian Washington at cornerback, and Gibril Wilson will replace Stuart Schweigert at strong safety. Fourth round cornerback Tyvon Branch also has been added to the mix.

On the defensive line, Warren Sapp retired and Tyler Brayton signed with the Panthers. To fill their spots, the Raiders signed three free agents—William Joseph, Greg Spires and Kalimba Edwards.

The Raiders will miss Sapp's interior pass rush, but the coverage should be better. The run support from the secondary also should be improved.

Prediction
There is no questioning the fact that the Raiders have a talented team—and they should after their $255 million offseason spending spree. But the most talented teams rarely are the best teams. They have a multitude of chemistry issues that likely will affect their ability to win games.

The Raiders were one of the worst teams in the league last year. They should be improved this year. But probably not by much.

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