Drilling in: Raiders unit by unit analysis

QUARTERBACKS: Starter -- Derek Carr. Backups -- Connor Cook, EJ Manuel. Carr will be entrusted with executing head coach Jon Gruden's vision of the offense, and he's coming off a season where there was some slippage in performance. At least some of Carr's problems -- he threw 13 interceptions -- were due to a fractured transverse process in his back and the fact that he was coming off a broken ankle sustained late in 2015. It's Gruden's job to get him back on track. Cook appeared to hold a slight lead over Manuel coming out of the offseason, but it's no lock either of these players will be the 2018 backup. RUNNING BACKS: Starters -- Marshawn Lynch, FB Keith Smith. Backups -- Doug Martin, Jalen Richard, DeAndre Washington, Chris Warren, FB Ryan Yuracheck. Lynch looked like the "BeastMode" of old when the Raiders began feeding him the ball in the last seven games of the season. But the coaching staff absolutely loves what they see in Martin, and Gruden likes to use a lot of running backs. Lynch didn't play nearly as well in an alternating role early last year and that will have to be sorted out. Smith is the kind of block-and-catch fullback Gruden loves. Richard slipped after a strong rookie season, but has more explosion than Washington, and it's doubtful both make the 53-man roster. Warren is the kind of move-the-pile back Gruden likes in an offense. TIGHT ENDS: Starter -- Jared Cook. Backups -- Lee Smith, Derek Carrier, Pharaoh Brown, Marcus Baugh, Paul Butler. Cook will find himself flexed and put in positions to get preferred matchups, something that didn't happen as often as the Raiders would have liked last season. If he can consistently catch the ball, there's no reason he couldn't put up a career year statistically. Smith is a dirty-work, in-line blocking tight end who could end up getting more snaps than Cook. Carrier, a converted wide receiver, came from Dallas and can play special teams. Brown's raw skill set is intriguing, but may not be enough to stick. WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Amari Cooper, Jordy Nelson. Backups -- Martavis Bryant, Seth Roberts, Ryan Switzer, Johnny Holton, Marcell Ateman, Dwayne Harris, Isaac Whitney, Griff Whalen, Keon Hatcher, Saeed Blacknall. Cooper slumped badly last season with 48 receptions for 680 yards and seven touchdowns, with much of his production coming off one monster game against the Chiefs. He played quietly through foot issues and has struggled in the second half of the season in all three years. He will be a focal point of a Gruden offense. There are concerns about Nelson's ability to separate that will be sorted out through training camp, but he's a steadying veteran presence. Bryant's ability to stretch the field sets him apart in this group as long as he remains free of NFL discipline. Roberts will find his position as slot receiver challenged by Switzer, who can also return punts. Holton's play as a gunner remains his best chance to stick. Ateman is a tall jump-and-catch receiver who has a chance. OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LT Donald Penn, LG Kelechi Osemele, C Rodney Hudson, RG Gabe Jackson, RT Breno Giacomini. Backups -- T Kolton Miller, T Brandon Parker, T Vadal Alexander, T David Sharpe, C-G Jon Feliciano, G Denver Kirkland, C-G Ian Silberman, G Cameron Hunt, C James Stone, G Jordan Simmons, T Jylan Ware. Penn is coming off a Lisfranc injury and will be challenged by Miller, the rookie first-round pick out of UCLA. If Penn is in shape and plays to the level he has while healthy the past three seasons, he should hold off Miller. If he's not healthy, Penn may not make it out of training camp. Osemele, Hudson and Jackson comprise an elite and highly-paid interior line. Right tackle is open, with Giacomini and rookies Miller and Parker having a chance to start. Alexander opens the season on a four-game suspension. Sharpe's size and power are intriguing. Feliciano's versatility allows him to back up at all three inside spots. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LDE Khalil Mack, NT Justin Ellis, DT Maurice Hurst, RDE Bruce Irvin. Backups -- DE Arden Key, DE-DT Mario Edwards Jr., DE Tank Carradine, DT PJ Hall, DT Ahtyba Rubin, DE Fadol Brown, DT Eddie Vanderdoes, DT Treyvon Hester, DE Frostee Rucker, DT Shakir Soto. No one is sure when Mack will appear, but you can count on him being in shape and ready to be a force against both run and pass. Ellis was signed to a new contract and Hurst will be given every chance to be the classic three-technique Paul Guenther is seeking for his defensive interior. Irvin has been freed of drop-back duties and will put his hand in the dirt. Key's pass-rush ability goes beyond his third-round status if the Raiders can get him to play up to his potential. It's time for Edwards to either step up or step off. Carradine, after shuttling between end and linebacker with the 49ers, appeared to take to his Raiders role as a 4-3 end. Hall was drafted higher than Hurst and can also help provide an interior push that was lacking. Rucker has experience with Guenther and could help with blending players into the new system. LINEBACKERS: Starters -- SLB Tahir Whitehead, MLB Derrick Johnson, WLB Emmanuel Lamur. Backups -- MLB-OLB James Cowser, OLB Shilique Calhoun, OLB Nicholas Morrow, OLB Kyle Wilber, MLB Azeem Victor, MLB Marquel Lee, MLB Jason Cabinda, Much depends on Johnson's ability to run well enough to play sideline-to-sideline in the middle of the defense. If he can, this could be a strong group. The versatile Whitehead and Lemur would comprise a far superior corps than anything the Raiders had in recent years. Morrow flashed as a Division III undrafted free agent a year ago. Cowser's move to the middle is a concession that his pass-rush skills aren't substantial enough for a role. Wilber's special teams abilities will put him on the roster. Lee and Azeem, taken late in each of the last two drafts, will battle for a spot. DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Gareon Conley, SS Karl Joseph, FS Reggie Nelson, RCB Rashaan Melvin. Backups -- CB Darryl Worley, CB Leon Hall, CB Shareece Wright, CB Dexter McDonald, CB Nick Nelson, CB Antonio Hamilton, CB Tevin Mitchel, CB Shaquille Richardson, S Marcus Gilchrist, S Obi Melifonwu, S Erik Harris, S Shalom Luani, S Dallin Leavitt. The Raiders are counting on Conley to step up and play along with free agent acquisition Melvin and give them two solid corners for the first time in years. Either Joseph or Nelson could find himself pushed aside in favor of Gilchrist, and Gruden raved about Harris in the offseason. Worley could face NFL discipline, but also could factor in as a nickel back, particularly if Hall is too old and Wright can't stay healthy. Luani flashed last season during the preseason, but did little when given an opportunity to play on defense. SPECIAL TEAMS: P Johnny Townsend, K Giorgio Tavecchio, LS Andrew DePaola, PR Ryan Switzer, KR Jalen Richard, K Eddy Pineiro, LS Drew Scott. Townsend steps in as the successor for Marquette King, who took over for Shane Lechler, and there's every indication he will be able to live up to that standard. Tavecchio will compete with Pineiro to succeed Sebastian Janikowski. Tavecchio has the edge in experience, but Pineiro was hand-picked by the new staff and has a working relationship with Townsend from both being in college at Florida. DePaola takes over for snapper Jon Condo. Switzer is the favorite to return punts, and Richard may need to win the kickoff-return role to stick.