yett Matt Gudzak (447 yards) may be their go-to back at this point

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- After 13 straight seasons without a winning record, playoff berth or even much hope most years, the Oakland Raiders head into training camp this year with an unfamiliar burden: expectations.Two strong draft classes that brought in core players such as quarterback Derek Carr, pass rusher Khalil Mack and receiver Amari Cooper followed by a productive free agent shopping spree have put the Raiders into position to contend for the first time in years.Its a great thing that people are talking about us in that light because when I first got here, they werent, Carr said.So its a credit to where weve come from and thats about it. Its a credit to what weve done. Last year on the field was improvement, it was better than my rookie year, obviously. As a team, we were better. Thats the same kind of thing we want this year. We need to be better than 7-9.The Raiders more than doubled their win total last season in the first year under coach Jack Del Rio, improving from 3-13 to 7-9.Now they will try to ignore all the praise and make that even harder next step from mediocrity to legitimate contender.Its easy to get caught in that trap, Mack said. Thats not what were about. Were about the grind. Were about working hard, committing ourselves to excellence and going out and winning. Thats what its really all about.To help make that move, general manager Reggie McKenzie made some key additions this offseason, adding one of the top available offensive linemen on the market in power-blocking guard Kelechi Osemele, top-flight cornerback Sean Smith, pass rusher Bruce Irvin and playmaking safety Reggie Nelson.But the Raiders fortunes will rest on the performances of Carr, Mack and Cooper.Carr took a big step forward in year two, throwing for 32 touchdowns and 3,987 yards. The addition of Cooper played a big part in that as Oakland had a 1,000-yard receiver for the first time in a decade.Mack led the way on the defensive side with 15 sacks to become a first-team All Pro at both linebacker and defensive end.Here are some things to watch for the Raiders this season:STOUT LINE: McKenzie has made it a priority to build his team from the trenches and the move to sign Osemele fits into that strategy. The addition of another top inside blocker to go with last years big acquisition at center in Rodney Hudson and the third-year starter Gabe Jackson should boost the running game. Donald Penn is back as a capable blindside protector and Austin Howard will compete with Menelik Watson for the right tackle spot on what looks like one of the top lines in the league.Its a big physical group, Del Rio said. They kind of lead the way, create some running room, create a nice pocket for Derek. ... It all starts with our guys up front.PASS RUSH DUO: Mack emerged as a star last season with 15 sacks to along with the stout run defense he showed the previous year as a rookie. Now he should have some help on the other side with the signing of Irvin, who had 22 sacks in four seasons with Seattle. The Raiders plan to use Irvin even more as a pass rusher than the Seahawks did.BACKUP BACK: Latavius Murray ran for 1,066 yards in his first season as a starter. But he slumped late in games, averaging 2.2 yards per carry in the fourth quarter, and late in the season, with his average carry dropping from 4.8 yards in the first half to 3.3 in the final eight games. No other running back had more than 25 carries or 110 yards. That led to the addition of fifth-round pick DeAndre Washington, who is being counted on to give Murray needed support.STEPPED UP SECONDARY: Waiver-wire pickup David Amerson gave the Raiders a big boost at cornerback in the second half of last season after struggling in Washington. He will have some needed help on the other side with the addition of Smith and what had been a position of weakness for years now might be a strength. Oakland hopes former first-round pick DJ Hayden can fill the slot cornerback role.LOOKING FOR LEADERS: With the retirements of Charles Woodson and Justin Tuck, the Raiders have a void in leadership that they hope will be filled by a combination of the playoff-tested veterans added in free agency and the young core led by Carr and Mack.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Shoes Wholesale China Market . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. Replica Shoes Wholesale China . They had already blown a double-digit lead, fans were hitting the exits, and a long seven-game road trip waited at the end. http://www.wholesaleshoes.us.org/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Wholesale Shoes Brands . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Wholesale Shoes From China . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. FCS Playoffs Second RoundThe Matchup -- Villanova (9-3) at No. 8 seed South Dakota State (8-3)Kickoff -- 3 p.m. ET at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium (19,360) in Brookings, South DakotaCoverage -- ESPN3Series -- First meetingPlayers to Watch -- Villanova: QB Zach Bednarczyk (158 of 261, 1,938 yards, 18 TDs, 10 INTs; 114 carries, 510 yards, 2 TDs), DE Tanoh Kpassagnon (45 TT, 21.5 TFL, 11 sacks), S Rob Rolle (61 TT, 7 INTs, 5 PBU); South Dakota State: QB Taryn Christion (246 of 384, 3,369 yards, 29 TDs, 8 INTs), WR Jake Wieneke (70 receptions, 1,204 yards, 16 TDs), TE Dallas Goedert (78 receptions, 1,146 yards, 10 TDs)The Skinny -- Villanova again seeks to extend coach Andy Talleys 32nd and final season with the Wildcats, who tied for second place in CAA Football. Last weeks 31-21 win over Saint Francis in the first round defined the Wildcats style -- a good mix of the run and pass to control game clock and an aggressive defense that kept sending the opposing offense to the sideline. Kpassagnon, fellow DE Bryan Osei and LB Jeff Steeb combined for six sacks in the win. Villanova has held seven of its 12 opponents under 300 yards. The offense has three players over 500 rushing yards (Aaron Forbes, Javon White and Bednarczyk) yett Matt Gudzak (447 yards) may be their go-to back at this point.dddddddddddd The lefty Bednarczyk has a strong arm, even better than 2014 Walter Payton Award winner John Robertson, according to Talley. South Dakota States trio of Christion (Missouri Valley Football Conference offensive player of the year), Goedert and Wieneke have been unstoppable in the No. 8 passing offense in the FCS (314.4 ypg), although a cold day in Brookings may dictate the Jackrabbits getting production from leading rusher Brady Mengarelli (700 yards, 3 TDs). The defense is strong up the middle and features leading tacklers Christian Rozeboom (107 TT) and Jesse Bobbit (95 TT) at linebacker. The Jackrabbits have their own venerable coach, John Stiegelmeier, in his 20th season. This is their first season playing at Dykhouse Stadium.Up Next -- The winner will play either San Diego (10-1) or No. 1 seed North Dakota State (10-1) in the quarterfinals Dec. 9 or 10.Prediction -- While Villanovas defense is playing at a high level, the Wildcats offense will not keep up enough with the Jackrabbits. South Dakota State, 24-21. ' ' '