NFL Kickoff – 2016

CAN RAIDERS LIVE UP TO THE HYPE?

nFL KICKOFF

WILL 49ERS THRIVE IN UNDERDOG ROLE?

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CLASS OF 2016

HALL OF FAMER

KENNY ‘THE SNAKE’ STABLER

“I always said that if I could choose one quarterback to make a drive the length of the field at the end of the game … that guy would be Ken Stabler, No. 12.”

— JOHN MADDEN GETTY IMAGES 2

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THE 49ERS

Khalil Mack: Not your average superstar

Is Chip the right guy, or just another guy?

On the verge of another breakout season and potentially record-shattering contract, this humble giant yields few clues.

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PLUS: IS THIS THE YEAR DEREK CARR SOLIDIFIES HIS NFL STARDOM? PAGE 28

THE LEAGUE

Not such a fantastic voyage TBH, fantasy football owners: NFL players are sick and tired of hearing about where they fit into your lineup.

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Jed York was quick with a second chance for Chip Kelly.

Can that possibly work?

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PLUS: CARLOS HYDE LOOKS TO CHEW UP YARDS AS HIS DOG CHEERS HIM ON. PAGE 54

PLUS: WHAT’S IN STORE FOR JARED GOFF? CAN THE PATRIOTS COPE WITHOUT TOM BRADY? PAGE 4

C O V E R I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y T I M M A R R S

Section Editor: Mark Conley Section Designer: Chris Gotsill Designers: Nick Lozito, Daymond Gascon Copy Editing: Jaime Welton

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20 questions before the season begins

BY J E R RY M C D O N A L D A look at the plot lines and questions as the 2016 NFL season gets underway:

Wilson will need to assert himself more in the locker room if the Seahawks are to remain a title contender.

1. HAS JOHN ELWAY LOST THE MAGIC TOUCH IN DENVER?

5. WHO ARE THE NFL’S NEW STARS?

Everything broke the Broncos’ way en route to winning Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara. Elway picked the right free agents, and the decision to go with Gary Kubiak in place of John Fox proved to be the right one. A year later, the Broncos sustained some big losses in free agency (Malik Jackson, Danny Trevethan), saw their prospective No. 1 quarterback (Brock Osweiler) sign with Houston and are faced with the possibility of Mark Sanchez as the Week 1 starter.

Lynch and Peyton Manning were the most notable departures, but others, including the Raiders’ Charles Woodson and Justin Tuck, the Lions’ Calvin Johnson and others such as the Jets’ D’Brickashaw Ferguson and the Patriots’ Jerod Mayo hung it up following the 2015 season. Two Raiders players to keep an eye on: quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver Amari Cooper. Khalil Mack is already there.

6. HOW WILL LOS ANGELES TAKE TO THE RAMS? The reason the Rams and Raiders left in 1994 was the lukewarm interest from their home market, the Rams at the time in Orange County and the Raiders in Los Angeles. While it’s easy to be cynical about the commitment of SoCal sports fans, the exhibition opener at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum did draw 90,000 people. Time — and probably consistent success on the field — will tell.

2. HOW DOES CAROLINA’S CAM NEWTON RESPOND TO THE CRASH AND BURN AT LEVI’S STADIUM? Newton wasn’t in the mood to answer questions after losing to the Broncos, which wasn’t a good look but has little or no bearing on how he performs. A lot of things went right for the Panthers last season, but it also wasn’t a good look that Newton seemed to lack his usual in-game enthusiasm as Carolina struggled to move the ball against the Denver defense. Assuming the Panthers aren’t likely to go 15-1 again, Newton can prove he’s more than a talented front-runner.

7. IS THIS THE YEAR TOM BRADY BEGINS SHOWING HIS AGE? The pride of Serra High turned 39 years old on Aug. 3. He’ll miss the first four games of the season serving his suspension for “Deflategate,” but then Brady has a dozen games to use as a crusade for a perceived injustice. It could be enough to get Brady another ring before he rides off into the sunset like Peyton Manning.

3. EVERYBODY LOVES THE RAIDERS. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE CONSENSUS IS CORRECT AND THEY’RE BACK IN THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2002?

John Madden has long made the case that the NFL is a better league when the Raiders are good. Which means the NFL has had much room for improvement for the past 13 years. Now, with young cornerstone players, solid free agents and a salary structure which allows for growth, it’s 10 wins or bust.

8. DOES PUTTING THE RAMS IN L.A. MEAN PEOPLE WILL TAKE NOTICE OF AARON DONALD? There are people who break down tape for a living who insist that the Rams’ defensive tackle is the most dominant defender in the NFL — better than Houston defensive end J.J. Watt, better than Denver postseason hero Von Miller, better than Raiders’ edge rusher Khalil Mack and better than Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechley. Now Donald has reached a major media market.

4. HOW DOES SEATTLE FARE WITHOUT RETIRED RUNNING BACK MARSHAWN LYNCH? The transition away from a Lynch-dominated offense began last season when the Oakland native rushed for just 417 yards. But Lynch was the dominant personality on a team that wasn’t short on them, and quarterback Russell ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Rams fans are in midseason form during an exhibition game at the Coliseum.

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9. HAS THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY CLOSED ON DREW BREES AND THE SAINTS?

again be a mad scramble to eight or nine wins for the title.

Two years of impossibly bad defense and some serious salary cap issues led to speculation that coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees could be on their way out. Instead, Peyton re-upped and Brees is still around. Fact: In three of the last four seasons, the Saints have gone 7-9. The arrow doesn’t appear to be pointing up.

16. IS THE NFL’S TOP WIDE RECEIVER THE GIANTS’ ODELL BECKHAM JR. OR THE STEELERS’ ANTONIO BROWN? No one can match Beckham for making the sensational catch, but Brown is on a threeyear run of legendary proportions even in the age of passing offense (375 receptions for 5,031 yards and 31 touchdowns). By comparison, Jerry Rice’s best numbers over a three-year span were 338, 4,850 and 46.

10. WILL COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL CONTINUE TO BE HEAVYHANDED IN TERMS OF DISCIPLINE?

17. WHICH NFL COACH WILL BE THE FIRST TO BE FIRED?

A couple of previous appeals seemed to stunt the power of the commissioner, most notably Tom Brady and Greg Hardy. But Goodell wound up being able to suspend Brady after all, and it remains to be seen if he’ll be emboldened to maintain his role as judge, jury and executioner or if he’s open to a legitimate arbitration process.

Look for the low-hanging fruit, guys who have gotten at least a shot at turning things around but haven’t paid dividends. Either that or a team which simply can’t get past the first round of the playoffs. 1) Mike McCoy, San Diego; 2) Jim Caldwell, Detroit; 3) Gus Bradley, Jacksonville; 4) Rex Ryan, Buffalo; 5) Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati.

11. WHICH TEAM HAD THE BEST OFFSEASON?

18. WHO IS THE FAVORITE TO WIN COMEBACK PLAYER OF YEAR AWARD?

The Raiders are getting a lot of support, given their acquisitions of guard Kelechi Osemele, cornerback Sean Smith and linebacker Bruce Irvin, plus what appear to be immediate contributors through the draft — safety Karl Joseph, defensive end Jihad Ward and running back DeAndre Washington.

Seattle made a trade to get prolific tight end Jimmy Graham from New Orleans and then looked as if it had no idea how to use him. Graham caught 48 passes for 605 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games.

With the offense in the hands of Russell Wilson, Graham could double the receptions and yardage and should score at least 10 touchdowns.

12. WHICH ROOKIE HEAD COACH HAS THE CHANCE TO WIN RIGHT AWAY?

19. WHICH ROOKIE FACES THE BIGGEST EXPECTATIONS?

None of the opportunities look particularly appealing, but some are less daunting than others. Ranking the likelihood of .500 or beyond: 1) Ben McAdoo, N.Y. Giants; 2) Doug Peterson, Philadelphia; 3) Adam Gase, Miami; 4) Dirk Koetter, Tampa Bay; 5), Chip Kelly, 49ers; 6) Hue Jackson, Cleveland; 7) Mike Mularkey, Tennessee.

People really aren’t expecting much from No. 1 pick Jared Goff, considering he’s a quarterback going to a poor team. Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott, on the other hand, heads to a 4-12 Cowboys team which has one of the NFL’s top offensive lines. Anything less than 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns from the No. 4 overall pick will be a disappointment.

13. WHO WILL EMERGE AS THIS YEAR’S MOST VALUABLE PLAYER? For the most part, it’s the usual suspects, but with a couple of defensive players on potential winning teams in the mix. 1) Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay; 2) Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh; 3) Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis; 4) Cam Newton, QB, Carolina; 5) Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle; 6) Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona; 7) Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota; 8) Von Miller, OLB, Denver; 9) Khalil Mack, DE-OLB, Raiders; 10) Tom Brady, QB, New England.

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14. WHICH DIVISION WILL BE THE TOUGHEST? Of all the divisions, there is only one where you can look at all four teams and make reasonable cases why three of them could come in first place. Even though Super Bowl champion Denver may not be as strong, the Broncos are good enough to contend, and so are Kansas City and the Raiders.

After the Deflategate scandal, will commissioner Roger Goodell still wield as much power?

15. WHAT WILL EMERGE AS THE WORST DIVISION IN THE NFL? You could make a solid argument that the NFC East didn’t have a single playoff-worthy team in 2015. Washington won the division at 9-7 and didn’t beat a single team with a winning record. While there is potential for a Dallas turnaround, Philadelphia and the New York Giants both have new coaches, and it could

20. WHICH TEAMS CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE AT SUPER BOWL LI IN HOUSTON? Same as we saw in Super Bowl XLIX when the New England Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 — with the most shocking ending in the history of the event. Malcolm Butler’s interception at the 1-yard line against Russell Wilson sealed the win for New England. This time around, Seattle finishes the job — without the last-second dramatics: Seattle 27, New England 17.

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Latavius Murray tells everyone he knows to take him No. 1 overall so they can “come along for the ride.”

Torrey Smith tries to apologize quickly to his owners so they don’t have a chance to rip him. “I wouldn’t take me, either,” he says.

Derek Carr says that, for some reason, people want him to help come up with team names.

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Phil Dawson says his own son waived him.

Terrell Jones says fans would approach him at restaurants. At first, he’d wonder how they recognized him. Later, he realized they wanted insider information.

I OWn YOU

For most NFL players, the line between their real-life football lives and the whims of their fantasy owners is much too thin S TO R Y B Y DA N I E L B R OW N I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y W I L L B A R R A S

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AL MESSERSCHMIDT/GETTY IMAGES

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hil Dawson’s son used his dad’s email address to set up a fantasy football account last year. So the veteran 49ers kicker was delighted to see his name pop up in the starting lineup for Week 1.

After a few games, though, came another email alert: DROPPED — Dawson, SF. Banished to the waiver wire by his own son? How long did the kid get grounded for that?

“I told him at the time, ‘I don’t blame you. I’m kind of off to a slow start,’ ” Dawson said with a laugh. “‘You need to go find someone who is making them right now.’ ” Dawson, 41, won’t divulge which son it was, Dru or Beau, literally keeping things in-house.

Plus, it would be hard to single out one fickle and demanding owner from the 60 million or so who play fantasy football. By now, real-life NFL players know that they must do more than please the likes of Jed York and Mark Davis.

They are also beholden to UPS drivers, grocery clerks, software engineers or any other fantasy owners who might approach them for a surprise performance review.

That $20 entry fee demands answers, after all.

Matt Hasselbeck, the former Seattle Seahawks star and one of the top fantasy quarterbacks of his era, said he used to get it on a daily basis.

And it wasn’t always pleasant. The quarterback was once hobbling off an MRI machine on crutches, his knee screaming from a frightening injury against the Minnesota Vikings, when a stranger came up to lodge his complaint about Hasselbeck’s early exit: “Dude, you killed my fantasy team.”

Hasselbeck shook his head.

“Usually, I roll with it,” he re-

“Fifteen years ago, you’d go into a stadium and the home crowd was for the home team,” says 49ers kicker Phil Dawson, left.

“That’s still true, but you also hear more applause now when someone from the other team catches a ball. It’s because you know people have that player on their fantasy team.”

called. “But I just said, ‘Dude, now is not the time.’ ” Meetings between fantasy football owners and their real-life football players are generally amusing affairs, players said. It mostly consists of a quick pep talk, something along the lines of: You’d better deliver this week because you’re on my squad.

“It happens a lot. More than you would actually think,” Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said. “All the time, I get ‘Man, I had you on my fantasy team! Can you help me come up with a cool fantasy team name?’ ” (For the record, Carr said he cannot help you with a cool team name, but the answer is obviously Good Carr-ma.)

Carr said he gets approached more and more, especially coming off a breakout season in which he rewarded keen-eyed fantasy scouts by throwing for 3,987 yards and 32 touchdowns.

Carr said that his friends and family members are under no obligation to draft him in 2016.

“They don’t have to,” he added, “but they better if they want to win.”

RAIDERS RUNNING BACK

Latavius Murray, like Carr, is also coming off a surprise fantasy season, rushing for 1,066 yards and six touchdowns as a late-rounder in most leagues.

Murray racked up 307 touches a year ago to trail only Adrian Peterson (357), Devonta Freeman (338) and Doug Martin (321) among NFL backs.

That means Murray is becoming a popular figure among the citizens of fantasy island.

“Without a doubt. It’s either, ‘I had you on my team last year,’ or ‘I’m going to draft you, so make

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sure you do good,’ ” Murray said.

“I just tell them: Draft me with the first pick. You don’t want to miss out because I have a big year coming.”

Meeting his citizen owners isn’t always a barrel of laughs, though, for receiver Torrey Smith or other members of the lackluster 49ers offense. Two years ago, when he was still with the Baltimore Ravens, Smith was a fantasy bargain who caught 11 touchdown passes.

But trapped in a tar pit of an offense with the 49ers, Smith’s numbers slumped to 663 yards and four TDs in 2015. So whenever Smith is approached by one of his non-York owners, he tries to speak first.

“If they say, ‘I had you in my fantasy league last year,’ I just kind of break the ice for them and say, ‘I know that wasn’t good for you,’ ” Smith said.

“That keeps them from letting me have it. That’s better than them saying, ‘Hey, you sucked last year, but I picked you up again.’ ” Social media only compounds the issue.

“If you have a game where you don’t have any stats? You don’t even want to check your Twitter,” Smith said.

“If they say, ‘I had you in my fantasy league last year,’ I just kind of break the ice for them and say, ‘I know that wasn’t good for you,’” says the 49ers Torrey Smith, making a catch at right.

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EZRA SHAW/GETTY IMAGES

FANS APPROACHING STAR

players is understandable. But to truly understand the obsessive nature of owners, consider the case of Terrell Jones. The former 49ers strength coach toiled in the team’s weight rooms and practice fields for seven seasons, through 2004, and should have been unknown to the average fan.

But Jones also happened to work for a team laden with fantasy dynamos like Jeff Garcia, Terrell Owens and Garrison Hearst.

“The scary thing for me was, I would walk out at training

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ANDY LYONS/GETTY IMAGES

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camp and people would know my name,” Jones recalled.

“I’d be like, ‘How the hell do you know my name? I’m just a strength coach.’

“They’d say, ‘Oh, you know, we’re just fans.’ But then they’d start asking me things like, ‘Who’s hurt? Who’s not? Who do you think is going to have a good year?’ ” It’s not just average fans who unleash these pop quizzes. Hasselbeck, who played in the NFL from 1999-2015, said for some reason major league baseball stars are among the most maniacal fantasy owners in the land. During his Seahawks days, he said he used to hear from several persistent Seattle Mariners each week, all of them looking for an inside edge.

Who’s the goal-line back? How much is the tight end going to be used in the offense?

Still, Hasselbeck has a cautionary tale for anyone seeking the scoop. The ESPN analyst said he often owned himself in fantasy leagues, even while an active player.

But before a Week 5 game in 2009, he studied the matchups and benched himself in favor of Brett Favre.

Hasselbeck reasoned that he was returning from a pair of broken ribs, courtesy of 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis in Week 2, and facing a tough Jacksonville Jaguars defense. He figured he might be in for a tough day.

“Then I went out and threw four touchdowns and we won 41-0,” Hasselbeck recalled. “It was the most points in fantasy football for the week.

“I knew more than anyone could possibly know, and I’d chosen to sit myself.”

Hopefully, his brother has

ESPN analyst and former NFL star Matt Hasselbeck, left, says he often owned himself in fantasy leagues, even while an active player.

better luck. Tim Hasselbeck, also a former NFL quarterback, now analyzes weekly matchups for a living as part of ESPN’s “Fantasy Football Now.” The Emmy award-winning show airs live on Sunday mornings, when people are frantically making the lineup choices that will determine their happiness for the rest of the week.

AMID THE FRENZY OVER

individual players, the actual NFL standings can sometimes feel secondary.

“I think it’s really changed the game,” Dawson, the 49ers kicker said. “Fifteen years ago, you’d go into a stadium and the home crowd was for the home team.

“That’s still true, but you also hear more applause now when someone from the other team catches a ball. It’s because you know people have that player on their fantasy team.

“As a player, you can kind of feel the influence of fantasy football in the stadium. It’s been a noticeable change.”

Smith, the 49ers receiver entering his sixth season, has come to have mixed feelings about fantasy football. On one hand, he doesn’t like how it often overshadows the actual point of his Sundays, which is to beat the other team.

On the other hand, Smith said, he now meets fans around the country from every demographic — young, old, men, women — who know everything about him because of their weekly ritual.

“They’re watching the NFL to see what happens because of their fantasy teams,” Smith said. “So I think that’s pretty cool.”

DANBROWN@ BAYAREANEWSGROUP.COM

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Get your fantasy life in order ...

BARGAIN HUNTING

TOM BRADY QB, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

CHRIS IVORY RUNNING BACK, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

The four-game “Deflategate” suspension will send him falling down draft boards, which is good news for you. Fantasy leagues are won in December, not September. Get somebody serviceable, but grab Brady before too long and you’ll have a motivated QB in Week 5.

The leading rusher in the AFC last year is ranked as just the 27th-best fantasy back

by Yahoo, partially because he’ll share carries with T.J. Yeldon. That could make him a good value pick to, at minimum, be your RB2.

KELVIN BENJAMIN WIDE RECEIVER, CAROLINA PANTHERS

JEREMY HILL RUNNING BACK, CINCINNATI BENGALS

He was sorely missed in the Super Bowl 50 loss to the Broncos, but returns for 2016 following last year’s ACL injury. He was a 73-catch, 1,008-yard, nine-touchdown receiver as a rookie who will be eager to make up for last season’s absence.

It was a down season for Hill last year with just 794 rushing yards and a 3.6 per attempt average, but he still held fantasy value thanks to his 12 touchdowns. Pounce on him for that scoring production and hopes of a bounceback season.

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Tavon Austin has scored on one punt return in each of his three seasons.

TAVON AUSTIN WIDE RECEIVER, LOS ANGELES RAMS

GARY BARNIDGE TIGHT END, CLEVELAND BROWNS

His receiving numbers have never been huge, and that will get him overlooked, but he had four rushing touchdowns last year and combined for 907 yards rushing and receiving.

He’s also returned a punt for a TD each of his three NFL seasons.

Barnidge had a breakout season that started with his first career 100-yard game in Week 3 against the Raiders. Still just Yahoo’s No. 9 tight end, he’s worth gobbling up this season.

JAMEIS WINSTON QUARTERBACK, TAMPA BAY BUCS

CLIVE WALFORD » TIGHT END, OAKLAND RAIDERS

He may not be a star for you, but Yahoo ranks him as its No. 17 quarterback. He’s coming off a rookie season with more than 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns combined through the air and on the ground. If he builds on that, he could be pretty solid as a late backup option.

There are plenty of high hopes out there for last year’s third-round pick. He’s proven to be a little injury-prone, but if he and Derek Carr connect on the same page, he could be a redzone threat whose numbers soar.

WORTH A RISK

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Clive Walford, shown in the Black Hole, made an instant impact as a rookie.

JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO/ STAFF

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... or wind up the laughing stock BYE-WEEK FLYER

AMEER ABDULLAH RUNNING BACK, DETROIT LIONS

BROCK OSWEILER QUARTERBACK, HOUSTON TEXANS

His rookie year wasn’t all that impressive, but his touches should go up this year and he could give some return value if he keeps returning kicks. If nothing else, he’s a low level starter to take a shot with.

He couldn’t hold off the aging, noodle-armed Peyton Manning to keep the Broncos job last year, and he may not have a big year in Houston. However, for a game or two if there’s not much else, he could be OK.

JIMMY GRAHAM TIGHT END, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

ARIAN FOSTER RUNNING BACK, MIAMI DOLPHINS

Wow this guy fell off fast in Seattle, catching just two touchdowns last year in 11 games.

He’s not a player that has zero value, but don’t grab him early expecting the player he was with the Saints to reappear.

A one-time star and solid first-round fantasy selection, Foster enters his age 30 season with a new team. He was listed as the backup on the initial depth chart to Jay Ajayi, and the odds of him regaining his old form are slim.

Brock Osweiler has plenty to prove after taking big money with the Texans.

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JOSH DOCTSON WIDE RECEIVER, WASHINGTON

LADARIUS GREEN TIGHT END, PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The first-round pick out of TCU doesn’t project to start, as he’s behind DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon. Still, expect a big game or two and maybe more when you consider Jackson has played a full 16-game schedule just twice in eight NFL seasons.

He was a solid backup in San Diego to Antonio Gates and could have a chance to emerge in Pittsburgh as a regular option, but at the very least as a decent bye week fill-in.

TONY ROMO QUARTERBACK, DALLAS COWBOYS

TORREY SMITH WIDE RECEIVER, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

It’s inevitable. Romo will be sitting there in the middle of the draft, and you’re going to want to grab him, hoping for another one of those 4,000-yard, 30-touchdown seasons.

Don’t do it.

His first season in the Bay Area was lackluster (career-low 33 catches). The quarterback situation isn’t any better and while the targets may go up in Chip Kelly’s offense, don’t bank on many trips to the end zone.

DON’T BE TEMPTED

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Arian Foster games missed because of injury over the last three seasons.

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Raiders’ McKenzie built this team back slowly, properly — now they need to get it done

T Marcus Thompson

wo years ago at this time, it was unclear why Reggie McKenzie was still employed by the Raiders. With him as general manager, the team had regressed from disappointing to embarrassing.

That sandy red Afro had become a bright target for much-deserved criticism. McKenzie had assembled a roster that didn’t stand a chance. His choice of Dennis Allen as head coach had zero redeeming value. After seasons of 4-12 and 4-12, they went 0-10 to start 2014.

McKenzie had to go. The Raiders needed a real general manager, someone who could identify talent, craft a competent team and lure free agents.

My, how things have changed.

A lot of people owe McKenzie an apology, at least a concession they were wrong about the quiet hand molding the Raiders’ roster. So, on behalf of all of us who were calling for your head, I will say this: About time.

No fault for Raiders fans who were fed up. The franchise was a disaster. The future was so bleak.

Headhunting comes with that. It’s part of how franchises are held accountable.

With that said, golf clap for McKenzie. It is weird seeing the Raiders in this light, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Silver & Black wound up in the AFC title game. No, they aren’t the favorites. But in the league of parity, it’s possible. And possible is progress.

The Raiders are legitimate contenders for the AFC West title, which they haven’t won since 2002, the last time they had so SEE MCKENZIE ON PAGE 68

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A tale of two GMs I L L U S T R AT I O N S B Y R YA N M C A M I S

Once seemingly untouchable, 49ers’ Baalke finally finds his job security to be no sure thing

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t was Dec. 29, 2014, one of the most notable days in this very notable era of 49ers history, though it was not necessarily a good one.

Jim Harbaugh had been fired a day earlier, described in a team news release as a “mutual parting,” and owner Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke were at the Levi’s Stadium podium trying to explain why this would make the 49ers better.

They needed a new coach, York said, because eight wins in 2014 and zero Super Bowl titles in four seasons wasn’t up to the franchise’s standards.

So, the owner was asked, if the team continues to struggle, when will Baalke be held accountable?

“Do you have a stopwatch?”

York shot back.

That was 20 months ago — many, many minutes and days (and Jim Tomsula’s entire 49ers head-coaching career) have ticked away since then.

The 49ers went 5-11 in 2015 and fired Tomsula, but York still kept Baalke in power to hire the next coach, Chip Kelly, and run this year’s draft.

So maybe York’s stopwatch froze for a while.

But now, heading into the 2016 season, it seems clear that the 49ers’ GM is finally under heavy scrutiny, even in the owner’s suite.

I’ve heard it again and again recently: Baalke understands that if the 49ers do not take strides this season, he probably will be fired.

How many strides and how significant must they be to ensure Baalke’s survival? That’s unclear and all up to the Yorks. Maybe a step to 7-9 will do it, maybe just

Tim Kawakami

SEE BAALKE ON PAGE 69

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MEET THE

MODEST MEGASTAR The Raiders’ Khalil Mack is on a collision course with greatness — and riches.

Just don’t expect him to buy into any of the hype

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average $20 million a season.

None of which Mack is comfortable discussing. Quarterback Derek Carr, the offensive cornerstone of the franchise and also in line for a major payday in the near future, uses humor to disarm teammates who joke about his impending wealth and stardom.

“I try and laugh it off because I’m not smart enough to not say anything,” Carr said. “He just deflects it.”

Mack’s strategy is to give no discernable reaction. Without fuel, the fire will cease.

“He ignores every bit of it,” fullback Marcel Reece said. “He just looks straight ahead.”

In contrast to Watt, a cottage industry when it comes to commercials, media time and branding, Mack, according to his older brother, has turned down commercial opportunities as well as a guest appearance on HBO’s “Ballers” starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

“He wants to be known as the best before he gets endorsements, and he doesn’t feel like he’s done anything yet,” Sandy Jr. said.

ASK MACK ABOUT THE POT

“He was always a peacemaker and his own leader. He never followed the crowd,” says Yolanda Mack about son Khalil, at top.

Below, Sandy Mack, left, poses with a young Khalil Mack, right.

At right, defensive end Mack before a Raiders’ preseason game.

of gold that awaits and he recoils like an adolescent being asked about his first girlfriend.

“I’m not comfortable talking about that stuff. That’s just not me,” Mack said. “I like to grind and not think too much about the good stuff. I like to focus on the stuff I need to get better at.”

Toward that end, Mack agreed to pull out a laptop computer to give a mini-clinic to his interviewer. He did so on one condition: No game clips of him making sacks or tackles for losses. Mack would only show the plays where he made a mistake.

Out of a file labeled “KHALIL BAD,” Mack cues up a play from

RICK SCUTERI/ASSOCIATED PRESS; AT LEFT: CONTRIBUTED

t happened, to the recollection of Khalil Mack, at a gas station along U.S. 1 near his home in Fort Pierce, Florida, Sandy Mack, Khalil’s father, spied a friend and colleague from the jail house where he worked.

“His name was Hucklebuck, and he was a big dude. My dad was a big dude,” Khalil said following a training camp practice.

“My dad was always telling people how many push-ups I could do, and Hucklebuck wanted to see.

He said, ‘I’ll bet he can’t do 20.’

“My dad says, ‘OK, Khalil, go ahead.’ So there I was — outside on the concrete at a gas station, maybe 7 years old. And I pumped out 60 push-ups.”

Khalil’s dad is hazy on the gas station exhibition, but has no doubt it’s true — because such demonstrations were relatively commonplace.

“People didn’t believe me when I said he could do push-ups — and I mean straight up, military-style push-ups,” Sandy Sr. said. “No slouching — I don’t go for that.

People would hear about it, they’d ask me and I’d say, ‘Khalil, show ’em.’ And he’d bounce ’em out like nothing.”

Going into his third NFL season, the push-up prodigy is all grown up, a bona fide star at age 25.

Mack is on anyone’s short-list of the NFL’s top defensive players, along with Houston defensive end J.J. Watt, Denver linebacker Von Miller and Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

He was named All-Pro at two different positions — defensive end and linebacker — and his 15 sacks included a five-sack explosion in an upset win over the eventual Super Bowl champion Broncos.

Within a year or two, general manager Reggie McKenzie will present Mack with a contract that is expected to make him the first defensive player in NFL history to

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MACK BY THE NUMBERS

0

The number of interceptions through two NFL seasons. He had four in college at Buffalo, including two he returned for touchdowns.

1

The number of Division I scholarship offers coming out of Westwood High in Fort Pierce, Fla. He accepted the offer from Buffalo.

4

The number of sacks in his first season with the Raiders, a number defensive coordinator Ken Norton was dissatisfied with going in to year two.

5

The number of sacks accumulated in a single game against the Denver Broncos in December of 2015.

Also where he was picked in the 2014 NFL draft by the Raiders.

9

The number of tackles in a 40-20 loss to Ohio State, which included 2.5 sacks and an interception returned for a touchdown, that heightened Mack’s draft status.

10

The number of games it took to get his first sack, against Chargers tackle King Dunlap, dropping Philip Rivers, in a 13-6 loss to San Diego.

15

The number of sacks he had in his second season with the Raiders, the second most for the franchise since sacks were kept as a statistic in 1982.

THEARON W. HENDERSON/GETTY IMAGES

16

The number of fumbles Mack forced in four seasons at Buffalo.

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20

The number of pounds Mack put on between his rookie year and second year with the Raiders to enhance his power and pass rushing skill.

32

The number Khalil’s brother Sandy Jr. wore at Westwood High in Florida.

It was retired after Sandy wore it, then again after Khalil wore it.

39

The number of tackles for losses through his first two seasons, trailing only Houston’s J.J. Watt (58) and the Rams’ Aaron Donald (41).

46

The ranking given to Mack in the EA Sports video game, a number that he wore at Buffalo University and used as motivation.

52 75 82 com.

His uniform number with the Raiders, in honor of Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

The number of tackles for loss in his collegiate career at Buffalo, an NCAA record.

The number of quarterback pressures credited to Mack in 2015 by Profootballfocus.

106

The difference in number of tackles between Mack and Jadaveon Clowney, the No. 1 pick by Houston in the 2014 draft (153 to 47). Mack also has a 19 to 4.5 advantage in sacks.

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THE RAIDERS

last Nov. 15, a 30-14 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Oakland.

Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater fakes a handoff to Adrian Peterson and rolls to his right.

Mack hesitates when confronted with right tackle T.J. Clemmings and tight end Kyle Rudolph, and Bridgewater rolls free to the right. The pass is completed for a short gain along the sideline.

“I could have gotten to the mesh point right there, the quarterback and running back exchange,” Mack said. “My angle was bad, and I played it too flat. I could have made it a lot easier for our cornerback David Amerson out there on the edge.”

Mack runs the same play back and forth, shaking his head slightly.

“I’m looking at my footwork, hand placement, I’m thinking about all those things,” Mack said.

“I know the next team will go right to this play to see the stuff you don’t do too well.”

Next, Mack slices inside the guard and tackle and has a clear shot at Bridgewater. One problem: He takes a swipe at the ball, and Bridgewater gets away.

“These are the ones you have nightmares about right here,” Mack said. “I had the sack, and I let it go. You’ve got to make those, man. I was trying to reach for the ball instead of tackling. That could have been 16 sacks.”

Another play, another split-second hesitation, another chance for Mack to self-correct.

“See, this is nasty right here,” Mack said as Peterson takes a handoff for a short gain. “I thought it was going to be a play-action pass, and I waited instead of just blowing him up.”

It goes on like this for a few more plays before he closes the laptop and ends the lesson. Mack has made his point. He could have been better. Should have been

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better. Much better.

“That would have been 17 sacks ... 18 ...” Mack said. “When you’ve got a chance, you’ve got to capitalize.”

KHALIL MACK ARRIVED IN A

big way on Feb. 22, 1991, the second of three sons to Sandy and Yolanda Mack.

“He was 10 pounds, 8 ounces, and they thought he might be diabetic because he was such a big baby,” Yolanda said. “But he was just a healthy baby. There was no fat on him anywhere. He already had a muscular frame — he had muscles on his calves.”

As his older brother Sandy Jr. said, “He was ripped when he came out of the womb.”

It runs in the family. Sandy Sr. is a solid 6-foot-1, 285 pounds.

Sandy Jr., once a powerful high school running back nicknamed “Mack Truck,” is working toward his certification as a personal trainer. Yolanda says LeDarius, the youngest of the three at age 19, more than holds his own in the weight room.

At the same time, church and Bible study were a constant presence in their life.

“We were expected to help others,” Sandy Jr. said. “My parents were big on believing God would open doors for us, and Khalil never took that for granted.”

Sandy Sr. worked in corrections and later as a program specialist for at-risk youth, while Yolanda was a teacher.

Through childhood and adolescence, Khalil’s personality remained consistent. He was quiet, humble and respectful.

Yolanda said there was never an issue with teachers at school and that one day in his freshman year at Westwood High, Khalil came home wearing a T-shirt that said “Citizen of the Month.”

As Christmas neared, the more

Khalil Mack’s father Sandy wasn’t keen on letting his son play football as a child for fear that other kids would get hurt.

The Chiefs’ Alex Smith, one of Mack’s 15 sack victims a year ago, probably wishes that rule was still in effect.

JASON O. WATSON/ GETTY IMAGES

loquacious Sandy Jr. would make sure his parents knew his gift preferences in order of importance, while Khalil seemed fine with anything that came his way.

The only way his parents could tell if Khalil didn’t like a gift is if he didn’t use it or wear it, because he never complained.

“He was always content with what he had,” Yolanda said. “He was always a peacemaker and his own leader. He never followed the crowd. I didn’t have to worry with Khalil about peer pressure.”

YET WHEN IT CAME TO

sports, the otherwise laid-back Khalil transformed into a fierce competitor. Dad made sure of that.

Whether it was push-ups, basketball or brain teasers, Yolanda said her husband wanted the boys competing and striving to be the best, never doing anything halfway.

“He told us all the time, ‘If you’re going to do something, be the best,’” Khalil said.

Sandy Mack grew up competing against his twin brother Sammie and wanted the same for his sons, even if Khalil at times would be a little overexuberant.

“When we played basketball when he was young, I had to remind him, ‘You can’t be jumping on top of my head. I have to go to work tomorrow,’” Sandy said.

“He really wants to be very good at what he does and he’s been like that since he was a little kid.

Real quiet, but when we played basketball or football, he was like a Tasmanian devil. He has a focus that is out of this world when it comes to sports.”

While the Mack boys played youth football, Sandy was reticent for Khalil to play for fear he might hurt someone. He’d been toughened up in backyard sessions with Sandy Jr., who said he went “beast mode” on his younger sibling.

When Khalil did play youth

THE RAIDERS

NFL SACK LEADERS 2015 J.J. Watt, Houston ..........................................17.5 Khalil Mack, Raiders ..................................15.0 Ezekial Ansah, Detroit ...................................14.5 Carlos Dunlap, Cin. .........................................13.5 Chandler Jones, NE ........................................12.5 FIVE OR MORE The five players who have had five or more sacks in a game since sacks became an official NFL statistic in 1982: Derrick Thomas, KC, 9-6-98 .............................6 Osi Umenyiora, NYG, 9-30-07 .........................6 Aldon Smith, SF, 11-19-12 ............................5.5 Khalil Mack, Oak, 12-13-15 ............................ 5 Chuck Smith, Atl, 10-12-97 ...............................5 RAIDERS SINGLE-SEASON SACKS The franchise leaders in sacks since it became an official statistic in 1982: Derrick Burgess, 2005 ......................................16 Khalil Mack, 2015 ........................................... 15 Sean Jones, 1986 ..............................................15 Howie Long, 1983 ..............................................13 Greg Townsend, 1981 ........................................13 Anthony Smith, 1992 ........................................13 Pat Swilling, 1995 ..............................................13 TACKLES FOR LOSS 2015 J.J. Watt, Hou ....................................................29 Khalil Mack, Oak ..............................................23 Aaron Donald, StL .............................................22 Michael Bennett, Sea ........................................18 Olivier Vernon, Mia .............................................18 Gino Atkins, NO ...................................................17 Ndamukong Suh, Mia ........................................17 TACKLES FOR LOSS 2014-15 J.J. Watt, Hou ....................................................58 Aaron Donald, StL ..............................................41 Khalil Mack, Oak ..............................................39 Ndamukong Suh, Mia .......................................36 Michael Bennett, Sea .......................................33

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football, he ended up breaking the collarbone of a 12-year-old opponent on a tackle.

Sandy Jr. recalled the time he and his brother promised their late grandfather they would play in the NFL. Yet as Khalil got into high school, basketball was his first love, and he didn’t play football until his senior year.

With his son recovering from a torn patellar tendon, Sandy wanted Khalil to concentrate on graduating rather than playing football.

“I was thinking maybe the military for Khalil,” Sandy Sr. said.

“All I knew was I wanted him out of Fort Pierce.”

THAT CHANGED WHEN FIRST-

year Westwood coach Waides Ashmon got a look at Mack and inquired why an athlete with the most impressive physique in school was not playing football.

Khalil told Ashmon to call his father, and the coach instantly whipped out a cellphone and promised Sandy Sr. his son would go to college for free if he played football his senior year.

The late start hurt recruiting, but Ashmon’s promise was kept when Buffalo came through with a football scholarship.

So Mack went from Florida to freezing winters in Buffalo, as usual, without a whisper of complaint.

“He was 1,300 miles away from us, and he never once called to ask for anything. Not a dime,” Sandy Sr. said. “He’d always say, ‘No, I’m good, pop.’”

Mack impressed his coaches by working diligently, arriving early for meetings and breaking out a highlighter to go over practice plans and defensive assignments.

On the field, Mack began to realize his football career wouldn’t necessarily end at Buffalo.

During one practice, Mack ran

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THE RAIDERS

around the blocking attempt of James Starks, a running back who went on to play for the Green Bay Packers.

“He told me, ‘Man, you’re strong. You’re going to the league,’ ” Khalil said. “That started to get me thinking.”

Mack began comparing himself with other players from the Mid-America Conference and watching players such as Von Miller, the No. 2 pick in 2011, and Dion Jordan, taken No. 3 overall in 2013.

“I knew they were probably playing against better people, but the NFL looked like something I thought I could do,” Khalil said.

A big game in a nonconference loss to Ohio State removed any doubt, and when Mack was available when the Raiders picked at No. 5 in the first round in 2014, McKenzie didn’t hesitate.

Khalil impressed veteran teammates as much with his attitude as his work ethic, even as a rookie.

“Khalil came in, picking my brain as soon as he got in, wanted to be great, and wanted to put in the extra work,” left tackle Donald Penn said. “He’s not a ‘me’ guy.

He’s a team guy.”

Said veteran Marcel Reece: “I’ve seen first-round picks come in here and think the world should be handed to them.

They’re prima donnas. They don’t think they have to work. They don’t think they have to practice.

Khalil does what everyone else does — and then some.”

AS A ROOKIE, MACK STOOD

out as a run defender, and while he pressured the quarterback consistently, he had just four sacks.

The only glitch came when the Raiders finally won their first game of the season against Kansas City after starting the season 0-10. After Sio Moore sacked Alex Smith with 28 seconds to play, the linebacker and Mack were busy

“It’s funny, Khalil doesn’t trash talk, he’s a very humble person and he’s a really good guy,” says tackle Menelik Watson.

“But once he gets into football mode, he’s going to rip your head off. It’s just that he’ll rip it off in a polite way.”

At left, Mack (52) celebrates after a sack.

THEARON W. HENDERSON/ GETTY IMAGES

performing a dance while the Chiefs quarterback rushed to the line of scrimmage to run a play.

Justin Tuck called timeout to prevent the Raiders from receiving a potentially crippling penalty.

It was a scene entirely in character for Moore, who offered regret with one-liners following the game. Mack, on the other hand, was mortified and embarrassed.

“Now,” Sandy Jr. said, “you’ve got to beg him to celebrate.”

Khalil instantly made an impression on Jack Del Rio, who took over for Dennis Allen and interim coach Tony Sparano in 2015. Del Rio knows a self-starter when he sees one, having been the position coach for Ray Lewis with the Baltimore Ravens from 1999-2001.

“With Khalil, the beautiful thing is that he’s got natural humility,” Del Rio said. “He loves this game, and he’s driven to play great. He wants to develop the skill level. He’s working tirelessly to do that.”

If there were any doubts that Mack was making a bull rush to stardom, they were erased in 2015, when he consistently stuffed the run and finished second to Watt in sacks with 15.

AS HE ENTERS THIS SEASON,

Mack is trying to be more vocal, but his voice still occasionally trails off to a whisper and his general demeanor has not changed.

Teammates are occasionally awe-struck.

“It’s funny: Khalil doesn’t trash talk, he’s a very humble person, and he’s a really good guy,” tackle Menelik Watson said. “But once he gets into football mode, he’s going to rip your head off. It’s just that he’ll rip it off in a polite way.”

During training camp, Penn had been working on a pass blocking maneuver he was convinced gives him leverage, a quick

jab he was sure would put Mack on his heels. Instead, Mack simply went lower than seemed humanly possible and blew past Penn.

“This dude, he somehow kept his balance,” Penn said. “He was two inches off the ground and kept rushing. I was all set to fall on top of him, and he just kept going. I asked (line coach) Mike Tice what I should do. He said, ‘I don’t have anything ... good luck.’ ” Former Raiders linebacker Bill Romanowski said Mack’s ability to play both the run and the pass sets him apart from other edge players.

“If I had to compare Mack to anyone, it would be Von Miller,” Romanowski said. “Von may have a tiny edge in the pass rush because he’s a little smaller and a little quicker, but he can’t play the run like Mack. I think Mack is the more complete player all-around.”

Miller, last year’s Super Bowl MVP, signed a six-year, $114.5 million contract with a reported $70 million guaranteed.

The Raiders have Mack under contract through the 2017 season, and it’s conceivable the four-year, $18.6 million deal he signed as a rookie will be extended as an annual salary at some point in the near future.

It’s a huge commitment, but unlike a risky free-agent signing, the Raiders know exactly what they’re getting in terms of character and commitment.

“You’ve got to keep your stars.

You pay it, and then you adjust the salary structure from there,” NFL Network analyst and former general manager Charley Casserly said.

“Sometimes you try and beat the market and sign a guy early, but I don’t think they’ll worry about that with Mack. You don’t worry about it when a guy’s worth it.”

Herm Edwards, a former NFL head coach and ESPN analyst, compares Mack’s skill on the edge

with Hall of Fame outside linebacker Derrick Thomas, whom he coached in Kansas City.

“When you pay that kind of money, it’s great for the locker room if it’s a guy you drafted,” Edwards said. “The Raiders know what they have. They know what his DNA is about.”

INCLUDED IN KHALIL’S DNA,

according to his mother, is a penchant for coming home to Fort Pierce, visiting with neighbors and the same tight circle of friends he’s always had.

“I know that what he does has a lot of pressure that comes with it,” Yolanda said. “He’s worked hard for his accomplishments and knows that what he has can be here today and gone tomorrow. Our wish for him has always been to be balanced — live a balanced life.”

Watson thinks the $20 million a year threshold may be a bargain when it comes to Mack.

“Shoot, with the effort, intensity and attention to detail he puts in, he might be a $30 million a year a guy,” Watson said. “I really don’t think there’s enough money (under the salary cap) to give him what he’s worth.”

McKenzie understands that his boss would not look kindly at the sight of Mack in another uniform.

“Mark (Davis) would come beat me across the head if I let some Hall of Fame-type player leave the building,” McKenzie said.

Mack doesn’t plan on changing any time soon, regardless of fame and fortune. Anyone who saw him doing push-ups at a gas station years ago wouldn’t be surprised.

“It’s how I was raised. My parents put me in a nice position, but that’s all it is — a nice position,” Mack said. “You’ve got to put in the work. You’ve got to humble yourself.”

JMCDONALD@BAYAREANEWSGROUP.COM

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D E R E K CA R R

a

blessing

gunslinger and a

curse

Can the Raiders QB use his rare physical skills to take the next step? His peers say yes, but he’s his own worst critic

D D

erek Carr was the last one to leave.

It was the final day of Raiders training camp in Napa.

Staff was scurrying around to tear down the temporary weight room and pack up the moving truck for the return to Alameda. Players were rushing to take showers, get to their cars and head home.

Carr, on the other hand, was in no rush.

The Raiders’ quarterback enters his third season in a good place: on the cusp of elite NFL quarterback status. Carr’s 53 touchdown

passes over two seasons is the best quarterback start in league history by anyone not named Dan Marino.

Yet he remains among the team’s hardest workers, almost always the last one to leave the practice field.

“I have an expectation of myself,” Carr says. “I put in work to make sure that expectation is met.”

On this day, there’s another reason he’s still out there. The last day of camp meant there wasn’t a large crowd of fans on hand, but

S TO RY B Y J I M M Y D U R K I N PHOTOG R APH BY JANE T YSK A

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D E R E K CA R R

the intimate gathering included some local high school football players.

As he signed autographs and mingled with the kids, Carr couldn’t help but imagine there was likely another Derek Carr among that group.

“I guarantee there was at least one that thought, ‘I’m going to keep working hard. I’m going to be out here with them,’ ” he said.

RAISED AROUND F O OT BA L L

Carr has been raised around football. He was 11 when his brother David was the No. 1 overall draft pick of the Houston Texans in 2002.

One of the many lessons David instilled in Derek was to be his own harshest critic.

“That way when somebody else says something about you, it doesn’t even matter,” Derek Carr said.

As Carr embarks on this season, the praise is coming from nearly everywhere. He’s been called the next Brett Favre, with the Hall of Famer himself saying that Carr is actually “a little more polished” than him.

The criticism is there, too. His gunslinger style can be both a blessing (miraculous touchdown throws many quarterbacks dare not attempt) and a curse (seven interceptions over his final five games last year).

ESPN.com recently released its third annual NFL quarterback tier rankings, a survey of 42 general managers, personnel evaluators and coaches throughout the league.

Carr fell into its Tier 3 category, defined as a “Legit starter but needs heavy run game/defense to win.” He was ranked as the league’s 16th best quarterback — middle of the pack.

A complaint, via an anonymous personnel director: “When we got pressure on him, he turned into a different guy. The great ones aren’t like that. Russell Wilson, there is never going to be panic in him. As a matter of fact, he wants

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“I think Derek is a natural leader.

He’s a great teammate, great worker.

Work ethic is spot on.”

— Jack Del Rio, Raiders head coach

it because he knows he can break contain, and if they get single coverage, they are going to beat it. I still have some reservations about Carr because of his poise under pressure.”

Carr’s fourth quarters also must be better. While he tied for the NFL lead last year with four comeback victories, he had a passer rating of just 67.8 in the fourth quarter and threw seven of his 13 interceptions in the final 15 minutes.

As his own worst critic, what does Carr see as his biggest flaw?

“I can pick it apart in eight different columns,” he says.

Specifics?

“I have to be more efficient,” Carr offers.

Others agree, including NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah, a former NFL scout who played quarterback in college at Appalachian State.

As a rookie, Carr averaged just 5.5 yards per attempt — worst in the league among starters. His lack of weapons contributed (his leading receiver was current No. 4 wideout Andre Holmes), but he was too cautious.

That fear went away last year as he threw the ball 26 fewer times but attacked downfield, and his passing yards jumped by 22 percent to 3,987, third most in franchise history. Still, his 13 interceptions tied for ninth in the league.

“The first year, I wished he would be a little more aggressive,” Jeremiah said. “And then the second year, it’s like, ‘Man, he’s being really aggressive. Maybe just be a little more efficient.’

“I think there’s some middle ground there that he can find where he can be selectively aggressive, take some shots when they’re there, but also don’t pass up the easy completion.”

Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts, now an analyst for NFL on CBS, understands Carr’s mindset.

He played during an era in which even the best quarterbacks often threw as many or more interceptions than touchdowns, and Fouts

believes in letting his teammates make plays.

“When you’ve got good receivers like he has ... you want to give them a chance,” he said. “You’ve got to believe in their abilities to beat the coverage and fire it in there.”

THE NEXT STEP

Those who have studied Carr’s career believe he’s set to take the next step, so long as his mental approach continues to grow.

“I think the big thing in year three is just play with more confidence,” said Rich Gannon, an NFL on CBS analyst who quarterbacked the Raiders to their last playoff appearance in 2002.

“I think playing faster from under center, in other words, the ability to be able to process information quicker and more efficiently. Because he’s got a history now and is probably not going to be thinking as much. He can go out and react to what he sees.”

“Physically, he’ll work on his release and his accuracy and all of those things,” said Steve Mariucci, the former 49ers coach and current NFL Network analyst. “But the big jump comes with knowledge of the system, understanding of defenses and how do you protect against blitzes. Those kind of mental things and intangible things.”

Carr’s arm strength and underrated mobility already put him ahead of the game.

“He’s got a big-time arm. He can make all the throws,” Gannon said. “He’s got very good mobility.

I’d like to see him use his legs a little more, because I think he can and he should.”

“He’s got some rare physical tools in terms of the arm talent,” Jeremiah added. “He throws off platforms very few guys can make.”

So how high can Carr ascend past his middle-of-the-pack standing?

“His physical ceiling is as high as anybody right now,” Jeremiah said. “I think it’s all within his capabilities and especially with

what they’re putting around him.

For him to be in the Pro Bowl each and every year, I think is something that should probably be an expectation.”

Continuity is on Carr’s side.

He will play for the same coaching staff, led by head coach Jack Del Rio, offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave and quarterbacks coach Todd Downing.

The top four wide receivers — Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Seth Roberts and Andre Holmes — remain the same. The tight ends, highlighted by the promising Clive Walford, are back. So is running back Latavius Murray.

The one major change on the offensive line — Kelechi Osemele — was a significant upgrade.

Gannon had Tim Brown for the bulk of his Raiders career and three years with Jerry Rice. Carr has Cooper for at least three more years under his rookie deal and Crabtree locked up for the next four seasons.

“That’s really important to be able to put a string of seasons together with guys that you’re familiar with, guys that you have a comfort level with,” Gannon said.

Part of Carr taking the next step will be continuing to take charge in the huddle and the locker room. With several key veterans now retired, Carr needs to put his own meaningful stamp on the Raiders organization.

“I think Derek is a natural leader,” Del Rio said. “He’s a great teammate, great worker. Work ethic is spot on.”

That leadership will be needed all the more. Charles Woodson is gone. So is Justin Tuck. Both were sage veteran voices in the locker room.

Heading into year three, Mariucci reasons, Carr has established within the locker room where he can take this team, that he’s “our guy,” one who can “take us where we want to go.

“This is Derek Carr’s team now.”

Young, aspiring Derek Carrs, among many others, will be watching intently.

THE RAIDERS

WEEK 1

Sept. 11 at New Orleans The Raiders haven’t won a season opener since 2011 and haven’t won in New Orleans since 1979. This will be Saints’ defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s first chance to coach against his former team since the Raiders fired him after an 0-4 start in 2014.

WEEK 2

Sept. 18 vs. Atlanta The second week of the season has been good to the Raiders as of late, with wins in five of the past eight seasons. The last time these teams met in 2012, Falcons kicker Matt Bryant booted a 55-yard game-winning field goal to hold off the Raiders’ upset bid.

WEEK 3

Sept. 25 at Tennessee It’ll be the second meeting in a month — they met Aug. 27 in a preseason game in Oakland — and the Raiders’ second straight year traveling to Nashville. Oakland won last season with help from a controversial defensive holding call on the Titans.

WEEK 4

Oct. 2 at Baltimore A season of heavy travel continues with the third long road trip in four games. The Raiders would love to duplicate last year’s matchup with the Ravens when Derek Carr found Seth Roberts with 26 seconds to go for the gamewinner in Jack Del Rio’s first victory with the Raiders.

The last time the Raiders played Atlanta (their Week 2 opponent), they lost on the final play of the game.

Matt Bryant made a 55-yard field goal to beat them 23-20.

Revenge also will be a factor in Week 6 when Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs come to town in Week 6.

Last season, Derek Carr’s interceptions cost the Raiders a comeback bid.

It doesn’t get any easier in Week 12 when Cam Newton’s powerful Panthers come to town.

WEEK 5

WEEK 9

WEEK 14

Oct. 9 vs. San Diego

Nov. 6 vs. Denver

Dec. 8 at Kansas City

The AFC West rivals get together for the first time since their plans to join forces in Carson were derailed by a vote of NFL owners, who instead sent the Rams to Los Angeles. Last year’s sweep of the Chargers was their first since 2010.

Oakland plays in a Sunday Night Football game for just the second time since 2006 when the defending Super Bowl champions come to town. It’s only the Raiders’ ninth home SNF game since 1978 (and first since 2013).

This is the game that’s the bane of Jack Del Rio’s existence as the Raiders have to fly two time zones on short rest for a key divisional contest. It could be the start of a pivotal stretch run if Oakland is in playoff contention like it expects to be.

WEEK 6

Oct. 16 vs. Kansas City Carr will have to shake off memories of last year’s fourth-quarter disaster, when his three interceptions gifted the Chiefs three touchdowns and the Raiders fell apart in a 34-20 home loss that wiped away their fleeting playoff hopes.

WEEK 7

Oct. 23 at Jacksonville The Raiders begin their tour of Florida when Carr goes up against Blake Bortles, one of the three quarterbacks drafted ahead of him as the No. 3 overall pick from 2014. So far, Bortles has the edge in career passing yards, but Carr has more TD passes (53-46) and fewer INTs (35-25).

WEEK 11

Nov. 21 vs. Texans in Mexico City After a bye, the Raiders are back on in prime time and on the international stage for this Monday Night meeting at Estadio Azteca, which hosted the NFL’s first international regular season game in 2005. The Raiders last played on foreign soil in London in 2014.

WEEK 12

Nov. 27 vs. Carolina A third straight matchup against a 2015 division winner sends the reigning NFC champion Panthers to town. The Raiders scored a grand total of 12 points in their last two games against Carolina, matching 17-6 losses in 2008 and ’12.

WEEK 15

Dec. 18 at San Diego The Raiders’ last trip to San Diego turned into a party when they busted out to a 37-6 lead.

At the time, it felt like it might be their last trip to Qualcomm Stadium, but the Chargers are sticking around for at least another year.

WEEK 16

Dec. 24 vs.

Indianapolis Three Hall of Fame wide receivers were on the field the last time the Raiders beat the Colts in 2001, with Tim Brown and Jerry Rice squaring off with newly inducted Marvin Harrison.

Oakland has lost four straight matchups since that win.

WEEK 8

WEEK 13

WEEK 17

Oct. 30 at Tampa Bay

Dec. 4 vs. Buffalo

Jan. 1 at Denver

The Raiders weren’t thrilled to see their highmileage schedule (seven games in the Central or Eastern time zone). They’ll prepare for this one by spending the week in Bradenton, Fla., to avoid making back-to-back trips back east.

The last time these teams met, the Raiders knocked the Bills out of the playoff picture in Week 16 of the 2014 season. Lee Smith, then a Bills tight end and now with the Raiders, said afterwards, “When you get whooped for four quarters, it’s embarrassing.”

Khalil Mack returns to the sight of his epic five-sack performance in the Raiders’ road win over the Broncos, although Brock Osweiler won’t be there to take another pounding.

Could a playoff spot or division title possibly be at stake?

— BY JIMMY DURKIN

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THE RAIDERS

The season’s plotlines Will Amari Cooper join the NFL’s elite?

WILL THESE S U B P LOT S UNFOLD?

After setting franchise rookie records for receptions, yards and 100-yard games, the soft-spoken Cooper, pictured, has given Derek Carr the No. 1 receiver he needs. A foot injury slowed him late last year, and the near-consensus opinion is that he’ll be even better this season. With improved chemistry between him and Carr, don’t rule out a 1,500-yard season.

VIVA LAS VEGAS? The Raiders are playing on a oneyear lease at the Coliseum (with options for 2017 and ’18) as owner Mark Davis tries for a stadium in Las Vegas. Could the year they’re finally good again be the year they leave again?

Will the pieces fit?

The Raiders loaded up in free agency with left guard Kelechi Osemele, outside linebacker Bruce Irvin, cornerback Sean Smith and safety Reggie Nelson.

Adding talent is a good thing, but coach Jack Del Rio needs to make sure those pieces fit well together.

CAN THEY NAVIGATE THE SCHEDULE?

Can the defense fill the leadership void?

Jack Del Rio has already sounded off on a schedule that opens and closes with three of four on the road. Add in the Mexico City trip and a week in Florida and the Raiders won’t have it easy — as if it ever is.

Charles Woodson’s retirement took away more than just the production of a future Hall of Fame defensive back. Woodson and Justin Tuck, who also retired, were among the biggest voices in the locker room.

The offense has Derek Carr, but the defense needs Khalil Mack and/or Bruce Irvin to be the guy.

Will the rookies make an immediate impact?

WILL ALDON SMITH PLAY AGAIN?

Cooper and Mack stepped right in as big-time players the past two years, but they were top-five picks. Karl Joseph and Jihad Ward, the first two picks, project as starters and the Raiders are counting on early production from third-round pick Shilique Calhoun and fifth-rounder DeAndre Washington.

The former star pass rusher with the 49ers is suspended until at least November.

Smith checked into rehab after a video circulated that seemed to show him smoking marijuana, which could hurt his reinstatement chances.

Is this the year the playoff drought finally ends?

It’s been a long 13 years for Raiders fans of not only missing the playoffs but not even posting a winning record. Last season, they flirted with playoff contention briefly after a 4-3 start but quickly faded.

This year, anything less than a Wild Card spot would be disappointing.

—BY JIMMY DURKIN NHAT V. MEYER/STAFF

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THE RAIDERS

Projected roster NO. NAME

POS.

HT.

WT.

AGE

EXP.

COLLEGE

4

Derek Carr

QB

6-3

214

25

3

Fresno State

7

Marquette King

P

6-0

192

27

5

Fort Valley State

8

Connor Cook

QB

6-4

217

23

R

Michigan State

10

Seth Roberts

WR

6-2

195

25

2

West Alabama

11

Sebastian Janikowski K

6-1

258

38

17

Florida State

14

Matt McGloin

QB

6-1

210

26

4

Penn State

15

Michael Crabtree

WR

6-1

214

28

8

Texas Tech

16

Johnny Holton

WR

6-0

190

25

R

18

Andre Holmes

WR

6-4

210

28

20 Nate Allen

S

6-1

210

21

CB

6-3

22 Taiwan Jones

RB

23 Dexter McDonald

OF NOTE

NO. NAME

POS.

HT.

WT.

AGE

EXP.

COLLEGE

57

LB

6-1

229

23

R

Colorado State

58 Neiron Ball

LB

6-2

236

24

2

Florida

59 Jon Condo

LS

6-3

240

34

10

Maryland

61

C

6-2

300

27

6

Florida State

66 Gabe Jackson

G

6-3

336

25

3

Mississippi State

70 Kelechi Osemele

G

6-5

330

27

5

Iowa State

71

Menelik Watson

T

6-5

315

27

4

Florida State

Cincinnati

72

Donald Penn

T

6-4

340

33

11

Utah State

5

Hillsdale

73

Matt McCants

T/G

6-5

309

27

4

UAB

28

7

South Florida

75

Darius Latham

DT

6-5

305

21

R

Indiana

218

29

8

Utah

76 Jon Feliciano

G/C

6-4

323

24

2

Miami

6-0

195

28

6

Eastern Washington

77

T

6-7

330

29

7

Northern Iowa

CB

6-1

200

24

2

Kansas

78 Justin Ellis

DT

6-2

334

25

3

Louisiana Tech

25 DJ Hayden

CB

5-11

190

26

4

Houston

81

TE

6-3

245

25

4

Tennessee

27 Reggie Nelson

S

5-11

210

32

10

Florida

86 Lee Smith

TE

6-6

265

28

6

Marshall

28 Latavius Murray

RB

6-3

225

26

4

UCF

88 Clive Walford

TE

6-4

258

24

2

Miami

29 David Amerson

CB

6-1

205

24

4

North Carolina State

89 Amari Cooper

WR

6-1

211

22

2

Alabama

33 DeAndre Washington RB

5-8

204

23

R

Texas Tech

90 Dan Williams

DT

6-3

330

29

7

Tennessee

35 Dewey McDonald

S

6-0

220

26

2

California (Pa.)

91

LB

6-4

251

24

R

Michigan State

38 TJ Carrie

CB

6-0

204

26

3

Ohio

92 Stacy McGee

DT

6-3

310

26

4

Oklahoma

42 Karl Joseph

S

5-10

205

22

R

West Virginia

93 Leon Orr

DT

6-5

320

24

2

Florida

46 Jalen Richard

RB

5-8

207

22

R

Southern Miss

95 Jihad Ward

DL

6-5

296

22

R

Illinois

47 James Cowser

LB/DE

6-3

244

25

R

Southern Utah

96 Denico Autry

DE

6-5

273

26

3

Mississippi State

49 Jamize Olawale

FB

6-1

240

27

4

North Texas

97 Mario Edwards Jr.

DE

6-3

280

22

2

Florida State

50 Ben Heeney

LB

6-0

231

23

2

Kansas

RESERVE/SUSPENDED

51

OLB

6-3

260

28

5

West Virginia

45 Marcel Reece

FB

6-1

250

31

7

Washington

52 Khalil Mack

DE

6-3

252

25

3

Buffalo

99 Aldon Smith

LB

6-4

265

26

6

Missouri

53 Malcolm Smith

LB

6-0

226

27

6

USC

RESERVE/INJURED

54 Korey Toomer

LB

6-2

234

27

3

Idaho

82 Gabe Holmes*

TE

6-5

255

25

2

Purdue

Sean Smith

Bruce Irvin

Because this edition went to press before the deadline for final cuts, this is our projected 53-man roster. * Gabe Holmes had not been placed on IR at the time of this printing but was expected to land there.

Cory James

Rodney Hudson

Austin Howard

Mychal Rivera

Shilique Calhoun

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THE RAIDERS

Breaking down the season

BIGGEST GAMES ON THE CALENDAR Sept. 11 at Saints: After a hyped-up offseason, the team experiences its first real test on the road in New Orleans. A tough early schedule means the Raiders need a fast start to their season.

PLAYERS WITH BREAKOUT POTENTIAL

PLAYERS ON THE HOT SEAT

CLIVE WALFORD

The second-year tight end has the size and skill to be a major weapon. If he stays healthy, he and Derek Carr can get on the same page and thrive.

Oct. 16 vs. Chiefs: The Raiders went 3-1 last year against AFC West teams not named the Chiefs. If they are to move up the standings, they have to beat K.C. at home.

DAVID AMERSON

The waiver claim pickup from Washington was among the league’s best corners late last season. After a terrific camp, he could be primed for a Pro Bowl season.

Nov. 6 vs.

Broncos: A home date on Sunday Night Football?

Say it ain’t so.

Beyond the primetime appearance, it’s a chance to build momentum entering the bye week.

GETTY IMAGES

Nov. 21 vs.

Texans: The Raiders gave up a game at the Coliseum to play this in Mexico City, but should find a partisan crowd.

Can Khalil Mack reacquaint himself with Texans QB Brock Osweiler?

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Dec. 24 vs. Colts: The home schedule (regular season at least) concludes against another team with playoff aspirations. It’s an opportunity to prove their worthiness (or lack thereof).

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AMARI COOPER

SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI

DONALD PENN (ABOVE, WITH CARR)

KARL JOSEPH

The former first-round pick enters his 17th season, but coach Jack Del Rio showed some signs last year that his faith was flagging.

SeaBass trimmed down, but does the leg remain just as strong?

It took an extended negotiation before the Raiders retained their veteran left tackle for two more seasons. At 33, he has to show he still can get it done for 16 (or more) games.

Some called him a reach with the No. 15 pick, and he admitted early in camp his surgicallyrepaired knee isn’t 100 percent. Oakland needs him to be good.

Most questions about Cooper focus not on if he’ll improve, but how much better he’ll get. The second-year star has 100-catch potential.

KELECHI OSEMELE

LATAVIUS MURRAY

MICHAEL CRABTREE

GETTY IMAGES

OTHER KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH BRUCE IRVIN

Seattle forced Irvin to get too involved in pass coverage.

The Raiders plan to unleash him on quarterbacks, which could send his sack totals soaring.

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A mauling left guard, Osemele brings a nasty touch that’s set off tempers even in practice. The Raiders hope he boosts their run game.

SEAN SMITH

His size and length at 6-3, 220 is stunning when seen up close, and he gives Oakland a cornerback who can match up physically with any receiver.

A Pro Bowl selection as an alternate last year, the Raiders hope to have given him some help by drafting DeAndre Washington. Can he be better in the second half of games?

REGGIE NELSON

His signing didn’t get the hype of Irvin, Osemele and Smith, but he’s the only one of that group with a Pro Bowl to his name after notching eight interceptions last year.

The former 49ers receiver had a great first year in Oakland to earn himself a contract extension.

The Raiders need him to be the same player now that he has his contract.

—BY JIMMY DURKIN

THE RAIDERS

How will the AFC West stack up?

KEY NUMBERS

BY JIMMY DURKIN

15

1 2 3 4

DENVER BRONCOS

(Last year: 12-4, first place)

The reigning Super Bowl champions have to break in a new quarterback after Peyton Manning retired and Brock Osweiler signed with the Texans, but their title last year was powered by a defense that, despite losing DE Malik Jackson and ILB Danny Trevathan, is still headlined by Super Bowl MVP Von Miller and a standout secondary.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

RAIDERS

(Last year: 7-9, third place)

Pictured: Coach Jack Del Rio

Sacks by Khalil Mack last season, placing him second in the NFL behind J.J. Watt.

53

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

(Last year: 11-5, second place)

(Last year: 4-12, fourth place)

The Chiefs started miserably in 2015 before winning a franchise-record 11 straight games, including a first-round playoff shutout of Houston. OLB Justin Houston’s return from ACL surgery is a question mark, and safety Eric Berry didn’t report for the start of camp after failing to reach a long-term deal. The opportunity is there for the Raiders to move ahead.

The Chargers were bad enough last year to earn the No. 3 pick in the draft.

That landed them Joey Bosa, whose mom eventually vented on social media that she wished he “pulled an Eli Manning,” i.e., forced the team to trade him or not draft him. Philip Rivers isn’t getting any younger, and the Chargers are looking at another trip to the cellar.

Derek Carr’s touchdown passes through two seasons — the second-most all-time behind Dan Marino.

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Percentage of the Raiders’ rushing yards accumulated

by Latavius Murray, who went for 1,066 on the ground.

140

Consecutive starts for left tackle Donald Penn, which ranks third among NFL offensive lineman entering 2016.

252

Career games played for kicker Sebastian Janikowski, the franchise’s all-time record.

266

POSITIONS OF CONCERN MIDDLE LINEBACKER

RIGHT TACKLE

SLOT CORNER

The Raiders have put their faith in Ben Heeney, a fifth-round pick from last year with three starts to his name. He better be good — and healthy — because they don’t have much after him.

Menelik Watson and Austin Howard spent camp battling to be the starter, with the injury-prone Watson the leader. The offensive line may be a Raiders’ strength, but this spot is a question mark.

DJ Hayden, the team’s disappointing 2013 first-round pick, figures to get the initial crack at this spot, which plays almost as much as the starters.

Number of punt returns since the Raiders last took one back for a touchdown, courtesy of Johnny Lee Higgins in 2008.

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HIS VOICE HAS A RING TO IT The Raiders brought in veteran linebacker Bruce Irvin for his Super Bowl savvy and his ability to hound quarterbacks. He can’t wait to go next door and watch KD and the Dubs.

BY JIMMY DURKIN PHOTOGR APH BY ARIC CR ABB

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RAIDERS

B

ruce Irvin overcame long odds after dropping out of high school in Stockbridge, Georgia, and spending a few weeks in jail on burglary and weapons charges as a youth. But persevere toward a successful NFL career he did.

Now the free agent acquisition who earned a Super Bowl ring in Seattle is looking to supplement star pass rusher Khalil Mack and help return the Raiders to the postseason.

The outspoken Irvin, who fled the Seahawks with a four-year, $37 million deal, took some time out to share his thoughts on boosting his sack total, his fun with social media and comparing his former and current fan bases: You’ve credited the presence of both Khalil Mack and Ken Norton Jr. as part of your decision to come to Oakland. Has your experience around them lived up to the expectations?

It’s great. Kenny Norton is Kenny Norton. The Kenny Norton in Seattle, he’s the same Kenny Norton here. Very outspoken guy that doesn’t bite his tongue and he’ll give it to you straightforward.

Khalil, one of the best in the business. Comes to work every day, works hard. The guy takes advice.

I couldn’t ask to be in a better situation than I am now.

Speaking of outspoken, you’ve said that the Raiders didn’t bring you here to be a follower, they brought you here to be a leader.

Where did you develop those qualities?

I think growing up the way I grew up, that instilled that in me. Coming from my background, going through what I had to go through to be here with you right now,

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always be brothers. It’s a special, special feeling, man. A lot of Hall of Fame dudes — Dan Marino doesn’t even have a Super Bowl, or Jim Kelly. Those type of guys who are big names in this league don’t know what it feels like to be a Super Bowl champion. That’s a feeling I’m just trying to bring to Oakland and bring to these young guys and really instill in them that it takes a lot of hard work if you want to get to that level.

Raiders linebacker Bruce Irvin stretches with teammates during practice in Napa.

qualities that I have.

A year ago, Raiders coaches were telling us with Khalil that they wanted to get him going forward more, rushing the passer more.

Now they’ve been saying the same thing about you. Is it your time to jump up and get double digit sacks?

It’s definitely my time. I really feel I can be a premiere rusher, given the opportunity to rush. That’s what Coach Norton and Jack Del Rio, they’ve been giving me opportunities every day in practice, and I’ve just been making the best out of my opportunities.

Two of the big free agents the Raiders signed this year — yourself and Kelechi Osemele — are guys that have won Super Bowl rings. How does it change a player to have won a Super Bowl?

It’s forever. It’s history. People can say what they want to say about you, but I’ll always be a Super Bowl champion. That’s something that’s more than money. That’s something that’s more than the perks that come with being an NFL player. That’s forever. When we do it here, that group, we’ll always have a bond in life and we’ll

After you signed here, you quickly got involved in going out to Warriors playoff games. What did you like best about that experience and how big of a basketball guy are you?

I’m a big basketball guy. We didn’t have that in Seattle, so that’s a big advantage. I could tell by the way they support the Warriors that it’s a great fan base. The Warriors games were damn near like football games. It was a great time, and it’s going to probably be even better with KD, huh? Crazy. I just can’t wait to get in the Coliseum and just play for Oakland, man, and give these fans something to cheer for.

Is there any good story or reason behind the No. 51 that you wear?

I wore 11 in college, so I wanted to keep the 1. And then I got drafted 15, so if you flip (51) around, it’s 15 and I still have a 1 in there, so that was pretty much the thing behind that.

You’re a big social media guy, and we saw it in how you were recruiting other free agents. What do you enjoy about interacting on Twitter?

I just like talking. I’m a very outspoken person. As you can see, I have no filter. If it’s on my mind,

ROSS D. FRANKLIN/ASSOCIATED PRESS; OPPOSITE: KRISTOPHER SKINNER/STAFF

RAIDERS

I’m going to say it. I just like interacting with fans. I feel like it makes you closer to your fans and kind of lets them voice their opinion. I like seeing what they’ve got to say. Like you said, I’m a big social media guy and it’s great for recruiting. I do a lot of recruiting on there.

If you weren’t playing football, what other occupation could you see yourself doing?

It would have to be something hands on, like construction.

If there was one word you could

Arizona Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald, right, gets stopped for a loss as Oakland Raiders’ Bruce Irvin makes the tackle during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Glendale, Arizona.

use to describe what to expect from the Raiders defense this year, what would be it?

Physical. Got to be physical.

All right, you come from Seattle where they have the 12th Man. Now you’re going to the Black Hole. If those two groups were to tussle, who do you think is winning?

Oh man. It would be a sight to see right there. The Black Hole is just nasty. Nasty. Ruthless. The 12th Man, they have manners. You know, they just cheer. It wasn’t

really crazy. But the Black Hole?

It’s gangsters, thugs and all types of stuff in there. It would probably get ugly, but I would probably have to go with the Black Hole.

Playoffs? Is it happening this year?

It’s happening. We’ve just got to protect the Coliseum. We have to win at home. We cannot let any team come to Oakland and beat us. So protect the Coliseum, steal two or three on the road, and I think we’ll take the AFC West.

JDURKIN@BAYAREANEWSGROUP.COM

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CLEARLY THERE’S NO CHANGING CHIP KELLY, A SMART, STUBBORN, ENIGMATIC COACH WHO FLAMED OUT IN PHILADELPHIA DESPITE SUCCESS IN THE STANDINGS. SO HOW CAN HIS IMMEDIATE REBOOT WITH A TALENT-CHALLENGED SAN FRANCISCO TEAM POSSIBLY BE ANY DIFFERENT?

CHIP2.0 S TO RY BY B Y DA N I E L B R OW N A N D CA M I N M A N I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y A I N S L E Y A S H B Y- S N Y D E R

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A

t a Chip Kelly training camp, an automated voice periodically thunders over the loudspeakers. The voice signals that it’s time for a new drill, and players respond by moving briskly to the next station.

But every few sessions, the voice says one word to bring everything to a standstill: “Teach.”

Players gather ’round their position coaches for a lesson on how things are going to work in the Chip Kelly Era. “We believe the game of football has two speeds. There’s gamespeed and then there’s teachspeed,” Kelly said early in training camp. “So, there’s no reason to do something three-quarter speed because you’re never going to play that way.”

There is much to learn for an offense that will play at a breakneck tempo with schemes that will look dramatically different.

The Philadelphia Eagles used three or more wide receivers 70 percent of the time last year, according to Pro Football Focus.

The 49ers used three or more wide receivers just 41 percent of the time.

Class is also in session for a 49ers defense that needs to start training for its upcoming marathon. The Eagles defense was on the field for an NFL-high 1,148 plays last year — that’s about 72 per game.

AS HE PREPARES FOR HIS

first season in San Francisco, however, the questions surrounding Chip Kelly go far beyond how well he can teach.

There’s also the matter of how much he’s learned.

“I’m sure Chip’s heard the rumors,” 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman said, “and I’m sure he’s made a few changes so he doesn’t have the same comments at the end of this year.”

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“We believe the game of football has two speeds.

There’s gamespeed and then there’s teachspeed,” says 49ers head coach Chip Kelly, pictured at right during practice in Santa Clara.

The comments would be hard to ignore. Kelly was chased out of Philadelphia amid verbal torches and pitchforks. He was “released” from his contract with a game still on the schedule.

Even this summer, Brian Mitchell, a former Philadelphia return man turned Comcast SportsNet broadcaster, remains baffled by Kelly’s trail of alienation.

“I don’t understand how you get in a league like this and you basically don’t communicate with players, you don’t make them feel comfortable,” Mitchell said. “(But) things I’ve heard from different players is that he was kind of standoffish. That may work in college, because in college, the coach is the guy. In the NFL, if you don’t do well, they won’t get rid of all the players: They’ll get rid of you.”

Kelly, 52, did well — and the Eagles got rid of him anyway. He went 26-21 over his three seasons in Philadelphia and led the team to the NFC East title in 2013. But along the way, he irritated people about as quickly as the Eagles scored points — the hurry-up offender.

This wasn’t off-the-record, according-to-sources stuff, either, but rather repeated haymakers from players (or, more often, ex-players) willing to put their name on it.

Offensive tackle Lane Johnson, who was Kelly’s first draft pick, said the coach was undone by “not being human about things.

Not working together, with the team, instead of being a dictator.”

Evan Mathis, fresh off a Super Bowl victory: “The Broncos team I was on would have eaten Chip alive. I don’t think he could have handled the plethora of large personalities.”

Cornerback Brandon Boykin: “He can’t relate and that makes him uncomfortable.”

Running back LeSean

JEFF CHIU/ASSOCIATED PRESS

T H E 49 E R S

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McCoy: “You see how fast he got rid of all the good players. Especially all the good black players.

He got rid of them the fastest.”

Things got so grisly by the end of his tenure in Philadelphia that it was almost easy to forget that he won 10 games in each of his first two seasons. He also kept the offense mostly humming: the Eagles ranked third in the NFL in both points per game (26.9) and total offense (392.8) over his three-year tenure.

By the time the 49ers hired him, on Jan. 14, his reputation was so in tatters that Kelly joked that he had to go beyond “self-scouting.”

“I looked at it as more of an autopsy,” he cracked. “So I sent some toxicology reports out and we’re going to see when they come back. I’ll give you a full answer in terms of what went on.”

KELLY NEVER DID ANNOUNCE

the results of those lab tests, but it was clear by early training camp that he’d ruled his death in Philadelphia as “accidental.”

Far from chastened, the coach said that for every player who criticized his methods, there were plenty of others in his corner. Kelly also noted that during his brief period of unemployment, he got calls of support from some of the most respected minds in the game: Bill Belichick, Jon Gruden, Bill Polian, Tony Dungy and Nick Saban.

“It made me feel good that there are people in this game that truly care about where the game is going and what this league is all about and what direction it’s heading in,” Kelly said. “(They’re) telling me, ‘I hope you stay in the National Football League.’”

There have been no signs of surrender in Kelly’s approach, no revisions to his methods, no changes to his temperament.

A reporter asked Kelly this spring how he’s different now that

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“I’m not governed by the fear of what other people say,” says Kelly, pictured at right with Nick Foles in Philadelphia. “I have conviction in terms of how things are supposed to be done, the collaboration that has to go on within the organization for you to be successful.”

DUSTIN BRADFORD/ GETTY IMAGES

he’s about to take over the 49ers.

“The ocean is on the other side,” Kelly quipped. “If I was facing north in Philly, the ocean is on the right. Now the ocean is on the left.”

So, no, there is no such thing as Kelly 2.0. The 49ers are getting the classic model.

“I’m not governed by the fear of what other people say,” he said. “I have conviction in terms of how things are supposed to be done, the collaboration that has to go on within the organization for you to be successful.

“And if there’s going to be a critic of that because they don’t agree with it or they don’t understand it, then I can’t change.

I can’t take a pulse of what everybody feels like and say, ‘Hey, let’s do it this way because the public perception is it should go that way.’”

PUBLIC PERCEPTION HAS

never been on Kelly’s radar, not even in the best of times. When he was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach at Oregon, he asked Mike Bellotti, who became the school’s athletic director, to continue making public appearances and meeting with boosters because Kelly couldn’t stand making small talk.

The Washington Post recounted that tale last summer in trying to find out more about Kelly beyond football. What they found is that Kelly’s family has been ordered to keep quiet in public about Kelly. Mike Zamarchi, the coach’s longtime buddy, told the paper that Kelly’s friends are “sworn to silence.”

For the 49ers, though, the introductions have been smooth.

Veteran players, eager for a semblance of order after the Jim Tomsula era, embraced a head coach who arrived with a clear sense of purpose.

Bowman and safety Antoine

Bethea, two of the 49ers’ most influential locker room leaders, repeatedly sang Kelly’s praises.

Kelly said he’s simply doing the same things but with a more receptive audience.

Take, for example, his approach to sports science. MMQB a few summers ago documented the gizmos that Kelly had the Eagles wear, having spotted linebacker Connor Barwin wearing “a GPS, magnetometer, accelerometer and gyroscope that had just recorded his every movement on the practice field.”

Kelly has not divulged the extent of his sports science approach with the 49ers, except to say that his methods no longer seem so unusual in the heart of Silicon Valley. He said he has the full cooperation of Jeff Ferguson (the team’s head trainer and vice president of football operations) and Mark Uyeyama (the team’s director of human performance).

“For some reason, no one heard of sports science until we got to Philadelphia. It was going on everywhere in the National Football League,” Kelly said. “And these guys (with the 49ers) have been on the cutting edge of that for a long time.”

HIS X’S AND O’S, ALSO THE

source of much scrutiny in Philly, appear as unchanged as his persona.

Kelly’s no-huddle offense first created a stir at Oregon, where his Ducks went 46-7 from 200912. His 2010 team averaged 47.0 points per game.

In the NFL, however, Kelly’s offensive approach has been a mixed bag. The prevailing criticism is that it asked too much of the defense, and stalled a bit last year when it appeared opponents had cracked the code.

Mathis, the Eagle-turned Bronco, once called it “a never-evolving, vanilla offense that forced our

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own defense to play higher than normal play counts.”

Mitchell, who now works as an analyst for Comcast SportsNet in Washington D.C., is also a skeptic.

“Most teams run 60-something plays a game. (Kelly) wants to run 90. What are you thinking on the other side of the football?”

Mitchell said during a celebrity golf stop in Tahoe this summer.

‘These are professional athletes, not college teams you’re going to beat by 50.”

Mitchell doesn’t buy the argument that defensive players relish their chance to carry the load.

“Bull,” he said. “They want to

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“Most teams run 60-something plays a game.

(Kelly) wants to run 90,” says Brian Mitchell, a former Eagles return man.

Above, Kelly gestures on the sideline during a preseason game in at Levi’s Stadium.

TONY AVELAR/ ASSOCIATED PRESS

make plays when they’re rested. … The guys in Philly talked about how tired they were. The whole team had problems with it. The offense wasn’t producing, they weren’t getting first downs.”

The Eagles finished 7-9 last season as Kelly’s weary defense finished 30th in yards allowed.

For the 49ers, however, almost any new offensive wrinkle will represent a giant leap forward.

San Francisco scored 14.9 points per game last season — comfortably last in the NFL. While the attention has been on what Kelly can do to revive the quarterbacks, the safer bet is what

the coach can do for the running game.

Under Kelly, multitalented back McCoy amassed 1,607 rushing yards and 539 receiving yards in 2013. Pro Football Focus ventured that Carlos Hyde could have a similar breakout, arguing that the two backs are similar aside from one key difference: In his best season, McCoy’s elusive rating was 48.8. Last season Hyde’s elusive rating was 78.7, the second-best mark in the league.

“It’s going to be interesting, because (Kelly) really believes in the running game,” said Ron Rivera, the head coach of the Carolina

Panthers. “And Carlos Hyde is a tremendous football player, that, when healthy, has shown his ability in this league. So he is most certainly a guy we have to watch.”

Kelly becomes the 49ers’ sixth head coach since 2003. The ones not named Jim Harbaugh are a combined 51-93 (.354).

The 49ers believe Kelly can get things back on the winning track — with or without new friends.

“I’m not in the conception business,” the coach said. “We’re just trying to play football.”

DANBROWN@ BAYAREANEWSGROUP.COM

T H E 49 E R S

Gentlemen, start your engines Playing defense for a Chip Kelly-coached team can be a daunting task. Let’s meet the taskmaster: Jim O’Neil

BY CA M I N M A N

LIKE ANY COACH PRAISING

COURTESY 49ERS

a player’s upside, new 49ers defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil stood at the media podium and commended rookie defensive lineman Ronald Blair’s ability “to find the soft shoulder” in an opposing line’s game.

Wait, the soft shoulder? That’s football jargon, and when asked to decode it, O’Neil energetically mimicked the demeanor of an offensive linemen getting bull rushed.

That’s the type of instruction and passion a youth-laden 49ers defense will need to get them through this season. There will be growing pains, and there will be a massive workload as a byproduct of coach Chip Kelly’s fast-break offense.

“When he’s in front of the room teaching, you can definitely see he’s stern, but he has that energy we need,” safety Antoine Bethea said. “Even on the field, he’s smiling, he’s running around, he’s talking trash. Pretty sure our defense can feed off that as well.”

O’Neil, 37, replaces Eric Mangini, who a year ago replaced Vic Fangio, the no-nonsense wizard who directed the 49ers’ dominant defenses from 2011-14.

“Jimmy O runs a bunch of complex stuff,” quarterback Blaine Gabbert said. “So, it keeps us on our toes (in practice).”

What the 49ers defense lacks in star power is what O’Neil’s aggressive schemes — and increasingly versatile players — must make up for this season.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys that are going to continue to develop as the season goes on,” O’Neil said. “If a guy that starts out on the second string Week 1, but Week 5 he makes a big jump and he’s better than the guy that started the year as a starter, that’s the guy we’re going to go with.”

Week 5 is when O’Neil might get back one of his best players: outside linebacker Aaron Lynch, who must serve a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.

O’Neil’s game plans will vary from week to week. Cornerbacks will flips sides, to match their speed and size to opposing wide receivers. The super-sized defensive line will rotate to stay fresh.

The linebackers will roam as they see fit — and wherever NaVorro Bowman can build off last year’s NFL-leading tackle totals.

Safety Eric Reid sees improvement in the O’Neil regime. “I know exactly what I’m doing and exactly what the guy next to me is doing,” Reid said. “When you feel that way, you can be confident about the way you break on the ball.”

Not everything goes as planned, however, and O’Neil experienced his share of that as the Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator the past two seasons. O’Neil previously coached Buffalo Bills linebackers (2013) and New York Jets defensive backs (2009-12) upon leaving the college ranks.

Injuries derailed the Browns’ defense last season, and they allowed the fourth-most points.

Coach Mike Pettine subsequently lost his job, and O’Neil found his next employer in the 49ers, but only after Kelly first offered the job to Houston Texans linebackers coach Mike Vrabel.

Regardless of who their coordinator is, the 49ers defenders are bracing for a lot of action, as was the case with the Eagles defenses in Kelly’s prior three seasons.

“It’s our job to embrace it,” Bowman said. “I’ve never met a defensive guy that didn’t want to be on the field. That’s more plays, more tackles, so it’s going to work out.”

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BIG THINGS AHEAD B Y CA M I N M A N

Y

ou could say they’re kind of a big deal. With the 6-foot-7 bookends of Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner wedged around 6-5 Quinton Dial, the 49ers’ potential starting defensive line is quite simply a load to behold.

“It’s a lot of man,” Dial says succinctly.

That trio’s combined weight: 910 pounds.

This is the massive mass of big men that general manager Trent Baalke thirsts for on draft day, which is a philosophy that jibes well with new coach Chip Kelly’s ideals.

“Our philosophy has always been: Big people beat up little people,” Kelly said shortly after being hired in January. “We’ve always wanted to be big. … It’s a big-person league.”

As Kelly knows, big guys aren’t as fragile. And as All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman knows, there are big benefits to playing behind behemoths.

“We have the biggest D-line right now,” Bowman said. “When you look at that, you want the linebackers to be free and run around and do the things they’re good at doing.”

Bowman is real good at tackling. He led the NFL at it last season, after recovering all of 2014 from a career-threatening knee injury. With a bigger front to hide behind, and with his knee closer to full strength, Bowman’s production should improve even more, for years to come.

Bowman recognized that when he signed a four-year, $44 million extension Aug. 3. Ray Lewis flourished in the later stages of his career while the Baltimore Ravens deployed a beefy defensive line, including in their Super Bowl

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The D-line trio of DeForest Buckner, left, Quinton Dial, center, and Arik Armstead totals 910 pounds and a collective wingspan that would impress a pterodactyl.

PATRICK TEHAN

XLVII win over the 49ers.

Armstead and Buckner are the 49ers’ top picks from the past two drafts. Former Oregon teammates and roommates, their similar build and aggressive mentality is the 49ers’ ideal recipe for disrupting offenses.

“It helps us being able to play with length and have more body to put on offensive linemen, so our linebackers can be free,” Armstead said.

After just two sacks and one start his rookie season, Armstead wowed observers throughout training camp, showing greater effort and physical dominance — kind of what you’d expect from a 17th-overall draft pick.

Left tackle Joe Staley says Armstead is “10 times” different from last year.

“He’s the first guy that jumps out at me as a guy on our defense who’s having a terrific camp,” Staley said. “Just his speed, his tempo, his urgency of practicing has been a lot better. He’s real physical and getting after everybody.”

Armstead and Buckner, who started together as freshman at Oregon in 2012, are thrilled to also reunite with their former coaches, Kelly and defensive line coach Jerry Azzinaro.

“Coach Azz likes guys with long arms,” Buckner said. “He really focuses on the little details about practicing and how to use our weapons, which are our long arms.”

Armstead and Buckner worked out together on Buckner’s native Oahu in July, and they did so with the Seattle Seahawks’ Michael Bennett, who plays bigger than his 6-4 frame suggests. Armstead and Buckner both have studied up on someone more their size: Ari-

zona Cardinals 6-8 lineman Calais Campbell, who has made the Pro Bowl the past two seasons.

The Armstead-Buckner bond is obvious with their Oregon connection. It’s also real. When they went to act in a McDonald’s commercial together Aug. 8, the producer veered off script and wanted to only shoot Buckner, who insisted that Armstead remain in the ad with him.

“We wanted to do it together, because we’re on the D-line together,” said Buckner, this year’s No. 7-overall draft pick.

Dial isn’t dwarfed by the Oregon duo — the Double Ducks, if you will — flanking him. At 318 pounds, he weighs more than either of them and is versatile enough to play nose tackle or on the edge.

“We push each other to come to work and get better, and we criticize each other so we don’t get complacent,” said Dial, who blossomed into a full-time starter last year and earned a contract extension in February. He was a fifth-round pick in 2013 and rehabilitated a foot injury his rookie year, after sparse playing time at Alabama.

As physically imposing as an Armstead-Dial-Buckner defensive front will be, the 49ers will rely on more than just those three in an expected rotation. Others in the mix are nose tackle Mike Purcell, rookie Ronald Blair, veteran Tony Jerod-Eddie and, if his rebuilt knee cooperates, Glenn Dorsey.

“It’ll be fun playing with a bunch of different people. We’re all real close,” Armstead said.

“They can mix up the lineup and I’m sure it will run smoothly.”

CINMAN@BAYAREANEWSGROUP.COM

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WEEK 1

Sept. 12 vs. Los Angeles The Chip Kelly era opens in prime time against the reborn Los Angeles Rams, who drafted Cal quarterback Jared Goff No. 1 overall. A home win over the Rams in last season’s finale (1916, overtime) kept the 49ers from going 0-6 in the NFC West.

WEEK 2

Sept. 18 at Carolina Last time in Charlotte on Jan. 12, 2014, the 49ers took a 23-10 divisional-round victory as Colin Kaepernick passed for a touchdown and ran for one. The Panthers have a few extra days of rest after opening in the NFL Kickoff game (and Super Bowl 50 rematch) at Denver.

WEEK 3

Sept. 25 at Seattle CenturyLink Field is the 49ers’ most haunted house, where they’ve lost their past five visits by a combined score of 140-39, including playoffs.

WEEK 4

Oct. 2 vs. Cowboys Carlos Hyde and his Ohio State backup in 2013, Ezekiel Elliott, figure to lead their offenses. If Tony Romo’s twice-repaired collar bone can’t withstand through three games,

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Seattle and Carolina, on the road, back to back? San Francisco has lost the last five to Pete Carroll’s Seahawks on the road, averaging a little more than a touchdown per game. Drew Brees and the Saints come to town in Week 9, right off a bye week for the 49ers. Ready for a pop quiz?

When was the last time the 49ers played in Los Angeles?

Hint: Steve Young was the quarterback! (see Week 16 for the answer)

the Cowboys do have Dak Prescott, a fourthround pick who the 49ers met with at the pre-draft combine.

WEEK 5

Oct. 6 vs. Arizona The NFC West’s reigning champs have improved annually since 2013 under Bruce Arians, going from 10-6 to 11-5 to 13-3.

WEEK 6

Oct. 16 at Buffalo

WEEK 10

WEEK 14

Nov. 13 at Arizona

Dec. 11 vs. NY Jets

It’s impossible for this year’s game to start as poorly last year’s, when Colin Kaepernick had two passes intercepted and returned for touchdowns in the opening minutes of a 47-7 rout.

This will be the Jets’ first road game in five weeks. The 49ers have dominated no other franchise more than the Jets (10-2 series lead).

WEEK 11

Nov. 20 vs.

New England

WEEK 15

Dec. 18 at Atlanta Last time there, the 49ers clinched a berth in Super Bowl XLVII. The Falcons will move into a new stadium next year, so this will be the 49ers’ last visit to the Georgia Dome, barring a playoff miracle.

This is only the 49ers’ fifth-ever visit here (the last was a 2008 win). The Bills led the league in rushing last year under offensive coordinator Greg Roman, formerly of the 49ers.

Tom Brady has never played the 49ers in his native Bay Area; a knee injury kept him out of the Patriots’ 2008 win at Candlestick Park.

The Patriots have reached at least the AFC Conference final each of the past five seasons.

WEEK 7

WEEK 12

Dec. 24 at Los Angeles

Oct. 23 vs. Tampa Bay

Nov. 27 at Miami

Jameis Winston, last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year runner-up, comes to town with new coach Dirk Koetter, who interviewed for the 49ers gig in January.

It’s new Dolphins coach Adam Gase’s revenge game, having been passed over for the 49ers’ post that mistakenly went to Jim Tomsula last year.

Steve Young completed 31 of 39 passes for a mere 355 yards and two touchdowns in the 49ers’ last trip to L.A. — technically, Anaheim — in a 34-19 win in 1994.

WEEK 9

WEEK 13

Jan. 1 vs. Seattle

Nov. 6 vs. New Orleans

Dec. 4 at Chicago

The 49ers last hosted the Saints in an epic, playoff battle in the 2011 season’s divisional round (a 36-32 win for the 49ers). Drew Brees is in his 16th season; Joe Montana and Steve Young each played 15.

49ers produced their 2015 season’s highlight at Soldier Field nearly a year earlier (Dec. 6), as Blaine Gabbert went deep to Torrey Smith for an overtime touchdown.

Levi’s Stadium has been too kind to the division-rival Seahawks, who’ve won 19-3 and 20-3 in their two trips. As a preseason Super Bowl favorite, will the Seahawks be resting their starters for the playoffs by this point?

WEEK 16

WEEK 17

— BY CAM INMAN

T H E 49 E R S

The season’s plotlines Can Chip Kelly calm coaching carousel?

Chip Kelly should restore order to a franchise on its third coach in three years. His offensive tendencies, college background and scrutinized personality fit more to the Jim Harbaugh mold than Kelly’s immediate successor, Jim Tomsula.

What is fallout of QB competition?

As Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick waged a quarterback competition, the rest of the 49ers focused on their own tasks. However, a quarterback’s leadership is ultimately needed, and serving as a willing spokesman is a key duty.

How will a healthier Bowman produce?

Linebacker NaVorro Bowman’s comeback last year paid off with the league’s most tackles and All-Pro status, and that production could climb even higher thanks to an improved supporting cast. It’s still a young unit, however, and Bowman must rally them.

Is Carlos Hyde a reliable catalyst?

The 49ers, with a run-oriented offense, can’t afford losing Carlos Hyde to injury again. He’s looked healthy since December foot surgery, but Michael Crabtree and Jimmie Ward are recent examples of how foot fractures can become a chronic issue.

WILL THESE S U B P LOT S UNFOLD? FANS TAKE AIM AT JED Owner Jed York has replaced the Seattle Seahawks as Enemy No. 1 to many 49ers fans during the franchise’s tailspin since 2014. Jim Harbaugh is missed, the team is .500 at Levi’s Stadium, and York gets blamed through vile Twitter mentions and angry airplane banners flying overhead of his prized stadium on gamedays.

THERE’S MONEY TO BURN The 49ers entered training camp with a league-high $49 million in salary-cap space.

NaVorro Bowman’s contract extension shaved that figure to $46.3 million, leaving plenty to spend on others’ extensions and next year’s free agents.

How deep is the home-grown roster?

After largely ignoring free agency, general manager Trent Baalke is using a roster stacked with several of his draft picks who must finally produce. He’s selected 44 players the past four drafts since the Super Bowl XLVII defeat.

—BY CAM INMAN

GETTY IMAGES BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

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Breaking down the season

BIGGEST GAMES ON THE CALENDAR Sept. 12 vs.

Rams: The 49ers’ most winnable game might be this one, against their reincarnated, in-state rival on “Monday Night Football.” Last year’s 20-3 season-opening win over the Vikings created false hope on that “MNF” stage.

PLAYERS WITH BREAKOUT POTENTIAL

PLAYERS ON THE HOT SEAT

ARIK ARMSTEAD

Defensive lineman had two sacks in sparse action as a rookie, not reflective of his massive potential to disrupt offenses alongside fellow 6-foot-7 Oregon product DeForest Buckner.

Sept. 18 at Panthers: The long-shot 49ers will try to upset the reigning NFC champs in Carolina’s home opener and gain momentum for the following week’s trip to Seattle.

Oct. 2 vs.

Cowboys: OK, they haven’t met in the playoffs since January 1995, but this is a storied rivalry. (The 49ers won 23-6 at home in last year’s preseason.)

Nov. 20 vs.

Patriots: San Mateo’s Tom Brady, after serving a four-game suspension to start the season, should be, ahem, pumped up to finally play his childhood heroes, the 49ers, in his native Bay Area.

JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO/ STAFF (SMITH); KARL MONDON/STAFF (REID); NHAT V. MEYER/ STAFF (BAALKE)

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JIMMIE WARD

TRENT BAALKE

BLAINE GABBERT

TORREY SMITH (ABOVE)

Rather than a third coaching change in three years, general manager Trent Baalke could be the next fall-guy if the tailspin continues.

Baalke’s fate could rest with his unproductive draft picks, a slew of whom are on the hot seat themselves, including tight end Vance McDonald, converted outside linebacker Tank Carradine and all the mid-to-late-round picks he used on offensive linemen, cornerbacks and wide receivers.

Going 3-5 as Kaepernick’s replacement last season didn’t inspire the masses. But Gabbert has won over his teammates with his leadership, and if he wins games this season, he’ll command a crazy new contract as a scheduled free agent.

Leading the league with 20.1 yards per reception in 2015 was somewhat expected in Smith’s first season as the 49ers’ prized freeagent acquisition. But he had a career-low 33 receptions, and that total must be doubled this year as the receiving corps’ undisputed leader.

ERIC REID

OTHER PLAYERS TO WATCH

BRUCE ELLINGTON

Despite only 19 catches in two seasons, Ellington envisions himself excelling the way Jordan Matthews did as the Eagles’ slot receiver under Chip Kelly.

ELI HAROLD

NAVORRO BOWMAN

QUINTON PATTON

ANTHONY DAVIS

TRAMAINE BROCK

Leading the league in tackles and reclaiming All-Pro status made for a nice comeback in 2015, but his physical prowess and rebuilt knee look way better entering this season.

With only one touchdown and 36 catches in three seasons, the energetic and versatile Patton could have a breakout year if he locks down a starting spot.

After an unexpected hiatus last season, Davis came back in great shape physically and mentally. If he’s not at his familiar right tackle spot, look for him at right guard.

As the 49ers most experienced and arguably best cornerback, Brock could be matched up against their opponents’ best receiver each week under the new scheme.

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Coaches want the 2014 first-round draft pick in the defensive backfield full time. Instead of just his nickel-back role, he could start at cornerback and perhaps even make cameos at safety.

A Pro Bowler his rookie season, Reid is determined to get back to that prestigious level.

He’s a well-spoken leader who knows a big year is needed for a big contract.

GARRETT CELEK

The 49ers didn’t give him an extension to be a modest role player.

Celek has shown signs of becoming a bona fide receiver, like his brother Brent has been in Philadelphia.

Blanked in the sack department as a rookie outside linebacker, he’ll have an immediate chance to flex his new muscles while Aaron Lynch serves a four-game suspension.

T H E 49 E R S

How will the NFC West stack up?

KEY NUMBERS

BY JIMMY DURKIN

28

1 2 3 4

ARIZONA CARDINALS

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

(Last year: 13-3, first place)

(Last year: 10-6, second place)

Bruce Arians has turned this franchise into a force, although they got drilled 49-15 in the NFC Championship Game at Carolina. Carson Palmer, 36, has terrific targets on offense. Tyrann Mathieu’s return from an ACL and pass rusher Chandler Jones’ arrival from the Patriots should bolster the defense.

Starting 4-5 last season cast doubt about this NFC West power’s longevity.

What will they be like now without Marshawn Lynch, Russell Okung, Bruce Irvin, Brandon Mebane, J.R. Sweezy and more?

49ERS

(Last year: 5-11, fourth place) Pictured: Anthony Davis

Sacks last season by the 49ers defense, its lowest total in 10 years

72

LOS ANGELES RAMS

(Last year: 7-9, third place)

Relocating brings challenges for a maligned franchise that’s undergone major roster moves. Cal’s Jared Goff becomes their long-term quarterback, but they’ve lost defensive stalwarts in Chris Long, James Laurinaitis and Janoris Jenkins. Jeff Fisher’s Rams record: 27-36-1.

Wins in Chip Kelly’s 100 games as a head coach at the University of Oregon (46-7) and with the Philadelphia Eagles (26-21)

80 Consecutive regular-season starts by both right tackle Joe Staley and wide receiver Torrey Smith

84.5 Phil Dawson’s fieldgoal percentage, the second-best among kickers with at least 300 field goals

154 Tackles NaVorro Bowman made last season to lead the NFL, after missing 2014 while recovering from knee surgery

POSITIONS OF CONCERN QUARTERBACK

WIDE RECEIVER

OFFENSIVE LINE

Chip Kelly needed two quarterbacks each season with the Philadelphia Eagles (2013-15), so both Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick better be ready regardless of how this summer’s competition ended.

With Anquan Boldin gone in free agency (Detroit Lions), the 49ers need a new Mr. Reliable. Torrey Smith assumes the No. 1 role, but his supporting cast is young and unheralded.

Left tackle Joe Staley might be the line’s only remaining starter from their 2015 opening lineup. Right tackle Anthony Davis’ comeback, center Daniel Kilgore’s improved health and the arrival of guards Zane Beadles and Joshua Garnett could remedy a troubled unit.

INSIDE LINEBACKER

Finding the best sidekick to NaVorro Bowman prompted defensive coaches to debate this spot more than any other in camp. Paging Patrick Willis!

936 Tackles by Antoine Bethea in his career, the most among active defensive backs since 2006

GETTY IMAGES (ARIANS, LYNCH, FISHER); NHAT V. MEYER/STAFF (DAVIS) BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

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T

here’s little doubt running back Carlos Hyde will be the 49ers’ offensive catalyst this season under new coach Chip Kelly.

Even though he’s recovering from offseason foot surgery, Hyde hasn’t been shy about setting a high bar for his comeback season.

How high? Try 1,500 yards.

That’s a total last eclipsed for the 49ers a decade ago by Frank Gore.

We caught up with Hyde during the dog days of summer for a wide-ranging interview about what makes him tick:

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3+272*5 $3+ %< 3$75,&. 7(+$1

So, 1,500 rushing yards this season ...

Yeah, I feel that 1,500-yard goal is still there. I feel it more, though, now that I’ve been practicing and running with the line. I feel it more. I feel it can really happen.

Compare your mindset to two years ago as a rookie.

I was just trying to get a feel for the game, just trying to learn how to be a pro on the field and off the field.

What is life like off the field?

I have a girlfriend. No kids. I have a dog. That’s my son, Max. When did you get him?

I got him right before the (2014 season-opening) Dallas game, actually. It was either between a Rolex or a dog. I chose Max. I was like, “I’m out here by myself, so I might as well get somebody who keeps me company.”

Did you look at Rolexs?

I didn’t. I just looked right into dogs. I wanted a pit bull, but then I was like, “Nah, I want a little dog that looks like a pit bull.”

Max, a Frenchie, was like the closest thing, to me.

Does it surprise you how much you love a dog?

No, I’ve always loved dogs and always wanted my own. My dog

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CA R LO S H Y D E Q& A

is cool, though. My dog isn’t like a dog who jumps on you, like you go over to somebody’s house and it’s, “Yo, get your dog down.” My dog is like a little human. He just relaxes in his own little world. He’s just chilling. That’s why I’m so chill.

57

Hyde was the 57th overall pick (second round) of the 2014 NFL draft.

How about a cat?

I’m not really a cat person. My girl, she loves cats. I don’t think I’ll ever get a cat. I’m a dog guy. I want a pit bull. Maybe when I buy a house, I’ll get a pit bull.

Will you buy a house when you get your next contract?

I’m going to buy my mom a house first.

You grew up with her near Cincinnati, then moved in with your grandmother in Florida?

Yeah, I went to high school my sophomore, junior and senior year in Naples (Florida).

And you weren’t sure you were going to play football?

I wasn’t playing football when I moved there. I wasn’t thinking about it. I was thinking about getting away (from Ohio). Get away from all the bad stuff and take a different route.

How thankful are you that you did that?

Shoot, big-time thankful. Look at where it got me.

Was it hard being away from your mom?

It was. That’s the reason I chose Ohio State, to be closer to her.

Where do you want to buy her a house?

Wherever she wants to live. …

I’ve put her through so much that my goal has always been to do whatever I have to do to take care of her. Right now, I have the opportunity to take care of her for the rest of her life, and my life.

168

Hyde rushed for a career-high 168 yards in the 2015 season opener. He didn’t break the 100-yard mark the rest of the season.

31

At Ohio State, Hyde rushed for 31 touchdowns over his junior and senior seasons.

You bought her a car already?

That was your sophomore year?

too many players get to do this.

Yeah, for Mother’s Day, my rookie year.

Yeah, and I was running with the D-linemen and I was way faster than them, so the head coach said, “You’re just going to play running back.” ... I just wanted to hit people. I wasn’t really trying to run the ball. I wanted to hit people.

You hit it off right away?

You said you put her through a lot of stuff. Like what?

Uh, I got us evicted. We were pretty much homeless. That was a rough time right there. We didn’t really know where to go. My mom made something happen.

How did you get evicted?

By being bad. Being a bad-ass kid.

How old were you?

No more than 12. Bad. Doing illegal stuff ?

Not a bad kid; a bad-ass kid. Like those kids you’d be like, “No, you cannot hang out with him. Keep your ass away from him.”

Did you get in fights?

Fights. Everything.

Drugs?

Not drugs. Hell, my mom would kill me if I was into drugs. Fighting, yeah, stealing and stuff.

Where did you go once evicted?

Finneytown, Ohio. A terrible place. I ended up running with the wrong crowd there, too, for like a year. Then I was, “I’ve got to get out of here.”

Once in Florida, did you take up football again to see where it could take you?

No, I didn’t go there looking to play football. I just walked past the weight room one day and the defensive line coach stopped me. I sat down and had a conversation with them about where I was from and how I played football before and how I wanted to play defense. They said, “Cool, try out for the team.” So I tried out trying to play D-line.

That translates to your style now.

I do want to hit people. I’ve got to be a little smarter about it now, in the NFL. When you had foot surgery in December, were you scared because your feet are your livelihood?

I was more scared about the part of being put to sleep (under anesthesia). I just wanted to go back to playing football. I’m a hardheaded kid, so I would have sat out until my foot healed on its own. They said the surgery would help it out and make it stronger.

Do you like this offense and Chip Kelly?

I love Chip. Chip’s a great coach, man.

Hey, did you guys double date to a Warriors game?

We did. We did. I’ve run into Chip a few times outside of football.

How come?

We knew the same person who had a suite. My agent actually took me to a golf event and I met a guy there, and he was, “Do you want to come to a Warriors game? I can get you and your girl a ticket. Coach Kelly might be coming too, though.” I was like, “All right, that’s fine.” It was cool.

We had a good time. Me and Chip sat next to each other in the suite, then at halftime we went down to get food. We ate, left there and sat right behind the floor seats watching the game. We met the owner of the Warriors. We had a great time. Hanging out with my head coach at the Warriors game — not

Right off the bat, to me, he was a cool dude. He hasn’t given me a reason at all to think he’s a bad person. Why would I, because of (the media)? I love the guy. I think he’s a great coach, and I’m happy he’s here.

Not to knock last year’s coach (Jim Tomsula), but does this seem more stable?

I don’t think it’s knocking the coach. It was coach Tomsula’s first year. Chip Kelly’s been a head coach. This isn’t his first rodeo.

He’s been in this position before.

He knows what it is. One thing about Chip Kelly: Everything is organized, to the T. We went bowling yesterday and everything was organized. Stuff like that is good to see. It just helps life out so much, when it’s already mapped out for you and you just need to follow the plan.

How did you bowl?

My highest was a 151. That was all right. I’m not a great bowler.

Quinton Patton bowled like a 218.

Chip did good, too, like 150. It was fun. You’d be surprised how many people can bowl.

Do you have other hobbies?

I’ve been fishing out here, catching them sharks, in the bay. I’m not really a shark person, though.

I love going fishing in Miami, catching mahi-mahi and all those good fish. I’m an ocean dude.

You don’t have your own boat in Miami, do you?

Not yet. One day. I’m going to buy my house and get a boat, too.

So you have to buy your mom a house, yourself a house, a boat, and another dog. And a Rolex?

I don’t know about the Rolex.

CINMAN@BAYAREANEWSGROUP.COM

BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

NFL KICKOFF

55

T H E 49 E R S

Projected roster

56

NO. NAME

POS.

HT.

WT.

AGE

EXP.

COLLEGE

2

Blaine Gabbert

QB

6-4

235

26

6

Missouri

4

Phil Dawson

K

5-11

200

41

18

Texas

5

Bradley Pinion

P

6-5

229

22

2

Clemson

7

Colin Kaepernick

QB

6-4

230

28

6

Nevada

10

Bruce Ellington

WR

5-9

197

25

3

11

Quinton Patton

WR

6-0

204

26

13

Aaron Burbridge

WR

6-1

208

14

Jerome Simpson

WR

6-2

22 Mike Davis

RB

23 Will Redmond

OF NOTE

NO. NAME

POS.

HT.

WT.

AGE

EXP.

COLLEGE

57

LB

6-0

240

29

5

Washburn

58 Eli Harold

LB

6-3

265

22

2

Virginia

61

Andrew Tiller

G

6-4

324

27

4

Syracuse

62 Ian Silberman

G

6-5

306

23

2

Boston College

South Carolina

63 Tony Jerod-Eddie

DT

6-5

301

26

4

Texas A&M

4

Louisiana Tech

64 Mike Purcell

NT

6-3

303

25

3

Wyoming

22

R

Michigan State

65 Joshua Garnett

G

6-5

321

22

R

Stanford

190

30

7

Coastal Carolina

67 Daniel Kilgore

C

6-3

308

28

6

Appalachian State

5-9

217

23

2

South Carolina

68 Zane Beadles

G

6-4

305

29

7

Utah

CB

6-0

186

22

R

Mississippi State

74

Joe Staley

T

6-5

315

31

10

Central Michigan

23 Kelvin Taylor

RB

5-10

205

22

R

Florida

76 Anthony Davis

T

6-5

323

26

6

Rutgers

24 Shaun Draughn

RB

5-11

205

28

5

North Carolina

77

Trent Brown

T

6-8

355

23

2

Florida

25 Jimmie Ward

DB

5-11

193

25

3

Northern Illinois

78 John Theus

T

6-6

303

22

R

Georgia

26 Tramaine Brock

CB

5-10

197

28

7

Belhaven

82 Torrey Smith

WR

6-0

205

27

6

Maryland

27 Keith Reaser

CB

6-0

190

25

2

Florida Atlantic

84 Blake Bell

TE

6-6

252

25

2

Oklahoma

28 Carlos Hyde

RB

6-0

235

24

3

Ohio State

86 Kyle Nelson

TE/LS

6-2

240

29

5

New Mexico State

29 Jaquiski Tartt

S

6-1

221

24

2

Samford

88 Garrett Celek

TE

6-5

252

28

5

Michigan State

33 Rashard Robinson

CB

6-1

177

21

R

Louisiana State

89 Vance McDonald

TE

6-4

267

26

4

Rice

35 Eric Reid

S

6-1

213

24

4

Louisiana State

90 Glenn Dorsey

DL

6-1

297

31

9

Louisiana State

36 Dontae Johnson

CB

6-2

200

24

3

North Carolina St ate

91

DL

6-7

292

22

2

Oregon

41

S

5-11

206

32

11

Howard

92 Quinton Dial

DT

6-5

318

26

4

Alabama

43 Chris Davis

CB

5-10

201

25

3

Auburn

95 Tank Carradine

DT

6-4

295

26

4

Florida State

44 Marcus Rush

LB

6-3

251

25

1

Michigan State

98 Ronald Blair

DL

6-4

270

23

R

Appalachian State

49 Bruce Miller

FB

6-2

248

29

6

Central Florida

99 DeForest Buckner

DL

6-7

300

22

R

Oregon

50 Nick Bellore

LB

6-1

250

27

6

Central Michigan

SUSPENDED (FOUR GAMES)

51

LB

6-2

236

25

4

Penn State

59 Aaron Lynch

6-6

270

23

3

South Florida

53 NaVorro Bowman

LB

6-0

242

28

7

Penn State

RESERVE/NON-FOOTBALL INJURY LIST

54 Ray-Ray Armstrong

LB

6-3

220

25

4

Miami (FL)

93 Ian Williams

305

26

6

Notre Dame

55 Ahmad Brooks

LB

6-3

259

32

11

Virginia

Antoine Bethea

Gerald Hodges

NFL KICKOFF

BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

Because this edition went to press before the deadline for final cuts, this is our projected 53-man roster.

Michael Wilhoite

Arik Armstead

LB

NT

6-1

T H E L E AG U E B Y J E R RY M c D O N A L D

AFC

POWER RANKINGS

1. New England Just watch the Patriots open at worst 3-1 with Jimmy Garappolo and then get an octane boost when Tom Brady comes off suspension.

Brady is motivated enough under normal circumstances. Bill Belichick will use the suspension time to get the NFL’s 30th-ranked running game on track.

Sept. 11 at Arizona Sept. 18 Miami Sept. 22 Houston Oct. 2 Buffalo Oct. 9 at Cleveland Oct. 16 Cincinnati Oct. 23 at Pittsburgh Oct. 30 at Buffalo

Nov. 13 Seattle Nov. 20at San Francisco Nov. 27 at NY Jets Dec. 4 LA Rams Dec. 12 Baltimore Dec. 18 at Denver Dec. 24 NY Jets Jan. 1 at Miami

Tom Brady (12) is still the leader of the pack for Patriots QBs, but second-round pick Jimmy Garoppolo (10) will have to step up to keep the Patriots’ highpowered offense on track while Brady serves a four-game suspension.

2. Pittsburgh

3. Indianapolis

4. Denver

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown comprise the NFL’s best three-headed offensive monster. The Steelers will score early and often, count on it. Where Pittsburgh needs to make its biggest improvement is on defense, and in the last two drafts they’ve taken 11 players on defense and four on offense.

This is the year a healthy Andrew Luck takes his place alongside Brady, Rodgers, Roethlisberger and Brees among the NFL’s elite at quarterback. At least that’s what the Colts were counting on when he was guaranteed $87 million. Defensively, new coordinator Ted Monachino can be counted on to upgrade a scheme that was too vanilla.

The Broncos emptied a bank vault for Von Miller, who had one of the most dominant postseasons of any player in NFL history. Now the trick is for Miller to reach a J.J. Watt level of consistency. It says here that Denver also made the right call in letting Brock Osweiler go and getting Mark Sanchez as a bridge to Paxton Lynch.

Sept. 12 at Washington Sept. 18 Cincinnati Sept. 25at Philadelphia Oct. 2 Kansas City Oct. 9 NY Jets Oct. 16 at Miami Oct. 23 New England Nov. 6 at Baltimore

Sept. 11 Detroit Sept. 18 at Denver Sept. 25 San Diego Oct. 2 at Jacksonville Oct. 9 Chicago Oct. 16 at Houston Oct. 23 at Tennessee Oct. 30 Kansas City

Sept. 8 Carolina Sept. 18 Indianapolis Sept. 25 at Cincinnati Oct. 2 at Tampa Bay Oct. 9 Atlanta Oct. 13 at San Diego Oct. 24 Houston Oct. 30 San Diego

Nov. 13 Dallas Nov. 20 at Cleveland Nov. 24 at Indianapolis Dec. 4 NY Giants Dec. 11 at Buffalo Dec. 18 at Cincinnati Dec. 25 Baltimore Jan. 1 Cleveland

Nov. 6 Nov. 20 Nov. 24 Dec. 5 Dec. 11 Dec. 18 Dec. 24 Jan. 1

at Green Bay Tennessee Pittsburgh at NY Jets Houston at Minnesota at Oakland Jacksonville

Nov. 6 at Oakland Nov. 13 at New Orleans Nov. 27 Kansas City Dec. 4 at Jacksonville Dec. 11 at Tennessee Dec. 18 New England Dec. 25 at Kansas City Jan. 1 Oakland

BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

NFL KICKOFF

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T H E L E AG U E

Andy Dalton

Ryan Fitzpatrick

5. Cincinnati How will the Bengals bounce back from one of the most epic meltdowns ever seen in the postseason? Probably by doing some of the same things in terms of discipline, but the fact is Cincinnati still has plenty of talent.

Quarterback Andy Dalton, with 25 touchdown passes and seven interceptions, had his best season but was hurt for the playoffs.

Sept. 11 at NY Jets Sept. 18 at Pittsburgh Sept. 25 Denver Sept. 29 Miami Oct. 9 at Dallas Oct. 16 at New England Oct. 23 Cleveland Oct. 30 Washington

58

NFL KICKOFF

Nov. 14 Nov. 20 Nov. 27 Dec. 4 Dec. 11 Dec. 18 Dec. 24 Jan. 1

BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

at NY Giants Buffalo at Baltimore Philadelphia at Cleveland Pittsburgh at Houston Baltimore

The Raiders have a formidable young core in Derek Carr and Khalil Mack, above.

6. Raiders

7. Kansas City

8. New York Jets

Everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trendy pick for the playoffs has completely remade itself over a three-year period. In 2013, it was a struggle to find 35 players worthy of an NFL roster let alone 53.

No longer. The quarterback (Derek Carr) and the pass rusher (Khalil Mack) get most of the publicity, but the Raiders actually look to be without a glaring weakness anywhere.

Alex Smith is the perfect quarterback for the Chiefs because no matter who the coach is, their organizational strength has been their ability to take the ball and not give it away.

Kansas City was a plus-14 in turnover ratio last year, and their personnel sets up nicely to do it again.

The Jets improved by six games in going from Rex Ryan to Todd Bowles, in large part because of Ryan Fitzpatrick, who passed for 3,905 yards and 31 touchdowns. If Matt Forte has one or two good years left, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an upgrade over the departed Chris Ivory. Jets have as physical a defensive front as there is in the NFL, led by Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson.

Sept. 11 at New Orleans Sept. 18 Atlanta Sept. 25 at Tennessee Oct. 2 at Baltimore Oct. 9 San Diego Oct. 16 Kansas City Oct. 23 at Jacksonville Oct. 30 at Tampa Bay

Sept. 11 San Diego Sept. 18 at Houston Sept. 25 NY Jets Oct. 2 at Pittsburgh Oct. 16 at Oakland Oct. 23 New Orleans Oct. 30 at Indianapolis Nov. 6 Jacksonville

Sept. 11 Cincinnati Sept. 15 at Buffalo Sept. 25 at Kansas City Oct. 2 Seattle Oct. 9 at Pittsburgh Oct. 17 at Arizona Oct. 23 Baltimore Oct. 30 at Cleveland

Nov. 6 Denver Nov. 21 Houston Nov. 27 Carolina Dec. 4 Buffalo Dec. 8 at Kansas City Dec. 18 at San Diego Dec. 24 Indianapolis Jan. 1 at Denver

Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Nov. 27 Dec. 4 Dec. 8 Dec. 18 Dec. 25 Jan. 1

at Carolina Tampa Bay at Denver at Atlanta Oakland Tennessee Denver at San Diego

Nov. 6 at Miami Nov. 13 LA Rams Nov. 27 New England Dec. 5 Indianapolis Dec. 11at San Francisco Dec. 17 Miami Dec. 24at New England Jan. 1 Buffalo Bills

T H E L E AG U E

J.J. Watt

9. Houston Lots of warning signs going in to 2016. J.J. Watt has a bad back, Brock Osweiler an overstuffed wallet and DeAndre Hopkins looks as if he’s got a major pout coming on over his contract. The Texans will need a lot out of free agent back Lamar Miller if they hope to defend their AFC South title and go back to the playoffs.

Sept. 11 Chicago Sept. 18 Kansas City Sept. 22at New England Oct. 2 Tennessee Oct. 9 at Minnesota Oct. 16 Indianapolis Oct. 24 at Denver Oct. 30 Detroit

59

NFL KICKOFF

Nov. 13 at Jacksonville Nov. 21 at Oakland Nov. 27 San Diego Dec. 4 at Green Bay Dec. 11 at Indianapolis Dec. 18 Jacksonville Dec. 24 Cincinnati Jan. 1 at Tennessee

BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

Blake Bortles

Can the Ryan brothers turn around a Bills defense that ranked only 16th against the run last season?

Head coach Rex, right, brought on twin brother Rob to help right the ship.

10. Baltimore

11. Buffalo

12. Jacksonville

Terrell Suggs is attempting to come back from a torn Achilles’ as a 14-year veteran, and Elvis Dumervil showed the strain of not having Suggs on the other side. This simply isn’t the Ravens we’re used to seeing on defense, and free agent safety Eric Weddle may or may not have a lot left. Joe Flacco is solid, but never ascended to the level his 2012 postseason seemed to suggest.

Rex Ryan’s reputation as a defensive guru took a major hit when he took the Bills job and Buffalo promptly got worse on defense — finishing a mediocre 16th against the run and getting only 21 sacks in 16 games. Rex thinks bringing twin brother Rob on staff and having a second year to institute his system will make the difference.

What is it with the Jaguars and injured players? Edge rusher Dante Fowler, No. 3 overall pick in 2015, was lost for the season the first time he worked out. This time Jacksonville simply drafted a player who was already hurt — UCLA linebacker Myles Jack in the second round. Quarterback Blake Bortles must prove his good stat line was more than simply piling up yardage in garbage time.

Sept. 11 Buffalo Bills Sept. 18 at Cleveland Sept. 25at Jacksonville Oct. 2 Oakland Oct. 9 Washington Oct. 16 at NY Giants Oct. 23 at NY Jets Nov. 6 Pittsburgh

Sept. 11 at Baltimore Sept. 15 NY Jets Sept. 25 Arizona Oct. 2 at New England Oct. 9 at LA Rams Oct. 16 San Francisco Oct. 23 at Miami Oct. 30 New England

Sept. 11 Green Bay Sept. 18 at San Diego Sept. 25 Baltimore Oct. 2 Indianapolis Oct. 16 at Chicago Oct. 23 Oakland Oct. 27 at Tennessee Nov. 6 at Kansas City

Nov. 10 Cleveland Nov. 20 at Dallas Nov. 27 Cincinnati Dec. 4 Miami Dec. 12 at New England Dec. 18 Philadelphia Dec. 25 at Pittsburgh Jan. 1 at Cincinnati

Nov. 7 Nov. 20 Nov. 27 Dec. 4 Dec. 11 Dec. 18 Dec. 24 Jan. 1

at Seattle at Cincinnati Jacksonville at Oakland Pittsburgh Cleveland Miami at NY Jets

Nov. 13 Houston Nov. 20 at Detroit Nov. 27 at Buffalo Dec. 4 Denver Dec. 11 Minnesota Dec. 18 at Houston Dec. 24 Tennessee Jan. 1 at Indianapolis

T H E L E AG U E

13. Miami It’s pretty much assumed bringing in Adam Gase as head coach will change things in Miami when it comes to playing offense.

Of course, Joe Philbin had an excellent reputation, too, and it was mostly Aaron Rodgers that built it. Is Gase a guru who can make Ryan Tannehill something special or was he simply the guy who pointed Peyton Manning to the field with the Broncos?

Sept. 11 at Seattle Sept. 18at New England Sept. 25 Cleveland Sept. 29 at Cincinnati Oct. 9 Tennessee Oct. 16 Pittsburgh Oct. 23 Buffalo Nov. 6 NY Jets

Nov. 13 at San Diego Nov. 20 at LA Rams Nov. 27 San Francisco Dec. 4 at Baltimore Dec. 11 Arizona Dec. 17 at NY Jets Dec. 24 at Buffalo Jan. 1 New England

Hue Jackson

Veteran Chargers QB Phillip Rivers isn’t afraid to throw the ball all over the field, but does he have the supporting cast to have a successful season? Our rankings say no.

14. San Diego

15. Tennessee

16. Cleveland

This was not a good team in any way, and the Chargers pretty much are going with the status quo unless you count defensive end Brandon Mebane as a big-ticket item.

Quarterback Philip Rivers will spread the ball around enough to make things interesting on occasion, but it’s not looking good for coach Mike McCoy in a make-or-break year.

Not exactly the greatest show on turf in Nashville, with an attack that will center on plow horse running backs DeMarco Murray and Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry. If they can’t average four yards per carry, Marcus Mariota will take a beating. And since when is continuity a good thing on a 3-13 team with the retention of interim coach Mike Mularkey?

Hue Jackson wanted a second chance at being a head coach so bad he took on the worst roster in the NFL and is working for a front office more rooted in analytics than securing football talent. Jackson did things with Darren McFadden and Darrius HeywardBey that no other coach could do. He probably wishes he had both on his current roster.

Sept. 11 at Kansas City Sept. 18 Jacksonville Sept. 25 at Indianapolis Oct. 2 New Orleans Oct. 9 at Oakland Oct. 13 Denver Oct. 23 at Atlanta Oct. 30 at Denver

Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 27

Sept. 11 at Philadelphia Sept. 18 Baltimore Sept. 25 at Miami Oct. 2 at Washington Oct. 9 New England Oct. 16 at Tennessee Oct. 23 at Cincinnati Oct. 30 NY Jets

Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 27 Dec. 4 Dec. 11 Dec. 18 Dec. 24 Jan. 1

Tennessee Miami at Houston Tampa Bay at Carolina Oakland at Cleveland Kansas City

Minnesota at Detroit Oakland at Houston at Miami Cleveland Indianapolis Jacksonville

Nov. 6 at San Diego Nov. 13 Green Bay Nov. 20 at Indianapolis Nov. 27 at Chicago Dec. 11 Denver Dec. 18 at Kansas City Dec. 24 at Jacksonville Jan. 1 Houston

Nov. 6 Dallas Nov. 10 at Baltimore Nov. 20 Pittsburgh Nov. 27 NY Giants Dec. 11 Cincinnati Dec. 18 at Buffalo Dec. 24 San Diego Jan. 1 at Pittsburgh

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NFL KICKOFF

GETTY IMAGES

Adam Gase

60

T H E L E AG U E

BY JERRY MCDONALD

NFC

POWER RANKINGS

GETTY IMAGES

1. Seattle With Marshawn Lynch retired, the ball, as well as the Seahawks offense, belongs to Russell Wilson. All he’s done over the last two seasons is throw 54 touchdown passes, 15 interceptions and rush for 1,402 yards. So the Seahawks offense is in good hands. As for the defense, it remains one of the NFL’s best.

Sept. 11 Miami Sept. 18 at LA Rams Sept. 25 San Francisco Oct. 2 at New York Oct. 16 Atlanta Oct. 23 at Arizona Oct. 30 at New Orleans Nov. 7 Buffalo Bills

61

NFL KICKOFF

Nov. 13 at New England Nov. 20 Philadelphia Nov. 27 at Tampa Bay Dec. 4 Carolina Dec. 11 at Green Bay Dec. 15 LA Rams Dec. 24 Arizona Jan. 1 at San Francisco

BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

Seattle’s Russell Wilson may not be as flashy as other QBs in the league, but he gets the job done.

With a stout defense, that may be all the Seahawks need to make a run.

2. Green Bay

3. Carolina

4. Arizona

Don’t be deceived by numbers that were relatively pedestrian by the usual standards of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. With Jordy Nelson returning, plus another year with his receiving corps, Rodgers should restore his status as the NFL’s top quarterback. Defensively, the Packers wisely moved Clay Mathews back to outside linebacker where he can pair with Julius Peppers to torment quarterbacks.

It won’t be the clear and easy ride to the NFC title that it was a year ago, but Cam Newton is rivaled only by Seattle’s Wilson as a passerrunner and Newton has the size of a tight end.

The Panthers have thrived through developing their own talent, and Kawann Short is one of the top defensive linemen in the NFL.

Carson Palmer has been around long enough to bounce back from a horrendous NFC championship game when he turned the ball over six times (four interceptions, two lost fumbles), but every mistake will be magnified because of it. Additions up front of Chandler Jones from New England and the drafting of Robert Nkemdiche have a boom or bust feel.

Sept. 11 at Jacksonville Sept. 18 at Minnesota Sept. 25 Detroit Oct. 9 NY Giants Oct. 16 Dallas Oct. 20 Chicago Oct. 30 at Atlanta Nov. 6 Indianapolis

Sept. 8 at Denver Sept. 18 San Francisco Sept. 25 Minnesota Oct. 2 at Atlanta Oct. 10 Tampa Bay Oct. 16 at New Orleans Oct. 30 Arizona Nov. 6 at LA Rams

Sept. 11 New England Sept. 18 Tampa Bay Sept. 25 at Buffalo Bills Oct. 2 LA Rams Oct. 6 at San Francisco Oct. 17 New York Jets Oct. 23 Seattle Oct. 30 at Carolina

Nov. 13 at Tennessee Nov. 20 at Washington Nov. 28 at Philadelphia Dec. 4 Houston Dec. 11 Seattle Dec. 18 at Chicago Dec. 24 Minnesota Jan. 1 at Detroit

Nov. 13 Kansas City Nov. 17 New Orleans Nov. 27 at Oakland Dec. 4 at Seattle Dec. 11 San Diego Dec. 19 at Washington Dec. 24 Atlanta Jan. 1 at Tampa Bay

Nov. 13 San Francisco Nov. 20 at Minnesota Nov. 27 at Atlanta Dec. 4 Washington Dec. 11 at Miami Dec. 18 New Orleans Dec. 24 at Seattle Jan. 1 at LA Rams

T H E L E AG U E

Teddy Bridgewater

5. Minnesota In a league where there is plenty of shoddy quarterback play, there is something to be said for a solid game manager. That’s what Teddy Bridgewater is and likely will always be. If he stays away from turnovers, Adrian Peterson excels and the Vikings defense takes a step up under coach Mike Zimmer, the Vikings will remain playoff worthy.

Sept. 11 at Tennessee Sept. 18 Green Bay Sept. 25 at Carolina Oct. 3 NY Giants Oct. 9 Houston Oct. 23 at Philadelphia Oct. 31 at Chicago Nov. 6 Detroit

Nov. 13 at Washington Nov. 20 Arizona Nov. 24 at Detroit Dec. 1 Dallas Dec. 11 at Jacksonville Dec. 18 Indianapolis Dec. 24 at Green Bay Jan. 1 Chicago

Kirk Cousins

He’s back!

Despite the offseason rumors, Sean Payton, the man who brought a Super Bowl title to New Orleans six years ago, will again lead the Saints.

But will his defense be good enough to make them a contender?

6. New Orleans

7. Dallas

8. Washington

After a dramatic few days where it seemed Sean Payton would wind up coaching someplace else, he was brought back in hopes that he could rekindle the magic with Drew Brees and put the Saints back on top.

As prolific as Brees still is, New Orleans needs coordinator Dennis Allen to put forth a more consistent defense or it will be another succession of games where 28 points might not be enough.

Owner Jerry Jones sure can pick ‘em. The Cowboys signed Greg Hardy last year after a suspension for domestic violence, and three players — linebackers Rolando McClain and Randy Gregory and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence — open the season on suspension.

But the Cowboys may have the best offensive line in football, running back Ezekiel Elliott and a healthy Tony Romo at quarterback. They’re in good shape for a revival.

Time to see if Kirk Cousins is really as good as the 24-to-3 touchdown pass-to-interception ratio he had in the last 11 games and if he can beat a team with a winning record.

Washington hedged its bets, giving him the franchise tag rather than a long-term deal. If general manager Scot McCloughan retains his touch in terms of player acquisition and Daniel Snyder stays out of the way, a division title repeat isn’t out of the question.

Sept. 11 Oakland Sept. 18 at NY Giants Sept. 26 Atlanta Oct. 2 at San Diego Oct. 16 Carolina Oct. 23 at Kansas City Oct. 30 Seattle Nov. 6 at San Francisco

Sept. 11 NY Giants Sept. 18 at Washington Sept. 25 Chicago Oct. 2 at San Francisco Oct. 9 Cincinnati Oct. 16 at Green Bay Oct. 30 Philadelphia Nov. 6 at Cleveland

Sept. 12 Pittsburgh Sept. 18 Dallas Sept. 25 at NY Giants Oct. 2 Cleveland Oct. 9 at Baltimore Oct. 16 Philadelphia Oct. 23 at Detroit Oct. 30 at Cincinnati

Nov. 13 Denver Nov. 17 at Carolina Nov. 27 LA Rams Dec. 4 Detroit Dec. 11 at Tampa Bay Dec. 18 at Arizona Dec. 24 Tampa Bay Jan. 1 at Atlanta

Nov. 13 at Pittsburgh Nov. 20 Baltimore Nov. 24 Washington Dec. 1 at Minnesota Dec. 11 at NY Giants Dec. 18 Tampa Bay Dec. 26 Detroit Jan. 1 at Philadelphia

Nov. 13 Minnesota Nov. 20 Green Bay Nov. 24 at Dallas Dec. 4 at Arizona Dec. 11 at Philadelphia Dec. 19 Carolina Dec. 24 at Chicago Jan. 1 New York Giants GETTY IMAGES

BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

NFL KICKOFF

62

T H E L E AG U E

Eli Manning

9. New York Giants Having a two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback in Eli Manning counts for a lot, but it’s not enough to prevail if two areas remain the status quo under new coach Ben McAdoo — the Giants’ running game and their ability to rush the passer. The Giants had only five rushing touchdowns all year and eight runs of 20 or more yards. To help a pass rush that had only 23 sacks, free agent Olivier Vernon will be counted upon to restore an area that contributed the last two championships.

Sept. 11 at Dallas Sept. 18 New Orleans Sept. 25 Washington Oct. 3 at Minnesota Oct. 9 at Green Bay Oct. 16 Baltimore Oct. 23 at LA Rams Nov. 6 Philadelphia

Nov. 14 Cincinnati Nov. 20 Chicago Nov. 27 at Cleveland Dec. 4 at Pittsburgh Dec. 11 Dallas Dec. 18 Detroit Dec. 22 at Philadelphia Jan. 1 at Washington

Jared Goff

When superstar Falcons receiver Julio Jones puts on the afterburners, there’s smoke, and usually a defensive back left in his wake.

The Falcons are hoping that QB Matt Ryan can step up his game to help Jones find the end zone more often.

10. Atlanta

11. Chicago

12. Los Angeles

It used to be people wanted quarterback Matt Ryan to take the next step from good to great. After 16 interceptions and 12 fumbles a year ago, Falcons fans would probably just as soon see Ryan go back to being good. If Year 2 with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan can revive Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones remains unstoppable, Atlanta could make a playoff push so long as coach Dan Quinn’s defense can put some pressure on the quarterback.

Quarterback Jay Cutler was OK and needs second-year wide out Kevin White to step up and join Amari Cooper as the top receiver in his draft class. Running back Matt Forte gives way to Jeremy Langford and there is no assurance the running game will be anything special. Perhaps strangest of all last season from a team coached by John Fox and with Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator — just 17 forced turnovers in 16 games.

Quarterback Jared Goff, a relatively unassuming Cal and Marin Catholic High product, will eventually be handed the keys to a city that demands a lot out of its stars. How could the Rams possibly be successful with a quarterback used to running an up-tempo, no-huddle offense as a rookie starter in a conventional system? Hint — it involves lots and lots of carries from running back Todd Gurley.

Sept. 11 Tampa Bay Sept. 18 at Oakland Sept. 26at New Orleans Oct. 2 Carolina Oct. 9 at Denver Oct. 16 at Seattle Oct. 23 San Diego Oct. 30 Green Bay

Sept. 11 at Houston Sept. 19 Philadelphia Sept. 25 at Dallas Oct. 2 Detroit Oct. 9 at Indianapolis Oct. 16 Jacksonville Oct. 20 at Green Bay Oct. 31 Minnesota

Sept. 12at San Francisco Sept. 18 Seattle Sept. 25 at Tampa Bay Oct. 2 at Arizona Oct. 9 Buffalo Oct. 16 at Detroit Oct. 23 NY Giants Nov. 6 Carolina

Nov. 3 at Tampa Bay Nov. 13 at Philadelphia Nov. 27 Arizona Dec. 4 Kansas City Dec. 11 at LA Rams Dec. 18 San Francisco Dec. 24 at Carolina Jan. 1 New Orleans

Nov. 13 at Tampa Bay Nov. 20 at NY Giants Nov. 27 Tennessee Dec. 4 San Francisco Dec. 11 at Detroit Dec. 18 Green Bay Dec. 24 Washington Jan. 1 at Minnesota

Nov. 13 at NY Jets Nov. 20 Miami Nov. 27 at New Orleans Dec. 4 at New England Dec. 11 Atlanta Dec. 15 at Seattle Dec. 24 San Francisco Jan. 1 Arizona

GETTY IMAGES BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

NFL KICKOFF

63

T H E L E AG U E

Jameis Winston

13. Tampa Bay The Bucs are all in on second-year quarterback Jameis Winston. When management decided Lovie Smith wasn’t the answer at head coach, they went and hired Winston’s offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter as to not impede the progress of the franchise quarterback. If Doug Martin can show his contract-year explosion was no fluke, it takes some pressure off Winston. Smith’s passive Cover 2 should give way to more aggressive defense.

Sept. 11 at Atlanta Sept. 18 at Arizona Sept. 25 LA Rams Oct. 2 Denver Oct. 10 at Carolina Oct. 23at San Francisco Oct. 30 Oakland Nov. 3 Atlanta

Nov. 13 Chicago Nov. 20 at Kansas City Nov. 27 Seattle Dec. 4 at San Diego Dec. 11 New Orleans Dec. 18 at Dallas Dec. 24 at New Orleans Jan. 1 Carolina

Chip Kelly

Lions QB Matthew Stafford will no longer be celebrating touchdowns with favorite target Calvin Johnson after the receiver called it a career.

His retirement leaves the Lions pretty thin at wideout.

14. Philadelphia

15. Detroit

16. 49ers

In dumping Chip Kelly and hiring Doug Peterson, the Eagles all but admitted they should have never fired Andy Reid. Peterson is a former Reid assistant and essentially a clone. Good luck with Sam Bradford at quarterback after he threw a brief holdout snit over the decision to draft Carson Wentz of North Dakota State with the second pick of the draft.

Quarterback Matt Stafford is going out of his way to tell anyone who’ll listen that the retirement of Calvin Johnson may be a good thing which will open up more opportunities for other receivers. That alone should tell you the Lions are whistling in the graveyard. Ask the Raiders how the “no-name” receiving corps worked out before they drafted Amari Cooper and signed Michael Crabtree.

Will Chip Kelly rub everyone the wrong way, sending the 49ers further into the abyss? Not necessarily. Kelly’s problem has been dealing with his star players. With the 49ers, he doesn’t have that problem, other than NaVorro Bowman, who can deal with any coach. The system will be fun to watch, but the big problem is the least talented roster in the NFL.

Sept. 11 Cleveland Sept. 19 at Chicago Sept. 25 Pittsburgh Oct. 9 at Detroit Oct. 16 at Washington Oct. 23 Minnesota Oct. 30 at Dallas Nov. 6 at NY Giants

Sept. 11 at Indianapolis Sept. 18 Tennessee Sept. 25 at Green Bay Oct. 2 at Chicago Oct. 9 Philadelphia Oct. 16 LA Rams Oct. 23 Washington Oct. 30 at Houston

Sept. 12 LA Rams Sept. 18 at Carolina Sept. 25 at Seattle Oct. 2 Dallas Oct. 6 Arizona Oct. 16 at Buffalo Oct. 23 Tampa Bay Nov. 6 New Orleans

Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Nov. 28 Dec. 4 Dec. 11 Dec. 18 Dec. 22 Jan. 1

Atlanta at Seattle Green Bay at Cincinnati Washington at Baltimore NY Giants Dallas

Nov. 6 at Minnesota Nov. 20 Jacksonville Nov. 24 Minnesota Dec. 4 at New Orleans Dec. 11 Chicago Dec. 18 at NY Giants Dec. 26 at Dallas Jan. 1 Green Bay

Nov. 13 at Arizona Nov. 20 New England Nov. 27 at Miami Dec. 4 at Chicago Dec. 11 NY Jets Dec. 18 at Atlanta Dec. 24 at LA Rams Jan. 1 Seattle GETTY IMAGES

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FACES IN NEW PLACES

MILESTONES WITHIN REACH Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints needs 459 yards passing to move into third-place alltime ahead of Dan Marino (61,361).

Brees has 60,903 yards and is in fourth place, one spot ahead of Tom Brady (58,028).

Peyton Manning is the all-time leader with 71,940.

BROCK OSWEILER, QB, HOUSTON

Seven starts for Denver was enough for the Texans to make a $37 million (guaranteed) gamble to find a quarterback. Yes, they were desperate.

ALEX MACK, C, ATLANTA

The Browns, desperate for players worthy of the 53-man roster, somehow let a top center and Cal product escape and move on to the Falcons.

ROBERT GRIFFIN III, QB, CLEVELAND

From rookie of the year in 2012 to a castoff, the former No. 2 pick

by Washington was once considered on par with Andrew Luck.

CHRIS LONG, DE, NEW ENGLAND

Only four sacks in his last two injuryplagued seasons with the Rams, but Howie’s son could find Bill Belichick to be just what he needs to get back on track.

Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers needs 29 touchdown passes to move from 14th to No. 7 in all-time touchdown passes, moving ahead of John Elway (300).

Roethlisberger has 272 touchdown passes — one behind Joe Montana (273) at No. 13.

OLIVIER VERNON, DE, N.Y. GIANTS

Had respectable but not eyepopping 29 sacks in four years with Miami. The Giants will expect double-digits for a maximum of $85 million.

Steve Smith of the Baltimore Ravens needs 39 receptions to become the 15th player in NFL history with 1,000 receptions. Smith has 961 receptions and is currently in 16th place, one spot behind Randy Moss (982).

MALIK JACKSON, DE, JACKSONVILLE

Jackson broke the bank with a contract worth $42 million in guarantees after helping Denver to a Super Bowl title.

Taylor (139.5) and Michael Strahan (141.5). Bruce Smith is the alltime leader with 200 since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.

Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings can move from 17th place to eighth in all-time rushing with 1,065 yards. Peterson has 11,675 yards.

Tony Dorsett is eighth all-time with 12,739 yards.

Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals needs two touchdowns to become the 24th player in NFL history to score 100 touchdowns.

Fitzgerald has 98 touchdowns, trailing Curtis Martin and Franco Harris, who each have 100. Jerry Rice is the all-time leader with 208.

Julius Peppers of the Green Bay Packers needs six sacks to move ahead of four players and in to fifth-place all-time in sacks. With 136 sacks, Peppers can pass Richard Dent (137.5), John Randle (137.5) Jason

ERIC WEDDLE, S, BALTIMORE

There’s not a lot of tread left on the tires from nine hard-hitting seasons with San Diego, but the Ravens hope he ages like Charles Woodson.

GETTY IMAGES

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Hey, Rook! (Keep an eye on these guys) E Z E K I E L E L L I OT T RUNNING BACK, DALLAS COWBOYS

Lots of pressure here for the consensus No. 1 back in the draft.

Dallas expects nothing less than the second-coming of Emmitt Smith, or at least the 2014 version of DeMarco Murray. A camp hamstring pull may or may not be a red flag.

DEFOREST BUCKNER DEFENSIVE END, 49ERS

Early indications out of Santa Clara are that Buckner is a step-in-andstart rookie who should contribute at worst and at best be a serious contender for NFL defensive rookie of the year. Strength and athleticism are apparent, and he’s used to the Chip Kelly tempo.

JA R E D GOFF QUARTERBACK, L.A. RAMS

Goff would probably be better off waiting a year and learning the NFL game after playing in an up-tempo, no-huddle offense at Cal, but coach Jeff Fisher may not have a year to wait. Goff will likely be thrown off the highdive and asked to swim.

LAREMY TUNSIL OFFENSIVE TACKLE, MIAMI DOLPHINS

At one point considered a potential No. 1 pick in the draft, the Dolphins weren’t scared off by the infamous draft-day video of Tunsil smoking pot through a gas mask, and are hoping it pays off with a body guard for quarterback Ryan Tannehill for the next several years.

KARL JOSEPH SAFETY, RAIDERS

With heart, hitting ability, range and work ethic, Joseph is everything the Raiders are looking for in terms of players who love to play, love to learn and have the requisite skill. It will be interesting to watch how his smallish body holds up in the NFL.

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ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER (GOFF); ASSOCIATED PRESS (JOSEPH)

T H E L E AG U E

Here are the games you won’t want to miss SEPT. 11

OCT. 30

New England at Arizona

Kansas City at Indianapolis

The Patriots get a hint as to whether Jimmy Garoppolo is indeed the eventual replacement for Tom Brady, who is under suspension for the first four weeks. Carson Palmer of the Cardinals gets an immediate chance to atone for the NFC title game fiasco.

It’s at about this point that the Chiefs and Alex Smith usually begin making their move, and a road assignment against the Colts and Andrew Luck will go a long way toward determining if Kansas City is again a contender.

SEPT. 18

NOV. 7

Seattle at Los Angeles

Buffalo at Seattle

DEC. 11

Not necessarily the best game of the week but easily the biggest spectacle as the Rams play as a Los Angeles-based franchise for the first time since 1994, and it’s the first regular-season game at Memorial Coliseum since 1979.

Rex Ryan has promised a physical team hearkening back to some of his better Jets teams, as well as the Ravens team for which he was defensive coordinator. A Monday night assignment against the Seahawks is a bully pulpit.

Seattle at Green Bay

SEPT. 22

NOV. 13

Houston at New England

Seattle at New England

Brock Osweiler actually beat the Patriots in overtime last season as a member of the Broncos. With many still in shock over Brock and the contract he got with Houston, beating the Patriots again would count for something.

This much we know for sure — if the Seahawks get the ball to the 1-yard line with the game on the line in Foxborough, Russell Wilson won’t even have the option of giving it to retired running back Marshawn Lynch.

OCT. 2

Cleveland at Washington Robert Griffin III was the toast of D.C., winner of the 2012 offensive rookie of the year award over Andrew Luck. Griffin got his team to the playoffs, but was never the same after a knee injury. A return to Washington will be a weeklong storyline.

OCT. 9

Cincinnati at Dallas Cincinnati has linebacker Vontaze Burfict and cornerback Adam Jones, contributors to last year’s playoff meltdown. The Cowboys could have as many as three players eligible to return

after four-game suspensions. Call it the “lack of discipline” bowl.

OCT. 17

N.Y. Jets at Arizona Todd Bowles, the Arizona defensive coordinator in 2013-14, returns in his second season as head coach of the Jets. Could provide a matchup between potential Hall of Fame candidates: Jets corner Darrelle Revis and Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

OCT. 23

New England at Pittsburgh Tom Brady is back from suspension and takes on Ben Roethlisberger. Bill Belichick is the dean of NFL coaches, and Mike Tomlin has nearly as much respect among his peers.

Could well be a preview of the AFC title game.

He’s back! Tom Brady will return from his fourgame suspension Oct. 9, giving him a few weeks to return to form before heading to the Steel City to take on Big Ben. Last season Brady threw for four touchdowns, three of them to Rob Gronkowski, in a win over the Steelers.

GETTY IMAGES

NOV. 20

Arizona at Minnesota One way Teddy Bridgewater can begin to get the kind of respect that goes beyond being a capable game-manager with a so-so throwing arm is to come out on top against a big-time thrower such as Arizona’s Carson Palmer.

NOV. 24

the Steelers as a Baltimore assistant from 2008-11.

DEC. 4

Los Angeles at New England Assuming rookie quarterback Jared Goff is still in one piece, what better way for the Rams to chart the progress of the future of their franchise than to take on the Patriots and Tom Brady on the road?

The weather is starting to get cold, not that it matters to Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson.

A Lambeau battle royale between two teams that could end up competing for an NFC championship the following month.

DEC. 18

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati Think they’ve forgotten in Cincinnati what happened the last two times these teams played at Paul Brown Stadium? The Bengals lost their composure and gave the game away.

The atmosphere is charged when these teams play anyway. This could be supercharged.

DEC. 25

Denver at Kansas City In a division that could go down to the wire, with the Raiders also competing, this one at Arrowhead Stadium merits attention on Christmas Day. A classic venue, potential bitter cold: What better way sit on the couch with egg nog?

Pittsburgh at Indianapolis

JAN. 1

What better way to sit down to turkey and stuffing than to watch Ben Roethlisberger and Pittsburgh square off against Andrew Luck and Indianapolis? Indy coach Chuck Pagano has plenty of respect/anger built up against

Rex Ryan takes another shot at his old team in the season finale. Last year the Bills were able to bounce New York and Ryan Fitzpatrick from the playoffs with an upset win. Buffalo is hoping to be more than a spoiler this time.

Bills at N.Y. Jets

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MCKENZIE FROM PAGE 16

much as a winning season. The Raiders have one of the deepest rosters in the NFL, which figures to benefit them in the long run.

Just look at some of the second-string players, per their depth chart. Veteran Dan Williams is the backup nose tackle, giving the Raiders a high-level run stopper.

Fullback Marcel Reece went to the Pro Bowl the last four years. Andre Holmes and Seth Roberts are legitimate threats at wide receiver.

Right tackle Austin Howard could be the starter. Former starting defensive backs Travis Carrie and D.J. Hayden look a whole lot better as slot corners.

Mychal Rivera was once quarterback Derek Carr’s favorite target, caught 58 passes two seasons ago. Now he’s a third-string tight end.

Several of those players once were couldn’t-leave-the-field starters, back when McKenzie was being convicted in the court of public opinion. Now, the Raiders have done such an impressive job of cultivating an NFL caliber roster, those players are at their proper level of expectations.

In a league where injuries often decide fate, the Raiders are wellbraced for attrition. The top end of their roster is competitive with the best in the NFL. The Broncos, Steelers and Patriots remain the class of the AFC, but the Raiders have the look of a team nobody will want to face in the playoffs.

No, they aren’t locks to make the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. It’s a smart bet but hardly a forgone conclusion. Still, there is no denying the Raiders are playoff caliber. And that’s like a Nicolas Cage movie being mentioned as an Oscar nominee.

The NFL’s stepchild franchise is stocked for success. The can’t-getit-right organization seems to be getting it right on the field.

Perhaps the most impressive part about the Raiders’ resurgence is that good management is the foundation.

And this happened because

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RAY CHAVEZ/STAFF

Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie was able to clean up the franchise’s awful salary cap situation.

McKenzie cleaned up the franchise’s awful salary cap situation.

Because he drafted well. Because he was smart, even if conservative, with the Raiders’ wealth of salary cap space.

This turnaround took patience and restraint. It took clear vision and savvy and work ethic and execution -- and thick skin. Such intangibles are not usually present in the Raiders organization.

Those characteristics are sorely lacking in their quest for a new stadium.

Raise your hand if you thought McKenzie was going to bring those elements.

Put your hand down, liars.

The Raiders sure enough caught some breaks, including

Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper “falling” to them. And McKenzie is by no means alone in fostering this expected revival: Jack Del Rio’s voice matters.

What’s more, this team does have some question marks as it seeks to take another level. Is Carr ready to take down the big guns?

Will the free agents the Raiders spent big money on pan out?

Did McKenzie err by not getting another proven back to pair with Latavius Murray?

Some of those answers may not break the way the Raiders planned, which could end up impacting this season -- and maybe tempering the fervor created by a relevant Raiders team. But that we are here is the feat.

To be able to mention the Raiders as a sexy, dark horse pick to make some noise in the NFL and not be written off as delusional?

Raider Nation has been dreaming of this.

Which means McKenzie has delivered. He has turned around the Raiders and has them on the right track. And for that grand accomplishment, for proving us critics wrong, McKenzie has earned the right to hear this: About time. When’s the title coming?

CONTACT MARCUS THOMPSON AT MTHOMPS2@BAYAREANEWSGROUP.COM. FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER AT TWITTER. COM/THOMPSONSCRIBE.

T H E L E AG U E

BAALKE FROM PAGE 17

a good working relationship with Kelly after the Harbaugh blowups, maybe just seeing several young players emerge as prime contributors.

But it seems logical that if the 49ers deliver a season anything like 2015 — if the offense is that bad and the defense looks that untalented — Kelly is unlikely to be blamed just one season into a four-year, $24-million deal. No, all eyes would turn to the GM. The team’s recent fall is not entirely Baalke’s fault, of course.

He’s not a bad GM overall, he’s just an oddball personality who is on a cold streak with the roster and maybe isn’t the best freeagent recruiter.

But losses add up. Baalke has been the 49ers’ No. 1 football executive since 2010 (as an interim GM that season and then with the full-time job in 2011), and at some point, the losses point to him.

Whether you love Baalke or blame him, it’s hard to deny that this team has been built in his image, according to his specific tastes.

The 2016 team is filled with young players Baalke drafted and most of those players have yet to bloom. Baalke hinted to a national reporter recently that it might be time to rebuild, but Baalke is largely the one who put the team in this spot.

Realistically: After firing Harbaugh and Tomsula in successive years, and undermining quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the Yorks have just about run out of scapegoats.

More realistically: Early in his GM tenure, from about 2010 to 2012, Baalke did a great job adding to the talent base created by previous chief Scot McCloughan.

But since then Baalke has feuded with Harbaugh, lost more talent than he has gained, hired Tomsula and put together an unbalanced roster. Baalke remains very good at drafting defensive players, and there is a possibility that Jimmie Ward, Jaquiski Tartt, Aaron Lynch and others will lead

NHAT V. MEYER/STAFF

49ers GM Trent Baalke hinted recently that it might be time for the team to rebuild.

the 49ers defense back to a competitive level in 2016.

But Baalke has regularly whiffed on offense, has drafted a slew of injured players, and that’s the setup for this hot-seat season.

Q The 49ers have yet to produce a quality young receiver in Baalke’s six years as GM. Bruce Ellington and Quinton Patton remain the best bets for a breakthrough this season, and the two have combined for only 55 career NFL catches in five combined seasons.

Q Baalke hasn’t used an early pick on a quarterback since the 49ers took Colin Kaepernick in 2011 and that has helped lead to the current muddled QB situation.

Q If Baalke could’ve gotten along with Harbaugh, York wouldn’t have had to step in, and when York stepped in, the whole Harbaugh era went up in flames.

Can Baalke work with Kelly, who can be just as strong-willed as Harbaugh? Will Kelly want to work with Baalke?

Assistant GM Tom Gamble is close to Baalke, who brought Gamble back to the 49ers a year ago. But Gamble is also close to Kelly and vouched for him when the 49ers looked into Kelly’s firing by the Eagles (where Gamble used to work).

And ... Gamble was promoted to assistant GM a few weeks ago.

Was that a sign that Gamble could be Baalke’s replacement?

I’m not sure that Gamble would automatically be York’s choice if Baalke is fired, but the Yorks didn’t mind stirring up that thought by making the promotion when they did.

Twenty months ago, Jed York asked if anybody had a stopwatch.

It has been found, it is ticking, and I guarantee you that Baalke and everybody else in 49ers HQ can hear it.

READ TIM KAWAKAMI’S TALKING POINTS BLOG AT BLOGS.MERCURYNEWS.COM/ KAWAKAMI. CONTACT HIM AT TKAWAKAMI@BAYAREANEWSGROUP.COM. FOLLOW HIM AT TWITTER.COM/TIMKAWAKAMI.

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Our pigskin prognostications NFC WEST CHAMPION

NFC EAST CHAMPION

NFC NORTH CHAMPION

NFC SOUTH CHAMPION

NFC WILD CARDS

NFC TITLE GAME

AFC WEST CHAMPION

AFC EAST CHAMPION

AFC NORTH CHAMPION

AFC SOUTH CHAMPION

AFC WILD CARDS

AFC TITLE GAME

SUPER BOWL 51

MARK PURDY

Seattle

Dallas

Green Bay

Carolina

Arizona, Detroit

Green Bay over Dallas

Kansas City

New England

Pittsburgh

Indianapolis

Oakland, Cincinnati

Pittsburgh over Oakland

Pittsburgh over Green Bay

COURTNEY CRONIN

Seattle

New York Giants

Green Bay

Carolina

Arizona, Dallas

Seattle over Carolina

Denver

New England

Pittsburgh

Houston

Oakland, Indianapolis

New England New England over Pittsburgh over Seattle

JERRY MCDONALD

Seattle

Dallas

Green Bay

Carolina

Minnesota, Arizona

Seattle over Green Bay

Denver

New England

Pittsburgh

Indianapolis

Oakland, Cincinnati

New England Seattle over over Pittsburgh New England

JIMMY DURKIN

Seattle

Dallas

Green Bay

Carolina

Arizona, Minnesota

Green Bay over Denver Carolina

New England

Pittsburgh

Indianapolis

Oakland, Cincinnati

Pittsburgh over Green Bay over New England Pittsburgh

MARCUS THOMPSON

Arizona

Dallas

Green Bay

Carolina

Seattle, Minnesota

Carolina over Arizona

Denver

New England

Pittsburgh

Houston

Cincinnati, Oakland

Pittsburgh over Carolina over New England Pittsburgh

TIM KAWAKAMI

Seattle

Washington

Green Bay

Carolina

Arizona, Detroit

Seattle over Arizona

Kansas City

New England

Baltimore

Indianapolis

Oakland, Pittsburgh

New England New England over Pittsburgh over Seattle

CAM INMAN

Arizona

Dallas

Minnesota

Atlanta

Carolina, Green Bay

Green Bay over Carolina

Kansas City

New England

Pittsburgh

Indianapolis

Denver, Cincinnati

New England New England over Indianapolis over Green Bay

Tom Brady

Antonio Brown

Aaron Rodgers

MVPs, picks, sacks and more...

49ERS RECORD MORE STARTS, KAP OR GABBERT RUSHING YARDS FOR CARLOS HYDE RAIDERS RECORD DEREK CARR’S TD-INT RATIO KHALIL MACK’S SACKS NFL MVP PATRIOTS RECORD WHILE BRADY SITS

MARK PURDY

COURTNEY CRONIN

JERRY MCDONALD

JIMMY DURKIN

MARCUS THOMPSON

TIM KAWAKAMI

CAM INMAN

6-10 (3rd in West) Gabbert 1,024 10-6 (2nd in West) 20-20 12.5 Aaron Rodgers 2-2

5-11 (4th in West) Gabbert 1,450 yds 10-6 (2nd in West) 37-15 18 Tom Brady 2-2

4-12 (4th in West) Gabbert 1,242 10-6 (2nd in West) 28-14 14.5 Aaron Rodgers 3-1

5-11 (4th in West) Gabbert 1,172 10-6 (2nd in West) 35-11 16.5 Aaron Rodgers 3-1

4-12 (4th in West) Kap 850 11-5 (2nd in West) 23-11 11 Ben Roethlisberger 2-2

6-10 (4th in West) Gabbert 850 10-6 (2nd in West) 34-15 18 Antonio Brown 2-2

6-10 (3rd in West) Gabbert 1,100 8-8 (3rd in West) 25-15 9 Aaron Rodgers 3-1

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CLASS OF 2016

HALL OF FAMER

EDDIE DEBARTOLO

“For me, one of the biggest honors today is joining my guys, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, Charles Haley, Freddy Dean, Steve Young, and of course the great Bill Walsh.”

— EDDIE DEBARTOLO GETTY IMAGES

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CAMERAS & LENSES

RENTAL & REPAIR

PHOTO & VIDEO ACCESSORIES

PRINTING & OUTPUT

WORKSHOPS & CLASSES

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