e by bringing just four.We say the team thrives off of how the defensive line plays, defensive end Garrett Sickels said. Whenever the defensive line gets (tackles for loss), whenever the lineb

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Soon after Derek Carr and Khalil Mack were drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2014, they got together and vowed to change the culture of a franchise that had only known losing for more than a decade.With the franchise quarterback and pass rusher entering their third season as pros, that has been accomplished. Now the Raiders have their sights set on larger goals of getting back to the playoffs for the first time since 2002.I feel like were in the midst of a great turnaround, especially when you think of the leadership, Mack said. Both of us are coming up on our third year, a lot of new faces, a lot of great guys and a lot of guys that want to come in and work hard. Thats what you need.With a core led by perhaps the most talented 25-and-under trio in the league with Carr, Mack and big-play receiver Amari Cooper; key free agent acquisitions Sean Smith and Reggie Nelson in the secondary; Super Bowl champion linebacker Bruce Irvin and imposing offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele; and several other key young contributors, the Raiders have put together a roster with no glaring holes.That has led to heightened expectations for a team that has spent more than a decade at the bottom of the AFC West, with no playoff berths or winning records for 13 straight seasons.Oakland took a big step last year, more than doubling the win total from three to seven. Now the task is to get over that next major hump.Last year when I got here, I really thought it was important to re-establish expectations, high expectations, second-year coach Jack Del Rio said. We didnt back down from that. Were always going to make winning our division the first goal; it has to be.Here are some other things to watch this season from the Raiders:LOOKING FOR LEADERS: With veterans Charles Woodson and Justin Tuck retired, the leadership role has shifted to younger players such as Carr and Mack. The incoming veterans Irvin, Nelson and Smith have also filled that void.We have a really good core of guys that are assuming leadership positions within their respected groups and I feel really good about that, Del Rio said. In fact, I think weve taken a significant step forward overall with leadership abilities.STEPPING UP: Carr took a major step forward in Year 2 as a starter, throwing for 32 TDs and 3,987 yards last season. But with a second year in coordinator Bill Musgraves system and nearly all of his key skill position players back, Carr expects even better results this season.Its crazy the jump thats its been each year, he said. I say it all the time, but `C-Wood always told me, from Year 1 to Year 2 is the biggest jump, and then when you hit Year 3, youre just playing ball again. You know, it takes time. It really does.RUN SUPPORT: After a dynamic start last season, the Raiders offense slumped in the second half. A big reason was a drop in production from running back Latavius Murray, whose yards per carry fell from 4.8 yards in the first eight games to 3.3 in the final eight. Murray had no help last year as Oakland never found a second back to share the load. The hope this season is rookies DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard can do that to give the Raiders a more balanced offense.Going into the offseason we were hoping we could develop a running back that could be a really good backup for us and it looks like we have a shot at having one of those guys help us, potentially both, Del Rio said.SOLID SECONDARY: Ever since GM Reggie McKenzie took over the team in 2012, cornerback has been a major problem. He brought in a new pair of starters in each of his first three years without ever finding an answer, and 2013 first-round pick DJ Hayden has struggled. Now the Raiders might have found their answer on the outside. David Amerson went from a waiver-wire pickup early last season to an established starter by the end, and the signing of Smith, one of the top available options on the free-agent market this offseason.HOME SWEET HOME: The Raiders once again enter the season with uncertainty about their long-term future. With no plans for a new stadium in Oakland, owner Mark Davis is trying to get a stadium built in Las Vegas for a possible move. The players and coaching staff tuned out the relocation talk last year and are trying to do the same this season.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLWholesale Yeezy UK . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. Yeezys Shoes UK . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. http://www.discountyeezyuk.com/ . The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2. Discount Yeezys UK . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Cheap Yeezy UK For Sale . The Olympic champion curler and TSN curling analyst immediately went online to look at the Halls long list of honoured members. Thats when the enormity of the honour sunk in.STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Smeared with grass stains and blue field paint, Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barretts ruffled uniform was proof of what No. 24 Penn States defense can do with two of its most versatile players available.Linebackers Brandon Bell and Jason Cabinda returned Saturday night for just their second game together since the season opener and led Penn States 6-sack, 24-21 win, with Barrett out of sync most of the night.It was the kind of performance Brent Pry envisioned when he took over Penn States defense last winter. Pry vowed to terrorize offenses with high-pressure packages akin to those his predecessor used to mold the Nittany Lions into a top defensive unit the last two seasons.A game plan like Saturdays had to wait for Bell and Cabinda, and some of their backups, to get healthy.Ive been telling you guys for three years that this Brent Pry guy is pretty good, and he has stepped up, coach James Franklin said. I mean, we lost seven linebackers this year, for long periods of time and our defense just kept grinding and grinding, making no excuses, and just playing.The Nittany Lions (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) didnt have to grind this time. They simply attacked.With Bell and Cabinda back, Penn State went after Barrett with extra-man pressure all night. The Nittany Lions blitzed or showed pressure on more than 56 percent of their plays after playing more base defenses with their starting linebackers hurt. Pry, who was the teams linebackers coach before ascending to defensive coordinator when Bob Shoop left for the same job at Tennessee, has always valued Bells ability to time and disguise the blitz from the outside linebacker spot. He wasted little time getting the veteran involved.Although Bell hadnt practiced since Week 3, he showed no signs of rust and combined with fellow outside linebacker Manny BBowen on 16 blitzes.dddddddddddd Bell finished with a sack and factored in on 19 tackles.Cabinda last practiced in Week 1. Playing with a cast on his left hand, he finished with 12 tackles and was also called on to pressure Barrett, blitzing four times up the middle before Ohio States final drive. Then, in a different look, Cabinda sped around the outside to help create back-to-back sacks that ended the Buckeyes night.Those two veterans have been in the trenches like that before, so it didnt really faze them, Penn State safety Marcus Allen said.But Cabinda attributed his success to the players in front of him, and theres no doubt that Penn States rotation of five defensive ends and six defensive tackles wore Ohio State down. Especially tackles Jamarco Jones and Isaiah Prince, who were driven backward most of the night.Eventually, Penn State was getting pressure by bringing just four.We say the team thrives off of how the defensive line plays, defensive end Garrett Sickels said. Whenever the defensive line gets (tackles for loss), whenever the linebackers get sacks, create turnovers, the more things we can do, were going to put ourselves in a better position to be successful.Penn State created some of that scheme flexibility as the game wore on.On Ohio States final drive, Pry shifted gears with a three-man front, with Sickels off the line. But at the snap, Sickels and Cabinda both charged into the backfield from opposite sides to help finish Barrett off.Up front, we knew thats where the battle would have to start, Cabinda said. We needed to be in a physical game. I dont remember the last time I was this sore after a game.---AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '