At an age when his contemporaries are enjoying their golden years, the Oakland Raiders remain very much an Al Davis production. Look at the way the team is constructed and there’s no doubt. The Raiders will succeed or fail Al’s way.

Considering this is such a crucial season for the Raiders, it’s only fitting. They have won only nine games the past two years, the worst back-to-back seasons since Davis was named head coach in 1963. The team’s personal seat licenses expire at the end of season, which could mean less revenue and more local television blackouts if the team is unable to build some on-field momentum after two bitterly disappointing seasons.

If they fail, the 76-year-old Davis will have no one to blame but himself.

His fingerprints remain all over organization. He told the media he didn’t want a disciplinarian after Bill Callahan was fired after the 2003 season, so he hired Norv Turner, who has only had a winning record in three of his nine seasons.

Turner believes in a power running game and a vertical passing game. Sound familiar? It’s the same offensive philosophy that Davis has long preferred.

Davis made a splash in the offseason by trading linebacker Napoleon Harris and a first-round draft choice to the Minnesota Vikings for Randy Moss. Moss initially was lukewarm to the deal, but the team sent him a video, parts of which were narrated by Davis, explaining his philosophy of "don’t take what the defense gives you, take what you want." Then he sent a private jet to fly Moss to Oakland for the press conference.

It’s the kind of bold stroke Davis is known for. Forget about Moss’ controversial reputation. Davis doesn’t care — never has — as long as you perform.

Jerry Porter should compliment Moss nicely. The addition of running back LaMont Jordan gives the Raiders the type of every-down back they haven’t had since Charlie Garner left in 2003. If Kerry Collins, who is the type of rocket-armed quarterback Davis has always preferred, can limit his interceptions the offense should be potent.

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It will have to be because the defense remains a work in process.

The defense was ranked 30^th last season, and the addition of high-priced talent such as Moss and Jordan prevented the team from making more defensive upgrades. The upgrades the Raiders did make, however, were vintage Al moves.

Davis has always said he prefers to build his defense around cornerbacks. After trading former first-round pick Phillip Buchanon to the Houston Texans and knowing that this will likely be the last season in silver-and-black for Charles Woodson he went corner crazy in the draft, selecting Fabian Washington in the first round and Stanford Routt in the second. Both players have something Davis has long coveted — speed.

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Davis always likes to collect aging veterans with hopes that he can squeeze a few more years of productivity from them. Enter Warren Sapp and Ted Washington who will anchor a defensive line that couldn’t stop the run or pressure the quarterback last season.

Both starting outside linebackers are former defensive ends. Shifting players to a new position. That’s something else that Davis has always been known for. There are even questions about whether the Raiders will remain in Oakland when their lease expires in 2010, and what would be more Al-like than another franchise move?

This is Al’s team, all right, same as it ever was. But what do you expect from a football lifer? Some people aren't cut out for feeding pigeons and shuffleboard.

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