Professor

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl.../SPECU9S13.DTL

This time last year, newly hired coach Lane Kiffin promised to get the Raiders back to where they were, and he did. They got back to being 4-12, just as they were under the watchful eyes of Bill Callahan and Norv Turner.

The challenge now is to use this offseason to acquire the help needed to improve on that .250 winning percentage because, as Callahan and Turner learned, losing in Year Two meant there would be no Year Three.

And, be sure of this: The Raiders didn't get awful overnight, and it's going to take more than a few cosmetic changes to bring back the good old days.

"If you do it right, the most improvement comes from Year One to Year Two because you've had a year to evaluate everything," Kiffin said Monday. "We're 4-12. That means you lost more than you won, and we've got to get that fixed."

Kiffin said that means attacking the draft, where the Raiders will pick third or fourth overall (pending a coin toss with the Falcons), and attacking free agency. First, though he must attack a 53-man roster that was short on talent and long on dead weight.

With 20 free agents, here are the key in-house players they must make a decision on in the next month, followed by the areas screaming for outside assistance.

Nnamdi Asomugha: He is recognized as one of the NFL's premier cornerbacks in man coverage, and someone teams stopped throwing near after an eight-pick season in 2006.

Once Asomugha opts out of his contract - a formality at this point - he'll become an unrestricted free agent. He would demand the biggest cornerback contract this side of Asante Samuel.

That's not going to happen. The Raiders will use the franchise-player tag on Asomugha, paying him an estimated $9.2 million for one year of service. They'd like to secure him with a long-term contract, but that ship appears to have sailed.

Justin Fargas: He's an unrestricted free agent coming off his first 1,000-yard season.

Little used before last year, Fargas has plenty of life in his legs and carries above-average market value, though injury problems keep him off the Michael Turner tier.

Kiffin said he wants Fargas back, but admits the team's zone-block run game makes it easier to plug plenty of backs in there. Dominic Rhodes' back-to-back 100-yard starts could have made Fargas expendable if the price tag gets too high.

Tommy Kelly: The versatile defensive lineman declined a long-term offer last year, a team source said. That looked like a bad decision after Kelly's season ended with serious knee ligament tears after seven games.

It certainly makes Kelly more signable, and the Raiders need to do something to shore up the interior line. He'll get outside offers from teams needing interior help, possibly the Dolphins.

Josh McCown: Kiffin needs a backup quarterback he can trust, and he made it clear last season that Andrew Walter wasn't that guy.

McCown was a solid locker-room citizen and understood the playbook. He'd re-sign with the Raiders to be JaMarcus Russell's backup, and it makes sense. It's not like Daunte Culpepper is coming back.

Special teams: Jarrod Cooper, Isaiah Ekejiuba, Jon Condo, Ricky Brown and Chris Carr aren't stars unto themselves.

Together, they are the heart of the special-teams coverage and return teams. Cooper alone proved to be the difference between shutting down Devin Hester and getting worked the last month without him.

On to the positions needing outside help. Keep in mind, the Raiders have more than enough salary-cap space to throw big money at a few players.

Wide receiver: Jerry Porter probably is gone, and he was never a true No. 1 receiver anyway.

The Raiders need a speedy downfield threat to go with Russell's strong arm. Bears receiver Bernard Berrian could be just that guy.

The A****er High (Merced County) and Fresno State alumnus wouldn't mind a move toward home if the price was right. He could have enough injury issues to be affordable.

Defensive line: Warren Sapp was the lone interior presence, and he just retired. Re-signing Kelly isn't enough of an answer.

If the Titans don't tag defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, the Raiders need to make a push for him. Besides, his rogue reputation would be a throwback fit.

Safety: The Raiders haven't had a hard-hitting safety since Rod Woodson. Getting a proven strong safety would allow Michael Huff to move to free safety where he wouldn't have to cover so many huge tight ends.

Offensive line: Tackles Cornell Green and Barry Sims probably are done, and center Jeremy Newberry's knees won't last forever. They would do well to draft a top college lineman and pick up an established tackle.

Cowboys left tackle Flozell Adams, who made his fourth straight Pro Bowl, is eligible for free agency. He's huge enough to keep Russell's back safe for a few seasons.

__________________