Oakland
Raiders

The offensive line had two players back in left guard Robert Gallery, out with a broken left fibula sustained in Week 2, and right tackle Cornell Green, who missed four games with a calf strain, were also on the field and working with the first team.

"This is the healthiest this football team has been, there's no question," coach Tom Cable said. "Particularly on offense."

Considering that Schilens hasn't played yet this season, and that Fargas opened the season with a hamstring strain which meant the Raiders spent much of the early part of the season less than three healthy and dependable running backs, injuries shouldn't be a factor as they open the second half of the season against the Chiefs.

Cable's own job situation is tenuous with the club -- the Raiders have said they will look into allegations made in an ESPN report about a violent history toward women -- but he sounds eager to be at something approximating full strength.

"I just feel like there have been obvious issues that are out of our control," Cable said. "I'm not an excuse guy, but I think not having enough quality people on offense has really hindered us."

Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, who opened the season playing with a chip fracture on one hand and has battled a hip injury, is no fan of the Raiders record at the midway point (he's been 2-6 in his five of six seasons and 3-5 in the other) he likes what he sees physically.

"We're getting healthy, and that's a great thing," Asomugha said. "It's never good going into the ninth week at 2-6. No one's happy with that. The fact that we're getting healthy and had a bye week to see where we stand is going to help us out a lot."

The third-year center out of Hawaii played well enough to keep the job and was described by Cable as one of the pleasant developments in an overall disappointing first half of the season.

"Now I've got this offense down and I can just go and run with it," Satele said. "It's my job to lose, I guess."

Satele said he has benefited from Cable's presence during practice and meetings. As the line struggled, Cable, the line coach before being named head coach, took a more active role with the line with Jim Michalczik often watching Cable run the drills

--Left guard Robert Gallery, in his sixth season, has grown up as a professional in one of the sport's most volatile organization, but has done his best to keep outside distractions out of view.

Cable is Gallery's fourth head coach, following Norv Turner, Art Shell and Lane Kiffin.

Within the last two years have been Davis' public firing of Kiffin -- whose status was the subject of firing stories since the end of the previous season -- and the issues with Cable regarding the alleged attack on Randy Hanson as well the ESPN story about the coach's history of violence toward women.

"I think if you're winning you can overlook that kind of stuff," Gallery said. "I've been here six years and talking about it doesn't do any good. You do what you can. You can only look the mirror and ask yourself if you did all you can do."

--WR/KR Nick Miller said his leg (broken tibia) was still sore and his return looks to be at least a week away. Miller was the week of the season opener.

--DT Tommy Kelly missed practice due to a "personal issue" and is expected to practice Wednesday and start against Kansas City.

--DE Greg Ellis missed practice after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery last week.

--CB Chris Johnson was limited with a groin strain but is expected to play against Kansas City.

--RB Darren McFadden was limited but should play against the Chiefs although his role is undetermined.

REPORT CARD AFTER EIGHT GAMES

PASSING OFFENSE: F -- Ranked 31st in yardage at 122.1 yards per game and has generated two touchdown passes all season. JaMarcus Russell is completing less than 50 percent of his passes with nine interceptions, five lost fumbles and a 48.3 quarterback rating. The Raiders' wide receivers have been non-existent, led by rookie fourth-round pick Louis Murphy (16 receptions, 232 yards). Fellow rookie starter Darrius Heyward-Bey has 5 catches for 74 yards. The only reliable receiver is tight end Zach Miller (28 receptions, 421 yards).

RUSHING OFFENSE: D-minus -- Was supposed to be a strength, but the three-headed monster of Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas and Michael Bush is ranked 26th with 93.6 yards per game. McFadden missed the last four games following arthroscopic knee surgery and was averaging just 3.1 yards per carry. Fargas and Bush are at 3.7. The Raiders have four rushing touchdowns and a high of 148 yards in Week 1.

PASS DEFENSE: C-plus -- Surrendering 212.2 yards per game, 13th in the NFL, and has given up a respectable eight touchdown passes. Teams seldom test cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, with Chris Johnson victimized by a handful of big plays on the other side. Strong safety Tyvon Branch leads all NFL safeties in tackles, and Michael Huff, thought to be near bust status, has been a pleasant surprise as the free safety. Pass rush ranges from invisible to very good on occasion. Ends Richard Seymour and Greg Ellis have four sacks each.

RUSH DEFENSE: D-minus -- Here we go again. A constant weakness during the six-year tenure of Rob Ryan, the steady beat of yardage and first downs continues with John Marshall at the helm. The Raiders are giving up 161.0 yards, 29th in the NFL. Opponents have 13 rushing touchdowns and 70 first downs rushing. Gave up more than 200 yards rushing twice (215 to Denver, 220 to the New York Giants) and 316 yards to the Jets -- games which they lost by a combined 105-10.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B-minus -- Shane Lechler could rewrite punting records and is averaging 52.3 yards per punt and 44.9 net. Place-kicker Sebastian Janikowski is 12-for-12 in field goal attempts and has eight touchbacks despite having kicked off only 26 times -- a 30.3 percentage that is fourth in the NFL. Coverage units have been so-so, return game has been abysmal. The Raiders are averaging just 19 yards per kickoff return and 3.2 yards per punt return.

COACHING: C-minus -- Inexplicable now-shows against division rival Denver, the Giants in the Meadowlands and the Jets at home showed a team unenthusiastic and ill-prepared. Training camp strategy of working overtime on the pass and assuming the running game would remain strong backfired -- through eight games, the Raiders do neither well. Strategy to bring extra pressure for a week against Philadelphia paid dividends but hasn't resulted in a more aggressive approach. Cable has been head coach for 20 games and nine times his teams have lost by three or more touchdowns.