CSN Bay Area

Then Raiders head coach Dennis Allen was asked a few times to list his team's foundation pieces during NFL owner’s meetings last spring.

It wasn’t an easy answer, once met with hesitation.

Whether it’s Tony Sparano or Jack Del Rio or someone else, the next head coach will have a much simpler time with that question.

Now they’re easy to list.

[BAIR: Madden expected to sit in on Sparano interview with Raiders]

Quarterback Derek Carr. Linebackers Khalil Mack and Sio Moore. Guard Gabe Jackson. Nose tackle Justin Ellis. Tight end Mychal Rivera. Running back Latavius Murray. Cornerback TJ Carrie. Maybe even tackle Menelik Watson or cornerback DJ Hayden.

Everyone in that group might not become a long-term starter, but there is some good news. Each player has two years experience or less. There’s potential for all of them to make a significant impact.

There are veteran leaders under contract in defensive tackle Antonio Smith, fullback Marcel Reece, defensive end Justin Tuck and left tackle Donald Penn. There’s also a good chance safety Charles Woodson returns.

A counter argument: that group went 3-13, 0-8 on the road with the last three lost 130-27. Not good.

Tuck understands that, but the two-time Super Bowl champ sees potential in the core group if it’s supplemented with roughly $60 million salary of cap space. 

“I know this is going sound strange to hear from me, but we’re not that far off,” Tuck said after a season-ending loss to Denver. “We’re really not. I have a lot of confidence in what we can do here. If we put a few more pieces in the puzzle and just play with more confidence than we did tonight.”

The Raiders need help to compete. They have many holes to fill and depth to create through in several position groups.

[BAIR: Sparano set to formally interview with Raiders]

But, relatively speaking, the Raiders feel far better coming out of this 3-13 season than last two 4-12s. They believe they’re closer to being competitive.

A large part of the 2014 draft class, which includes Mack and a quarterback. Carr showed flashes of brilliance this season, though he made a fair share of rookie mistakes. He has the work ethic and physical tools required to excel in this league, which gives the Raiders confidence they’ve found a long-term solution at quarterback.

“When you have a good quarterback, you add a couple explosive pieces and you’ll have a winning franchise,” defensive tackle Antonio Smith said. “I think that kid has what it takes to become a good quarterback once you get the right guys around him.”

It also helps to have Mack and other members of this young core take so many reps so early. The experience should help them progress in the long term.

“You’ve definitely got to build on what we’ve got right now, and I think we will definitely do that,” Murray said. “It’s time for the young players to step up, be leaders, take control and make sure we’re doing our best to make sure we have a successful season next year.”