According to multiple reports, the Raiders have shown interest in bringing veteran RB Cedric Benson in with the possibility of signing him to a contract.  Benson, 29, has a lot of milage but is a big, strong back which may fit a need for the Raiders.  He's thought of being a better fit in power scheme than the zone blocking scheme that the Raiders run.

On the surface, this move makes little sense as the Raiders already have a large stable of running backs all of which are younger and, potentially, more talented than Benson at this stage in his career.  However, it seems likely that the Raiders are signing Benson as insurance.  McKenzie has shown that he doesn't like to over pay and therefore Benson's contract - if he gets one - is likely to be for a lower amount where the team can cut him for no cost if he doesn't pan out.

If he seriously outperforms either Mike Goodson or Taiwan Jones, he can make his way on the roster and have earned it.  He also can serve as an insurance policy if either Goodson or Jones gets injured in camp, a possibility that cannot be discounted.

Benson played in 15 games last season, rushing for 1067 yards on 273 carries, an average of 3.9 yards a carry.  He also scored 6 TDs.

'Tis the season to be making predictions.  Now that the OTAs and minicamps are done for the year and before we get to training camp at the end of July, I'm going to take my shot at predicting the final roster. 

Without further adieu, here is my guess at the final 53 players. The players I think of as certain or near certain are in bold.  The ones that are in italics I consider very likely and the guesses are marked as so.

OL: 8

- Jared Veldheer, Stefon Wizniewski, Mike Brisiel, Joseph Barksdale, Tony Bergstrom, Khalif Barnes, Cooper Carlisle  and ? (guess: Alex Parsons)

Why these players?: Veldheer and Wizniewski are both up and comers and possible Pro Bowlers as soon as this season.  Mike Brisiel was the Raiders top priority in free agence and signed a 5 year deal.  Obviously, these 3 are locks to make the roster. 

Joseph Barksdale and Tony Bergstrom are in their 2nd and 1st years, respectively.  Both have zone blocking experience and both are cheap.  They've also both shown promise.  They are extremely likely to make the team as backups. 

Khalif Barnes and Cooper Carlisle were both resigned to 1 year contracts.  They have both run with the 1st team offense in OTAs and minicamp to date – Carlisle at LG and Barnes at RT.  The team would be thrilled if either was beaten outright in camp by a young player, I'd imagine, because both veterans have definite limitations.  However, they will likely start the offseason as the de facto starters and will be given the benefit of the doubt until they are beaten so I have them both as highly likely to make the squad, still. 

There are two guesses, here – I'm guessing only 8 OL players although the team could take 9 for the final squad.  I have Alex Parsons in because he's versatile enough to play guard or center.  He's been running with the first team this offseason at Center in place of injured Stefon Wizniewski. 

If the Raiders take a ninth offensive lineman, I'd expect a tackle to be retained.  At this time, only Barksdale seems likely to make the roster and be able to play at LT.  Rookie Bergstrom played RT in college and could potentially sub in, there.

-One of the biggest differences due to the changes in regime this year versus the last 50 years is the amount of information allowed to media. Gone is the "penalty box" in which media must stay during practices. Media is now allowed to range up and down the field. This allows different perspectives from varied vantage points, which is all the better for the fans.

Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie, the top dog around Alameda these days (at least in football matters) is also much more open to talking to media than was Mr. Davis. McKenzie took some time after practice Thursday to discuss his thoughts on the team and it's future. There is a good article on that round table discussion here.

-OTAs and minicamp have largely been dominated by the offense but Thursday's practice was not. Interceptions are still proving to be elusive but at least the defense was making plays and stopping the offense.

S Curtis Taylor mistimed a jump and DVD dropped passes that would have resulted in an interceptions of Leinart. Nathan Stupar did intercept Leinart. Conroy Black and Miles Burris both dropped would be interceptions of Pryor passes.

there were also some good pass defections and solid coverage. Underwood had a good pass deflected on Pryor and Shawntae Spencer had a solid deflection on a Palmer pass.

Finally, much maligned MLB Rolando McClain had a good day in coverage, causing 2 or 3 incomplete passes by being in proper position to make passes difficult.

Some quick hits from Wednesday's minicamp practice, the 2nd of 3:

-There was a rookie that played on the first team offense in the stead of Denarius Moore, who injured his hamstring at Tuesday's practice.  The surprise was that the rookie that was elevated to first team wasn't OTA and minicamp standout Juron Criner, a 5th round draft pick, but rather UDFA WR Rod Streater.

Streater has also had a fine offseason but hasn't made the same amount of amazing plays that Criner has.  Still, coach Allen felt that he had earned the right to replace Moore.  "He's earned the right to get the reps," Allen said. "He's done a nice job. He's a young guy. He's continuing to improve but he's obviously caught our eye enough to think he's earned the right to get a couple of first-team reps."

Criner's offseason wasn't forgotten, either, as he ran with 2nd team.   Based on the offseason the two are having it's entirely possible that one of them will work their way into the starting lineup at some point in the season as injuries inevitably start to mount.

The Raiders have started a rookie sensation at Wide Receiver mid season the past three seasons with Louis Murphy and Darrius Heyward-Bey getting time in 2009, Jacoby Ford in 2010 and Moore in 2011 all stepping in.

While it's still early in the offseason, it seems a safe bet that Streater will make the final squad as one of the top 5 or 6 wide receivers.  Allen was effusive in his praise, saying, "He's caught the ball extremely well, he's run very good routes, he knows how to get open and he has been explosive as a receiver."

The Raiders 2012 offseason took another step forward today with the first day of a 3 day minicamp running through Thursday.  As always, TFDS will attempt to sift through all of the information that comes from the camp and use it to predict what it means for 2012 and beyond.

First, much may be made about the fact that the Raiders had 100% participation.  I in no way wish to take away from that but it's not such an amazing feat given that it was a mandatory camp and there are no big contract disputes that would cause any players to stay away from camp.  In fact, in minicamps around the league this week, participation will be close to 100% except for the odd player - like Maurice Jones-Drew with the Jaguars - who is attempting to put pressure on the team by staying away.

The biggest news of the day occured fairly early on in camp.  Denarius Moore made a cut on a route and fell to the ground in pain.  A trainer came and helped him off the field and he eventually went back into the clubhouse.  It looked like it was likely a tweaked hamstring of some unknown severity.

Coach Allen didn't think that it would be too much of an issue - "He's going to be fine," Allen said. "We'll evaluate it. Usually those things take a couple of weeks or so, so we'll see where he's at." - however, an injury to Moore isn't good.  Plus, it was a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for part of last season.

The good news?  Moore can be shut down now, heal, and be ready to go in 6 weeks for the Raiders minicamp at the end of July.

In the meantime, all is not doom and gloom for the wide receiver corps.  Rookies Juron Criner and Rod Streater continue to stand out from the crowd at the position.

Amid the drafted and undrafted rookies that participated in the May minicamp held by the Raiders, a number of more veteran players were also given a chance to tryout.  One of those tryout players was Kevin Haslam – a 6'5" 304 lb offensive lineman out of Rutgers.

Haslam showed enough in the minicamp that the Raiders signed him to the roster and he has been with the team in OTAs, making a push to make the final squad.

Haslam was an undrafted free agent in 2010 and was signed to the Jaguars in camp and made the final squad as an UDFA which speaks to his skill and drive.

He suffered a hand injury in 2010 and then a torn MCL in 2011 ending on IR both seasons.  He was released by the Jaguars in March of 2012.

Haslam is athletic enough to play in the zone blocking scheme that the Raiders are re-installing this year.  He can play both tackle and guard and has good size.

He was kind enough to answer some questions to let Raider Nation get to know him a little better.

He's active on Twitter and you can follow him @KHaslam72

Questions

Q: What is your home town/state?
Haslam: Mahwah, NJ

Media were allowed into view a Raiders OTA again this week and, after some time to digest the story-lines and sift through all of the information, TFDS will attempt to pull out the pieces that are likely to affect the team.

As with most sessions this time of year, we must take much of the camp with a grain of salt.  Again, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) strictly prohibits contact between the players in Organized Team Activities (OTAs) so we are almost completely unable to make determinations on the defense.

OTAs also don't allow any pads and so it's also difficult to judge the offense.  What is judged is movement, change of direction, explosiveness and, with receivers, ability to make receptions at all points on the fields and how well they can use their hands, catch away from their bodies and get vertical for a reception.