5 questions facing the Raiders in training camp

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The Oakland Raiders are continuing to carry out a lengthy rebuild, with the leadership of general manager Reggie McKenzie and new head coach Jack Del Rio hoping to set the organization up for long-term success.

While the methodical approach has yet to result in any sort of progress in the win column, the foundation for a competitive team is starting to become apparent and the team may finally be in position to take a step forward.

Here are five questions facing the Raiders heading into training camp.

Will Carr take the next step?

Derek Carr showed plenty of potential last season, playing at a relatively impressive level considering the poor situation he was thrown into as a rookie, but he still has plenty to improve upon heading into his second year.

Despite some impressive stat lines and overall performances against top defenses like that of the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills down the stretch, Carr can't be considered the Raiders' long-term answer at the quarterback position just yet.

Now that he's joined by a much stronger supporting cast, potentially including both a respectable running game and a much-improved group of receivers at his disposal in the passing game, the 24-year-old's sophomore season will be telling.

If Carr progresses at the level the team expects, it would go a long way toward solidifying his potential status as the Raiders' quarterback of the future. Should he struggle to capitalize on the improved situation around him, it could leave some doubt surrounding his long-term outlook.

Can Murray carry the load?

As the Raiders prepare to hold an open competition for the running back job, Latavius Murray appears to be the heavy favorite.

While his physical abilities would suggest that he's more than capable of earning the lead role over the likes of Trent Richardson and Roy Helu, the fact that it took so long for him to get on the field as part of last year's underwhelming group isn't exactly a good sign.

It's possible that the ability Murray showed in a breakout Thursday-night performance against the Kansas City Chiefs is the true marker of his progress now through two NFL seasons, though there's no way to say for sure.

Either way, Murray winning the job out of camp would be a positive sign for his potential to enjoy more consistent production going forward.

Which young players will emerge at cornerback?

Some key additions made throughout the front seven could have Oakland's defense primed for a strong season, but the club's decision to leave an already shaky cornerback position relatively unchanged could derail those aspirations in a hurry.

Projected starters D.J. Hayden, Keith McGill, and T.J. Carrie leave the group a clear lack of seasoning across the board, and the depth is without much experience to speak of either.

The Raiders' staff could very well be pleased with the talent demonstrated by the young cornerback group to this point, anticipating some substantial development and thus deeming it unnecessary to make any further additions.

However, training camp work will quickly show whether or not management carried out the correct strategy this offseason, and early signs of the contrary could force the Raiders to take a look at veteran free agents still available on the open market.

Will Cooper have an immediate impact?

After addressing arguably the most glaring need on the roster by selecting Amari Cooper with the fourth overall pick in this year's draft, the Raiders will be counting on the Alabama product to become their No. 1 receiver as a rookie.

While such expectations being thrust upon a first-year player can often yield disappointing results, Cooper's polished and pro-ready skill set could quite easily allow him to emerge as the offense's top playmaker heading into the regular season.

Cooper drew rave reviews during his offseason work with the team, and he'll need to carry those standout performances over into the far more difficult environment that training camp provides.

The Raiders have gone without a 1,000-yard receiver since Randy Moss in 2005, but if Cooper demonstrates the ability to challenge that mark in his debut year, it would make him the most important offseason addition to further the development of both Carr and the offense as a whole.

Has the offensive line improved its run blocking?

Coming off a year in which the Raiders fielded one of the NFL's worst run-blocking offensive lines, despite the unit enjoying some considerable success in pass protection, changes had to be made.

After making a significant upgrade at center with the signing of Rodney Hudson, and having Austin Howard transition from guard back to his natural right tackle spot, Oakland is looking to reestablish a capable run-first attack.

If the changes take, it would finally give the offense a more reliable means of moving the ball on early downs and thus, like several other points of emphasis heading into 2015, take pressure off Carr as he enters a pivotal season for his development.