It’s all going to start up front for the Raiders this season. And we’re not talking about pass rushers Khalil Mack and Aldon Smith.

We’re talking about the 700 pounds Oakland will throw out there at defensive tackle in Dan Williams and Justin Ellis. Williams was one of the Raiders’ prime free-agent targets: First-year head coach Jack Del Rio likes the “big boys” or “the anchor points” up front, like when he had Marcus Stroud and John Henderson his first go-around in Jacksonville 12 years ago.

“Guys that eat up blocks and make plays in there and can disrupt the middle,” Del Rio said. “Those are the cornerstone of any good defense. That’s going to start in the trenches, and I feel like we have a couple of good ones up front.”

Williams knows his main job is to stop the run, and he and the rest of the Raiders defense will have their hands full with talented Bengals running backs Jeremy Hill and Giovanni Bernard. But he also has to get a push up the middle when Cincinnati tries to pass.

“If I can help Khalil get 12 sacks, or 20, this year, I am fine with doing the dirty work,” Williams said. “Make sure the quarterback doesn’t baby-step up in the pocket. If Khalil gets a sack, the Raiders get a sack and I get a sack. I am cool with that.”

The Raiders gave up a league-high 452 points in finishing 3-13 last season, but Del Rio and defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. are confident this is a different, tougher team. They have seven new starters, all who have had Norton in their ear every day.

“You have to tackle,” he said. “It’s a way to let people know and yourself know what type of defense you are. So tackling is something we really emphasize, work on, talk about, illustrate, diagram it, everything.

Stephen Brashear/Associated Press

“They catch the ball, they’re going down. No yards after touches. No yards after catches. They catch the ball for three, it’s a 3-yard gain, no misses.”

Vic Tafur is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.

Bengals at Raiders

When: 1:25 p.m.

TV/Radio: Channel: 5 Channel: 13 Channel: 46/98.5, 102.1

Spotlight on: LB Aldon Smith: The league hasn’t stepped in yet, so the former 49er will step in and play 15 to 20 snaps on pass-rushing downs. DE Justin Tuck will move inside, and Smith and DE Khalil Mack will definitely make Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton hear footsteps. With that pressure, Smith will take some off Oakland’s cornerbacks, who won’t have to cover for as long.

Injuries: Raiders - DE Benson Mayowa (knee) is out; Bengals - T Andrew Whitworth (back) is probable.

The Big 3

Latavius Murray ran for 370 yards and two TDs in his final five games last season. He should be able to find openings behind high-priced new center Rodney Hudson, talented left guard Gabe Jackson and left tackle Donald Penn.

First-round pick Amari Cooper makes his NFL debut, and the receiver has been as polished as advertised. A talented route runner with underrated speed, he and newcomer Michael Crabtree should open up the offense for QB Derek Carr.

Cincinnati is among seven teams to win 40 games over the past four seasons.

—Vic Tafur