Place kicker Sebastian Janikowski and former tight end Raymond Chester were full of pre-training camp optimism when asked about the Raiders while participating in celebrity golf tournaments in the Lake Tahoe area.



Janikowski said coach Jack Del Rio set a no-nonsense off-season tone and upgrades to the team’s home base in Alameda have made for a good vibe.

“Jack, he’s a very demanding man,” Janikowski said. “He knows what the players want, what he needs, what we need. The change around the facility, to build the new weight room, it shows they care about it . . . it’s different the atmosphere with the new coaches. They pump you up before practice Mark (Davis) is building the new weight room, and that’s special for us, so we can go in to work and enjoy it.”

Janikowski said concerns about where the Raiders will play beyond 2015 will rest with upper management, but feels good about quarterback Derek Carr heading with his rookie season out of the way.

“You’ve got to understand, he’s going into his second year,” Janikowski said. “The playbook is big, but as a young quarterback, he’s going to learn and get better. I like where his head is at. He studies, he actually learns the game. We’ve just got to move forward.”

Chester, a tight end for the Raiders from 1970-72 and again from 1978-81, is hoping for some continuity and a clear message from the new coaching staff.

“It’s turnover once again. We’re looking for a good, solid culture,” Chester said. “Most of us old guys understand you have to develop the right culture and you have to establish what the head coach wants. Until you develop a culture, a style of play and a work ethic, you can bring in the best guys in the world and still struggle.

“Jack, I’ve got a good feeling about him. He’s got the right approach and attitude. We love the fact he was a tough linebacker. We really love the coaching staff.”

Chester is hoping to see the Raiders focus on doing a few things well rather than a lot of things poorly.

“My hope is we can simplify what we’re trying to do,” Chester said. “You don’t need 1,000 plays. That’s a monument to stupidity of coaching: to have a playbook with 1,000 plays. It’s the stupidest thing.”