Raiders coach Dennis Allen says speed isn't enough

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INDIANAPOLIS --

In his effort to change the culture of a team that hasn't reached the postseason since 2002, new Raiders coach Dennis Allen will be de-emphasizing the stopwatch.

Long known for its obsession with speed under late owner Al Davis, Oakland won't disregard prospects' 40-yard-dash times this week at the NFL combine. But those clockings will be just another part of their evaluation.

"If you got two guys that when you look at the tape, these guys are about the same football-playing-wise, well let's take the faster guy," Allen said. "But we're not going to take guys just because they run real fast. Because that doesn't correlate to being a good football player."

In his effort to fill out his roster with good football players, Allen has inherited some challenges. The Raiders are reportedly $11 million over the salary cap and currently own just two 2012 draft picks - a fifth- and sixth-rounder - although they will receive compensatory picks before the draft in late April.

Allen and new general manager Reggie McKenzie have already shaken up the roster, releasing cornerback Stanford Routt a year into his five-year, $54 million contract. The surprising move has raised questions about other players whose performance may not justify the contracts they were given by the previous regime.

On Friday, Allen said defensive tackle Richard Seymour is in the team's long-term plans, but was noncommittal regarding linebacker Kamerion Wimbley and safety Michael Huff. Wimbley is due to earn $11 million in 2012. Huff, who has a $4 million guaranteed salary in 2012, is due a $4 million roster bonus March 16. Huff could play cornerback if he remains in Oakland, Allen said.

"Right now, with all those guys, we're looking at all our options and what we have to do from a financial standpoint to make sure we put ourselves in the best position to get the best players out there and be on our final 53-man roster," Allen said. "So between Reggie and myself, we're working through all those scenarios right now."

Oakland Raiders head coach Dennis Allen speaks during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Oakland Raiders head coach Dennis Allen speaks during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Photo: Michael Conroy, Associated Press Photo: Michael Conroy, Associated Press Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Raiders coach Dennis Allen says speed isn't enough 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

The future of running back Darren McFadden is less muddled after he missed the final nine games of 2011 with a Lisfranc foot injury. Allen said that McFadden was in the Bay Area working out last week and that he expects him to be ready for the start of the team's offseason conditioning program, which begins April 2.

McFadden and quarterback Carson Palmer will headline an offense that will have a new look under the direction of new offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, who spent the past two seasons with the Texans. In Knapp's West Coast offense, the quarterback is often on the move as he relies on an assortment of bootlegs and rollouts.

Palmer, 32, a traditional drop-back quarterback who hasn't played in a West Coast system since his college career at USC, isn't known for his athleticism. Allen, however, dismissed concerns that the nine-year veteran is ill-suited for Knapp's offense, which he said would be tweaked to suit Palmer's strengths.

"We're not going to force-feed something if it doesn't fit what a guy does really well," Allen said. "... But I do think when you look at Carson Palmer, that he does have the same type of athleticism. He's as athletic as (Texans quarterback) Matt Schaub, who they had in Houston, to really be able to run that same package."