Raiders' Watson healthy and ready to take right tackle job

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The Raiders' ad for offensive linemen this offseason, if there was one, would have read something like, "Needed: five smart guys who work well together while beating people up 60 times every Sunday."

"I want the guys up front to mash some people," general manager Reggie McKenzie said.

That suits right tackle Menelik Watson just fine. The former boxer and basketball player from Manchester, England, nodded his approval after training camp practice.

"Oh yeah ... oh yeah," Watson said. "There's nothing like that. As an offensive line, you need to be feared."

Watson is one of four new starters on the offensive line this year, and they all have a little mean streak. Donald Penn is at the other tackle spot, with Austin Howard and either Khalif Barnes or rookie Gabe Jackson at right and left guard, respectively. Stefen Wisniewski is the one guy back in the same spot, at center (Barnes played left tackle last year).

"I've got confidence in the offensive line," coach Dennis Allen said. "I think it's exciting to see what we can do potentially with our run game."

Watson is excited to still be healthy after four days of camp. Last year, the second-round pick showed up with a bad calf, which he quickly reinjured, and then injured his knee a week before the regular season began.

"It was frustrating last year," Watson said. "I'd wish that on nobody, especially as a new guy coming in. I love this game. It was a lot to have it taken away last year. This is a new year. Last year is behind me. That's where it's going to stay."

Menelik Watson (71) learned about taking care of his body last season, when he played only five games. Menelik Watson (71) learned about taking care of his body last season, when he played only five games. Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Raiders' Watson healthy and ready to take right tackle job 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Watson did learn a lot last year, about taking care of his body and nutrition. Those things weren't on his mind his one season each at Saddleback College in Orange County and Florida State.

"In college and junior college, it kind of flew by so fast I wasn't thinking about my body, I was thinking about learning the game," he said. "As a professional, you need this body."

Watson has nimble feet and powerful arms, and his physical potential almost won him the starting left tackle job out of preseason last year. And got him written back into the starting right tackle spot this year. But he doesn't really want to talk about it, especially because teammates and friends like Matt McCants played more last season but are behind him on the depth chart.

"It's about action and not about talking anymore," Watson said. "Coming up, nobody knew who I was and back then it was all about action. Just trying to get back to that."

Watson did, though, enjoy making the NFL media tour in England before camp, helping the league promote Oakland's game against Miami in London on Sept. 28. He met a lot of Raiders fans there and was awed by historic Wembley Stadium.

"I can't imagine when it's game day," he said. "It's going to be mental."