His expectations are to win because, as Pete Carroll will tell you, that’s all he has ever done.

He is convinced things won’t be any different with the Raiders.

Says they are going to win a bunch and doesn’t care who hears him.

If so, what a difference that will be. Especially for a team with two playoff appearances in the last 23 years.

Carroll, the Raiders’ first-year coach, is an eternal optimist. Someone who scoffs at such facts as playoff droughts.

He’s all about competing. All about improving. All about playing to one’s top ability.

I’m all about saying they’re going to finish 7-10.

Whether or not that’s too low a forecast is unknown.

This isn’t: A whole lot has to go right for the Raiders to make the playoffs. For them to be any sort of factor in the AFC West.

Staying toget

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