Harris is 6-7, Dumervil 5-11.

"He has a low center of gravity which will be to his advantage and a challenge to me," Harris said. "Then again, there are probably some things he can't do that someone taller like Jason Taylor can do."

Of particular interest to Harris will be delivering the first blow, or "punch," to Dumervil, given that his extended arms will go over the head of the rusher.

"I'll need to get low, but not so low I lose my balance," Harris said. "I've talked to a couple of teammates about him who played with him in Denver and I'm really looking forward to the challenge."

--WR Javon Walker, talking about facing his former teammates, did his best to downplay facing a Broncos team that released him rather than pay a $5.1 million option bonus.

Ashley Lelie, another former Bronco brought in as a free agent after being cut by the 49ers, was looking forward to getting the chance to face the Broncos.

Lelie incurred fines of $14,000 per day through training camp until forcing a trade to Atlanta following the 2005 season.

"I'd be lying to you if I didn't say I had something extra in the tank for Denver," Lelie said. "I know a lot of the guys, and played with (cornerback) Champ Bailey my whole career there."

--Coach Lane Kiffin was doing his best to downplay a wide-ranging role for rookie running back Darren McFadden, who can play at running back, receiver and in college lined up in the shotgun as a quarterback who can run the option.

"You've just got to be nervous how much you do with him," Kiffin said. "You won't see him doing as much stuff as you'd like I'm sure in the opener. Especially because you've got a Monday night game as well. He's got to worry just about getting the handoff. We'll be very careful with him this week."

McFadden shrugged his shoulders and promised to go along with the program. But not before revealing the unthinkable.

"Growing up, I was a big Broncos fan," McFadden said. "I liked watching Terrell Davis, John Elway and those guys play."

--Raiders cornerback DeAngelo Hall grew up in Chesapeake, Va., the same city as Broncos corner Dre Bly. Several years younger, Hall considered Bly a mentor -- all the way up to the point he got in the NFL himself as a first-round draft pick.

"When I got into the league I told him I was better than him, but he was still going to Pro Bowls so I had to get there first," Hall said. "As long as I keep progressing in the league I kind of get to him. He knows I'm better. He doesn't say it, I don't say it, but he knows it."

BY THE NUMBERS: 24 -- The amount of rushing touchdowns the Raiders allowed in 2007, most in the NFL since 2000.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We had less talent than this in Atlanta and went to the NFC championship game and barely lost it, so I feel we're very capable of following the same formula." -- Cornerback DeAngelo Hall, on his outlook with the Raiders this season.