(First in a series analyzing Raiders position groups heading into training camp)

Starters: Place kicker_Sebastian Janikowski; Punter_Shane Lechler; Long-snapper_Adam Treu; Return specialist_Chris Carr.

The competition: Long-snappers Jon Condo and Chris Morris; return specialist Johnnie Lee Higgins (rookie).

Possible core special teams players: S Jarrod Cooper, LB Isiah Kacyvenski, LB Isaiah Ekejiuba, CB Stanford Routt, S Stuart Schweigert, S Colin Branch, LB Ricky Brown, S Darnell Bing, TE John Madsen, FB Oren O’Neil, DE Jay Richardson, DB B.J. Ward.

Summary: Janikowski and Lechler are running unopposed. That’s fine in Lechler’s case, even if he seemed to be aiming many of his kicks for empty seats in the third deck in 2006.

As for Janikowski, not so much.

In seven seasons, Janikowski has never hit 90 percent of his field goal attempts _ a figure which would put him in the upper eschelon of place kickers. Janikowski has hit 90.7 percent of his career attempts (98-for-108) from inside 40 yards and just 59.1 percent (58-for-98) from 40 and beyond.

In other words, he’s made most of the kicks he is supposed to make and hasn’t come close to being the consistent long-distance threat the Raiders expected.

Remember how Janikowski’s endless stream of touchbacks were going to keep opponents deep in their own territory? In the last four seasons, Seabass has hooked 37 touchbacks in 259 kickoffs _ or 14.2 percent.

Janikowski has stayed out of trouble the past few years, but the bottom line is he has performed like a garden variety kicker taken in a later round or signed off the waiver wire, and nothing like the 17th overall selection of the 2000 draft , taken before Chad Pennington (No. 18 to the New York Jets) and Shaun Alexander (No. 19 to Seattle).

Alexander has reached the end zone more times on touchdowns (107) than Janikowski has on touchbacks (85).

Touchbacks were an issue for Lechler last season because he had too many of them. He hammered a career high 19 punts into the end zone with only 19 punts inside the 20-yard-line _ a 50-50 ratio which was by far the worst of his career and came just one season after having just nine touchbacks and 26 punts inside the 20.

Lechler’s gross avearge of 47.5 yards was a career high, in part because he looked as if he were engaged in a weekly long-driving contest.

A more competitive team would likely mean a punter more focused on getting good field position.

Brian Schneider, in his first season as an NFL coach, takes over for the hugely unpopular Ted Daisher as special teams coach. Daisher’s dictatorial style seemed to pay off during training camp and in the first few games of the season, but as the Raiders went south, special teams play declined as well.

It remains to be seen how coach Lane Kiffin will assemble his roster with regard to special teams. Is he beholden to veterans such as Cooper and Treu, or will newcomers Kacyvenski and Ward become the new leaders?

Which rookies will play prominent roles? Does Higgins replace Carr as either the punt return or kickoff return specialist, or both?

The Raiders pay plenty of lip service to special teams each year, and always seem to come up short. Whether it’s the key penalty, the one big return allowed or the killer turnover, inconsistent special teams play has been a constant theme the past four years.

Coming Wednesday: Defensive line