PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Running Backs Finally in Place

It took 16 games, but the Raiders finally have the three-back rotation they wanted in fullback Steve Smith and tailbacks Nick Bell and Tyrone Montgomery.

When they play Sunday in an AFC wild-card game against the Denver Broncos, Montgomery will be the starting tailback, with Bell coming in on third-down situations.

When the Raiders got rid of Marcus Allen, Eric Dickerson and Gaston Green before the season, they had hoped Bell would be their main running back. But that plan never developed because of early-season injuries to Bell and the emergence of rookie Greg Robinson.

With Robinson still sidelined because of a knee injury, Montgomery will start his first game after rushing for 44 yards in 13 carries in a 33-30 overtime victory over Denver last Sunday.

“This is a childhood dream for me,” said Montgomery, the younger brother of former NFL running backs Wilbert and Cle Montgomery. “To start in a game with such magnitude--I can’t think of this being a big playoff game. I have to look at it as just a regular game.”

One reason the Raiders will start Montgomery, who played wide receiver in college, is that his speed and versatility are a problem for Denver’s slow defense.

Bell, who has rushed for 180 yards in 67 carries, will come in on third downs because of his size to help pass block for quarterback Jeff Hostetler. Bell also is a solid receiver out of the backfield with 11 catches for 111 yards.

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Fans picking up tickets at will call for Sunday’s game should arrive early because of a late rush of ticket sales. Long lines are expected. The will-call booths will open at 9:30 a.m., with the Coliseum gates opening at 11 a.m. for the 1 p.m. game.

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With Rocket Ismail’s status still questionable because of a neck injury, the Raiders might activate Daryl Hobbs to fill in at wide receiver. Alexander Wright will take Ismail’s place on kickoffs.

Against Tampa Bay Dec. 19, Wright had his best game as a pro with two touchdown catches and 104 yards receiving. But the next week at Green Bay, Wright was held without a catch.

Last week against Denver, Wright had only two catches for 16 yards before catching the touchdown pass that sent the game into overtime.