Camp Begins Today for Some of Raiders : Pro football: Rookies, free agents and a few veterans will report for training at Oxnard.

For those tired of World Cup soccer and uninterested in baseball, good news is here.

The Raiders will kick off a new football season today when rookies, free agents and some selected veterans report for training camp at Oxnard.

After finishing with a 10-6 regular-season record and reaching the second round of the AFC playoffs before losing at Buffalo last season, the Raiders made several key moves during the off-season that has made them one of the favorites in the AFC to reach Super Bowl XXIX.

“I think the additions we’ve made really have improved our team,” said Raider Coach Art Shell, who is entering his sixth season. “With the addition of some proven veterans and of our draft choices, I think that we’re headed in the right direction.”

Among the players expected to report today will be two former Kansas City Chiefs--running back Harvey Williams and cornerback Albert Lewis.

Williams, who signed a one-year deal worth about $500,000 in May, has been brought in to bolster a running game that struggled at times last season. With Greg Robinson, who led the team in rushing as a rookie last season, still sidelined because of a knee injury and Tyrone Montgomery expected to be used mainly as a third-down back, Williams will get a chance to become the team’s main ballcarrier.

Lewis, a four-time Pro Bowl choice, is expected to challenge Lionel Washington for a starting position, but more importantly give the Raiders added secondary depth for their nickel and dime pass coverages.

To compensate for the losses of defensive tackle Howie Long, who retired; tight end Ethan Horton, who signed as a free agent with Washington, and fullback Steve Smith and linebacker Joe Kelly, who were released because of salary-cap problems, the Raiders also added several other free-agent veterans in defensive tackle Jerry Ball, tight end Jamie Williams and fullback Derrick Gainer.

The Raiders selected linebackers with their first two picks in last April’s draft in Rob Fredrickson of Michigan State and James Folston of Northeast Louisiana, but the linebacker all eyes will be on this week will be Greg Biekert.

Biekert, a seventh-round pick from Colorado in 1993, is expected to replace Kelly as the team’s starting middle linebacker.

“He’s in the same position I was in last year in that he’s a question mark because he’s stepping in as a new starter,” said Derrick Hoskins, who replaced Ronnie Lott at strong safety last season. “The Raiders would not have him in there unless they thought that he could do the job.”

Another key addition was free-agent guard Kevin Gogan from Dallas. With veteran Max Montoya expected to retire, the Raiders hope Gogan will be able to help their running game, which averaged only 89.1 yards last season--second lowest in the AFC.

“I know that we have a good team that has a lot more depth than we had a year ago,” said Shell, who has a 47-34 record as head coach. “I’m just excited about this team. We have a good group of players who all expect big things this season.”

The Raiders will practice at Oxnard until July 25 before leaving for Barcelona to play Denver on July 31. They will return to practice at Oxnard on Aug. 2 and will play exhibitions at Dallas and Pittsburgh before playing the Rams at Anaheim on Aug. 20.