PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Defensive Line Gains Momentum

After a shaky start, the defensive line play has been a strong point for the Raiders as they have climbed from 12th in the AFC against the run (156 yards after Week 1) to fourth (99.8 yards per game).

One reason has been Nolan Harrison, who has split time at defensive end and tackle. Harrison, a fourth-year veteran from Indiana, is having his best season with 23 tackles, including three sacks, two pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.

“One thing about Nolan is that he is going to give you everything he has on every play,” Coach Art Shell said. “He might make some mistakes, but he is like a bull in a china closet in that he makes things happen.”

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Another area of improvement for the Raiders has been forced turnovers. Throughout last season, the Raiders forced 23, but after only eight games this year, they have forced 19.

“We put a lot of emphasis in training camp about creating turnovers,” Shell said. “But things like turnovers come in cycles. Sometimes you get them and sometimes you don’t.”

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Defensive tackle Jerry Ball did not practice this week because of a knee injury but is expected to play Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. If he can’t play, Scott Davis will start at defensive end, with Harrison moving back inside to defensive tackle. . . . Safety Eddie Anderson, who did not play last week against Houston, practiced this week and will start against the Chiefs. . . . Punter Jeff Gossett leads the AFC with a 44.4 average. . . . Kansas City Coach Marty Schottenheimer has a 10-4 record against the Raiders and a victory Sunday would be his 100th in the regular season. . . . The Chiefs have won eight of their last nine games against the Raiders, including a two-game sweep last season.