NFL DRAFT : Kaufman No. 1 on Davis’ Short List of Backs : Raiders: Although only 5-8 1/2, former Husky is expected to add speed, explosiveness and big-play capability.

When the moment of decision came, Raider owner Al Davis went for the qualities that have guided him for three decades: speed, explosiveness and big-play capability.

With one possible choice, defensive lineman Hugh Douglas of Central State, already gone and Heisman Trophy-winning running back Rashaan Salaam of Colorado waiting in the front row, the Raiders made a shifty move of their own and used their first-round choice in the NFL draft, the 18th pick overall, to select running back Napoleon Kaufman of Washington.

In the second round, the Raiders took Barret Robbins, a 6-foot-2, 310-pound center from Texas Christian, who has also played at guard and offensive tackle. In the third round, the Raiders drafted Joe Aska, a 5-10, 230-pound running back from Central Oklahoma.

Kaufman is the first running back to be selected first by the Raiders since Marcus Allen in 1982.

Allen, it turns out, was Kaufman’s hero when Kaufman was living in central California, attending Lompoc High.

“Growing up watching the Raiders,” Kaufman said, “this definitely means a lot to me. Hey, I’m ready to play.”

And the Raiders are ready to give him the chance.

“We couldn’t be happier,” Raider Coach Mike White said. “In football today . . . the key ingredient is quickness and explosion. What Napoleon brings us is those qualities, which we really feel we can use in our offense.”

What Kaufman brings to the Raider offense is a total change of pace, a contrast to the slashing style of Harvey Williams, the power of Calvin Jones and the short-yardage capability of fullback Derrick Fenner. Kaufman will not be expected to carry the ball 20 to 25 times a game, but he will be expected to give opposing defenses something else to worry about: an ability to shift gears, move laterally and break away when he makes it into the open field.

One of Kaufman’s most memorable runs came against UCLA. Starting at his 20, he beat four defenders around the right corner, cut back to the middle of the field and raced 79 yards before being brought down at the one-yard line.

“It gives us more weapons,” offensive tackle Greg Skrepenak said. “The criticism of us last year was that we were too predictable, that everybody knew we were going deep. If we have a more balanced attack, we can keep teams guessing. We’re in control if we can attack from a lot of different places.”

Kaufman also brings to the Raiders another talent they sorely need--the ability to run back kickoffs. With Alexander Wright going to the Rams, the Raiders have been looking for a replacement to team with Rocket Ismail on kick returns.

It was Kaufman’s versatility and superior speed that moved him ahead of Salaam on the Raiders’ draft list.

Kaufman led the Pacific 10 last season in rushing, with 1,390 yards, and all-purpose yardage, with 1,826. He averaged 5.5 yards a carry and scored nine touchdowns in 1994, and had 23 touchdowns in his last two years. In his Husky career, Kaufman had 825 yards on kickoff returns, the fifth-highest total in school history.

His biggest liability--the reason he wasn’t linked in pre-draft predictions with the elite backs this year--is his stature, at 5-8 1/2 and 182 pounds.

But this diminutive size, on a solid frame maintained by constant devotion to weightlifting, makes him difficult to tackle.

“I try to compensate for (being short),” Kaufman said, “by blocking hard, running hard, doing the things that little backs aren’t supposed to do.”

One of the things the Raiders want Kaufman to do is work on pass receiving, since they envision him as an integral part of their new multidimensional passing game. At Washington, he received more pitches than passes.

“I think I need to do some work to improve in every phase of my game,” Kaufman said. “That’s just one phase I’m going to have to concentrate on.”

White said Robbins was picked because of his versatility, but wasn’t ready to predict which line position might wind up being his, adding: “We’ll see where he fits.”

Robbins, who played center all last season at TCU, might be groomed as the eventual successor to Don Mosebar at center or might be used to push Skrepenak, who has struggled at right tackle.

His selection came as a surprise to Robbins, who was planning a celebratory barbecue for today, when he’d figured to go in the later rounds. He was playing video games with a friend in his Ft. Worth home when he heard on the radio that he was a Raider.

“It is,” he said, “the best day of my life.”