The question for the Raiders isn't how do you replace a 26-year-old two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle such as Darrell Russell. The real question is whether they would have replaced him anyway were it not for his season-long drug suspension and off-the-field problems.

	Darrell Russell had 2½ sacks last season for the Raiders.

Former Raiders coach Jon Gruden was so fed up with Russell at the end of the last season after his four-game suspension that Russell might have been gone if Gruden was still around this season. With base salaries averaging $10 million a year, Russell would have had to restructure or reduce his salary to stay.

Russell is a great talent whose play fluctuated the past seasons. It's rare to find a 330-pound defensive tackle dominant enough to have a combined 19½ sacks in his second and third seasons. But the team didn't think he played as well in 2000 when he complained of double- and triple-team blocking. Russell's sack total dropped three in 16 games that year.

Last season created more of a challenge, and, to a degree, Russell responded. After the first suspension in which he missed the first four games of the season, Russell was challenged by Gruden and Russell played better. During his absence, though, the Raiders found out for sure that Roderick Coleman was good enough to start and the defense did not drop off too much.

Actually, the Raiders learned in 2000 that they could be defensively productive when Josh Taves and Coleman filled in for Russell and Grady Jackson. Teams still found the Raiders to run against and Coleman's hustle create inside pressure.

But things will be different this season. Losing Russell and Jackson, who left in free agency to join the Saints, removes two 330-pound hunks in the middle of the Raiders' defense. Coleman is 65 pounds lighter at 265 pounds. Jackson's replacement, John Parrella is one of the league's better run-stoppers, but his weight maxes out at 300 pounds.

Having such mass on the defensive line was a luxury to middle linebacker Greg Biekert, who rarely had to worry about guards or centers getting to him.

Unless the Raiders add two-time Pro Bowler Sam Adams -- which is unlikely -- the Raiders will have to stretch their experienced defensive linemen over more plays a game. Regan Upshaw's knee reconstruction forces Trace Armstrong, coming off Achilles tendon surgery, to be on duty for 35 plays a game. It also takes Chris Cooper out of the defensive tackle mix and more into the rotation at defensive end. Last year, the Raiders had the luxury of playing Cooper at end and tackle. And the lighter Coleman still has to prove his body can survive the pounding of being a 16-game starter.

Young ends such as DeLawrence Grant and rookie Kenyon Coleman will be asked to play significant minutes.

Overall, the Raiders will have a younger, lighter and thinner defensive line without Russell and Jackson.

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.