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Bears would be wise to emulate Raiders' rebuilding blueprint

The Oakland Raiders team that invades Soldier Field Sunday to take on the Bears isn't the same doormat that NFL foes have been trampling for more than a decade.

Since losing Super Bowl XXXVII, the Raiders have lost at least 11 games in 10 of 12 seasons. They've won a total of 10 games in the last three seasons combined.

But, with a win over the Bears, the 2-1 Raiders would match the victory total of last year's team. After years of scuffling, the Raiders appear to have arrived, and they offer a blueprint for success that the Bears would be wise to copy as they undertake their massive rebuilding project.

The difference in this Raiders team and recent editions is the presence of young impact players such as quarterback Derek Carr, wide receiver Amari Cooper and defensive end/linebacker Khalil Mack. All three came via the draft, the surest way to achieve and sustain success in the NFL.

The absence of youthful, difference-making players is a problem that Bears general manager Ryan Pace and coach John Fox must solve before their makeover is complete.

Another difference-maker for the Raiders has been running back Latavius Murray, a sixth-round draft pick, which is encouraging news for the Bears, who have been stockpiling sixth-rounders.

The youth of those four players is a huge bonus. Cooper is just 21, Carr and Mack are 24, and Murray is 25.

One of the glaring weaknesses on the Bears' roster is that it lacks young, impact players like those four, who have fueled the Raiders' early-season success.

Mack, the fifth overall pick in 2014, had 2 sacks last week in the Raiders' 27-20 victory over the Browns in Cleveland. He's dealing with a hip injury this week that has limited his practice time, but the Bears are preparing for the pass-rush pressure he brings.

"He's a tremendous young player," Fox said. "That's why he was such a high selection. He's got great speed off the edge. He converts speed to power as well as anybody. He's an outstanding player."

The Raiders also took a flier on troubled Aldon Smith, which could pay off big time if the 26-year-old stays out of trouble, and that's a big "if." But the last time Smith faced the Bears, he had 5½ sacks and forced 2 fumbles on Nov. 19, 2012.

On the offensive side, the Raiders are No. 7 in total yards and passing yards and No. 1 in average gain per rush. They're tied for ninth in third-down efficiency and 10th in scoring, including 64 points in their previous two games.

The young triplets (Carr, Cooper and Murray) are the core players in the attack.

Murray averages 4.8 yards per carry (248 yards on 52 attempts) and is coming off a 139-yard, 26-carry effort in Week Three.

Cooper, the fourth overall pick in this year's draft, is Carr's top target with 20 receptions for 290 yards, including a 68-yard TD, one of his 5 catches of more than 20 yards.

"He's very explosive," Fox said. "He's got good hands. He's got good body control. He's in and out of breaks really well so he's got a great combination."

Carr, an early second-round pick (36th overall) in 2014, is No. 8 in the league with a 102.4 passer rating and has thrown 5 TD passes with just 1 interception. He started every game as a rookie and struggled at times, but that experience has made him a much better quarterback this year.

"They've got a really good, young quarterback who has a quick release," Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said, "and he has good knowledge of their passing game."

Carr, who has back-to-back 300-yard passing games, has been especially effective in the red zone. The Raiders have come away with points on each of their 10 trips inside the opponents' 20-yard line, with 7 touchdowns, and that 70 percent success rate is 11th in the NFL.

"He's got good targets to throw to, and he's accurate, so those are the qualities you're looking for in a quarterback to succeed in the red zone," Fangio said. "He can put the ball in tight windows that you have to down there, and they have good balance down there."

Bears outside linebacker Lamarr Houston spent four years with the Raiders (2010-13). They went 8-8 the first two seasons but then went 4-12 back-to-back. Houston says this Raiders team is unlike what he remembers from his final two years by the Bay.

"They're an explosive offense," Houston said. "They have three great young players (Carr, Cooper and Murray) who are carrying the offense right now, and they're winning ballgames.

"It's a different team than when I was there. You've got to tip your hat to them. They look like they work harder. They look like they execute a lot better than what I was used to seeing."

If the Raiders continue their early resurgence, they'll reaffirm that building through the draft with homegrown talent is the best route to success.

• Follow Bob's Bears and NFL reports on Twitter @BobLeGere.

Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) hits Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) causing a fumble in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, in Cleveland. The Raiders recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/David Richard) Associated Press
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr throws in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Aaron Josefczyk) Associated Press
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