Amerson said, is an ideal litmus test for the new-look Raiders

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Raiders cornerback David Amerson wont take it personally if Saints quarterback Drew Brees targets him frequently in Sundays season opener.If anything, Amerson wants it that way and is preparing for it to go down just like that. It might be, he said, the only way to stop New Orleans nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback.As a corner every play you have to go out there like the balls coming your way, Amerson said Wednesday. You cant worry about whats going on on the other side of the field. You have to think every play (my receiver is) going to get the ball. I just lock in on my guy.The Raiders secondary definitely has its hands full facing Brees and the Saints after undergoing a serious makeover in the offseason.In 10 games between the two teams, Brees has passed for 19 touchdowns with only four interceptions, a small chapter in the future Hall of Famers career.Drew is a great quarterback, a Hall of Fame quarterback, Oakland safety Reggie Nelson. He just does a great job of leading his group and hes been doing that for a while now.Nelson is in his first year with the Raiders after spending the previous six seasons with Cincinnati. The veteran safety led the NFL with eight interceptions in 2015 and has squared off against the Saints three times previously. Nelson has picked off Brees once, in 2010.I just have to be patient, Nelson said. Communication is the number one key. When I got here that was my main thing, communicate with me. Guys have been doing that. As long as were on the same page nobody can stop us.On paper it seems like a complete mismatch in the Saints favor.Brees led the NFL with 4,870 passing yards last year and was tied for seventh with 32 touchdowns despite a down year for New Orleans, while Oakland ranked 26th in pass defense in Ken Norton Jr.s first season as defensive coordinator.Brees will be facing a much different pass defense than the Raiders had last year and one that is vastly changed from the one he faced in 2012 when the two teams last played. Not a single starter in Oaklands secondary was on the team then, and one -- Amerson -- wasnt even in the league at the time.Amerson, signed early last year after being abruptly dumped by the Washington Redskins two weeks into the regular season, entered the NFL as a second-round pick in 2013 and has never faced Brees. Facing a quarterback of Brees unquestioned caliber, Amerson said, is an ideal litmus test for the new-look Raiders.As a secondary if you want to test yourself and see how good you are right now and how good you could be, its the perfect game to go out there and go after it, Amerson said.Oakland first-round draft pick Karl Joseph wont be in the starting lineup against Brees but figures to get playing time against the Saints multiple-receiver looks. Joseph had been taking a majority of reps with the first-team defense in the preseason and during training camp before the change was made to go with veteran Nate Allen.For us, its all about competition, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said. Guys competing and then you basically get what you earn. We like the way Karl is working.Note: Right tackle Austin Howard sprained his ankle in the final preseason game and was held out of practice.---Online: AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Custom Todd Helton Jersey . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. Custom Rockies Jerseys . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. http://www.customrockiesjersey.com/custom-pat-valaika-jersey-large-94r.html . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. Todd Helton Jersey Large . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. Custom Rockies Jersey China . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. Chris Wood is desperate to perform well for England in this weeks World Cup and get a few people off his back.Wood has come in for criticism in some quarters after selecting Andy Sullivan as his partner in Melbourne, despite Ryder Cup team-mate Lee Westwood being set to make the trip.Westwood had been due to make his debut in the event after being chosen by Masters champion Danny Willett, but with Willett pulling out to protect a back injury, Wood took his place as the next highest eligible player in the world rankings.Under tournament rules, Wood was also able to select his partner and opted for Sullivan after the pair bonded during their Ryder Cup debuts at Hazeltine.Speaking after a closing 65 in the DP World Tour Championship, Wood said: Its as good as Ive played on a Sunday for a while so its nice to get a bit of form going into the World Cup, get a few people off my back.Dannys the one that pulled out. They know fine well the situation. Ive got so much respect for Lee as a golfer but I just feel as a team I will gel a little better with Sully.I went down the rankings, I did it in as fair a way as I could. There wasnt this much fuss when Danny jumped myself, Tyrrell [Hatton, Fitzy [Matt Fitzpatrick] annd Sully to go to Lee.ddddddddddddI totally understand Lees frustration, youre ready to go, but myself and Sully are hungry to go and play and surely thats what you want.We played the first practice day at Hazeltine together, me, him, Sergio [Garcia] and Rory [McIlroy], and we really gelled that week.We both played one foursomes and the singles and were in courtesy cars a lot together. We got a bit closer that week and have chatted about our Ryder Cup experience among ourselves and were motivated to go and win it next week.Whatever happens at Kingston Heath is at least certain to be more enjoyable than Woods previous visit to the course in Melbourne.I played about four holes when I was in the England squad as an amateur and got stung in the eye by a bee and had to come off, added Wood, who coincidentally had Willett as one of his team-mates on the trip.For me those sort of courses are as good as it gets, Im so excited to get down there and play it. Its almost like a US Open-style, you play aggressive to certain areas but you can putt it off greens and put yourself in position Z. ' ' '