Jerry Mac's blog touched on the O-line today:
Cable a VIP
Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on Friday at 3:29 pm
Al Davis is the most important person in the Raiders organization, of course. No dispute there. The guy IS the Raiders.
Next in line is Lane Kiffin, by virtue of his title as head coach.
Davis has given Kiffin a lot of rope, but it takes severe Raider myopia to not recognize that new coaches have historically received a lot of latitude from the boss.
It's only when things go bad that all that rope becomes a hangman's noose.
But unlike Art Shell, who used his rope to hire Tom Walsh as offensive coordinator, Kiffin has lassoed Tom Cable as his offensive line coach, and in so doing gave himself a much better chance of success than his predecessor.
I've talked to a lot of people about Cable since Kiffin first interviewed him at the Senior Bowl. On the record and off, seldom has been heard a discouraging word.
People say Cable is an excellent line coach.
He had better be.
Because if Kiffin hopes to execute even a fraction of the offense he's bringing to Oakland, he'll need all the expertise Cable can bring to make it happen.
No one is saying it out loud, but it's clear that 99 percent of the blame heaped upon Oakland's pathetic performance along the offensive front is the fault of the three-headed coaching monster of Shell, Irv Eatman and Jackie Slater.
It's written all over the offseason.
Shell moved Barry Sims to guard then banished him to the bench by Shell. Post-Shell, Sims is competing for the starting position at left tackle and was signed to a renegotiated contract.
Robert Gallery, who many fans would love to see shipped out ASAP, will start as well. Although initial reports have him moving to right tackle, newly acquired center Jeremy Newberry as well as another source have said Galllery has been told no such thing, and he will compete with Sims for the job as left tackle.
If Gallery doesn't win, he'll replace Langston Walker on the right side. If he does, Sims will either move to the right or be a backup.
Other than Walker, who voided his contract and accepted a mind-bending $10 million in guaranteed money to sign with Buffalo, the faces are familiar. Newberry is the only notable newcomer, and his knees must hold up through training camp to remain on the roster. It takes a giant leap of faith to believe he can become the starter.
Jake Grove is still the center. Rookies Kevin Boothe and Paul McQuistan, who ended the season as the starting right and left guards, enter their second year. Veteran tackle Chad Slaughter was re-signed. Long-snapper and backup center Adam Treu is still on the roster, as is late-season practice squad promotion Chris Morris.
Where Boothe and McQuistan fit in is not known. They were part of the Shell regime, and the post-Shell era has not treated some of those members kindly.
As second-year players, they'll be given a blank slate and a chance to prove themselves in what Newberry calls the "stretch and cut" schemes Cable favors. It's the philosophy that has made Denver one of the NFL's top rushing teams, and the one taught by Bobb McKittrick during the Bill Walsh era.
Cable, for sure, will implement his own wrinkles and tailor it to the strength of his blockers. On the surface, it would seem to favor Gallery, who is more about agility and athleticism than pure power. But then again, Gallery sees a new blocking scheme and a coach or two every year, so there's no telling how he'll fare.
With the offensive line beaten down and low on spirit last season, Cable's style is said to be tough-love. They will be enthusiastic _ or else.
The Raiders believe they've given Cable plenty to work with, based on their off-season acquisitions. After surrendering 72 sacks and finishing 29th in rushing, the Raiders have nowhere to go but up.
There will be improvement, because it's impossible to be worse. But any hope the Raiders have of big-time turnaround, not to mention protecting a franchise quarterback if they decide to draft JaMarcus Russell, will be Cable's responsibility.
When you consider the fact that Rob Ryan's defense could probably operate reasonably well under Don Martindale, and that Kiffin, and not Greg Knapp, will call the plays, it makes Cable the third most important man in the football operation.
Right behind Davis and Kiffin.
If the Raiders can suddenly run the ball and protect the passer, he's a man in demand. If not, he'll be the scapegoat.
http://www.ibabuzz.com/raidersblog/
__________________
