Angry Pope
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Restoring swagger is goal, and Shell is up to the task
AGGRESSIVE STANCE BACK IN VOGUE ON BOTH SIDES OF BALL
By Steve Corkran
It used to be that teams dreaded playing the Raiders, especially in Oakland. They were a team of renegades, misfits and castoffs -- something that still holds true today if you consider Randy Moss, Sebastian Janikowski and Aaron Brooks.
It's the part about being dreaded that's now missing from the Raiders, as well as the victories that once came in bunches.
Team owner Al Davis admitted as much during the winter after another last-place finish, the third in succession.
``I got the feeling, and it wasn't only a feeling, it was no joke anymore that the Raiders weren't ready to meet the challenge when they traveled to these other cities,'' Davis said. ``Not only from a standpoint of total ability, but total desire and the will to win, and to realize that we're playing people who dislike us intensely.
``It's a fact, and somehow or other we have to get this back in the Raiders organization -- that when we go to Kansas City, when we go to Denver, when we go to San Diego, it's not just a game for a new coach, or for new players but it's a game for the Raider organization. We will come back.''
And in a decisive manner, says Art Shell, back for a second-tour of duty as head coach. No more West Coast offense. It's back to power running, air-it-out passing, and a hit-'em-in-the-mouth approach on defense.
The team hopes it will be just like the good ol' days, when Shell & Co. acted as if they owned the place, any place -- be it Mile High Stadium, Arrowhead Stadium, Lambeau Field or the local tavern.
``When you walk out there, when you walk into that stadium, you walk out there with a presence,'' Shell said. ``Mr. Davis called it a swagger. You walk out there with a presence. And I just want to get back to the point where when we walk into a stadium, they know the Raiders are in town.
``And when we walk into the Coliseum, the Raiders are here. . . . That's our home field. That's our home. You can't come in our backyard and win. We've got to create that attitude, and that's what I expect to do.''
The signs are omnipresent, players say. Shell and offensive-line coaches Jackie Slater and Irv Eatman are teaching the linemen how to be proactive and not reactive.
``We don't want to waste an opportunity to capture ground,'' Slater said. ``We don't want to lose ground to gain position on a guy. We want to capture ground right away. We want the ground that the guy's standing on.''
Doing so, the Raiders believe, will allow running back LaMont Jordan to improve on his 3.8-yard rushing average, keep defenses from getting a clean shot at the quarterback, and play to the strengths of an offensive line that underachieved last season.
Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan didn't speak with the media his first two seasons. Yet even he is getting in on the act, promising a more physical and aggressive approach by his players.
``We're the Raider defense,'' Ryan said, ``and we're going to get after people's butts this year. That's what we're all about.''
For a change, there's enough talent to make that happen, Ryan said. Gone are oft-injured and overpaid cornerback Charles Woodson and aging defensive tackle Ted Washington.
Rookies such as strong safety Michael Huff and outside linebacker Thomas Howard and fast-developing youngsters such as middle linebacker Kirk Morrison, cornerback Fabian Washington and defensive tackle Tommy Kelly have added speed, playmaking and attitude to a defense that has been lacking those qualities.
Veteran defensive tackle Warren Sapp said Shell has everyone thinking big.
``He's talking about a championship and giving us the formula about how to go get it,'' Sapp said. ``Right now, we're putting the pieces in place.''
Past Raiders coaches talked about ``competing'' and ``playing hard.'' Shell demands that, and more, from his players, and he isn't afraid to tread where others dare not.
``I know how to win,'' Shell said. ``I know how to lead. I expect that we will have the kind of success that this organization deserves. Expectations are very high, and the standards are high, and we can't settle for anything less. And that's my job, to come in here and show the way.''
AGGRESSIVE STANCE BACK IN VOGUE ON BOTH SIDES OF BALL
By Steve Corkran
It used to be that teams dreaded playing the Raiders, especially in Oakland. They were a team of renegades, misfits and castoffs -- something that still holds true today if you consider Randy Moss, Sebastian Janikowski and Aaron Brooks.
It's the part about being dreaded that's now missing from the Raiders, as well as the victories that once came in bunches.
Team owner Al Davis admitted as much during the winter after another last-place finish, the third in succession.
``I got the feeling, and it wasn't only a feeling, it was no joke anymore that the Raiders weren't ready to meet the challenge when they traveled to these other cities,'' Davis said. ``Not only from a standpoint of total ability, but total desire and the will to win, and to realize that we're playing people who dislike us intensely.
``It's a fact, and somehow or other we have to get this back in the Raiders organization -- that when we go to Kansas City, when we go to Denver, when we go to San Diego, it's not just a game for a new coach, or for new players but it's a game for the Raider organization. We will come back.''
And in a decisive manner, says Art Shell, back for a second-tour of duty as head coach. No more West Coast offense. It's back to power running, air-it-out passing, and a hit-'em-in-the-mouth approach on defense.
The team hopes it will be just like the good ol' days, when Shell & Co. acted as if they owned the place, any place -- be it Mile High Stadium, Arrowhead Stadium, Lambeau Field or the local tavern.
``When you walk out there, when you walk into that stadium, you walk out there with a presence,'' Shell said. ``Mr. Davis called it a swagger. You walk out there with a presence. And I just want to get back to the point where when we walk into a stadium, they know the Raiders are in town.
``And when we walk into the Coliseum, the Raiders are here. . . . That's our home field. That's our home. You can't come in our backyard and win. We've got to create that attitude, and that's what I expect to do.''
The signs are omnipresent, players say. Shell and offensive-line coaches Jackie Slater and Irv Eatman are teaching the linemen how to be proactive and not reactive.
``We don't want to waste an opportunity to capture ground,'' Slater said. ``We don't want to lose ground to gain position on a guy. We want to capture ground right away. We want the ground that the guy's standing on.''
Doing so, the Raiders believe, will allow running back LaMont Jordan to improve on his 3.8-yard rushing average, keep defenses from getting a clean shot at the quarterback, and play to the strengths of an offensive line that underachieved last season.
Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan didn't speak with the media his first two seasons. Yet even he is getting in on the act, promising a more physical and aggressive approach by his players.
``We're the Raider defense,'' Ryan said, ``and we're going to get after people's butts this year. That's what we're all about.''
For a change, there's enough talent to make that happen, Ryan said. Gone are oft-injured and overpaid cornerback Charles Woodson and aging defensive tackle Ted Washington.
Rookies such as strong safety Michael Huff and outside linebacker Thomas Howard and fast-developing youngsters such as middle linebacker Kirk Morrison, cornerback Fabian Washington and defensive tackle Tommy Kelly have added speed, playmaking and attitude to a defense that has been lacking those qualities.
Veteran defensive tackle Warren Sapp said Shell has everyone thinking big.
``He's talking about a championship and giving us the formula about how to go get it,'' Sapp said. ``Right now, we're putting the pieces in place.''
Past Raiders coaches talked about ``competing'' and ``playing hard.'' Shell demands that, and more, from his players, and he isn't afraid to tread where others dare not.
``I know how to win,'' Shell said. ``I know how to lead. I expect that we will have the kind of success that this organization deserves. Expectations are very high, and the standards are high, and we can't settle for anything less. And that's my job, to come in here and show the way.''