Oakland Raiders buying team concept

March 27, 1:31 AMOakland Raiders ExaminerPatrick Patterson

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Teamwork is the key to victory
Photo by Patrick A. Patterson/TFDSsports.com

 

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Once upon a time the Oakland Raiders were a team that exuded greatness. Despite the long list of names that are synonymous with greatness, the key to their success was that the team was greater than the sum of their parts. Tom Cable has the Raiders on the road to rediscovering the long missing team element.

Coach Tom Cable addressed that very need in his interviews at the NFL Owners meeting at Dana Point, California.

Selfishness. It’s all about me and (not) the real fundamental concept of success of team sports. But I’m excited because I don’t feel like that about this football team anymore.

He hit the nail squarely on the head with the problem that has been at the center of the Raiders problem since Rich Gannon had the reigns of on field leadership. The attitude of me-first has never won a championship in any team sport on any level.

Back in the Raiders heyday of the 70s and 80s, they were known as a group of misfits and castoffs, but beneath that attitude they had a core of solid leadership that would not tolerate anyone on the team giving less than their best in practice and on Sundays. Coaches John Madden and Tom Flores were not known for being strict disciplinarians, but they had no use for players who weren't about the team come Sundays.

Today's Raider teams have been prone to underachievement and losing, because there has not  been the culture of dedication to the team as well as the traditional commitment to excellence, as there has not been any veteran leadership to step up and bring the team together. However, with Coach Cable stressing the need for them to come together and play as a team, it seems like the message started to take hold as the Raiders were able to pull off two improbable wins to close the 08 campaign.

With the rumors swirling about Nnamdi Asomugha's impending departure in free agency, he was on the sidelines in street clothes due to injury standing next to Cable and cheering on his team to victory against the Buccaneers. This was a sign of him emerging as a needed vocal leader for the team. It is easy to forget that the Raiders are a young team, after having been the butt of the so many jokes about being old not so long ago.

It seems like Tom Cable is succeeding in changing the culture, which is where Norv Turner, Art Shell (the second time), and Lane Kiffin all failed miserably. He has to continue to get the players to buy the team concept that he is selling, the future of the Oakland Raider organization depends on it. The players who wear the captains' "C" on their jerseys next season need to not only buy it, they need to sell it to the younger players. It appears that they are, but only the minicamps, training camp, preseason, and ultimately the 2009 regular season will show for sure whether they buy it or not.