As this marathon season of woe draws to a close for the Oakland Raiders, there are many questions that are hanging over the team. The primary question is whether or not the interim prefix is going to be dropped from the title of Head Coach Tom Cable. Here are the arguments for and against keeping him.
YES:
The Oakland Raiders have been through more coaches in the last six years than Larry King has had wives. It is time to inject some stability into the franchise, and allow him to continue on the path towards developing the younger players that the Raiders are bringing along. He was put into a no-win situation, as the team was deteriorating following the Lane Kiffin debacle. He needs to have a complete offseason to build his team to his specifications, and a chance to build his staff and show what he can do.
The Texans game shows that he could do something that has been lacking in Raiders coaches of late and pull out a strong performance in a late meaningless game. The last time the Raiders did that was in Norv Turner's first year, and that bought him a second year.
Cable is a Raider at heart. He grew up a Raiders fan, and he is passionate about turning around the state of the Raiders franchise and making them winners again.
NO:
Cable is 3-8 since inheriting the team following Kiffin's departure. In most of those losses, the Raiders were obliterated. The play-calling stunk and the players did not seem like they were ready to play. It was painful to see the Raiders on the field and not playing. When a team has problems as widespread and fundamental as the Raiders do, that shows that there are defiencies in the coaching staff, and ultimately that all falls on the head coach's shoulders.
When the players are openly questioning the decisisons of the coach as well as questioning the heart of their teammates -- as has happened with the Raiders -- that shows that the coach has lost the locker room. When that happens, there is no way that coach should be kept.
Ultimately, it will be Al Davis's call whether or not to retain Cable as the head coach. There are reasons why or why not he should remain head coach, but on the whole, it would seem like it would be in the best interest of the Raiders to start over fresh.
Comments
Patrick, this article is your lamest. However, since you are a dedicated Raider fan and provides the diehard Raider nation in Tennessee with insights on the Raidddderes, we will give you a pass. Honestly, I am too conflicted on whether Cable stays or goes. In any case, we need both an innovative offense and defense coordinator.
We need to keep cable as a o-line coach,he seems to have that down.. GET RID OF RYAN 4SURE..This scheme is HORRIBLE!!! MORRISON at MLB is HORRIBLE!!! We need to make a bid for brian U,Ray Lewis, or any real mlb's out there.. Bring in m.lewis at D-COORD if possible,I can't see him wanting a better job since the BenGALS are worse than us... The 0-scheme CAN'T change is you think Russell has turned a corner..To give this kid another play book would be 2 more years of excuses!! He needs the same lingo and scheme just different O-COORD.. Bring someone in like rich gannon to work and coach JR,And let him turn him into a smarter QB and not a fumbling,over throwin,no audible calling qb he is 2day!!! Bring in an O-MINDED head coach will bre a big mistake IMO.
It is a tough call. A fresh start would probably be the best course at this point. Though continuity is very important. I would love it as well if Cable would stick around as the O-line coach under a new HC. But realistically I don't see it happening. I think id Davis doesn't name him head coach full time then he leaves for Seattle and Mora's staff along with Knapp. If Davis does retain Cable as HC, he definitely shouldn't be calling plays next season.Al needs to bring in an excellent playcalling offensive coordinator if Cable gets the job permanently.I don't know that any of the great Raider coaches like Madden, Flores or Shell (1st tenure) ever called the plays in game.Gruden did, but he had been a playcaller prior to being a HC. He's the only successful Raider coach tha has called the plays during the game. As far as I know.
Unless the Raiders can bring in a HC with a proven record then we should keep Tom Cable for another season. I think this guy would have the Raiders ready to make a run at the AFC West title in 2009 with an entire offseason to prepare.
Outr with the old in with the new on cable. Real heart warming on hes been a Raider fan but that is well short of the qualifications he needs to get the job done. Remember the "fakeplay"? Come on! the whole staff needs to go a new play book needs to be put in and I agree with bringing in Gannon to coach our billion $ Qb. This team is past piecing together a staff and team. How about making a play for Plaxico and Utley or lewis in the Lb spot? Its a start....
I appreciate Cable's fire, And I do want to see him back in some perspective, but ONLY if it means we're going after a PROVEN coach like Mike Sherman, or Steve Marrucci, or even Cowher (yeah right). I would definetly take a chance on Singletary or Marvin Lewis or REX RYAN too. But if the Raiders go after another No Name coach, then better off sticking with Cable, he's got good chemistry and respect with the team. Either way, I can't stand another losing season with that much talent on the team!
I say this as a UGA fan and Raider fan since '68. Why not look at Tommy Tuberville? I not to thrilled with Cable, thanks for the loyalty and all Cable, we need to step it up a lil' in the HC dept.
-Raider Cool Patrick!
Hey P,
Let's keep it simple. The Raiders have the third youngest roster in the N.F.L. There is obvious inexperience from Head Coaching to personnel on the field. Interim Coach Cable is a Raider Man, and that means he is family. He has given us loyalty, honesty, and hard work. Yes, he is 3-8. Maybe just maybe he could be the gift horse we have been looking for. Remember Nation, our organization is build on maverick principles. If I had a say, I would think long and hard about the other potential candidates out there. Jim Fassell would help JaMarcus' career, but he has a reputation for holding soft practices. Bill Cowher, good coach, Super Bowl champion, but I feel he would not listen to the Godfather. Mike Martz hell no! The only coach to miss use future Hall Famer Marshall Faulk in the Super Bowl. Lastly, if the Godfather brings in another young undermining Head Coach I would be very upset! Remember Nation our heritage of being mavericks, making our own rules. With Tom Cable he communicates with the Godfather, he knows what to expect and he is a Raider!
Seems to me like there are stronger reasons to keep him than get rid of him. Al knows coaching, and the dirty little secret in the football world is that if Al Davis hired you ; then you can coach. It's the only explination why Kiffen is in TN. Al's picked 4 coaches that have Super Bowl wins. 6 coaches with SB apperances. Cable doesn't have to be the Alpha Male. He knows how to work with Al it seems. He's done great given the situation. He has very quality wins. Get a GM! Rebuild the D-Lne, via the draft & FA, and as Cable would say "Let it Rip"!
Win Lose or Tie, Raiders Till I DIE!!!
Seems to me like there are stronger reasons to keep him than get rid of him. Al knows coaching, and the dirty little secret in the football world is that if Al Davis hired you ; then you can coach. It's the only explination why Kiffen is in TN. Al's picked 4 coaches that have Super Bowl wins. 6 coaches with SB apperances. Cable doesn't have to be the Alpha Male. He knows how to work with Al it seems. He's done great given the situation. He has very quality wins. Get a GM! Rebuild the D-Lne, via the draft & FA, and as Cable would say "Let it Rip"!
Win Lose or Tie, Raiders Till I DIE!!!
Keep Cable as an O-line coach. Not as the head coach, play calling all year long has been terrible and just because we have a god game does not mean he is a good coach! we have good players and bad coaches. Lay off the liquor and realize that the Raiders need a good disciplined coach. Then we move on from their.
Lets finish this season off with a bang!
"Go Raiders"
Keep Cable as an O-line coach. Not as the head coach, play calling all year long has been terrible and just because we have a good game does not mean he is a good coach! we have good players and bad coaches. Lay off the liquor and realize that the Raiders need a good disciplined coach. Then we move on from their.
Lets finish this season off with a bang!
"Go Raiders"
The word on the street is there will be more firings this off-season. Having Kevin Gilbride as Head coach is not the answer, nor is some young "hot" coordinator who wants to take total control of personnel and draft day "War Room" before even winning a championship for us. hint- hint Johnny Boy Gruden and Lane "Alter-Boy" Kiffin. Tom Cable maybe the guy. You give him resourceful assistants and a good personnel- general manager, maybe Pat Kirwan or Mike Mayock, then we can see our Godfather smile again!
patriots beating raiders 49 -26 for radiers matt cassle is the best player on the team randy moss is the best too and tom brady is the best too
Tom Cable has begun to unite our talented young team. Al, stay out of the way and let him stay and watch the team play.
I say if the players like him then keep him jamarcus's stats in December were prettyinpressive so maybe he has turned the corner under cable. Plus the two wins at the end of the season are a sign of hope we had nothing to play for and we were playing teams that had something to play for plus it might give our two pro bowlers a reason to come back
LOOK RAIDER NATION TOM CABLE IS THE RIGHT FIT FOR THIS TEAM. UNDERSTAND THIS PEOPLE, NO COACH WAS BORN GREAT THEY BECAME GREAT OVERTIME,(GET IT) X'S AND O'S MAKE UP 60% OF COACHING THE REST IS PEOPLE SKILLS,YOU MUST HAVE PASSION FOR WHAT YOU DO AND FOR THE TEAM YOUR ON CABLE(IN MY OPINION)IS THE NEXT MADDEN... STOP TRING TO GET THESE OTHER COACHES THEY ARE RETERED FOR A REASON. WE NEED A GOOD FRONT OFFICE A GGGGGGGGMMMMMMMMMM DAMNIT. A GM THAT HAS GREAT AND PROVEN SCOUTING BACKGROUND AND MAYBE LOOK AT THE DEFENSIVE LINE DEVELOPE THAT AND THE OTHER POSITIONS AND YOUNGER GUYS. BE PATIENT PEOPLE,AL IS LOOKING FOR THE BEST BUT THINK HE KNOWS HE MUST STAND BACK AND LET THESES COACHES RIP IT UP.
LOOK RAIDER NATION TOM CABLE IS THE RIGHT FIT FOR THIS TEAM. UNDERSTAND THIS PEOPLE, NO COACH WAS BORN GREAT THEY BECAME GREAT OVERTIME,(GET IT) X'S AND O'S MAKE UP 60% OF COACHING THE REST IS PEOPLE SKILLS,YOU MUST HAVE PASSION FOR WHAT YOU DO AND FOR THE TEAM YOUR ON CABLE(IN MY OPINION)IS THE NEXT MADDEN... STOP TRING TO GET THESE OTHER COACHES THEY ARE RETIRED FOR A REASON. WE NEED A GOOD FRONT OFFICE A GGGGGGGGMMMMMMMMMM DAMNIT. A GM THAT HAS GREAT AND PROVEN SCOUTING BACKGROUND AND MAYBE LOOK AT THE DEFENSIVE LINE DEVELOPE THAT AND THE OTHER POSITIONS AND YOUNGER GUYS. BE PATIENT PEOPLE,AL IS LOOKING FOR THE BEST BUT THINK HE KNOWS HE MUST STAND BACK AND LET THESES COACHES RIP IT UP.
i think the cable guy did a great job...he brought a swagger back to the raiders i havent seen in a while...all the greats come from left field and this guy bleeds raiders...play callen... i thought for an ofensive line couch he mixed it up alot...i believe with this team and the cable guy we can get back to our dominent selfs and that thorn in everybodys back that i loved being.....russel starts conecting on 80 yard bombs and the rest of the field is gonna seem like mcfaddens playland....im all for the cable guy............................
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