Several days have passed since the NFL's second (yep already) coaching change took place. Lane Kiffin is finally out as Raiders coach after months of speculation replaced by offensive line coach Tom Cable. The hiring of Cable as the interim coach raised some eyebrows but wasn't a complete shock as he is the one responsible for the Raiders emerging running game. Still you would have thought a more NFL experienced assistant like Rob Ryan would have won the job. None the less this is not a permanent hiring regardless of how the Raiders finish the season. Despite what Al Davis said in his press conference the Raider's can't be led by a man that was a horrible failure as a college head coach. If he failed in the college ranks what makes Davis think he can succeed at the pro level? This is the Raiders we are talking about here and you never really know for sure what Big Al has in store for his team. I must admit the NFL is better when the Raiders are good, adds to the drama of the sport that millions including myself can't get enough of.
Now that Kiffin is out, Cable is in, and somehow Al Davis is still alive the Raiders can finally look to the rest of the season and the future. What is in store for Oakland? The Raiders stand at 1-3 having lost their last 2 by close scores and look to be somewhat better than the 4-12 team last year. Can Tom Cable turn this thing around? Probably not, but just by looking at their schedule there are still 2 or 3 winnable games against Atlanta, Miami, and Houston. A repeat of last year's 4-12 record would be a miracle considering what the team has been put through. On the bright side the team can rely on the legs of rookie Darren McFadden and returning Justin Fargas. 2nd year qb Jamarcus Russell could have a future in this league. So far this season he has 4 touchdown passes to just one int and in the week 4 loss against the Chargers he had a career high 277 yards passing. The team's defense may not be as good this year as it was last season but there is still plenty of time to improve. This team does have talent, and if it does come together and the team can ignore the distractions they may just surpirse us all. Tom Cable coach of the year? Sure why not.
When the season concludes some decisions have to be made about the team and its next coach. Since their Super Bowl run of 2002 the Raiders have gone through Bill Callahan, Norv Turner, Art Shell, and now Lane Kiffin. Cable is the team's 5th coach since that embarassing loss to the Buccaneers nearly 6 years ago. The teams 6th head coach is only a number of months away, if Cable doesn't get the job done that is. Al Davis wants the Raiders to win and said there is a possibility Cable could keep the job next season. It isn't likely for that to happen, however. Cable is far to inexperienced and if his previous track record is any indication he is not a fit to be a head coach.
I don't expect another hire with head coaching experience for the Raiders, but a couple names I would keep in mind are Dennis Green and current 49ers head coach Mike Nolan. Green has been rumored for this job a number of times and in my opinion he deserves a 3rd chance to lead a NFL team. He put the pieces in place in Arizona and could do the same for another franchise. I mention Mike Nolan because he is a young defensive mind Al Davis could prefer. His track record is not incredible but he has made the Bay Area rival 49ers a better team. If the 49ers decide to axe Nolan I could see Davis making a run at him, just for the same reasons the Raiders have made runs at former 49ers in the past. In reality expect a hire of a young assitant coach, perhaps Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, to be made.
The Raiders have an owner in Al Davis that wants to win, and win badly. He may not make the best decisions at times but he will spend if he believes it will make the team better. That, to go along with the Raider's rich past, should be enough to hire a decent coach despite the recent negative comments of former Raiders such as Rich Gannon and Warren Sapp. The Oakland Raiders will be back if Al Davis has anything to say about it. Just ask Lane Kiffin.
