Tom Cable on: Seymour, McFadden, Davis & Playoffs in 2010
Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable was featured on the NFL Network tonight. In the taped piece, Cable talked about defensive lineman Richard Seymour and what he meant to the club, off-season goals and ultimately, what he expects his team will achieve in 2010. The coach will work this upcoming campaign with no security, as Cable is a lame duck on the final year of his contract.
On Rebuilding:
Well I think, you know, we are not so far away now. We are very competitive now. Primarily, is to get our young guys to grow up. We’ve kind of gotten a little bit younger in the last year and a half, at the same time, more talented, which is a key.
On the Richard Seymour acquisition:
When we first got Richard last year, he jumped right into that role. A guy in the league for quite some time; he’s won the world championship a number of times, been to the pro-bowl a number of times…
He’s come in and showed this young team how you prepare, how you take notes, how you work every week, how you take care of your body, you know, all the things that are really critical to being good for a long period of time. He was fantastic with that.
On key issues being addressed this off-season:
I think there’s two things. Confidence number one, and number two is ball security and the turnover takeaway deal, which effects the entire football team. Those are the two big things that need to get done for this team to take the next step.
On running back Darren McFadden:
I hope so. I think he’s been so close and then an injury issue comes up. He’s not been able to stay healthy for an extended period of time. He’s flashed. Big time flash. But I hope he’s ready to put it all together, we need him to.
Is this his team?
Yeah, I think going into last year I did. The ’08 thing was a lot of work, a lot of adversity, a lot of things getting used to. I was a [offensive] line coach one minute, the next minute I’m coaching the line and coaching the whole team. So you kind of, get through that, to survive. You try to improve it and the last six weeks of ’08 we played pretty good football and last year, we didn’t get off to the start we wanted to and I think that’s a key in this league.
But I certainly think its my team.
On the playoffs and Al Davis’ patience:
He’s not at all. You know, and shouldn’t be and neither am I. That’s what I see this team being in 2010. That’s a team that can get to the playoffs. That’s the next step.
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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist
