Silver and Black Report

After being the interim coach for 12 games, posting a 4-8 record and ending the 2008 season with back-to-back wins, it appears that Tom Cable has convinced the Oakland Raiders’ brass that he is the right man for the job.

According to sources close to the organization, Cable will be named the next head football coach of the Silver & Black.

Cable, 43, served as offensive line coach in his first season with the Raiders and turned around a lowly group that allowed a league high 72-sacks in 2006. That season, Oakland finished sixth in the NFL in rushing. He also helped Robert Gallery turn his career around from a bust tackle to a solid starting guard.

When Oakland parted ways with Lane Kiffin four games into the 2008 campaign – after a tumultuous feud between coach and owner – Cable was pegged for the job in the midst of the team’s worst stretch in modern day history.

“This is in many ways a strange day,” Cable said in September. “I have a friend who lost a job. That’s difficult in this business but, as we know, this is a business. It is time for us to move forward and to put the past behind us. … We have a good coaching staff here and a good football team here.”

Even though the Raiders posted another losing record – becoming the first team ever to lose at least 11 games in six straight seasons – highly regarded players declared their loyalty to Cable when the season ended and let their feelings be known about who should lead the team going into 2009.

“If (Davis) wants to ask or if he’s interested in our opinion, I’m sure any man in this locker room would vouch for (Cable),” commented running back Justin Fargas. “From just the way he’s treated us with respect and raised our expectations.”

The player who the organization needs the most to develop into a great talent even pledge his allegiance to Cable.

“[Cable] brought us from one direction and took us up the ladder,” quarterback JaMarcus Russell said. “He always told us that deep down he thought we were a good football team. By him becoming (head) coach, he guided us in a different way. He talked to us about what needed to be done, we need to make some changes and within that, I think we did.”

The news weeks after reports stated that New York Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride spoke to owner Al Davis on the phone regarding the position on January 3^rd, and officially interviewing for the job January in Oakland.

Green Bay Packer assistant head coach and former Raider linebacker Winston Moss was also a candidate for the opening.

Oakland will have to rebuild the staff around Cable, as their defensive coordinator since 2004, Rob Ryan, bolted to Cleveland to reunite with Eric Mangini at the same capacity for the Browns.

Greg Knapp, who was offensive coordinator and called plays for the Raiders before Cable took over that duty as the season wound down, also departed and landed with the Seahawks on Jim Mora’s staff.

“I want to be the head coach of the Raiders, but it’s not in my hands. But I certainly know I put this team together and got it going in the right direction, and today proved that,” replied Cable after the season ending victory in Tampa Bay when asked about his future with the club.

SBReport has also learned that Cable will have full autonomy in hiring his own coaches and surrounding himself with staffers of his choosing. 

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Greg Knapp

By Eric Strauss, S&B Report Staff Columnist

Although it remains to be seen whether interim head coach Tom Cable will be back with the Oakland Raiders next year, and in what capacity, there will definitely be changes in the Lane Kiffin-built coaching staff.

Multiple media reports indicate offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, as had been rumored for some time, will be joining new Seattle Seahawks head coach Jim Mora Jr.

Knapp, at one time a possible head coaching candidate in Oakland, finally was given play-calling abilities after Kiffin’s dismissal a quarter of the way through the season, only to see them taken away by the halfway mark of the year after a string of low-scoring performances.

Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, one of the longest-tenured members of the coaching staff, is reported to be a target of new Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini, who worked with Ryan in New England. Ryan has been with the Raiders for five years, serving under four different head coaches, and like Knapp was once considered a head coaching possibility.

The San Francisco 49ers’ website says Raiders running backs coach Tom Rathman has agreed to join that Bay Area club, with whom he spent most of his playing career.

And special teams coach Brian Schneider, whose charges had a terrific season in 2008, is reportedly interviewing around the league.

Most sources agree wide receivers coach James Lofton is the only member of the staff, including Cable, with a contract for 2009, and the other assistants’ pacts are up next week. Several reports indicate the team is willing to let assistants get an early start on departures, and with no clear indication of who the head coach will be, it appears many are trying to find stability somewhere other than Oakland.

The exodus began, in fact, before the season even ended, with offensive line assistant James Cregg notoriously drawing Cable’s ire by resigning to join Kiffin’s University of Tennessee staff.

The Raiders have not formally interviewed anyone for the head coaching spot yet (the Rooney rule must be satisfied, among other formalities), although owner Al Davis reportedly has spoken at some length with both Cable and New York Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, a former San Diego Chargers head coach.

If there are mass departures from the staff, even if Cable wins the permanent job as head coach, it could hamper some of the progress made by quarterback JaMarcus Russell and the team as a whole in a pair of season-ending victories.

On the other hand, with the Raiders’ recent struggles, it can be debated whether retaining a coach such as the ultra-popular defensive coordinator Ryan is a key to consistency, or merely a key to the consistent inconsistency of the past six years.

Other assistants who finished the 2008 season on the Silver & Black sidelines include: Quarterbacks coach John DiFilippo (who in a “Six Degrees of Separation” moment is the son of Gene DiFilippo, the Boston College athletic director who just fired head coach Jeff Jagodzinski, whose name was mentioned in at least one rumor reported out of Oakland), tight ends coach Kelly Skipper, defensive line coaches Keith Millard and Don Johnson, linebackers coach Don Martindale (Ryan’s right-hand man, who could be a candidate to replace him, or join him in Cleveland), defensive backs coaches Darren Perry and Randy Hanson, quality control coaches Adam Henry, Sanjay Lal, George Martinez and John Fassel, and strength coach Brad Roll.

One assistant who isn’t likely going anywhere is squad development coach Willie Brown, a Raider lifer who also works with the defensive backs. But the 23-year veteran staffer’s role could change, depending on who comes in as head coach.

QUARTERBACK — C+

JaMarcus Russell followed up his solid outing in Denver with an up-and-down performance at home. At times, he looked in full control of the offense and showed off his stellar arm with nice tosses. On play action in the first half, he executed a nice 28-yard pass on a corner route to Miller and he repeated his accuracy with a 21-yard toss to his tight end on a crossing pattern. Other times, he overthrew Ronald Curry on what could’ve been a score on 4^th and 3 in the 2^nd quarter and was not able to connect with his targets. Johnnie Lee Higgins could’ve adjusted on one seam pattern that should’ve led to a score and Miller dropped a big gainer after a big hit. It was good to see him use his legs more and take off on a couple big runs.

RUNNING BACKS — C-

More is expected out of this bunch. And today, they didn’t provide the Raiders the support needed to beat a team that is 31^st in the league at stopping the run. Justin Fargas had 18 carries for 82 yards and his first touchdown of the season, but his fumble in the 4^th quarter, on Oakland’s first play after the Chiefs took a 17-10 lead was a back-breaker that put them behind 10-points. Darren McFadden was used again in varying packages, but Oakland still has to find a way to get him more touches during a game. He again drew a pass interference call and was incorporated into the passing attack with 50 yards receiving on 3 grabs. As a flanker he hauled in a 13-yard slant and on a 3^rd and 7, was wide open on a seam pattern for 20 yards.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS — D-

Oakland gets nothing from this bunch and this has contributed to Russell’s inability to put up better numbers or perform up to his abilities. Higgins should’ve been aware of the coverage and ran a post pattern for Russell on one route in the 1^st half. Ashley Lelie was non-existent after his best performance as a Raider last week and the only receiver to record a catch was Ronald Curry, who ended with that lone reception for 0 yards (he flipped that toss to McFadden on a hook and lateral play on their opening drive).

OFFENSIVE LINE — C+

They were average at best. Kwame Harris was not a turnstile today, but he did get flagged twice – once for holding at the end of the 1^st half and a false start as the game wound down. Raiders have not been as physical along the interior since Jake Grove’s injury and 132 yards rushing today were highly disappointing after compiling 300 yards against this opponent in their first meeting.

DEFENSIVE LINE – D

They played well in the 1^st half, holding Kansas City to 26 yards rushing. But they regressed in the 2^nd half and never put enough pressure on Tyler Thigpen to disrupt his rhythm or facilitate more mistakes. Oakland cannot win games when 1 sack is recorded (Tommy Kelly) the entire game and 119 yards are allowed on the ground in the 2^nd half, while the offense struggles.

LINEBACKERS — C

Thomas Howard is playing extremely well and is flying to the football. But the rest of the unit appears lost at times and out of position. Kirk Morrison’s play has been sub par and Jon Alston is not a starting caliber linebacker at this level.

SECONDARY — C

Chris Johnson continued his solid play. His interception and 44-yard return to the KC 1 yard line inthe 3^rd quarter gave Oakland life and set them up for their only touchdown of the game. Nnamdi Asomugha took on Tony Gonzalez (who torched the Raiders with 8 rec. for 110 yards), and was beaten twice for 34 yards. Gibril Wilson started the game on the hall of fame bound tight end, but the Raiders slowed down his production with their top corner. Wilson dropped a poorly thrown ball by Thigpen that should’ve been interception. Instead, the drive continued and the Chiefs scored to take a 17-10 lead (the drive started in the 3^rd quarter, elapsed into the 4^th, and went for 91 yards on 16 plays).

SPECIAL TEAMS — D

Higgins was shutdown and Justin Miller could not provide a spark on kick returns. Shane Lechler had a miserable day punting and was part of that botched fake field goal that led to a Maurice Legget 67-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

COACHING – D –

The team was overconfident and the blasé approach in leaving points on the field hurt the Raiders. Oakland still has only 1 touchdown in the first half of games this season. They struggle to generate points, but the staff called a fake punt on 4^th and 10, thinking their hefty kicker could run for a first down and deep in KC territory, bypassed an easy field goal, instead calling a pass that fell harmlessly incomplete in the back of the end zone on 4^th and 3 in the first half. Some of the play calling was refreshing by Greg Knapp. The screen to Curry, which then turned into a hook and lateral that McFadden ran for 16 yards was exciting. ‘Wildcat’ formations a bootleg in which Russell kept for 17 yards, the utilization of McFadden and a reverse to Higgins were pleasant surprises and nicely executed at times. But the overall approach against a lowly team and leaving the points on the field for a team that has been the lowest scoring in the NFL is mind-boggling.

EXTRA POINTS

• Thigpen is now 1-6 as a starter.
• Kansas City snapped a 2 game losing streak against the Raiders, but extended their winning streak to seven games in Oakland.
• Oakland had 3 successful drives in the first half, but came away with only 3 points.

New Orleans, LA – For the Oakland Raiders (1-3), a win today at New Orleans could wash away much of the stage show that has surrounded them since the start of the season and through its bye week.

One key aspect of the game will be how the offense will look with coordinator Greg Knapp in full control of the play calling.

Quarterback JaMarcus Russell has not looked like your typical first year passer, but he has not had many opportunities to get the ball down the field, as Lane Kiffin appeared to have a short leash on the former LSU product. The Raiders need to balance their offense in the coming weeks and one vital component that they will have to get involved is Javon Walker.

So far, Walker has compiled a lackluster 4 receptions for 52-yards. Not exactly what the Raiders thought they would get when they invested $55 million with $16 in guarantees during the off-season.

The passing offense needs a jolt. And stretching the field with Russell’s huge arm and getting Walker into the mix is imperative. Ronald Curry has been a disappointment as well, and his consistency has been sorely missed.

The ground game has flourished as expected, but since they were becoming easily one of the most predictable teams in the league, with the change in coaches, the Raiders can now refresh their mode of attacks and begin a new era today by diversifying an offense that is ranked 19^th overall, but on the strength of the 155 yards per game on the ground. The 153 yards per game they have amassed ranks them 29^th in the league.

And if they are going to turn the corner and move in the right direction with Cable at the helm and Knapp directing the offense, airing it out and taking advantage of the reputation they have built in running the ball is something they must take advantage of.

Oakland Raiders Head Coach Lane Kiffin

As we first reported on September 9th, after the Oakland Raiders 41-14 thrashing at the hands of the Denver Broncos, it appears that the Silver & Black is ready to part ways with second year head coach Lane Kiffin.

The Raiders are preparing for their road game this weekend – against the rival Kansas City Chiefs – and a 0-2 start, especially if they get embarrassed once again could seal Kiffin’s fate, two weeks prior to the bye week, a target date SBReport sources have stated would be the end of the road for the 33-year old coach.

It appears that Al Davis is ready to move on after months of speculation regarding his rocky relationship with Kiffin, especially after rumors circulated during the off-season in which many outlets reported that Oakland’s owner was pushing for the coach’s resignation.

Sources reported that Davis wanted control over personnel decisions; staffers hired and fired, undermining the autonomy Kiffin was first given upon his arrival.

Kiffin avoided commenting on any of those rumors when they made headlines during his stay at Mobile, Ala., where his staff was coaching at the Senior Bowl, stating, “I’m not going to comment on anything that has transpired in the past three weeks.”

Reports also surfaced about Rob Ryan’s future with the club during the off-season, as it appeared that the defensive coordinator was ready to bolt to the New York Jets, after a disappointing 2007 season with the Raiders defense. But Oakland ended any speculative bantering with a press release and ultimately, retaining Ryan’s services.

Kiffin’s club looked awful during the home opener. And considering that the blow-out was handed to them by Mike Shanahan’s team, and after an off-season in which Davis spent a lot of money to upgrade the roster, the outcome may have been damaging enough to begin the process of purging the head coach and ending any differences behind the scenes that may have developed since his arrival.

With Kiffin seemingly gone at this point, whether it happens early in the season or after the end of the year, candidates for the position could be Ryan (especially if it happens during the season), or wide receivers coach James Lofton, who has interviewed in the past with the Silver & Black prior to landing a job with them this off-season.

With a 19-62 record since their Super Bowl appearance after the 2002 season, the constant instability this organization has shown on the sidelines and in the front office has had a major impact on the product on the field.

Regardless of what happens behind closed doors and on the sidelines, the Raiders better hope that young players such as JaMarcus Russell and Darren McFadden pan out and become successful pros, or they could face some more lean years ahead of them. One things for sure…

The constant turnover and changing of coaches doesn’t help when a team is trying to get out of a historic rut.

STAFF MOVEMENT?

SBReport sources have also stated that assistants Greg Knapp, Tom Cable and Tom Rathman, along with two other coaches, may depart at season’s end, likely landing  in Seattle when Jim Mora Jr. takes over as head coach.

All indications are that Mike Holmgren will move on at the end of 2008, and Mora Jr., who had Knapp and Cable as part of his staff while coach in Atlanta, will look to reunite with those offensive assistants when he takes over as head coach of the Seahawks.

By Victor Cotto, S&B Report Staff Columnist

Oakland Raiders rookie WR Arman Shields

One of the goals this off-season for the Oakland Raiders coaching staff was to create more competition at wide receiver.

With JaMarcus Russell taking over, the staff felt they needed an influx of speed and big play ability in order to cater to the attributes of their no. 1 overall draft selection a year ago.

In the draft, one of the players Oakland selected in hopes of given Russell a target to build a rapport with was Arman Shields. The fourth round draft pick was in attendance this weekend during Oakland’s three-day rookie mini-camp at their facility. But prior to their weekend activities, offensive coordinator Greg Knapp commented on what Shields could provide to a team looking to add big plays to their passing attack.

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