One only has to compare and contrast the Oakland Raider franchise with that of the Pittsburgh Steelers--incidentally, their old nemesis from the '70s---to see that its not too hard to figure out why the Raiders just can't seem to turn it around. In one word--Continuity. Of course, talent is another important consideration when reviewing how franchises have done from season to season in the modern post-milenium era. But just looking at what the owner has done with the Raiders coaching situation--keeping coaches for only months at a time...whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers keep their organization in tact for decades at a time---is enough to understand, without the help of any rocket science, what role continuity plays in turning around a losing franchise.
Before we look at how the Raiders performed against San Diego on Thursday Night Football, we will have to take a long look at the details on the continuity in their lineup this season from week to week--and the changes in 2008 as compared to 2007. First of all, here is the lineup that started the game against the San Diego Chargers. Bear in mind that there has been significant tinkering in the lineup with younger players for a few weeks now that their season seems to wrapping up with the playoffs out of the picture.
+++++++++++Oakland Raiders++++++++++
3-4 Defensive Front:
Derrick Burgess...Jon Alston...Kirk Morrison...Thomas Howard
Tommy Kelly...Gerard Warren...Jay Richardson
notes:
*-LB Jon Alston replaces LB Sam Williams in Week 12 who replaced Robert Thomas now on I.R.
*-DL Kalimba Edwards substituted into the lineup all season on the line for DL Jay Richardson and DL Derrick Burgess who got the start against San Diego in Week 14.
Offensive Line:
Kwame Harris.Robert Gallery.John Wade.Cooper Carlisle.Cornell Green
at C John Wade replaces injured C Jake Grove in Wks 11-14
*-OT Kwame Harris injured in Weeks 2,3
*-OG Cooper Carlisle injured in Week 4
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As usual, the bold font represents changes in the lineup either from the previous weeks or from the lineup in 2007. To further reevaluate where the Raiders are in 2008 thus far in terms of continuity, we can compare their 2008 lineup with a lineup they fielded during the 2007 season.
3-4 Defensive Front:
Derrick Burgess...Sam Williams...Kirk Morrison...Thomas Howard
Tommy Kelly...Warren Sapp...Terdell Sands
Offensive Line:
Barry Sims.Robert Gallery.J.Newberry.Cooper Carlisle.Cornell Green
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Interim coaches are not generally popular as the choice to take over head coaching jobs the following season on a full-time basis. But the Raiders would be well served to stick with one guy, and continue working to build on the things that the team is working hard to do right in practice and on the field this season. Tom Cable has been steady in his efforts on getting the team to practice hard with focus to try to translate their improvement to the playing field. This took several weeks, but one of their best performances was a loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 10.
Unfortunately, the position of Head Coach is not just about good coaching, but is-- to a certain extent, a political position in that big name candidates represent hope for the future. Hope sells tickets to the fan-base; but right now--the Raider Nation has not seen much on the field for which to celebrate.
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