http://www.realfootball365.com
by Anthony Carroll
There’s no doubt the Oakland Raiders are placing a lot of trust in
22-year-old quarterback JaMarcus Russell this season. If healthy, he’s
the one player guaranteed to touch the football on every offensive down.
One man who will never touch the ball, though, is the team’s offensive
line coach, Tom Cable. Yet, the way things have gone this offseason,
Cable may be the No. 2 guy in terms of trust heading into 2008.
The 43-year-old assistant, who’s entering his second season with the
Raiders, will not only have to repeat, but also improve upon, an
impressive 2007 debut.
The year before Cable’s hiring, Oakland’s offense ranked 29th in rushing
with 94.9 yards per game and last in sacks allowed with 72 given up.
Upon Cable’s arrival, the Raider offense jumped to sixth in the NFL in
rushing yards per game (130.4) and allowed 31 fewer sacks.
The starting crew the ex-Atlanta Falcons assistant was working with last
season was comprised of LT Barry Sims, LG Robert Gallery, C Jeremy
Newberry, RG Cooper Carlisle and RT Cornell Green.
