A Desperate Fan's Plea To Coach Tom Cable

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

I really have been stuck on one train of thought all day. Although I appreciate SR’s “It is what it is;” I have to say, “It could’ve been so much better.”

Tom Cable’s decision to pass on two consecutive plays from his own one-yard line set the tone for the game. But it didn’t have to be like that.

Let’s just imagine for a second that we can go back in time. It is 4th-and-goal on the Raiders’ one-yard line. The crowd is pumped when the defense makes the stop. The whole coliseum is rocking.

First down, Raiders from their own one-yard line and the call is a handoff to Darren McFadden. McFadden picks up three yards off right tackle. Second-and-7 from the four, and the call is a dive through the one hole on the left, gaining three yards.

Winded, McFadden goes to the sidelines. Michael Bush comes in. Third-and-4 from the seven-yard line, the call is a pitch right to Bush, and Bush barely gets enough for the first down.

It gives Oakland a new set of plays and a whole new ball game. The result of the drive is a 17 play 99-yard drive that eats 10 minutes of clock time. The first quarter is nearly history at the end of the drive.

Two very questionable calls by Tom Cable, two consecutive pass plays from the Raiders' one-yard line. Ultimately, in my opinion, it cost the Raiders the game. Their second divisional loss in three divisional games

The Raiders could’ve set the tone for the entire game. The opportunity was handed to them, but they squandered it.

Imagine you’re the Broncos for a second; the Raiders’ defense stops you on 4th-and-goal from their one-yard line.

The offense takes the field and drives 99 yards for the touchdown, mostly on running plays with Darren McFadden, Michael Bush, and Justin Fargas all combining for a majority of the yardage. Suddenly, it is your defense that is tired, while their defense is very fresh.

The crowd is pumped, and you are on the road.

Those passing plays haunted the Raiders for the whole game. They allowed for Denver to set the tone of the game, and the Raiders would never regain the momentum.

I don’t think you need to be a football guru to see where the game plan was flawed. I don’t think you need to be a head coach to realize that the Raiders should have a much better running game than they have shown so far this season.

I don’t understand why Coach Cable thinks it is still preseason. I don’t comprehend why he thinks there is still time to develop the passing game.

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