Blue Collar with a Corvette

Two words describe Tom Cable and how he's building this Raiders team, blue collar. 

This team is being built as a run team first. Typically it's been the other way around, pass to set up the run. 

Cable is building his O-line the way he knows how to build one. This isn't your typical O-line with 320 lb tackles next to even bigger guards. This O-line is being built with players willing to do what's necessary to be successful at the zone blocking scheme.

These players are more athletic (Satele instead of Grove), agile, and have the ability to make the much hated cut block. For the first time in several years this team has competition for the tackle positions.

Think back to the Denver Broncos teams of the 1990s which was built on lineman similar to what Cable has with the Raiders now. None of those players were really known players. They were undrafted rookie free agents and players cut from other squads.  

Cable is building an O-line that's going to be a road-grading O-line that'll be moving D-lines all day long, especially when this team is running at full force with 2 TE's, 1 FB, and RB Michael Bush. Defenses should be afraid of getting pounded time after time.

Add a dose of RB Justin Fargas for more beatdown pleasure, and then a taste of RB Darren McFadden to come in and break a big one against a tired D. If they choose play action, then McFadden, Heyward-Bey, and Miller could be the receivers with either of them breaking free for big gains against a D that has stacked the box, afraid of the run. 

Players he's brought in via the draft and free agency this year have shown the blue collar work ethic for which Cable is trying to create throughout this team. Darrius Heyward-Bey was considered by some a suspect choice; the work ethic he displayed in college and high school should lead to good returns.

Mike Mitchell, Matt Shaugnessey, Louis Murphy, Slade Norris, and Brandon Meyers are all high character, high motor, good work ethic prospects. Add unrestricted rookie free agent, MLB, Frantz Joseph and DT/DE, Desmond Bryant, and you are adding some talent to the overall team that has the blue collar work ethic that Cable is looking to build off of. 

The offense should only get better and the Raiders are now going to be consistently among the league leaders on special teams play. There should be some improvement simply by replacing Rob Ryan with John Marshall. 

Players need to understand their role and not be lied to by their head coach. Tom Cable has done a remarkable job of remaking the attitude of this team. It's becoming a blue collar team that plays hard all the way down to the last play. The team didn't fade in game 15 like they have for the past six years. 

Although you might ask, why do I say blue collar with a Corvette? Cable will provide a dominant blue collar rushing attack that will be augmented by his Corvette—Darrius Heyward-Bey, Darren McFadden, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Chaz Schilens, Zach Miller, and possibly Walker. 

If the O-line can provide Russell with enough time to throw the ball, Russell should have no problem hitting the open target, which will usually be Zach Miller. If Schilens, Higgins, Heyward-Bey, or McFadden touch the ball then the defense will hope they don't catch the ball in space! 

Normally, any Raiders head coach could easily snag a Terrell Owens or trade for a disgruntled WR Ocho Cinco. Not Tom Cable. He could've talked Al into bringing him in, but Cable knows the true value of the old blue collar teamwork and what that should mean to the team in the future. 

Have patience Raiders fans, as Tom Cable is finally building the team the way a team needs to be built. He's drafting the right type of players and bringing in only the players that fit his system. 

It's going to be blue collar, but like any Raiders team, it's going to have Corvette offensive playmakers.