Coaching Profiles: Tom Cable and John Marshall

Head Coach: Tom Cable

The recent history of the Oakland Raiders head coaching job has not been pretty. Numerous names come up on the list of coaches fired due to the Raiders having bad records.

The last head coach for Oakland was Lane Kiffin. By many, he was unfairly fired. During his first venture, the Raiders record was 4-12. That lead to Kiffin's departure.

Unexpectedly, offensive line coach Tom Cable was picked as the interim head coach. He became coach four games into the season and lead the Raiders to a 5-11 record and loads of momentum to end the season. The games he coached, the Raiders went 4-8.

He helped JaMarcus Russell by moving Kwame Harris out of the starting left tackle spot. Harris struggled throughout the course of the year and Russell took a lot of hits due to that.

Cable has over 20 years of coaching experience. He's worked for many colleges, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Oakland Raiders.

On February 3, the Raiders named Cable as the official coach. Others were interviewed, but in the end, Cable earned the spot and respect of the Raiders.

Defensive Coordinator: John Marshall

John Marshall was just signed as the defensive coordinator for the Raiders. Rob Ryan was the former defensive coordinator. Marshall has been coaching as twice as long as Tom Cable has (over 40 years).

Marshall has been the defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, and the Oakland Raiders. He won two Super Bowl rings in San Francisco.

With Marshall aboard, the Raiders will still play some cover three defense. Marshall will want more pressure on the offense. He is currently teaching the defense the fundamentals and stressing it to the team.

The Raiders were second to last in defensive rushing yards last season, Marshall will look to turn this defense around. He will make them more fundamentally sound and discipline.