Roadmap out of purgatory? Oakland's new mapmaker

Well, as the clock turns, Oakland's march through purgatory goes on.

We've seen guys like Bugel, Mike White, Gruden, Callahan, Norv Turner, Art Shell twice, and now Kiffin.

The next mapmaker, has an interesting line to it.

Tom Cable, if anything, is great at working the offensive line, when he has the players and talent. Even when at bits and pieces....he seems to bring the best out of nobody.

Just ask anyone who Robert Gallery is. Considered one of the biggest busts of the draft, after Gruden's departure, he was tossed around on the line, in different positions, and then wound up looking for any help to get him back on track.

Enter Cable....and a solid position at Guard.

In the game against the Chargers, did you hear Gallery's name called once?

Now, even he isn't able to make people walk on water. He can't take a guy off the streets, and make him a tackle, or a guard, or even a good center....but give him time to work, and learn....good things can happen.

But, in this case, is Cable going to help, or hurt the Raiders?

As bad as the Raiders have been, Oakland can only look up. The phrase, as it goes, we should be 3-1, only counts if you could stop time, go back, and fix what went wrong.

And as well, hindsight is 20-20.....if I knew now, what I knew then, I would have started Russell against the Bills, instead of Donovan McNabb.

A lot of people like to bring up Cable's record in Idaho, when he coached in the past, going 11-35 for the Vandals over 4 years.

You can toss some random questions at his previous record, questions like, what sort of coaches was he dealing with? What sort of players? Who were they playing against, The elite teams, or wannabee colleges?

And most importantly, did he learn from his experience?

Oakland has a good chance to advance from this firing, they have an extra week to get adjusted to things, thanks to the bye.

And maybe, like Art Shell after Shanahans' exit....maybe turn the page for once.