NAPA, Calif. -- Tom Cable, hired by the Oakland Raiders in
the offseason, is trying to make over what was the NFL's worst
offensive line in 2006, a unit that allowed a league-high 72 sacks
and produced just 12 offensive touchdowns.
"There's a lot of work to do, let's just call it like it is,"
Cable said. "You've got some guys who've got talent (and) you've
got guys who have very little belief in themselves ... so you
really have to start over with them."
Cable, 42, is the Raiders' fourth line coach in four years but
the first to use cut-blocking schemes. He learned the style from
one of the league's top line coaches, Alex Gibbs, the former line
coach in Denver and Atlanta who served as a consultant to Cable and
the Falcons last year.
Atlanta led the NFL in rushing in 2006 under Cable's guidance,
though that was hardly news. The Falcons have been the league's top
rushing team since 2003, largely in part due to quarterback Michael
Vick's scrambling ability.
But with Cable, Atlanta rushed for 2,939 yards, the most by an
NFL team since 1978 when New England set the league record with
3,165.
Counter that with the Raiders, who gained 1,519 yards on the
ground and were 29th in rushing in '06.
Like Kiffin, Cable doesn't mince words on the practice field and
regularly admonishes younger players for their mistakes.
"If you're a rookie or a young guy, he's going to do that to
you, period," center Jeremy Newberry said. "As you learn to work
all that time, work consistently, he won't ride you like that.
That's his way of getting people motivated. If you aren't mentally
tough enough to take that, then you aren't mentally tough enough to
play in this game anyway. If that bothers you and you can't deal
with that, then it's probably the wrong game for you."
The Raiders aren't counting on just Cable to turn things around.
They added free agents Newberry, Cooper Carlisle and Cornell Green
to the line. They also moved former tackle Robert Gallery, the No.
2 overall pick in 2004, to left guard.
Carlisle is slated to start at right guard, while Green is
penciled in at right tackle. Newberry -- who calls Cable the best
offensive line coach he's ever worked with -- is currently backing
up Grove, though if Newberry's knees hold up he's expected to win
the starting job.
But Cable's biggest project has been trying to rebuild Gallery's
confidence. Since coming into the league amid much hype, the
6-foot-7, 325-pounder has struggled to find his way. He bounced
around from both tackle spots with little success and now is trying
to find a home at guard.
"The guy is a hell of a talent," Cable said. "The guy has
done everything and then some that I've asked so I'm very excited
for him personally because I know what he's been through. I know
what everybody thinks about the guy. All he can do know is go out,
prove them wrong and play."
Notes:@The Raiders signed free agent kicker Tyler Fredrickson.