Oakland Raiders Not Tackling Biggest Issues in Camp

The second preseason game is tomorrow night against the Chicago Bears, and after a stellar defensive performance against Dallas last Thursday night, coach Tom Cable appears satisfied that his team is ready to be physical once the season starts.

I am not convinced.

The biggest issue this team has had over the last seven years of futility is the inability to stop the run. The main contributing factor to this weakness has been a lack of fundamental understanding of positioning, gap control, and proper tackling. These are all things learned during the physical dog days of July and August when teammates bash each other silly in preparation for doing the same to their opponents.

This weakness has perpetuated a steady stream of losses and affected both sides of the ball by having the defense on the field far too often, giving up far too many yards and points on the ground, and causing what have been overmatched offenses to have to play catch up, which this team has certainly not been built to do over the better part of the last decade.

And now the team is running what is essentially a two-hand touch camp and sitting any player with a stubbed toe to ensure he doesn't get full-blown injured.

I'm not asking Tom Cable to be Gunnery Sargeant Hartman out there, but this team needs more toughness, and the way he is running camp is not going to build that toughness.



Letting players rest with the most modest of physical ailments, especially the inexperienced wide receivers who need more snaps with their new quarterback, is not the usual mentality of an NFL franchise. And while I understand erring on the side of caution, it seems Cable is taking things in this respect to the extreme. If Darrius Heyward-Bey is getting rest because he is "fatigued", I'm sorry, but I can NOT stand behind that for a 23-year-old making a ton of money.

These receivers need as many snaps as they can get in "liv...

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