Raiders drop interim from Cable's title

by David White

Enough with the speculation, anonymous sources and company-line denials: the Raiders have finally dropped the interim label from coach Tom Cable's nameplate.

After weeks of waiting, Raiders owner Al Davis at long last made Cable the 17th head coach in franchise history Tuesday - and the fifth in seven years - more than a week after Davis decided the job was Cable's indeed.

A news conference is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, where Davis is expected to re-introduce Cable and explain the thinking behind his prolonged hiring process.

For the record, the coaching search lasted 37 days, the same time it took to hire Joe Bugel in 1997. It fell one day short of the franchise record for days without a coach, set in 2006 when Art Shell was finally hired.

During that time, Davis assembled a staff of assistants who will work with Cable. Davis is also close to naming John Marshall the defensive coordinator and is choosing between Paul Hackett and Ted Tollner for offensive coordinator - and leaning toward Tollner - a team source said.

Through it all, Cable was considered the frontrunner to replace Lane Kiffin once and for all. Cable was in on the interview process with his potential staff and represented the Raiders at the Senior Bowl - even though his contract had already expired.

Cable was named interim coach when Kiffin was fired Sept. 30. He went 4-8, winning his final two games and three of the last six. Two of those wins came against the Broncos and Buccaneers, teams that fired their head coaches - former Raider coaches Mike Shanahan and Jon Gruden - when their teams missed the playoffs.

Naturally, those unintended consequences didn't hurt Cable's chances.

"This is good news," Raiders center Jake Grove said. "I think most people bought into what he was saying. He showed he can definitely win there. It obviously helped him get the job and gave us momentum going into the offseason."

Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and Packers assistant head coach Winston Moss also interviewed for the head coaching job.

Cable came to the Raiders as an offensive line coach in 2007, a job he previously held with the Falcons. His previous head coach experience came at the University of Idaho, where he went 11-35 from 2000-03

As interim coach, his offense initially struggled to score points. They scored two touchdowns in his first five games and at one point went 15 quarters without a touchdown.

He took over the play-calling from offensive coordinator Greg Knapp at midseason and things eventually improved. The Raiders scored 27 or more points in four of the last six games.

Cable also shook up the roster with no regard to salary or experience. Free safety Michael Huff, wide receiver Ronald Curry and left tackle Kwame Harris were benched and cornerback DeAngelo Hall was released after eight games.

"He's as honest as they come," said Grove, a free agent who wants to return to Oakland with Cable in place. "He's going to tell you exactly what he thinks and I think that's very refreshing. I think guys respected that."