Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable joined KNBR in San Francisco to talk about his thoughts on how his team is approaching the coming season after a tumultuous 5-11 season last year. To listen to the interview, go to Sports Radio Interviews. Responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable says he has confidence in new quarterback Jason Campbell.
How does Cable think this year’s training camp feels different from last year’s?
Cable: I think, in many ways, it is just night and day. It is just a different mentality, a different energy level that is going around this football team, and even with the additions to this team and kind of with this coaching staff, it has kind of helped us in the big picture.
And the draft was good for us. The free agents that we brought in, the trades have all, at least to this point, paid off thus far. We are looking forward to the next few days as we are getting ready for Dallas next week.
What will new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson bring to the Raiders?
Cable: Well, Hue and I have a background together. We were at Cal together in ’96 with Steve Mariucci. Then we kind of went our separate ways, and then there was a chance for him to come back and taking over an offense that, obviously, wasn’t very good.
It has helped me tremendously and has allowed me to coach the team and keep my eyes on the offensive line a little bit more, and just overall look after the team like the head coach should.
What does Cable think of new quarterback Jason Campbell?
Cable: I think he’s a guy that can be consistent. I think that is the first thing that jumps out of your mind. What I like most about him is that he takes care of the football. If you look at his career thus far, all that being in Washington until now, he really did a nice job of not throwing many interceptions, and I think if this team just gets where he has been — you know that low number of interceptions and kind of that medium number of touchdowns — we will be one hundred times better…
I think if he will be just who he is, he will be fine.
What would Cable like to see out of the running backs this season?
Cable: First and foremost, we want to get back to where we were prior to last year and that is being a top-ten rushing team. I don’t know anywhere in pro football that you could just do it with one guy — I mean, Chris Johnson in Tennessee is probably the only exception to the whole thing — but if you look at every other team there is always a number two.
I think we have two ones [Darren McFadden and Michael Bush]. I don’t think you can even call either of them twos. That is a good thing and I think it is something else to be able to hold on to as we go. Their job is to hold on to the football, not put it on the ground, and stay consistent and take what the defense gives you in terms of hitting holes and making plays.
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Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable joined KNBR in San Francisco to talk about his thoughts on how his team is approaching the coming season after a tumultuous 5-11 season last year. To listen to the interview, go to Sports Radio Interviews. Responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable says he has confidence in new quarterback Jason Campbell.
How does Cable think this year’s training camp feels different from last year’s?
Cable: I think, in many ways, it is just night and day. It is just a different mentality, a different energy level that is going around this football team, and even with the additions to this team and kind of with this coaching staff, it has kind of helped us in the big picture.
And the draft was good for us. The free agents that we brought in, the trades have all, at least to this point, paid off thus far. We are looking forward to the next few days as we are getting ready for Dallas next week.
What will new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson bring to the Raiders?
Cable: Well, Hue and I have a background together. We were at Cal together in ’96 with Steve Mariucci. Then we kind of went our separate ways, and then there was a chance for him to come back and taking over an offense that, obviously, wasn’t very good.
It has helped me tremendously and has allowed me to coach the team and keep my eyes on the offensive line a little bit more, and just overall look after the team like the head coach should.
What does Cable think of new quarterback Jason Campbell?
Cable: I think he’s a guy that can be consistent. I think that is the first thing that jumps out of your mind. What I like most about him is that he takes care of the football. If you look at his career thus far, all that being in Washington until now, he really did a nice job of not throwing many interceptions, and I think if this team just gets where he has been — you know that low number of interceptions and kind of that medium number of touchdowns — we will be one hundred times better…
I think if he will be just who he is, he will be fine.
What would Cable like to see out of the running backs this season?
Cable: First and foremost, we want to get back to where we were prior to last year and that is being a top-ten rushing team. I don’t know anywhere in pro football that you could just do it with one guy — I mean, Chris Johnson in Tennessee is probably the only exception to the whole thing — but if you look at every other team there is always a number two.
I think we have two ones [Darren McFadden and Michael Bush]. I don’t think you can even call either of them twos. That is a good thing and I think it is something else to be able to hold on to as we go. Their job is to hold on to the football, not put it on the ground, and stay consistent and take what the defense gives you in terms of hitting holes and making plays.
More from SRI
Reggie Bush talks about starting his fifth season in New Orleans
Rex Ryan discusses aiming for the Super Bowl
