NEW ORLEANS-Tom Cable looked a tad shell-shocked when he entered his first post game news conference as Raiders interim coach, his eyes reddened and his voice hoarse after the 34-3 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
But he said he felt "pretty good" with how things went on a personal level.Except, maybe, for how he handled two long field-goal attempts by Sebastian Janikowski late in the first half. Janikowski missed both, a 57-yarder and a 59-yarder, and the Saints converted their own field goal, thanks to good field position, in between.
"I really kind of kick myself there,"Cable said. "You could argue with yourself that you might have punted there, you know, and make it a long field (for New Orleans) ... but you believe in (Janikowski) so you give him a shot.
"And really, length wasn't the issue at all. Both of them were just a little bit left. I think those were right decisions, but you could argue that one."
Not a busy corner - By his count, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha had only one ball thrown his way by the Saints.
"Yeah, to the fullback in the flat," he said. "I was actually playing it a little deep because I was thinking (Saints quarterback Drew Brees) was going to hit someone else."
Asomugha, nursing an injured right elbow, said only five passes total have come his way this season.
Low profile for McFadden - Rookie running back Darren McFadden, dealing with a nagging turf toe on his right foot, did not get his first touch until the second quarter as Justin Fargas' groin injury healed enough for him to start and play for the first time since Week2 in Kansas City.
"It was really how the rotation worked out," Cable said. "What did we have ... four series in the first half? So we were limited that way.
"Darren did a nice job when he went in there. I think it really just depends on (the offense) staying on the field and having opportunities."
McFadden, who ran mostly between the tackles when called upon, rushed for 30 yards on eight carries and said his toe felt fine. Fargas had 35 yards on 10 rushes.
"We just got beat," McFadden said. "And we got beat bad."
Game-time decision - Defensive end Derrick Burgess (right triceps strain) was a game-time scratch.
Call The Bee's Paul Gutierrez, (916) 326-5556.
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