ALAMEDA – Halfway through his 12-game tryout as the Raiders' head coach, Tom Cable understands the most important thing about his current status – the word "interim" before head coach.
Which means others are also eyeing the job.
So a day after a report that Jim Fassel, a former NFL coach and offensive coordinator with the Raiders, sent a handwritten letter to team owner Al Davis to pitch himself as the team's next head coach, Cable chose his words carefully Monday.
"This is my opportunity to manage this team and try and turn it around for whatever happens," Cable said at his weekly news conference. "It says 'interim' before my name. So I don't worry about that."
Cable understands his chances of dropping the interim tag hinges on how the Raiders (2-8) finish the season. The team is 1-5 under Cable and hasn't scored an offensive touchdown in 13 quarters dating to Oct. 26. The team is averaging 8.3 points per game under Cable while it averaged 19.5 under former coach Lane Kiffin.
But the Raiders have had injuries at key positions, so perhaps a strong finish might keep unemployed coaches at bay.
"If I can get this team turned around, absolutely, absolutely," Cable said of returning as coach.
Despite the offense's shortcomings and the defense continuing to be dogged by miscommunication and undisciplined plays at inopportune times, Cable sees progress after the Raiders' 17-15 loss Sunday in Miami.
"I'm proud of the way they're sticking together, the way they're playing together," Cable said.
The Raiders' biggest problem continues to be themselves. They have become masters at killing their own momentum.
Cable still bemoaned the first and goal from the 5-yard line near the end of the first half Sunday that became third and goal from the 19 after two false starts by left tackle Kwame Harris and a sack when Darren McFadden didn't get rid of the ball on a halfback option pass.
Harris was benched for the second half after the penalties, but will start this Sunday in Denver after his replacement, Mario Henderson, played "poorly" in the second half.
"We've got to clean up the penalties with (Harris), but he was playing quite well other than those two false starts," Cable said.
The Raiders, who led 15-14 late in the game, lost to the Dolphins when Oakland's defense failed to get a stop on fourth and five with two minutes left.
Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington found his third option, wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr., for a seven-yard gain to set up the game-winning field goal. It was a mental error by the Raiders that allowed the Dolphins to make the play.
"It was a nice play on their part, but quite honestly we expected it," Cable said. "We just didn't get it switched off between the two players. Again that's communication and discipline."
Cable's cause could be aidded by the return of defensive end Derrick Burgess (triceps), linebacker Ricky Brown (groin) and center Jake Grove (calf) to the starting lineup.
Burgess has missed six games, Brown three, and Grove missed the Miami game. All are listed as day-to-day.
Read Jason Jones' Raiders blog at www.sacbee.com/ raidersblog.
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