Kudos to The Captain

Monday night’s game is more pivotal than we might have expected just a few weeks ago. It signifies the difference between a mid-season record of 2-6 and 3-5. This margin of just one victory is larger than it looks on paper. It represents a gulf of both perception and emotion. At 3-5, our wave will be ever surging, with promises of finishing with our best record since 2002. At 2-6, we will wonder if we’ve been caught in the undertow.

This season, to date, has been a tale of two units. The offensive unit has been largely offensive, in all the wrong ways. The defensive unit has emerged as magnificent. The screaming about Tom Walsh has been recently drowned out by the cheering for Rob “Caveman” Ryan. The sputterings of Porter, Moss and Gallery have been overtaken by the purring motors of guys like Morrison, Burgess and Asomugha. Lost in all of the noise, it seems, is…Art Shell.

In other words, there’s been a lot of discussion lately about the crew and the officers, but perhaps it’s time to check on our captain. How’s he doing? Are we on course? Are we lost at sea—or pointing toward our destination?

Some would have us scrambling for the lifeboats. For example, Fox Sports bestows their mid-season award for “Worst Coaching Job” on Denny Green, but with an honorable mention for Coach Shell: “He (Green) edges out Art Shell because, unlike the Raiders coach, Green got everything he wanted personnel-wise and assistant-wise.”

Talk about an asinine take. There are 11 teams in the NFL right now with winning percentages equal to, or worse, than the Oakland Raiders. Of those 11, several are led by coaches like Nick Saban, Jon Gruden, Mike Nolan and Joe Gibbs who have had ample time and resources to build their teams in their own image, just like Denny Green. Unlike most of these teams, the Raiders have steadily progressed, culminating in two gutsy wins over the past two weeks.

Yet it’s Art Shell who’s barely edging out Denny Green for worst coaching job this year? Nonsense.

Art Shell was hired to, above all else, instill a winning attitude and a sense of purpose in a team that had lost its way. In my opinion, he got off to a rough start. I think he was rushed, due to his late hiring, and I think he was rusty. On his watch, our wide receivers corps went from solid to sickly, with Porter stuck in the doghouse, Gabriel shipped to New England, Moss running his mouth (but not his routes), and Alvis Whitted starting for the first time at age 32. He failed to throw a red flag for a crucial first down against the Browns, not as an informed decision, but due to a lack of preparation and systemization. He seemed to lack a long-term quarterback plan for the team, to the point of turning to Tui for answers. His handling of the Porter problem was old school, but it threatened to turn the locker room into Animal House.

And yet…we’re starting to see that winning attitude, are we not? Our old captain is shaking off the rust. The rumors of mutiny were apparently exaggerated. The crew is adapting to the new rules, and the ship is righting its course. Coach Shell has been roundly mocked for his impassive face, for his steady demeanor. But is that not the genius of the man? He is in control, of himself, and seemingly of this team. Good captains don't panic.

Time will tell, of course. But I like what I'm seeing, what I'm feeling, from this team, considering all of the circumstances. At 0-5, the Raiders could have easily gone into a shell. Instead, they showed the character of Art Shell. And for that, I say, kudos to the captain.

P.S. I’ve got barbecued sea chicken on my Monday night menu.