Art Spander - Sports Commentary

OAKLAND -- This was the third preseason game, the one teams play to prove they are ready. After watching what happened to the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, one must wonder: ready for what?

All the Raiders’ failings, real or presumed, were on display at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the inability to stop the other team -- in this case, the New Orleans Saints -- the inability to do anything on offense (although when you don’t have the ball, that’s understood) and the continuing agony of repetitive penalties.

The final score, if incidental, was New Orleans 45, Oakland 7.

That after the Saints led 31- 0 in the first half.

After the Saints outgained the Raiders 344 yards to 60 in the first half.

After the Raiders had only 1 yard net rushing in the first half.

“This was embarrassing,’’ agreed Raiders coach Tom Cable. “We’re all in it together. I did a bad job.’’

It was the belief of the great John Madden, who coached the Raiders before he became an icon, given a one-sided exhibition game it was better to be on the losing end so the team might pay attention to the advice and warnings that the staff would issue.

This was as one-sided as they come, but when a team has had six consecutive losing seasons, as have the Raiders, it may be difficult to find any comfort in the Madden theory.

In truth this one, played before a crowd announced as 32,585 and in a temperature that was above 100 degrees on the field, had virtually no redeeming social or athletic importance for Oakland and was terribly discomforting.

The Raiders were helpless on defense and offense.

The only time the Saints didn’t go anywhere was when they were in already the end zone.

The Saints were on offense 39 minutes 27 seconds, basically two-thirds of the game.

The Saints gained 536 yards -- 304 passing, 232 rushing -- vs. the Raiders’ 289 yards.

No, the game doesn’t count when the NFL schedule begins in two weeks, but it certainly counts emotionally for a franchise wandering in the mire since that Super Bowl year of 2002.

Now, as always, the Raiders, management that is, are calling themselves the Team of the Decades. But the last few seasons, they look more like the Team of Disaster. This game did nothing to dispel the idea.

Cable became head coach early last season when Raiders owner Al Davis dispensed with Lane Kiffin, and if nothing else it appeared Cable, a gruff, physical sort, had the players mentally sharp.

But Saturday they collapsed, and Cable didn’t have a legitimate explanation.

“Obviously,’’ he said, “it was not a very good effort. We couldn’t get off the field on defense. And our offense was hurt by sacks and fumbles.’’

The team that led the NFL in offense last season, the Saints took the opening kickoff on Saturday and in 5 minutes 31 seconds went 80 yards for a touchdown. OK, now it was Oakland’s turn.

JaMarcus Russell completed a 12-yard pass to this year’s No. 1 pick, Darrius Heyward-Bey. Then he hit Zach Miller, and the play gained them 35 yards. Maybe the Raiders could do something. Unfortunately, what they did was fumble, when the next play JaMarcus was sacked.

The Saints recovered. In another 10 minutes 38 seconds, the score was was 14-0. Eventually it was 47-0 before backup Jeff Garcia threw a 43-yard touchdown pass for a meaningless touchdown with six minutes remaining.

“Our biggest issue,’’ said Cable, “was we were a team without a lot of zip. On offense, we couldn’t get into a rhythm. Ball security was another issue.’’

To complete the misery, cornerback Nnamdi Ashomugha, arguably the Raiders’ best player, incurred a chipped one in his wrist. He’ll be all right. But will the Raiders?

They are supposed to be improved over last season, more efficient, more effective, and yet they certainly looked like the same Raiders we’ve come to know and not love. Somebody always screws up.

“As a football team,’’ said Cable, implying that’s what the Raiders are, “we lack attention to detail.’’

That problem is supposed to fixed by the coaches, but let us not be too harsh.

“We’ll get it corrected,’’ said tight end Zach Miller, who caught three balls for 16 yards. “I’m glad it happened in a preseason game. But I’ve never felt so lousy after any game. This was embarrassing.’’

That word kept reappearing throughout the locker room, and for good reason.

“We’ll stay the course,’’ said the coach. “This is very embarrassing to me, but we’ll stay the course.’’

Persistence is fine. A little competence wouldn’t hurt either.