Deja Vu in Oakland

[Snout]

Raiders players hope Turner returns

By JOSH DUBOW, AP Sports Writer
December 19, 2005

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -- The results haven't changed much in Norv Turner's second season as Oakland Raiders coach: another losing record and another last-place finish.

As the losses keep piling up, so do the questions about Turner's future with the team.

"Oh, that question is going to be asked. It was asked last night and will continue to be asked," Turner said Monday, a day after Oakland's 9-7 loss to Cleveland. "And I'm sure that whole thing will be evaluated and be dealt with at the end of the season."

While its uncertain whether Turner has the support of owner Al Davis, his players have rallied around the coach.

Even though the Raiders (4-10) may not even match last season's 5-11 mark, the players see improvement and hope the coaching staff will stay to see it through.

While the players were given Monday off, those who addressed Turner's future after Sunday's loss were supportive.

"We don't want to switch to a new staff. We're so close to where we want to be," linebacker Danny Clark said. "But I'd like us to finish some football games. That's something that needs to be done internally with all the players."

Safety Stuart Schweigert agreed and said it would be a shame to start all over next year.

"I know defensively, we're behind the coaches 100 percent," Schweigert said. "We believe in the calls, we believe in the people they put in there, and we believe in the system."

Turner said he appreciated the backing, but understands that he will ultimately be measured by his record, which is 9-21 so far with Oakland.

But he also sees positive signs with the play of some of the young defenders such as Schweigert and rookies Fabian Washington, Kirk Morrison and Stanford Routt, and doesn't think the Raiders are that far away from turning it around.

"Things change fast in this league," he said. "There are too many examples over the last three to four years of teams turning around and changing real fast. So I would think in terms of that message, a lot of these young players provide a bright future for this organization."

The Raiders finish the season with games against two division leaders, Saturday at the AFC West's Denver Broncos (11-3) and New Year's Eve against the NFC East's New York Giants (10-4).

Many of the players know they are also playing for their futures, whether it's with the Raiders or on another team.

"This is a bottom-line business," offensive lineman Barry Sims said. "It's all about winning. We're not winning. So, everybody's job is in jeopardy."

Questions about Turner's future were raised even more after his recent quarterback flip-flop. Turner gave Marques Tuiasosopo the starting job two weeks ago against the New York Jets -- a move both Tuiasosopo and Kerry Collins thought was for the rest of the season.

But after Tuiasosopo turned over the ball four times in a loss and Turner talked with Davis, the coach decided to switch back to Collins against Cleveland.

Collins completed just 14 of 30 passes for 132 yards and an interception against the Browns. He threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Randy Moss late in the first half for Oakland's only score, but that was also the only completion to Moss all day.

"I know from my standpoint there's a couple throws I missed that I just can't miss," Collins said.

The Raiders were hurt by five false start penalties, all committed by running backs and receivers. Collins was also sacked three times, giving the Raiders 19 over the past four games.

Turner said Monday he's sticking with Collins this week against Denver.

"There's a lot of things around the quarterback that have taken place in each of the last two games that we, obviously, have to do better so that they have a chance to do the things that they can do," Turner said.

[thaiphoon]

I just hope they go out and win one for Norv in their season finale

[tcwest10]

I just hope they go out and win one for Norv in their season finale

Yeah, me too. I wanna see big blue stains on the turf, man.

[JansenFan]

His only real big win here that i remember was 50-12 over the Giants in 99 (I'm guessing on the score, but it was close to that).

[thaiphoon]

JansenFan - wasn't that win at the Meadowlands ?

[JansenFan]

It sure was.