Raiders HOF Coach Madden Discusses Physical Football in 2017
John Madden has forgotten more football than we’ll ever know. Yes, he does have a tendency to state the obvious. His long days as a broadcaster only cemented that into our minds. Yet, when Coach drops a jewel, it’s a pristine diamond. Testing his coaching mettle in an era where football embraced violence and free-spiritedness, Madden takes a throwback approach. The knowledge he dropped during a charity bocce ball tournament in June were homage to a bygone era. But one, the Raiders appears set to revel in.
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“One of the worst things in pro football now is short-yardage and goal line offense,” Madden said. “Teams can’t get first downs by running, and they get down on the goal line and they’re down there on the one-yard line throwing the ball, what’s that about? I think if Marshawn Lynch can take them out of that, if he can get first downs on third downs, and if he can get touchdowns on goal line, that’ll be a great big deal for the Raiders.”
Not giving Lynch the ball in the ill-fated Super Bowl pass is a haunting play. Also, seeing quarterback Derek Call throw on a third-and-1 play against the Kansas City Chiefs in December disappointed him.
“I would have liked to have seen us play a little more big boy ball in that game, with the weather, (and) the fact that (Derek) was having an off night,” Raiders Head Coach Jack Del Rio said.
Gone is then-offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave. Enter Todd Downing, who expects to give Carr more freedom at the line of scrimmage. With Lynch, an imposing offensive line i, returning to smashmouth football is going to be a favorite on the menu.
And this alludes to another Madden diamond.
“One thing that they understand is, you can’t get carried away with quarterbacks, and running backs, and wide receivers, and defensive backs,” Madden said of the Raiders’ offensive arsenal. “You need linemen, and that’s what they’re getting now. You need offensive and defensive linemen to win in this league. Now I know it’s all about quarterbacks, and I believe that and it is, but doggone-it if they’re going to be successful you better have guys that can protect the passer and rush the passer.”
Inflict pain on both sides of the ball. If that isn’t Madden football, I don’t know what is.
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