Why are the Raiders the most dysfunctional team in the NFL and why have they been for the past several years? The simple answer is Al Davis. This, however, is by no means a new insight or perspective. 99% of Raiders fans know this, and the other 1% have tuned out for the past few years. But I think a look behind the psychology of Al Davis is far more interesting.
I believe the problem is Al Davis still lives in the 70's glory days and has been trying for the past decade or so to recreate a team like those John Madden led teams. I am a Cowboys fan, but no one who watched football in the 70's, with the exception of division rivals, could not help but admire the Raiders in many ways.
The Raiders of the 70's were fast and loose. They were led by Kenny "The Snake" Stabler. Stabler did not worry much about keeping in shape and he cared even less for his moral reputation. He was probably as close to an anti-quarterback as there ever was in the NFL. Despite this, he deserved his snake reputation. The guy could thread the ball more accurately than just about anyone. He was also ice under pressure. And Stabler was cunning, like a snake. Ask any San Diego fan who witnessed the now infamous "holy roller" play. I always believed you had to be devious to pull that off. Roger Staubach is probably too honest and upright to have tried something like that and today's factory quarterbacks wouldn't have the instinctive deviousness to even consider it.
The old Raiders were consistently one of the most penalized teams in the NFL, but this did not seem to phase them. They had swagger, and they had a habit of relaxing too much when they got out to a big lead. And they got big leads because Fred Biletnikoff and Cliff Branch chewed up yardage with ease. Biletnikoff made circus hands of glue catch after circus catch. This was not a dink and dunk team and they never really found a consistent running game. No matter. They won anyway. They looked tough in their black uniforms with skull and crossbones painted on their helmets. They talked tough, and they played like guys who partied way too hard the night before but somehow managed to win anyway. And as an added bonus, we got to watch young John Madden getting an ulcer before our very eyes in pressure situations – most of which were brought about because of lax sloppy discipline.
The Madden Raiders were fun to watch and you kind of wished you could be on the team bus with those guys because you knew you would have a heck of a good time.
I believe Al Davis longs for another team like this. John Madden was young and relatively unproven as a coach when he took over the Raiders. You sometimes got the impression watching him that so long as his offensive line pounded people, he didn't care what happened. Those Raiders were the outlaws of the NFL and Al Davis loved it.
The problem is, each coach must create an identity for his team, based on the players and personnel he has. Identities are also shaped by evolving tactics employed by other teams. Some teams are power teams because they are built that way, while others are glamour teams who light it up, and hope their defence can get lucky every once in a while. Al Davis does not let his coaches meld an identity for his Raiders. He demands an identity. He expects his coaches to create Madden Raiders Mark II so to speak. He doesn't care who he has on his team. Maybe he sees Stabler and company whenever the Raiders take the field.
But of course, the 70's are no more and Davis needs to let his coaches find and build a new identity for today's Raiders, one that suits both personnel and tactics. He can always relive the "fun times" by watching ESPN Classic. Raiders fans are like those of every other team. First and foremost, they want to win. Most players are the same. But teams have to win their way because that is really the only way they can win. If Davis allows this to happen, I think the Raiders can become a winner once more and he might just be surprised to discover that he enjoys football once more. Davis should remember the past fondly, but deal with the present.
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