On this day, Cable wins out

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So what do we know about this Cable guy? Other than the fact that this Tom Cable is much too large to climb onto someone's roof or under their house to run a television line?Well, the Oakland Raiders interim coach makes goofy comments. He said "We are 1-0" five times in less than five minutes after his debut at the Coliseum, neglecting to mention his team's four losses.He will never be confused with the Bay Area's other recent NFL coaching types. No slick suits. No GQ endorsements. No yoga commercials for this former offensive line coach. A first impression (and second and third looks) suggests this is someone whose Sunday best is an oversize pair of sweats or whatever pro wrestlers wear. "I wanted to make sure we were juiced and ready to rip someone's lips off," Cable said after Sunday's 16-13 overtime victory over the New York Jets, referring specifically to the Raiders' over exuberance in the penalty-riddled opening period. "That was my fault."This must have been what Al Davis was talking about three weeks ago when he bypassed Greg Knapp and Rob Ryan and named Cable as Lane Kiffin's successor. He wanted someone who snarled like a Raider, who dominated a locker room like John Madden, who wouldn't be cowed by competition.Well, we don't know yet about the Davis-Cable dynamic, and given the trend of the past several years, chances are good that Cable joins Jon Gruden, Bill Callahan, Norv Turner, Art Shell and Kiffin on other sidelines after the season. But in his home debut Sunday, Cable wasn't intimidated by Jets or overwhelmed by the environment. He nurtured his young quarterback, effectively managed the game in the deciding moments, and had guts to make decisions that were sure to be scrutinized.He called a timeout and attempted to freeze Jay Feely, and admitted to feeling silly when the Jets' kicker caught an upright the first time, then succeeded on his second 52-yard attempt to tie the game.Two other maneuvers, though, actually revealed more about the Cable guy. A few minutes earlier, with the score tied and Shane Lechler presumably preparing to punt, the Raiders surprised the Jets with a direct snap to Jon Alston. Twenty-two yards and a first down later, JaMarcus Russell was back on the field, setting up Sebastian Janikowski's go-ahead 37-yard field goal."I didn't know much about (Cable)," said cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha afterward, "but coming in here, one of the things he said was that he was going to take more chances. And as players, we love coaches that take chances. Our focus going into the game was, 'try to intimidate them,' be the more (aggressive) team. (Cable) kept his word."Cable's most crucial decision occurred on Oakland's third possession of overtime, with just over two minutes remaining, with the Raiders staring at fourth down, with the announced crowed of 61,901 anticipating the worst. You know. The usual ending: Out trotted Janikowski, who somehow had convinced his coach that a 57-yard field goal was within his range. If he missed, of course, the Jets would have terrific field position and Brett Favre again on the field. If he succeeded on the franchise-record attempt, his rookie coach looks like a genius.Cable later said the decision was simple, not cerebral. He went with his instinct. With his belief in his kicker. With the need to develop a level of trust with the players in his locker room."One game doesn't make it a year, obviously," he said, his face flushed, his words matter-of-fact, "but it makes the day."For a day, at least, it makes him look really smart.(Contact Ailene Voisin at avoisin@sacbee.com.)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)