The master of transforming basketball players into NFL offensive linemen
In short: In the high-stakes world of professional football, few coaches specialize in the impossible. Tom Cable built a reputation for taking players with zero experience—like a college basketball power forward—and turning them into elite NFL starters in less than twenty months.
Tom Cable’s coaching career is defined by a unique ability to transition players into the offensive line. His success with positional versatility included converting defensive end J.R. Sweezy into an offensive guard in just seven months, and transforming Garry Gilliam, a former tight end, into a starter. Most notably, he convinced the Seattle Seahawks to sign George Fant, a player who had been a basketball power forward and only one year of tight end experience, eventually securing the starting left tackle position.
While his technical skill was undeniable, Cable's tenure in the NFL was marked by significant volatility. During his time as head coach of the Oakland Raiders from 2008 to 2010, he faced intense scrutiny. In 2009, reports emerged of an altercation in Napa where he allegedly fractured the jaw of assistant coach Randy Hanson; though no criminal charges were filed, the incident was part of a larger pattern of controversy. Raiders owner Al Davis cited allegations of violence against women and the Hanson altercation as reasons for not renewing Cable's contract in 2011.
Despite these personal controversies, Cable's impact on the field was measurable. As an assistant with the Seattle Seahawks, he helped lead a rushing attack that ranked fifth in the NFL during the latter half of 2011, paving the way for Marshawn Lynch’s 1,204-yard season. His career has spanned various roles, from the head coaching position at the University of Idaho to serving as the run game coordinator for the Houston Roughnecks in the UFL.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Tom Cable
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