NFL Notes: Raiders give ball to Hoss

Thursday, Sept. 12, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

The Raiders have always played up Jeff Hostetler's importance to the team. Little did they realize just how important he would turn out to be.

The Raiders have not won a game since Nov. 12 of last year against the New York Giants, when Hostetler last started and finished a game at quarterback.

It has been the drought of droughts. During his injury-forced absence, the losing streak has grown to eight games, six in a row to end last season and two to start this year's schedule, including six straight quarters without a touchdown.

Over that span, two backups, one of them gone, have tried in vain to replace him. Additionally, there has been a change in quarterbacks coaches (from Jim Fassel to Larry Kennan), and one of the starting receivers from 1995 (Raghib Ismail) has been traded.

And, oh, yes, the coach, Mike White, is in danger of losing his job if things don't improve soon.

Now, finally, the time has come to see if Hostetler can do something about the crisis.

Recovering from his latest malady, a knee injury that has sidelined him since mid-August, Hostetler will return Sunday to his starting role in the Raiders' home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Oakland Coliseum.

"There are intangibles in quarterbacks that are important," White said when asked to describe Hostetler's value. "That guy behind the center, his credibility is something other players respond to ... it instills an attitude."

"He's our leader," fullback Derrick Fenner said. "In those third-and-12 situations, you have the confidence he can get it done. He's been in the league a long time. You can't substitute experience."

Jacksonville coach Tom Coughlin was the receivers coach for the Giants during the 1990 season when Hostetler helped lead New York to a Super Bowl title.

"Jeff is a competitive guy," Coughlin said. "I know his intelligence, leadership, concentration. Those are the kinds of things that will be different in terms of the Oakland offense."

Does Hostetler feel he is on the spot?

"A quarterback is always on the spot," he said before practice Wednesday. "If you don't get the job done, they'll find somebody else."

Of course, the Raiders haven't found anybody very productive at the position since Hostetler signed as a free agent in 1993. That season he took the Raiders to their only playoff berth in the last four years.

* JETS: How many teams can afford to take their leading receiver out of the starting lineup and replace him with a rookie who barely has half as many catches? The New York Jets are doing it, and nobody is surprised. Keyshawn Johnson, the top pick in the NFL draft, gets his first start Sunday when the Jets play at Miami. It's something Johnson loudly campaigned for a week ago. While Johnson, who has six catches for 110 yards and a touchdown, will start, Wayne Chrebet becomes the backup. Chrebet has 11 receptions for 113 yards and made several big plays in last weekend's loss to Indianapolis. "You've got to play to get better," Johnson said. "You won't get better if you're sitting behind somebody. You get the experience you need out there, on the field. "All that worrying about starting is over and it's time to get a win."

* STEELERS: It may not be nasty as Greg Lloyd wants it to be. The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense is still better than many thought it would be. "This defense isn't about one player. It's never been about one player," saftey Darren Perry said. "The expectation level is too high. A player is expected to go out and play well. "I don't know where it comes from, maybe Coach Cowher. But even when Greg went down, the guy taking his place is expected to go out and play at that level." No wonder Perry and Rod Woodson say they're getting tired of hearing how the Steelers can't possibly replace Lloyd. Wasn't it only last September that many fans were saying the Steelers couldn't get to the Super Bowl without Woodson? "When you're out there on the field, you're not thinking about who's playing beside you and worrying whether he can do the job," Woodson said. "We know there are good players on this defense. They wouldn't be on this team if they weren't good players."

* PANTHERS: Carolina's John Kasay is making life easy for the people at the NFL headquarters who choose each week's top players. Kasay has made all of his league-leading 10 field-goal attempts this season -- 5-for-5 performances in each of the opening two weeks. Kasay, whose total includes three field goals from more than 50 yards, also has boomed four kickoffs for touchbacks. Kasay's kicking has been instrumental in the Panthers' 2-0 start, and on Wednesday the league named him the NFC's top special teams player for the second time in as many weeks. "Good for him. He deserves it," coach Dom Capers said. "He's a real selfless guy, a real team guy." Add to his field goals a 3-for-3 performance in extra-point kicks and Kasay has 33 points -- 65 percent of the 51 points scored by the Panthers so far.

* CARDINALS: Ronnie Bradford, the heir apparent to the Arizona Cardinals' troubled spot at right cornerback, didn't need an embarrassing debut to remind him how tough the position can be. "Cornerbacks are on an island, and a good quarterback makes the island that much smaller," Bradford said. "But if you play within yourself and within a defense, you're going to make plays. We've got a great line, and they put on a lot of pressure up front, and it makes it a little easier back there. "But not that easy, trust me." Bradford was burned for Miami's last touchdown as the Dolphins routed the Cardinals 38-10. Although he's only had two weeks to learn the defense, Bradford may start this Sunday against another top quarterback, Drew Bledsoe of New England, because of an injury to Brent Alexander. The Cardinals practiced Wednesday for the first time after getting two days off following the Miami game.