Raiders Are Trying to Find Their Way Out of the Eye of a Storm

FOXBORO, Mass. —  Into the storm-tossed Boston area rode the Raiders, who have their eyes on a tempest that could hit closer to home. Its name is Al and it is not, yet, a hurricane, but rather the owner and guarantor of their commitment to excellence.

Al Davis’ football team is 1-2 going into today’s game against the Patriots here. A loss would give the Raiders one of their worst four starts in franchise history and they’re underdogs.

The Raiders were formed in 1960 but they date time from 1962, when Davis arrived. Since then, they have had two 1-3 starts, in 1966 and ‘79, and a 0-5-1 beginning in ‘64, Davis’ only losing season as a coach.

If the organization isn’t immune to it, at least mediocrity goes down harder here. So today is win or face the consequences.

Said cornerback Lester Hayes: “Seeing Coach Davis happy is very, very vital on 32 Center Street (the address of the Raider facility in El Segundo). It is imperative to everyone’s mentality. No (bleep).”

Lots of things are vital to the Raiders, including:

--History.

They’re 0-2 in Foxboro and haven’t won in New England since 1969.

In 1971, the Patriots, 2-12 the season before and 1-6 that exhibition season, stunned them in the opener, 20-6, behind rookie Jim Plunkett, the Heisman Trophy winner and plum of a draft in which he, Archie Manning and Dan Pastorini went 1-2-3. “Now we’re winners and we hope to keep it that way,” Plunkett, now a Raider, said then.

In 1976, when the Raiders went 16-1 and won the Super Bowl, the Patriots waffled them at Foxboro, 48-17. Steve Grogan, who had replaced Plunkett, threw three scoring passes and ran for two touchdowns.

--The Patriots.

After beating 0-3 Buffalo and 1-2 Green Bay, they hope to go 3-1, which would be their best start in six years. Sullivan Stadium is sold out.

They have always had talent, but something--a commitment to excellence?--always seemed to be missing. Morale was shaky. Stars such as Mike Haynes were shipped out if they bucked the salary scale.

Now, the offensive line has aged. Ken Sims and Irving Fryar, top overall picks in the 1983 and ’84 drafts, are disappointments. Halfback Craig James is a 220-pound wonder with breakaway speed but the James-Tony Collins backfield has the same problem Marcus Allen-Kenny King had: lack of a blocker. A great blocking fullback, Mosi Tatupu, sits on the Patriot bench. Tony Eason, the NFL’s No. 3-rated quarterback last season, is No. 19 now.

--The Raider offense.

It’s missing, too. In two weeks, the Raiders have suffered their two worst defeats since moving to Los Angeles. In their last three halves, they’ve been outscored, 58-16, giving up 12 sacks and getting both their touchdowns after the games had become routs. In the last two games, the running offense totaled 150 yards.

This points to an offensive line that isn’t too young, itself. One change was made before the 49er wipeout--Don Mosebar for Dave Dalby. No further switches are expected until guard Curt Marsh gets off injured reserve in three weeks.

Today they will meet Patriot linebacker Andre Tippett, who had 18 1/2 sacks last season. If the line has a bad day, the Raiders may have to call Tippett at home if they want to speak to Marc Wilson, who is their new No. 1 quarterback and will be most of the season, barring further disasters.

Plunkett suffered a shoulder separation while taking his sixth sack last week. First estimates of his absence were optimistic.

Said Raider Coach Tom Flores last week, however: “I’d say that the estimates have not been realistic. . . . I think we’re looking at most of the season, obviously.”

Flores, a long-time Plunkett defender, made the announcement gloomily. Nevertheless, Wilson offers greater mobility and a stronger arm.

He isn’t exactly on top of his game, though. He had a sore thumb last season that kept him from gripping the ball, but that didn’t keep Coliseum fans from booing or Raider executives from muttering.

He got a little more playing time than rookie Rusty Hilger in exhibition games, prompting speculation that it was the younger of the two backup quarterbacks who was being groomed for the future.

Wilson was to play half of the exhibition finale in Cleveland. On his first pass attempt, he was hit from the blind side, fumbled the ball away for a touchdown and had to be helped off the field. So much for his exhibition season.

If Wilson can find himself and his line can find itself, anything is possible. The Raiders hope this is a hump game. After today they will play twice at home and then at Cleveland.

If somebody doesn’t find something, you could see some of the things you’ve seen the last two weeks. In that case, bring sunglasses.

Raider Notes Charley Hannah, who had a strained right knee, is expected to play, as is his brother, Patriot all-pro guard John, who had been out. Tackle Brian Holloway, another Pro Bowl New England lineman, is also back.