Hilger Wasn’t Impressive Against 49ers, but He Had Little Help, Flores Admits

Coach Tom Flores concedes that Rusty Hilger “has to improve.”

Certainly, if Hilger is going to play quarterback for the Raiders, he must learn to entrust the ball to guys who can hold onto it.

Hilger completed only 5 of 13 passes for 71 yards and produced only 10 points in the first half of Saturday night’s 42-16 opening summer stumble against the San Francisco 49ers.

“But if we hadn’t turned the ball over he might have generated more than he did,” Flores said. “We dropped two balls in two drives, then we fumbled twice in two drives, and we’re still in the first quarter.”

Marcus Allen lost a fumble but Jessie Hester victimized Hilger and the offense by dropping one pass and fumbling away another.

“The quarterbacks won’t have much chance to look good until the (offensive) line settles down,” Flores said.

Ed Luther had less chance than Hilger in the Raiders’ scoreless second half. He did complete 5 of 14 passes for 77 yards but gave 40 yards back when the 49ers sacked him six times.

Bright spots? That didn’t take Flores long.

“Steve Smith ran the ball well (4 carries, 30-yards), and there was Chris Woods’ (56-yard) punt return (for a touchdown to get the Raiders within 21-16),” he said.