If He’s Very Good or Very Bad, Wilson Could Alter Raider Plans

You think it’s of minor importance, as Coach Tom Flores suggested, that Marc Wilson is scheduled to work the second half of tonight’s Raider exhibition game against the Dallas Cowboys?

Not likely. With the Raiders lately, the quarterbacks’ pecking order changes as fast as the tote board at a race track.

The latest flash:

Rusty Hilger--He’s still No. 1 but perhaps not as unalterably so, after his passing performances in the first two exhibitions: 15 for 34, 1 touchdown, 1 interception.

He has been hampered by the delay in putting together a No. 1 offensive line--tonight will be the first outing for the unit that likely will open the season--and they’re still sending him out there with Jessie Hester rather than James Lofton, who figures to start on the left side.

You wouldn’t say that Raider officials are down on Hilger, but they would be a lot more comfortable right now if he had seized his opportunity and run with it.

Marc Wilson--Remember that talk in the organization during the off-season that he might be cut, paid his $1 million and sent home, with even Flores described as being ready to consent?

That’s all over now. Wilson is suddenly said to be solidly entrenched as the No. 2 man, with No. 1 not as unthinkable as one would have thought a week ago.

How did it happen? POE, standing not as it did in “Dr. Strangelove” for purity of essence, but in this case, for process of elimination. Wilson hasn’t played a down in exhibitions.

Will his showing tonight mean anything? If it’s very good or very bad, it might mean a lot. Before he became No. 1 in 1985, Wilson had a history of spectacular second halves in exhibitions. Of course, no Raider quarterback has had a spectacular anything in a while.

Ed Luther--Out of here, all but formally. The Raiders hoped that Dan Fouts’ old backup could be Hilger’s new one. Luther even was given Wilson’s holding duties on kicks, though the Raiders had always acknowledged that Wilson is a great holder. Luther flunked the test, though, meaning that someone had to be moved up. Voila , Wilson inherits.

Steve Beuerlein--He’s scheduled to play some tonight, too. If Hilger’s prospects become more uncertain, Beuerlein, poised beyond his years and used to taking the heat in a high-powered program (Notre Dame’s), looks more and more like the quarterback of the future.

Jim Plunkett--His arm looks fine but he’s still on the physically-unable-to-perform list, working out in T-shirt and shorts after drills. The Raiders talk about keeping him in reserve, although it appears they mean the injured-reserve list or, “Go home and wait for a phone call.”

The more everyone else struggles, however, the closer he is to getting his uniform back.

For what it’s worth, the Raiders go into tonight’s exhibition 0-2. More to the point, their No. 1 offensive unit has scored one touchdown in two halves.

Their first outing against the San Francisco 49ers was a waste of time, with an offensive line so makeshift they were lucky to get back to Oxnard with no one hurt.

The No. 1 offense ran up 251 yards in one half last week--against the Buffalo Bills, remember--but was shut out, Marcus Allen’s fumble ending one drive at the three-yard line, and a holding penalty on Bruce Davis, one of the Raiders’ seven such penalties, wiping out a touchdown pass by Hilger.

Flores said only mistakes kept them from a decent showing, which was true, of course, but when is it not on this team? If they are ever going to score any points, they are going to have to show some real flashes sooner or later. Tonight, they get another chance.

Raider Notes Don’t sell those theater tickets to stay home and watch this one on TV if you just want to see your favorite Cowboy. Dallas will be without Herschel Walker, who is out with a bruised knee; fullback Timmy Newsome, who has a bruised calf; wide receiver Mike Sherrard, a broken leg, and No. 1 pick Danny Noonan, who is unsigned. Tony Dorsett is listed as questionable with a bruised calf. . . . The Cowboys are 1-1, with a 29-0 loss to the San Diego Chargers and a 13-3 victory over the 49ers. . . . Bill Lewis becomes the third Raider, after rookies Bruce Wilkerson and John Gesek, to start at right guard. Three other right guards, Curt Marsh, Mickey Marvin and Dean Miraldi, were hurt before exhibitions started.