With Hoss in Saddle, They Have a Bonanza

Jeff Hostetler, the leading passer and rusher of the Raiders’ season opener, had neither his regular tailback (Nick Bell) nor his newest target (Rocket Ismail) in the huddle with him Sunday. Yet the ol’ Hoss did not waste a minute establishing himself as a potential bonanza for the football team that spent so much money to sign him.

“The huddle is so cool and calm, he makes everybody feel like sitting down and eating dinner,” rookie running back Greg Robinson said.

To which 15th-year offensive lineman Max Montoya added: “Now you see why we welcomed Jeff Hostetler with open arms.”

Coliseum colleagues young and old--and opponents, too--sang Hostetler’s praises after the Minnesota Vikings were given a 24-7 trimming in which they were lucky to have scored at all. The hits could be heard in rows high and low from a Raider defense that has now, rather incredibly, limited six of its last 12 opponents to one touchdown or less.

Good defense and a quarterback--what a concept.

The Raiders had only 18 yards to go when Hostetler made his first appearance on his new home field, thanks to a fumbled kickoff recovered by Raider rookie Patrick Bates on his first NFL play. Anyone in the crowd who intended to begin the usual round of Boo the Quarterback as soon as one of Hostetler’s passes wobbled and fell to the turf then had a long, long wait.

He completed his first three. At one point, 15 passes in a row found their men. There were none of Jay Schroeder’s overthrown bazooka launches or Todd Marinovich’s fluttering badminton birdies. Rusty Hilger and Marc Wilson were out of sight and out of mind. Only one interception that was tipped could be held against Hostetler, who had “excellent command of the huddle” in the opinion of Coach Art Shell and the players who were in there with him, such as Gerald Perry.

“We decided to let one guy do the talking and that’s the quarterback,” Perry said. “It’s his show.”

And quite a show it was. Before long, the Raiders were having such a good time that even the ones who weren’t playing wanted to contribute. On the sideline, doing an M.L. Carr impersonation with a towel while trying to whip up some excitement from the fans, was Bell, the big tailback who can’t wait to rejoin the offense now that someone’s in charge.

Without Bell, the rushing attack was so inadequate that Hostetler led everyone from both sides with 34 yards. He scrambled out of danger--once even hopping like a frog to elude some outstretched hands--and showed footwork that we, frankly, don’t remember seeing from Hostetler back when he was quarterbacking the New York Giants.

Shell even said his quarterback reminded him of John Elway.

How did Hostetler like being compared to Elway?

“Well, I won a Super Bowl,” he said.

Oooh. Hoss, on target again.

“Sorry, John,” Hostetler said. “I know he wants one bad.”

So do the Raiders. It cost them an arm and a leg for his arms and legs. They have a defense that can take them places, but require a quarterback to take them far- ther.

Not that the Raiders have many believers. Montoya said after Sunday’s game: “Early in the week we found out that Minnesota was favored over us in our own back yard. That’ll get you pumped.”

As will a creative quarterback.

“Things just fell together,” Hostetler said. “It’s been a long off-season and I just thank the Lord for the opportunity. Back in March, you just didn’t know what was going to happen. You go through seven weeks of camp, go through so many ups and downs, you get frustrated because you don’t know if it’s going to work.

“I’ve prepared hard. But until you actually play, you have no idea what you’re in for.”

Take Viking quarterback Jim McMahon, for example, who had no idea he was in for an afternoon of being chased by Chester McGlockton and the rest of the McGlockton group, who harassed him no end. Leading tackler for the Raiders on the day was--surprise--backup linebacker Mike Jones, and more than once at the bottom of a pile was Joe Kelly, the new middle linebacker. A lot of new leaders on this team.

Some will hold their breath that nothing bad happens to Hostetler. At one point Sunday, the quarterback’s crooked leg was struck, leaving him in considerable pain, and afterward he said: “If I’d had it straight instead of bent (when it got hit), it’d probably been all over for me.” They shoot Hosses, don’t they?

Let’s hope Montoya and Perry and the others keep him in one piece. The Raiders finally have a quarterback worth protecting.