Raiders to Be Tested by New-Look Elway

It was the most memorable moment of a forgettable season for the Raiders.

It came early, but its impact started all that came afterward.

Cornerback Terry McDaniel, blitzing through from the blind side into the Denver Bronco backfield, was nearly within reach of his target, quarterback John Elway.

Nearly within reach.

And as has been the case on so many other occasions when Elway was the quarry, McDaniel came up with nothing but the thin air of Mile High Stadium.

Elway eluded him and completed a 48-yard pass to Arthur Marshall to continue the winning drive in the final two minutes of last season’s opener.

That started the Raiders and quarterback Jay Schroeder on a losing streak from which they never recovered. Schroeder was benched after losing a second game. The Raiders began the season 0-4 and finished 7-9, out of the playoffs.

They will return to Mile High tonight with new faces, a new attitude and a winning record at 3-2.

Jeff Hostetler is now the quarterback, although an ankle sprain has kept him on the sidelines for nearly seven of the Raiders’ last eight quarters. Vince Evans filled in ably last week, bringing the Raiders back from a 14-0 deficit to a 24-20 victory over the New York Jets.

There’s a change in Denver as well. But Elway is not gone. He simply is throwing the ball more than ever.

Under new Coach Wade Phillips, Elway has been put in yet another version of the West Coast offense popularized by Bill Walsh, an offense that features short, quick strikes to several receivers.

The old Broncos would often try to establish the run. Now, Denver might pass on any down.

Against the Green Bay Packers last week, Elway completed 33 of 59 pass attempts, both club records, for 367 yards in a losing effort.

Overall, he has completed 63.5% of his passes for 1,460 yards and eight touchdowns with three interceptions.

“We’ve been able to put a lot more points on the board,” Elway said. “I’ve enjoyed it so far. It gives me a lot more options. It takes a lot of pressure off me. Instead of getting two guys out in patterns, three guys in patterns, I’ve now got five guys out. The defense can take something away, but I’ve always got somewhere else to go with the ball.”

The Broncos have also added some new faces to go along with the new look. Former San Diego Charger running back Rod Bernstine is Denver’s leading rusher with 175 yards and three touchdowns. Former Ram Robert Delpino has rushed for 99 yards. And rookie Glyn Milburn has proved effective as a runner, receiver and return man. On the offensive line, four-time Pro Bowl selection Gary Zimmerman, obtained in a preseason trade with the Minnesota Vikings, protects Elway from the left tackle spot.

Overall, Denver (3-2) is averaging 374.4 yards, second in the AFC and third overall in the NFL.

It will mean another tough day for the Raider defense, ranked fifth in the league. Last week, that defense was matched up with the Jets, the NFL’s leading offense, but came away with a victory.

If the Raiders are to win tonight, however, their offense, 21st in the 28-team league, will have to produce.

Veteran Bronco defensive back Dennis Smith told the Denver Post that it doesn’t matter who is throwing the ball for the Raiders.

“That’s what I like about it,” he said. “I always feel comfortable playing against that system because, no matter who’s the quarterback, they all do the same type of thing. They like to dump the ball to the tight end and the running backs a lot and they like to throw the ball deep. So it’s always been a game where you didn’t have to do a lot of thinking. Just go out there and try to be physical.”

The new Bronco offense against the old Raider offense.

But somehow, someway, it figures to come down to Elway.

It almost always does.