PRO FOOTBALL: LOOKING BACK AT THE 1994 SEASON : All the Pieces, Still a Puzzle : Raider analysis: They had the personnel but lacked leadership and discipline, finishing with 9-7 record.

On the first play of the first quarter of the first exhibition game in Barcelona, Spain, Raider quarterback Jeff Hostetler threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to James Jett.

It was never that good again. Not for Hostetler. Not for the Raiders.

The bright promise of that summer day in Barcelona, the euphoric feelings heading into San Francisco for the season opener, were long forgotten in the depression and disillusionment of Christmas Eve at the Coliseum where the Raiders, a 10-6 playoff team a year ago, wound up 9-7, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs, 19-9, and failing to make the playoffs.

What happened?

It’s hard to fault the Raiders’ preparations for this year. The Raiders retained prime receiver Tim Brown, who had signed an offer sheet with the Denver Broncos. They signed Harvey Williams, who was 17 yards shy of 1,000 and became the tailback the Raiders needed. They added offensive lineman Kevin Gogan to the weak right side. They got Jerry Ball to fill the hole left in the defensive line when Howie Long retired and Scott Davis’ comeback attempt proved a bust. They drafted Rob Fredrickson, who kept getting better with experience and became one of the league’s top defensive rookies, shoring up the linebacking corps, a weakness going into the season. They made second-year player Greg Biekert the starting middle linebacker and he was even more solid and dependable than Joe Kelly, the man Biekert replaced. They even strengthened an already strong area by bringing in veteran cornerback Albert Lewis.

That’s a lot of new ingredients, but the mixture resulted in a sour season.

Despite all the additions, the Raiders lacked:

--Leadership.

--Discipline.

--An effective offensive line.

--A strong arm.

Good leaders make good decisions. The Raiders started the season with a disastrous one, choosing Ty Montgomery, the first to admit he is not a natural tailback, as the starter over Williams.

The Raiders stubbornly stuck with Montgomery for six games, losing four times before turning to Williams, who then became what he never was in Kansas City, a back who can carry an offense.

Owner Al Davis and Coach Art Shell have to take responsibility for that decision and for the lack of leadership that produced a season-long controversy over play-calling. When your coach and quarterback get into a heated, public argument on the sideline in Miami; when Shell, offensive coordinator Tom Walsh, Hostetler and receiver Tim Brown engage in long debates, some public, some private, over offensive philosophy; when another assistant coach, Fred Biletnikoff, is forced to serve as a buffer between all these forces, what kind of a message does that send to the rest of the players?

This is no way to run a team.

If Shell is to remain the coach, he must assert his authority or lose the team’s respect. He must raise his voice and tell all the others to lower theirs or he won’t be able to function effectively.

Shell must also take responsibility for the lack of discipline. When a team commits 156 penalties, highest total in league history, the final whistle has to be blown at the coach.

Shell can fine players for personal fouls as he ultimately did. He can lecture and teach and extend practices. All of those he did and still the flags flew.

The rumors of Shell’s firing will begin, but that doesn’t figure to happen. Davis wants a coach he is comfortable with, someone with whom he can continue to have great influence and offer much input. He wouldn’t be able to do that with Jimmy Johnson or Mike Ditka. And besides, Davis’ experience with Mike Shanahan as head coach soured Davis on going outside the organization.

So look for Shell to stay. But if he doesn’t take charge, set the tone and establish the overall offensive philosophy, look for the problems to continue.

When it comes to lack of leadership and discipline, the defense has to take some of the blame.

True, the Raiders didn’t give up more than 21 points in any game after their fourth. But they also collapsed in several crucial games at the end, showing a lack of commitment. That’s when players such as Lewis, Winston Moss, Terry McDaniel, Anthony Smith, Nolan Harrison and Chester McGlockton have to step forward and provide leadership.

The offensive line was a mystery. It included perennial Pro Bowl pick Steve Wisniewski, solid Gerald Perry, unshakable Don Mosebar and the highly touted Gogan. What it didn’t include was an impressive performance. Hostetler spent as much time in the trainer’s room as the locker room. He was sacked 42 times and pummeled and pounded countless others. Where was the protection? Were all these guys overrated?

Finally, there is Hostetler. He came to Los Angles two years ago with a reputation as a master of a ball-control, high-percentage offense who had thrown only 20 interceptions in five years. He threw 16 this season, including the one Saturday that sunk the Raiders’ last hopes.

Although he denied it, Hostetler showed all the signs of having an arm injury in the first two games and never was able to consistently throw long, to take advantage of the fastest receiving corps in the league, to avoid the ill-advised throws, to find receivers other than Brown often enough.

Hostetler did it last season. He did it in Barcelona. He’ll have to do it again if the Raiders are to improve on this season’s performance.

It’s simple. The coach must get tougher. The players must be more disciplined. The offensive line must get better. And the quarterback must throw deeper.

Otherwise, the team will go nowhere.