Allen’s Coordinator Options

 Posted by at 9:25 AM  2 Responses »
Feb 022012
 

Defensive Coordinator

 

Bill Johnson – Raiders denied permission to interview.
Age: 65
Current Position: Defensive Line Coach, New Orleans Saints
Previous DC Experience: None
Notes: Coached at Texas A&M during Dennis Allen’s playing career and got him hired by the Falcons. Johnson followed Allen to New Orleans. Too much history here to ignore.

 

Billy Davis
Age: 46
Current Position: LB coach, Cleveland Browns
Previous DC experience: 2005-2006 49ers, 2009-2010 Cardinals

Ed Donatell
Age: 53
Current Position: DB Coach, San Francisco 49ers
Previous DC experience: 2008 (Univ. of Washington), 2004-2006 (Atlanta Falcons), 2000-2003 (Green Bay Packers)

Brett Maxie
Age: 50
Current Position: DB coach, Dallas Cowboys
Previous DC experience: None

Richard Smith – Raiders denied permission to interview
Age: 56
Current Position: LB Coach, Denver Broncos
Previous DC Experience: 2006-2008 (Houston Texans), 2005 Miami Dolphins

Joe Whitt Jr. – Interviewed
Age: 33
Current Position: Secondary coach – cornerbacks
Previous DC experience: none
Notes: Worked with Richard Smith in Atlanta. Smith was one of Allen’s mentors. Excellent read on him by JSOnline.

Greg Manusky – Hired by the Colts.
Age:
Previous position: DC, San Diego Chargers
Previous DC experience: Yes.

Offensive Coordinator

Mike Johnson
Age: 44
Previous Position: OC, UCLA (Interim HC)
Previous OC experience: 2010-2011 (49ers San Francisco 49ers, UCLA Bruins)

Greg Knapp – Hired
Age: 48
Current Position: QB Coach, Houston Texans
Previous OC experience: 2001-2009 (49ers, Falcons, Raiders, Seahawks)

Jeff Jagodzinski
Age: 48
Previous Position: HC, 2010 Omaha Nighthawks (UFL)
Previous OC Experience: 2006 (Green Bay Packers) & 2009 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Clancy Barone
Age: 48
Current Position: OL Coach, Denver Broncos
Previous OC experience: 2000-02 (Houston Univ.), 1997-99 (Wyoming)

Joe Lombardi
Age: 31
Current Position: QB Coach, New Orleans Saints
Previous OC experience: None

Aaron Kromer
Age: 45
Current Position: OL/Running Game, New Orleans Saints
Previous OC experience: None
Note: 2002-2004 OL Coach for the Raiders, interviewed for Rams vacant Head Coaching Position.

Al Saunders
Age: 64
Current Position: OC, Oakland Raiders (under contract for 1 more season)
Previous OC Experience: A lot.

Overrated Oakland Raiders 2011

 Posted by at 8:00 AM  6 Responses »
Jan 302012
 

As seen on Bleacher Report:

As with any fan base, the Raider Nation is not immune to overrating players. Every offseason coaches and front office personnel across the league lock themselves in the film room to study their own roster. It’s not uncommon for a player to lose snaps the following season after the team had time to evaluate their play relative to other players in the league.

There are a few players on the roster vulnerable to a loss of snaps or even a loss of a job after the Raiders new general manager Reggie McKenzie and new head coach Dennis Allen have time to evaluate them.

Who?

Matt Giordano

Giordano lead the Raiders in interceptions in 2011 with five and it has many fans thinking he is the solution at free safety and Michael Huff should be released or move to cornerback.

It’s important to remember Giordano only served as a nickel free safety and injury replacement for Huff in 2011, starting more than four games for the first time in his career. Dennis Allen coached Giordano during his final year in New Orleans and is well aware of his capabilities and limitations.

For every Giordano interception there was a missed tackle, bad angle or blown coverage assignment. What can be seen on television broadcasts is one thing, but imagine what more the coaches will uncover when they examine all-22 film?

If it wasn’t for an injury depleted and youthful group of Oakland Raiders cornerbacks in 2011, Giordano may have never had an opportunity to make the interceptions and we could be talking about a breakout year by Michael Huff. Instead, Huff was relagated to the slot cornerback role, a difficult and thankless position in a horribly designed 2011 Raiders defense.

 

Michael Bush

When Darren McFadden went down with yet another injury, Bush stepped in to carry the load. Few were worried about what might happen the the Raiders running game because Bush was starting caliber running back just waiting for his chance.

Bush got his chance and despite 256 carries put up numbers like a backup running back. Bush rushed for 977 yards while starting the final 9 games and averaged just 3.8 yards-per-carry. The latter tying him with Brandon Jacobs and putting him just ahead of BenJarvis Green-Ellis, Marion Barber and Joseph Addai.

There have been rumors and some fans have suggested that the Raiders trade McFadden and start Bush. If it’s a game of inches Darren McFadden has averaged 5.3 yards-per-carry the last two seasons to Bush’s 3.9, a difference of 50 inches per carry.

Darren McFadden has had issues with injuries, but the gap between him and Bush is considerable. If Bush is back in silver and black next season he should be valued and paid like a backup.

 

Jacoby Ford

Ford can electrify a crowd like no other player on the Raiders roster, but Ford has a lot to learn about being an NFL receiver. While Ford may be the most dangerous player on the Raiders roster with the ball in his hands, it’s getting it into his hands that has been a problem.

Despite an injury plagued 2011 campaign, Ford managed to play in 8 games, grabbing 19 balls for 279 yards. While Ford made the most of his receptions in 2011, he averaged just over 2 receptions per game played which is comparable to his rookie season.

Ford just isn’t getting open with great consistency and the Raiders were forced to get creative to get the ball to him. He’s an exciting young player, but he needs to improve as a receiver to become a consistent threat.

 

Mike Mitchell

The Raiders reached for an unknown safety out of Ohio University with the 47th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. In three seasons with the Raiders Mitchell hasn’t become a starter or even a consistent sub-package player.

Mitchell is a situational safety that is often given the tough assignment against the opposing team’s best tight end. At times this role has worked for MItchell, but he’s also had his fair share of problems and was routinely chewed-out by starting strong safety Tyvon Branch in 2011 for missed coverage assignments.

If Huff moves to cornerback and Giordano finds himself without a job, there would be an opening in the Raiders secondary for a starter. Tyvon Branch could slide over to free safety, but Mitchell is far from ready to assume the starting strong safety role as some have been lead to believe.

It’s been three seasons and Mitchell hasn’t become a starter, assuming he could be a productive starter in 2012 is a huge mistake. He’ll be lucky to make the roster next season under the Raiders new regime.

 

Bruce Campbell

The athletic offensive lineman made the active roster on game day just four times in 2011. There were instances in 2011 that an injured player that had no chance to play in the game was active on game day over Campbell.

This is the young lineman fans think can start over Khalif Barnes at right tackle? That’s seems unlikely at this point. As bad as Barnes was in 2011, Campbell must really look terrible in practice.

He’s a completely unknown commodity, expecting anything from him seems like a stretch headed into 2012. Raider fans should be happy if Campbell gives the team any positive production next season.

 

There is a lot of youth on this list and that means each player will have the opportunity to match the expectations the fans have placed upon them, even if that opportunity comes on another team.

A Defensive Scheme Mystery

 Posted by at 11:03 PM  1 Response »
Jan 232012
 

There is always going to be a good debate between fans on how the Raiders should scheme on defense. It really doesn’t matter what side you are on, because there are good arguments for both sides. There has been speculation on what Reggie McKenzie prefers as his defense and he was asked in his introductory press conference if he preferred the 3-4 to the 4-3 defense and he indicated that he did not have a preference, although he later said “3-4 is what I know.” McKenzie has made it clear many times to the public that he intends to let the head coach hire his own staff and that the coaching staff has the freedom to run what ever scheme they feel gives the team the best chance to win.

We know that McKenzie comes over from Green Bay where they ran a 3-4 defense and won a Super Bowl while running the 3-4 defense. However, the Packers didn’t always run that style of defense. In fact, they just recently made the transition to the 3-4 defense in 2009.

What this means:

1) McKenzie has spent plenty of time around a 4-3 defense. Which is what the Raiders currently run.

2) McKenzie knows what it takes to make the conversion to a 3-4 from a 4-3.

3) McKenzie has seen what a successful 3-4 defense looks like and was part of building it.

Defensive scheme aside, McKenzie’s first order of business is finding a new head coach. Of the potential candidates to this point, four of them are defensive coaches (Winston Moss, Todd Bowles, Dennis Allen and Dom Capers). Three of the four candidates would be coming from a base 3-4 defense.

Winston Moss was hired to be the linebackers coach in Green Bay in 2006. They were still running a base 4-3 at the time. He was promoted to assistant head coach in 2007 and was the only defensive coach not fired after a horrible season in 2008. In 2009 they made the switch to the 3-4 and Moss became an inside linebackers coach. Two years later they had one of the most feared defenses in the league on their way to winning a super bowl. Since switching to the 3-4, the Packers hold a combined +58 turnover ratio in three seasons. Moss could still prefer the 4-3 to the 3-4 or he could be a convert to the 3-4. No one really knows.

Todd Bowles has been a secondary coach his entire career to this point, most recently with the Miami Dolphins, where he was also an assistant head coach. Before coming to Miami Bowles was a secondary coach for Dallas which also ran the 3-4. When Bowles was hired by Miami they were still running the 4-3, but soon after Bowles got there they also made the conversion to a 3-4 under defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. Bowles, like Moss, has 3-4 experience and has seen a team through the conversion process from a 4-3 to a 3-4 base defense.

Dennis Allen began his NFL coaching career with Atlanta in 2002 as a defensive quality control assistant. Hired by the Saints in 2006 as an assistant defensive line coach and later coached the secondary for the Saints in their 3-4 defense. Last year he was hired as the defensive coordinator of the Broncos and ended the 3-4 experiment and switched back to a 4-3.

Dom Capers has been around the league for a while and held a variety of different positions from position coach to head coach. He was hired as defensive coordinator by the Packers in 2009 to help transition their defense from a 4-3 to a 3-4. As noted above the Packers have since won a super bowl and have a +58 turnover ratio during Capers time as defensive coordinator.

McKenzie is still interviewing to make sure he finds the right guy, but it seems pretty obvious that if a defensive coach gets the job the Raiders could very well be moving to the 3-4 in the next few seasons. If McKenzie hires an offensive coach, it will be up to that coach which defensive scheme will be installed.

Regardless of how it plays out it will be an interesting offseason for the Raiders.

McKenzie’s Shortlist

 Posted by at 12:23 AM  No Responses »
Jan 182012
 

Pete Carmichael Jr.
Status: Interviewed 1/13, no longer under consideration
Age: 40
Specialty: Offense/Quarterbacks
Current Position: Offensive Coordinator, New Orleans Saints
Head Coaching Experience: None
McKenzie link: unknown

Notes: Carmichael has been Sean Payton’s offensive coordinator for many years. He’s relatively young and took a greater role in playcalling this season when Sean Payton was injured. If the Raiders decide to go with an offensive mind, they could do much worse.

Todd Bowles
Status: Interviewed 1/14
Age: 48
Specialty: Defensive Backs
Previous Position: Defensive Backs Coach & Interim Head Coach, Miami Dolphins
Head Coaching Experience: 2-1 (2011 Dolphins)
McKenzie link: unknown

Notes: Bowles seems to be a rising star, but he’s never been a coordinator at the NFL level. If hired, Bowles will need to bring in strong offensive and defensive coordinator. He’s got a long history with the Bill Parcells coaching and front office tree. Has potential to stay in Miami or consider other job if he isn’t hired as a head coach.

Dennis Allen
Status: Interviewed 1/18, second interview requested.
Age: 39
Specialty: Defense
Current Position: Defensive Coordinator, Denver Broncos
Head Coaching Experience: None
McKenzie link: unknown

Notes: Head of a strong defensive unit in Denver last season, his first as defensive coordinator. Could be a rising star as he has received promotions every couple years during his coaching career. If the Raiders decide to go with a young defensive-minded coach that is familiar with the division, Allen could be the right guy.

Marty Morhinweg
Status: Interviewed 1/20. No longer under consideration.
Age: 49
Specialty: Offense
Current Position: Assistant Head Coach
Head Coaching Experience: 5-27 (2000-2001 Lions), 75-52 (Assistant Head Coach 2004-2011 Eagles)
McKenzie Link: Yes, 1995-1996 Packers

Notes: He was very bad in Detroit as a head coach, but he may get a pass considering the talent he was given and the general manager at the time was Matt Millian. He’s been Andy Reid’s assistant head coach since 2004. He’s clearly a good offensive mind that could bring the west coast offense back to the west coast.

Mike Tice
Status: Interview Cancelled.
Age: 52
Specialty: Offensive Line
Current Position: Offensive Coordinator (Promoted January 6, 2012 from offensive line coach)
Head Coaching Experience: 32-33 (2001-2005 Vikings)
McKenzie link: Unknown

Notes: Tice clearly is a good coach, he’s always landed on his feet. His head coaching stint was unfruitful and plagued by controversy. It is a potentially bad idea to bring in a coach with questionable character to try and iradicate the penalty problem in Oakland. He’s also over 50 and not a young or fresh coach that are becomming plentiful. If he was a genius, we’d know it by now.

Winston Moss
Status: Interviewed 1/14 for 4 hours.
Age: 46
Specialty: Linebackers
Current Position: Assistant Head Coach/Inside Linebackers Coach, Green Bay Packers
Head Coaching Experience: Assistant Head Coach, 55-25, 2007-2011 Packers
McKenzie link: Yes, 2006-2011 Packers

Notes: Instant favorite the Raiders search, partly because McKenzie is rumored to have said that if he ever received a General Manager position that Winston Moss would be the guy he would hire. Moss is not only and ex-Raider, but he knows McKenzie well. He was only responsible for the inside linebackers of the Packers.

Dom Capers
Status: Interview cancelled
Age: 61
Specialty: Defense/Defensive Backs
Current Position: Defensive Coordinator, Green Bay Packers
Head Coaching Experience: 48-80 (1995-1998 Panthers, 2002-2005 Texans)
McKenzie link: Yes, 2009-2011

Notes: He’s nearing retirement age and coached a defense that-while opportunitic-allowed a lot of yards. He’s been a head coach and largely been a failure. He may be a good coordinator and maybe he has learned a thing or two about being a head coach since he was fired after the 2005 season in Houston, but his age and track record are now working against him.

Tom Clements
Status: Rumored Candidate.
Age: 58
Specialty: Quarterbacks
Current Position: Quarterback Coach, Green Bay Packers
Head Coaching Experience: None
McKenzie link: Yes, 2006-2011 Packers

Notes: With the exodus of Joe Philbin he could be elevated to offensive coordinator in Green Bay. He wants to call plays, so taking a job elsewhere to become an offensive coordinator also makes sense. He’s familiar with McKenzie. Is he ready to be a head coach? He’s 58, perhaps he never will be.

Mike McCoy
Status: Reportedly Not Interested
Age: 39
Specialty: Offense
Current Position: Offensive Coordinator, Denver Broncos
Head Coaching Experience: None
McKenzie link: unknown

Notes: Will McKenzie reach out to him again after being rebuffed so McCoy could seek the Dolphins position? Probably not. He cost himself the opportunity to interview, even if he was a longshot to get the position. He’s a young offensive coach.

What Really Lead To Hue Jackson’s Firing?

 Posted by at 4:54 PM  5 Responses »
Jan 112012
 

Allow me for a moment to walk the Raider Nation through a timeline of Hue Jackson’s tenure with the Raiders.

2010

Al Davis hires Hue Jackson to revamp an offense that hadn’t been good in many years. With the aide of competent quarterback play and a healthy Darren McFadden, Jackson is wildly successful in his first year.

2011

Tom Cable is fired for an 8-8 season and Hue Jackson is promoted to Head Coach.

Situation

He is working with a roster constructed by Al Davis and defensive coaches hired by Al Davis.

October 8, 2011

Al Davis dies and Hue Jackson is forced to take a more active role in managing player personnel because-although unqualified-he is the most qualified person in the building. Mark Davis begins to gather his advisory team or John Madden, Ron Wolf and Ken Herock.

Problem 1

Hue Jackson loses his starting quarterback to injury for the season. Jackson knows with the passing of Al Davis that a new front office would be coming in and in all likelihood he would be fired if he didn’t make the playoffs and maybe he would even need to win a playoff game to keep his job.

Solution 1

Trade for Carson Palmer. Hue Jackson was looking out for himself, knowing that he had little chance of making a playoff run with Kyle Boller and knowing a losing record would mean he would be fired. Hue Jackson pressures Mark Davis to make a lopsided trade for the only decent quarterback available. Hue’s ego and power begin to grow within the organization and some question wether that is a good thing.

Problem 2

Hue Jackson and the Raiders lose the most explosive offensive weapon on the team for an extended period of time, Darren McFadden.

Solution 2

Ride Michael Bush and get the young receivers more involved in the offense.

Problem 3

Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore injured.

Solution 3

No good solution can be found as the Raiders continue to ride Michael Bush and Darrius Heyward-Bey. Meanwhile, John Madden, Ron Wolf, Ken Herock and Tom Flores are advising Mark Davis to interview Reggie McKenzie when the season ends. Mark’s advisors are telling him to be cautious about Hue Jackson’s ego and power grab within the organization.

Problem 4

Defensive secondary not playing well.

Solution 4

Hue crossed his fingers that Chuck Bresnahan, without the constant supervision of Al Davis, can turn the Raiders defense into something resembling a solid unit. Turns out to be a non-solution and one Hue Jackson can’t directly change.

Week 17

Hue Jackson heads into the final week of the season 8-7 after another epic defensive failure that he has little control over. His team has an outside chance to make the playoffs.

Hue Jackson, knowing his fate was now in limbo, his defensive coordinator incompetent and his team with a slim chance to make the playoffs, walks into Mark Davis’ office and asks for input on the General Manager hire as a last ditch effort to try to save his job. One he might have saved had he never walked though Mark’s office door.

Hue Jackson was acting in self-preservation and Mark Davis wisely refuses to grant Hue’s request. It was a slightly absurd request to begin with, allowing a head coach to have input in who is hired as his boss, but Mark Davis also viewed this as another Hue Jackson power grab. Mark Davis had been warned by his advisors to be careful regarding Hue Jackson’s ego and power aspirations.

The Raiders lose in week 17 and Hue Jackson voices his frustrations with the team and his lack of input on the general manager hiring process in his final two press conferences and in-so doing seals his fate with the Raiders. Mark Davis and his advisors collectively grumble at Hue’s final act and finishing the season 1-4 does not help Hue’s case, no matter how little he had to do with the collapse.

Reggie McKenzie is interviewed and Mark Davis and John Madden give McKenzie the impression that firing Hue Jackson and starting fresh is the best course of action. That makes things easier for McKenzie, because he likely desired the ability to hire his own guy, but would have considered keeping Hue around if Mark Davis had requested it. McKenzie gets a clean start instead of delaying the inevitable firing of Hue Jackson to hire his own coach.

The decision was made to start fresh under McKenzie. It is naïve to think that either Mark Davis or Reggie McKenzie made the decision to fire Jackson on their own. It was a collective decision and ultimately it was a series of events that went against Hue Jackson. Jackson is still a good coach and will land on his feet somewhere. His defense, his ego and his act of self-preservation ended his short tenure with the Raiders. The Raiders will be better for it and Hue Jackson will be a better coach for it.

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