Steve Corkran: Hue Jackson to be named head coach "sooner rather than later"

According to Corkran's article, sources close to the organization as well as Hue Jackson say the hiring will be made official very soon, even if Hue Jackson hasn't officially interviewed for the position.

In a corresponding blog post, Jerry McDonald (of the Oakland Tribune as well) expects the announcement to come after all NFL games are played. This would translate to an announcement coming late Sunday afternoon (on the West Coast) at the very earliest although, realistically, Monday or Tuesday would be a safer bet.

This is huge news as it is important to get the coaching ducks in a row so the Raiders can get a headstart on the NFL draft. Perhaps more importantly, it will settle the staff so they can begin to focus on "re-recruiting" the multitude of pending free agents this offseason.

over 1 year ago nobodyinparticular 4 comments 0 recs |

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Uncharacteristically decisive move for the Raiders (by Al's standards)

With the impending free agents of the Raiders, it is important for the organization to solidify the coaching staff (preferably internally) as quickly as possible. By making this decision at this point rather than waiting a month and a half (as in the case of “captain of the coaches” Bill Callahan), this move benefits the Raiders a better chance to sew up the internal free agents because of two things:

1) It settles the coaching staff quickly and largely painlessly (apart from the whole Shane Lechler ordeal who, like many other more silent Raiders, didn’t want to see Tom Cable go in the first place). This is important because it gives the Raider players an opportunity to know with full disclosure who exactly they could be playing for in 2011.
2) It retains what little sense of stability is left in regards to the coaches. This isn’t in reference to an internal hire, but it reflects on the organization’s feelings towards the importance of coaching stability. Players like Shane Lechler, Robert Gallery and Nnamdi Asomugha are tired of the coaching carousel in Oakland and they are tired of the games the big man plays with the coaching staff. This is a time in which the Raiders can ill-afford to go through their usual routine. By choosing not to dink around and make a decisive move in regards to a new head coach, the Raiders may be able to restore a little bit of confidence from the players. Hopefully.

Stability, stability, stability, that is the name of the game in the Raiders lockerroom. That’s why it’s important the new coach is one the players are familiar with (Jackson, Ryan, etc), and that is why it is important this move is made quickly.

Let’s hope this report is true.

by nobodyinparticular on Jan 15, 2011 12:32 AM PST reply actions

Thing is, with FA on hold until the CBA is reached, there is zero possibility of any FAs bolting to another team.

With NFLPA and Owners in deadlock, it’s likely that March 3 will come and go and April’s Draft before the CBA is attained. This means that an immediate HC decision is not so vital to Oakland (theoretically, at any rate) as it would be in “normal times.”
Therefore, if these reports are true and refer to a decision early next week, then Al must feel pressured to act sooner than later … and I wonder now what the source of that pressure is
Note, the wording is open to interpretation, i.e. whether “after all the NFL games are played” refers to Divisional games (this weekend), or Conference games (next weekend) or the League Championship.

S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.
"We had to get back to who we are, and that's physical and smash-mouth." - Robert Gallery 12/5/2010

by Sons-of-Blanda on Jan 15, 2011 6:50 AM PST reply actions

Impending free agents and a head coach

In terms of the Raiders’ free agents, I’m not expecting a quick coaching hire means quick contracts for the Raiders’ players. My point is that the Raiders need to have coaching staff stability. Hue Jackson needs to be named head coach quickly so that he can begin working the Raiders’ players like a college coach on a recruiting trip. After Cable was fired, it seemed as though the entire locker room apart from Jason Campbell were checked out—counting down the days to expiration of their respective contracts. Hue Jackson needs to begin winning the good graces of the Raider players. It is also important to show these guys that the coaching staff is ready to be stabilized.

As far as the timing of the announcement, McDonald specifically writes “Unlikely to make any kind of announcement while games are being played Saturday and Sunday, indications are that Hue Jackson will be named coach No. 9 in the near future, possibly early next week.”

by nobodyinparticular on Jan 16, 2011 2:44 PM PST up reply actions

My gut tells me your right, that the announcement will come early in the week. I don't believe it will be tomorrow (Monday)

b/c that’s MLKing’s birthday and Hue’s advancement would look political, i.e. symbolic / affirmative actionesque, which I do not believe it is. So probably Tuesday or Wednesday … for the reasons you mentioned (team stability / continuity primarily).

S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.
"We had to get back to who we are, and that's physical and smash-mouth." - Robert Gallery 12/5/2010

by Sons-of-Blanda on Jan 16, 2011 8:39 PM PST up reply actions