Raider Round Up: The Comings And Goings: OC
So, many of us in Raider nation are pretty upset about the names that have replaced the names that were here before them.
We have already lamented Hue and praised the potential of "The Manace", so let's move on to the next level of additions and subtractions.
Offensive Coordinator
Out - Al Saunders
Al Saunders was on my wish list for about 8 years. He is an offensive genius with a deep understanding of the modern offense. He was also one of DHB's biggest cheerleaders as he showered constant praise on the underachieving wide-out who seemed to come into his own in 2011.
Saunders also game planned each week and was key in developing the script that Hue Jackson worked off of.
In my opinion, his dismissal is the worst so far and appears, on the surface to be a removal of any threat to the new regime. Al has been a Head Coach and Assistant Head Coach three times in his career and with this team in a complete shake-up, which boggles my mind, (They were only a competent DC away from being 11-5), he had to go.
Fortunately, it appears, he will not be joining the Kansas City Chiefs who hired Brian Daboll yesterday.
In - Greg Knapp
This is a HUGE downgrade, in my opinion. Last year the offense had two very god minds working together from the Head Coaching and OC positions, now, it will be a Defensive HC with a washed up retread for an OC who is best known for cowering to T.O. in 2004 when he was the OC for the 49ers.
Grade: F
I think that I am going to have to break this into multiple sections because I am literally sick to my stomach.
On the bright side it looks like we are adding some more quality control positions and also a better training and conditioning staff.
I bleed silver and black and will support this team on the field and off, but, I have to break it down how I see it as a writer and a fan. Being one play from the playoffs and seeing this entire staff, except for Skipper and Big Wiz blown up makes me sick!
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Couldn't agree more...Al Saunders Is 10 Times What Knapp Could Ever be!!!
Is it official that Saunders is gone or is there still the possibility that he continues to work for the team in some capacity???…He failed to get the “KC” job and I haven’t heard of any other interest…He was still under contract so I would think he’s a great security blanket for the possibility that Knapp is caught sleep walking again!!!….Al Saunders would be there already to take over…
"Tebowphobe"!!!
Saunders is NOT a Great OC
If he is, then why hadn’t he had a fulltime OC position for a decade? Why didn’t KC hire him? KC hired Brian Daboll instead. Go over to the Cleveland Browns forums and ask what they think of Daboll. I’d advise using an asbestos keyboard.
Bottom line is that Saunders is an excellent offensive mind. However, that doesn’t necessarily extend to his playcalling, and DA obviously wanted his own guy.
But You Think Knapp Is???...
Saunders has a very good established connection with “CP3” according to what has been reported…Why throw that out the door???…And we don’t have a "QB"s Coach….
"Tebowphobe"!!!
Nothing Wrong With Knapp
Knapp will be fine. It’s obvious that Allen wants a ball-control offense, and Knapp can run that kind of attack.
Our offense last year really wasn’t all that. Too many flat games, too many games where we were holding on by our fingernails in the fourth because it was against our offense’s religious beliefs to score after mid-third quarter (at least that’s what it seemed like).
As for us being on the cusp of 11-5, I couldn’t disagree more. The best this team, as currently constituted, could realistically have reached would have been 10-6 and blown out in the playoff game. Too many penalties, too much inconsistency, too many guys cruising on auto-pilot for games at a time (I’m looking at YOU, Richard Seymour, Tommy Kelly, Rolando McClain and Michael Bush), and too many guys playing out of position (for instance, we currently have three 3-technique DT’s starting, when you only need one). A complete blow-up was necessary, even if it causes a step back for a year.
I respect that opinion
But, we should have beat the Chargers, Lions and Chiefs. If not for Campbell going down, this was an 11-5 team. Then you add in McFadden and 11-5 seemed like a lock.
Vast boars and huge gigantic bull
Elephants, rams, eagles, condors...
- J Kerouac
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Feb 5, 2012 9:55 AM PST up reply actions
I think
having Campbell and McFadden 100% would have been enough to overcome all those deficiencies that Raider Duck pointed out. The point being is that the Raiders organization does not have a solid foundation on which to build upon. There is excellent talent at key positions, but as fans have been pointing out all year, there is a lack of fundamentals and discipline.
by MightyRaider on Feb 5, 2012 11:21 AM PST up reply actions
The Pain...It Hurts
I have been reading ( way to much ) blogs,articals,reports on what the Raiders should or should not have done,why this coach and not that one? Believe me, I have been right there with you.The more I read the more I have come up with is.
Now that Mr Al Davis (my way or the highway) is no longer with us we have a GM with good sense of what will work and what will not, he will also take the “Al collar” off of the coach and allow him to hire who is best.
I do have this feeling that coach Allen knows what other teams have know for years and that’s (it’s like the other teams had our playbook) how to stop the Raiders. This might be a long shot but here it goes.
Revamping the O line and the D line with new coaches and bringing a whole new look could be a good thing. Yes, I know, I know, but the coaches that are being brought in didn’t exactly have good seasons or track records.Maybe they had they’er hands tied or they didn’t have good enough players, maybe do to injuries on key players. I really don’t have a good answer, but once again I find myself supporting the Raiders and hopeing we will have a better (maybe a playoff shot) seasons.
So to all the Raider fans please do all the research you can and remember NO MORE AL DAVIS this will be a new team
Is it correct that Knapp was Houston's QB coach last season?
Matt Schaub played well, when he got hurt Leinart played well for about three quarters, and then when he got hurt T.J. Yates played really well for a good chunk of the season and damn near beat the Ravens. I’d say Knapp had a pretty decent year in awful circumstances.
These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx
Our "O" Was Better In Much Worse Circumstances...
They lost what…The “QB” n “WR”?…Have you looked at what we went to battle with?
"Tebowphobe"!!!
record?
I think everyone agrees that we were at least above average on O and wanted Saunders, but I for one, find it nearly impossible to judge Knapp at this point. He was decent in SF, pretty good in ATL with a QB who was as inaccurate as they come, terrible with Jalwalrus, good position coach last year… We’ve got an unknown. One thing I don’t recall in any of those instances was penalty issues. Even with us, he had us more disciplined than usual. The unknkown is scary, and I don’ think of Knapp as an unknown based on his ebb n flow history. But… “Faith is taking the first step when when you don’t see the whole staircase.” —MLK Jr.
For now, take the step, trust that the Raiders have built the whole staircase.
by RaydrsNapoleon on Feb 5, 2012 11:42 AM PST up reply actions
We Have No Choice On The Step...Take It Or Leave!!!...For Fans Like Me "Leave" In NOT An Option...
But we most certainly have cause for alarm…We have been down this road before and now it’s coming back to us…That bro is new Territory that we just ain’t use to…“SuckChuck” came back from an era of winning…Knapp comes back from one of the worse eras in our history…2 full seasons worth so it ain’t just a mild passing (Pun)
Yikes!!!….That sounds horrifying!!
"Tebowphobe"!!!
strange hire
I admit it is the strangest of hires. They had to know how the fans would react (and over react), but I’m still holding out hope. Imagine ____ (your favorite offensive mind here) running the offense with Jalardas as QB, Lane Kiffin and Al constantly fighting and a defense that seemed to give up 200 yds rushing a game. I tend to ignore his role in that nightmare, because I simply can’t define it and choose to try to forget that it ever happened.
?
Again, I have no recollection of the events of which you speak. I just can’t go there.

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