Obscurity Dominates Raiders Coaching Hires

by TAW on Feb 8, 2012 9:42 AM PST

I am starting to question Reggie McKenzie's decision to hire Dennis Allen as the first head coach of the new era of Raider football. I mean he only has one season of defensive play-calling experience and that was a mediocre 24th ranking at that. Also he doesn't have the luxury of playing against Carson Palmer anymore to hand out three INTs like in Oakland last year to help his turnovers forced numbers. The biggest concern is the obscure names being passed around such as today's most recent hires for example. Ted Gilmore, not the offensive coordinator but merely the wide receiver coach for one season under Lane Kiffin at USC is coming to coach the same position with the Raiders. He was a receivers coach with the Nebraska Cornhuskers a few years ago which means at least he can coach WR blocking which is not horrible. Also John Defilippo instead of a returning Al Saunders is coming in to coach the quarterbacks. This is the same person who helped develop Jafatshit into a perennial Pro Bowl QB. Jason Tarver is the new DC under Allen and having never called plays for the Stanford Cardinal only to start at the NFL level is worrisome. I could care less about his education. I have met several people with scholastic credentials that lack logic. This is not to say Tarver is that same type of person but his defenses while they could stop the run were rather mediocre against the pass in huge games against Oregon and Oklahoma St. Also Andrew Luck's brilliance at conducting the no huddle and knowing defensive tendencies could have meant more to the offense controlling time of position than anything the defense did. Greg Knapp's hiring may be considered nothing more than another footnote in Raiders coaching history next to Bed and Breakfast and Art Shell. I am going to wait for the season to start but I am not expecting an immediate resurgence of Raiders football this season. Maybe once Dennis Allen and Reggie McKenzie get their feet wet things may turn around but I will not be surprised with a slow learning curve in Season one with a bunch of overpaid and selfish malcontents expecting these no names to tell them how to do their jobs. We can only hope Reggie knows something most of us don't which is why he is the man in charge.

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Negativity

Already used to it

by RaiderPride20 on Feb 8, 2012 11:42 AM PST reply actions

It's an experiment to be sure

But nothing really new for this team which has been swapping out coaches like used up sticks of RAM every season.

by rightnasty on Feb 8, 2012 5:50 PM PST reply actions

I say,

put a 3 year moratorium on firing and hiring, trading and drafting, and the only way you get replaced is on injury reserve, and the only way you get to leave is death. At the end of each season that goes badly, they are all tranquillized, stripped naked,and tossed into a Black Hole full of washboards, & flogging sticks.
And to make things even more motivating, dock everybody’s pay by 1/16 for every game they lose. Save up all the moneys in a trust, and for every playoff win they add that loss back. If they win the Super Bowl, they get all their money back & a trip to Disney World..lol

Can you imagine having 4 -1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th. That’s a 24 player draft, not to mention all the trading opportunities & free agents. You could damn near replace every position if need be. What can I say, I’m just getting tired of memorizing half the coaches and players every year. Make em stay, make em play, or make em pay. It’s the only way. I think its time for me say, I need to hit the farlking hay!

If you ever wanted to see Boise St play...may be a good chance. Love em or Hate em, they are always interesting; and now, no matter where you live, "They're Coming To Your City"

by astrosmurf on Feb 9, 2012 12:01 AM PST reply actions

Patience is needed

None of us have any idea how these hires will work out. They could be brilliant moves for all we know. It’s hard to deal with change – but all the negativity doesn’t help you deal with it any better. Just wait and see…

The Autumn wind is a Raider Pillaging just for fun He'll knock you 'round and upside down And laugh when he's conquered and won

by LoveItHateIt on Feb 9, 2012 10:11 AM PST reply actions

I'm not trying to be negative, I'm just stating my observations on how things are playing out.

This post was made two days ago and honestly the Routt cut and the three most recent coaching transactions have made me feel much better. I particularly love the retention of Al Saunders to help Knapp and Defilippo and of course the hiring of John Holland away from the Texans LB corps. Having mentored the likes of Mario Williams, Brian Cushing, and Demeco Ryans may be the best move of this offseason considering how atrocious our LBs were last year. Sorry Greg Biekert but that’s how I feel.

Trust No One
Studies show stress can kill you, but don't worry about it.

"Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There's plenty of movement, but you never know if it's going to be forward, backwards, or sideways."
— H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

by TAW on Feb 10, 2012 9:06 AM PST up reply actions

No harm no foul

To be honest, I am both excited and scared to death of all the changes. But I have no choice but to ride the wave and see what happens. The next couple of weeks are going to be very interesting – so if you find me being negative please return the favor and remind me to stay positive!

The Autumn wind is a Raider Pillaging just for fun He'll knock you 'round and upside down And laugh when he's conquered and won

by LoveItHateIt on Feb 10, 2012 11:03 AM PST up reply actions