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Report: Bob Sanders is Raiders new linebackers coach

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No, not THAT Bob Sanders. Not the former hard-hitting, miniscule Colts safety. But rather the former Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator. He is the Raiders new LB coach according to Paul Gutierrez of CSN Bay Area.

By Levi Damien
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Mark Konezny-US PRESSWIRE

The Raiders have finally filled every position on their coaching staff with the hiring of Bob Sanders. Linebacker coach was the last priority to be filled and it is now complete.

Sanders makes for another veteran coach on Dennis Allen's staff. He coached for the Bills from 2009-2012, the last two coaching the linebackers. He was released along with the entire Bills staff this off-season.

He also becomes the first Reggie McKenzie connected coach as he was with the Packers for four years, the last three as defensive coordinator. Prior to that, he coached the linebackers in Miami for four seasons. He came to the NFL after 11 years as a defensive assistant/linebackers coach with the Florida Gators.

Bills Chris Kelsay had his best season while Sanders was his outside linebackers coach in 2010. Sanders brought Nick Barnett over from the Packers in 2011 and Barnett had a resurgence with a move to weakside linebacker. He tied a career high with three interceptions and had his best tackling numbers since 2007. He continued to post great tackling numbers last season.

He was the defensive coordinator in Green Bay for three seasons from 2006-08. In his first season at the position, the Packers defense was near the bottom in the rankings and they missed the playoffs. His final season in 2008 was much the same. But in between, he led the Packers to a top ten ranked defense and a playoff berth with a 13-3 record. It was Favre's final season in Green Bay and they beat the Seahawks en route to the NFC Championship game before falling to the Giants 23-20.

The Florida Gators won the SEC Championship in his final season there before the Dolphins came calling and he took over as their linebackers coach.

When Bob Sanders came to the Dolphins, Zack Thomas immediately had the best tackling numbers since his rookie season. In fact, Sanders' first three seasons in Miami were three of the best seasons Thomas had as a pro. He made the Pro Bowl in three straight seasons and two of his five career All Pro nods came under Sanders.

UPDATE: The Raiders have officially announced Bob Sanders as the team's linebackers coach.

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