Could the firing of Chip Kelly fix problems in the Raiders organization unrelated to the offense?
The Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Adam Hill talked about that possibility this week and he believes a big shadow has been removed from the Raiders’ locker room with Kelly’s departure.
“One thing that I have heard from people around the league, and I think everybody that covers this team or has been around the team has heard some version of this, that ‘Chip Kelly is the best offensive coordinator in the history of the NFL. Just ask him. I think a lot of people have heard some version of that,” Hill said on the Vegas Nation First and 10 podcast.
“That’s the way that it was told to me. But yeah, I think that that kind of personality sometimes, removing them from the equation, even if they’re not the only problem, can fix other problems too.”
Kelly hasn’t come across arrogant in his public statements this year, but he has definitely been stubborn from a scheming and game-planning standpoint.
It will be interesting to see what “other problems” can be fixed with Kelly out of the building, but it’s worth noting that former Raiders’ offensive lineman Richie Incognito said Kelly had been rubbing the locker room “the entire wrong way” in recent weeks.
The other issue that needs to be addressed on offense is the matter of draft picks getting on the field.
It may be that some of GM John Spytek’s picks aren’t ready for a full-time role but burying the second and third-round picks on the bench while the starters have been a disaster makes no sense at all in a wasted season.
Carroll has defended to the decision to keep rookies on the bench, but it will be interesting to see if Kelly had any influence in that decision. Or potentially more accurately, it will be interesting to see if Tom Brady had any influence on Kelly, who had influence on the rookies getting into games.
Could Pete Carroll be the Raiders next one-and-done head coach?
Even with Kelly out of the picture, it’s no secret that Carroll is coaching to save his job in the final six games of the season.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler offered his perspective on Carroll’s job security on Wednesday.
“Could Pete Carroll be a one-and-done coach in Las Vegas? That’s at least a question some around the league are asking more this week after Carroll fired two coordinators in three weeks,” Fowler said.
“Even if justified, making two aggressive moves this early in his tenure — moving on from offensive playcaller Chip Kelly and special teams coordinator Tom McMahon — reeks of desperation,” Fowler continued. “The Raiders are hoping to show progress over the next six weeks, but whether they can do so is questionable. They must decide whether Carroll, who has a three-year deal with a fourth-year option, can steer Year 2 of that job. Either way, the rest of the coaching staff can’t feel great about where things are right now.”
x: @raidersbeat