Jon Gruden wants to move quickly to add a defensive coordinator and a handful of names were floated around on Monday as potential replacements.
So far, the coaches most frequently linked to the Raiders have been Wade Phillips, Raheem Morris, Gregg Williams, Gus Bradley, and Joe Barry. Let’s take a look at each because there is a good chance the Raiders will settle on one of them in the next few days.
Wade Phillips
Gruden said he would like to continue to run a 4-3 base defense and that would lend to the idea that Phillips might not be the top candidate for the job. We know Phillips really wants the job, but Gruden passed on him three years ago, so it stands to reason that he might do it again.
Raheem Morris
This would be a home run hire for the Raiders, especially considering the expertise Morris would bring to the Raiders secondary. All things considered, the Raiders’ front seven was playing reasonably well at the end of the year. If Morris could get the secondary in order, the Raiders might start fielding a competent defense again… like they last achieved about 30 years ago.
Joe Barry
No one was talking about Barry just a few days ago, but suddenly he might just be the front-runner for the job. He has a connection with the Gruden family, his father-in-law is Rod Marinelli, and there are whispers that he might be the leader in the clubhouse to get the job. Keep a close eye on Joe Barry.
Gus Bradley
The founding father of the “Legion of Boom” in Seattle, Bradley will be a popular interview for defensive coordinator vacancies around the league. The Raiders have already reached out to him and The Athletic’s Vic Tafur considers him the favorite to get the job.
Gregg Williams
Williams rightfully got trashed for his play call against the Raiders, but he has presided over a few very tough defenses over the years. Williams has made plenty of enemies on the field and in the media booths, but wouldn’t that make him the perfect fit to be a Raider defensive coordinator?
twitter: @raidersbeat
A very important decision, anybody but Gregg Williams
Agreed.
I like Williams aggressive nature but I can’t trust him.
Wade Phillips, 2 Super Bowl Defenses in the last 5 Season’s?
One a SB 50, Lost a SB 43, and were talking to Gus Bradley? WHY. WHY THE **** DOES HE QUALIFY 😡
And everyone talk’s & Cry’s about his 3-4 He took that young Rams D and took them to a SB, and with Denver, made Von Miller a BEAST, and SB 50 MVP? Get this guy signed up and he will turn the young Raiders D into Champions 😎✌🖤🏈🇺🇸
Who ever Gruden doesn’t want that’s the higher!!!!
Gotta go Morris. Messing this hire up will ruin Grudens “legacy” and get him fired.
If Gruden is Committed to Excellence, and winning a Championship; he hires Wade Phillips or Raheem Morris. Anyone else proves he is not in it to win it. JUST WIN, BABY!
Dan Quinn !
Give Rex Ryan a call.
All I can say is he , Gruden can’t miss on this , he’s got to hit a grand slam and he needs a new offensive coordinator as well not a no nothing bonifide clipboard holder. He owes it to these 45 men , mark Davis and the late great Al Davis too and raider nation.
As long as the defense improves.
I am good with whomever they hire.
Three main focuses need to be
Yards allowed
Points allowed
Turnovers
Points created by defense.
All the rest sacks and good tackling are just doing their job.
As long as the defense improves.
I am good with whomever they hire.
Three main focuses need to be
Yards allowed
Points allowed
Turnovers
Points created by defense.
All the rest sacks and good tackling are just doing their job.
I think they already know who they want. I believe it out of Phillips, or Morris. The other 2 would not be bad choices either. Williams doesn’t have a chance here
How Much Longer Can Jon Gruden Avoid Accountability for Raiders’ Shortfall?
NFL Analysis Network
Jon Gruden arrived back as head coach of the Raiders to some fanfare three years ago, to say the least. The 10-year contract he got showed he’d be given time to bring the “Silver and Black” back to prominence. A 4-12 first season in 2018 was followed by a 7-9 mark in 2019.
The Raiders were in playoff contention this year until a Week 16 loss to the Miami Dolphins. If they lose to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, they’ll finish 7-9 again. That would make them 18-30 in Gruden’s three seasons, and it’s not as if 19-29 looks better if they end the season with a win.
In the wake of a Week 14 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Paul Guenther was fired as Raiders’ defensive coordinator. At least one interesting candidate will possibly be in the mix for that job.
According to Pro Football Talk, people around the league are watching for some other shoes to drop around the Raiders’ organization.
“Win or lose today, the late-season firing of defensive coordinator Paul Guenther has others around the league monitoring the Raiders situation to see whether other Raiders employees on the coaching staff or in the front office will be fired after the season ends. Without naming names (do we need to?), pretty much anyone and everyone could be in position to be replaced, as Gruden apparently looks for a way to shift blame from himself to others.”
After Gruden’s first season back, Mike Mayock left NFL Network to become the Raiders’ general manager. The hire had to come with Gruden’s stamp of approval, given the length of his contract. There are no outward signs the two don’t operate on the same page, but Mayock is probably the No. 1 scapegoat Gruden will point to.
Jon Gruden Has Enviable Job Security
The reported $100 million in Gruden’s 10-year contract may not all be guaranteed but it’s impossible to know how much he has already been paid or what portion is left. Or how much of that money he’s guaranteed to see, whether he fulfills 10 years or not.
Raiders’ owner Mark Davis is cut from a different cloth than his father Al, who authored the famous phrase “Just Win, Baby.”
In search of buzz ahead the franchise’s (then-looming) move to Las Vegas, Mark Davis became enamored with having Gruden back as the Raiders head coach. Three seasons being no better than .500 (pending Sunday’s result) will surely still take a backseat to the cache Gruden carries. If the Raiders lose Sunday, Gruden will fall to two games above .500 in the regular season (113-111 record). Cache and perception only goes so far when it gets down to it and you’re basically a .500 coach.
So, how much longer will Gruden avoid accountability if the Raiders struggle? The answer probably is as long as he wants his job, and Davis continues to be a blind believer (financial implications aside). No one in their right mind is turning down whatever part of $100 million Gruden has left to get but maybe Davis eventually removes the wool from his eyes and asks why results haven’t come if things don’t change. So Gruden will control the Raiders’ organizational orbit until further notice, for better or worse. As for results, they’re lined up to keep falling short of even the flimsiest expectations under Gruden.