When losses pile up the way they have in Oakland, the finger-pointing usually isn’t far behind.
In his Thursday MMQB column, Albert Breer suggested that Raiders offensive line coach Mike Tice is another assistant who may be on the hot seat in Oakland.
“Just as chemistry in the locker room hasn’t been the same, the mix within the ranks of Jack Del Rio’s assistants isn’t ideal right now either, so [Todd Downing] might not be the only one gone. Line coach Mike Tice, seen as a divisive force whose unit was a strength in 2016 and isn’t one now, could also be on the chopping block.”
It’s worth noting that Tice has been very close with head coach Jack Del Rio over the years and their relationship is a big reason why Tice landed with the Raiders in the first place.
Tice was also the coach who gave Downing his first coaching opportunity with the Vikings in 2003.
It was noted at the time of Downing’s promotion that the dynamics between Del Rio, Downing, and Tice had the potential to be as complicated as the three-headed monster of Del Rio, Norton Jr., and Pagano running the defense.
twitter: @raidersbeat
seems the “divisiveness” is initiated by the journalists seeking to seize on situation to accumulate clicks. Worked with me, I clicked!
Angst and speculation. Great. Just great. Thank you author.
No facts. No quoted insider. This is what Raider Nation has to look forward to for the foreseeable future until heads roll, or don’t, and then we’ll rip the new guy(s) a hole when they come aboard. At this rate we’ll be back where we started. And that’s being a franchise no respectable coach wants anything to do with.
Great
I don’t understand this article at all. There is no meat after the headline and the statement of fact that Tice is under Downing, when Tice gave Downing his start. Would Tice be happier if Downing were fired? We don’t know, and I’ll bet nobody asked him. Would Tice be a candidate for the OC if Downing were fired? We don’t know, as it seems nobody asked Del Rio. Is Tice upset that he has a line built for power blocking that has been forced into a Zone blocking schema – that he doesn’t like? We don’t know because there is no reporting in this actual article.
Tice is a great OL coach, who showed that the past couple of years with the assembly and coaching of this line…not really his fault the OC doesn’t understand personnel. Kinda like Norton did not understand how to build a defensive scheme around his players, and tried to jam them into something that didn’t fit.
I’m sure Downing is a nice guy. Carr seems to like him as a person, but that doesn’t mean his is right for the OC position.
Author: you are not in the locker room or on the staff. Seriously doubt if Tice’s job is in jeopardy.
Mike Tice is an excellent coach. I would make every effort to keep him on the payroll for as long as possible. His handiwork can be seen in the way the rookie David Sharpe played so well against the Eagles. Penn’s replacement may have just arrived. We must not forget that unlike Sharpe, Penn was undrafted. Downing is the real problem because he tried to incorporate that zone blocking scheme which we all know has never been a good fit for the Raiders. To me Downing is the second coming of Gregg Knapp who did the same foolhardy thing and tried to fix something that was not broken in the first place.
Once again the “Journalists(?) are out to make a headline or two and call attention to themselves at the cost of our teams reputation and unity. This “talking head” has no meat to this story. He throws together a bunch of lines and makes them sound “credible” by throwing in history. Please stop! Between Downing trying to prove he is an OC, by taking a rather large and very effective power blocking line, and inserting a “Zone blocking scheme”, which by the way has failed twice before, rendering a great OL ineffective by misusing or not using the talent inherent here. OK, mistakes were made, and Derek Carr is playing with injuries. This season can’t be recovered but with some intelligent planning and a few changes, next season can and will be great. Now those changes I reffered to, do not include wholesale firings and rebuilding of the coaching staff. No team can win changing coaching staffs every other year. Del Rio came in and changed the culture to one of winning, let him finish the job. Downing is in the wrong position, he should remain the QB coach, and get a real offensive mind in here. Particularly one who understands how to best utilize the talent that he has. I don’t know if Downing is man enough to accept his old position, but he and Derek Carr have a repor. If he does, fine, If he can’t see ya. That seems to me to be the only change the coaching needs. A real OC!!!
Tice is great he kept carr in pretty safes out there moving players around he’s a good coach,, its del rio blaming everybody but himself which is clearly bullshit. Del Rio had plenty of time to get rid of norton months ago, he didn’t he kept him around, we could of probably been in the playoffs a long time of go with the new guy from the chargers he got everybody in our defensive playing good even cb smith, it was norton play calling that messed up our chances to played better and win more games. All rio had to do is bring in Mike Mc coy from the chargers to helped downing be a better offensive coach, but hell no del rio boneheaded idiots saids no??? Another mistake. He doesn’t no what he doing being a coach in the first place all because his family are diehard fans season holders. He becomes a coach we had a winning coach at that time. But then Mckenzie comes in and firer Hue Jackson 8 and 8 wasn’t bad at all. Instead of 4-12 in two seasons with idiot dennis allen mckenzie pick him as a head coach. Stupid moved by our general mgr. dumbass moved by a boneheaded mark davis way over his head he’s no way liked his late father Al Davis rested in Peace. There’s no “Just Win Baby” No more Comminment to Excellence its all gone. Mark davis is exactly like Jiy Buzz son Jerry buzz. Mr. Buzz was liked Al Davis Smart not scared of the NFL he a shot caller not whimper like mark davis. Mr Buzz made the Greatest Lakers of all time!!! Just liked Al Davis Street Smart. I surely missed old guy. Go Raiders somehow someone has to come helped us be freat again bring us happeniess
Tice is great he kept carr in pretty safes out there moving players around he’s a good coach,, its del rio blaming everybody but himself which is clearly bullshit. Del Rio had plenty of time to get rid of norton months ago, he didn’t he kept him around, we could of probably been in the playoffs a long time of go with the new guy from the chargers he got everybody in our defensive playing good even cb smith, it was norton play calling that messed up our chances to played better and win more games. All rio had to do is bring in Mike Mc coy from the chargers to helped downing be a better offensive coach, but hell no del rio boneheaded idiots saids no??? Another mistake. He doesn’t no what he doing being a coach in the first place all because his family are diehard fans season holders. He becomes a coach we had a winning coach at that time. But then Mckenzie comes in and firer Hue Jackson 8 and 8 wasn’t bad at all. Instead of 4-12 in two seasons with idiot dennis allen mckenzie pick him as a head coach. Stupid moved by our general mgr. dumbass moved by a boneheaded mark davis way over his head he’s no way liked his late father Al Davis rested in Peace. There’s no “Just Win Baby” No more Comminment to Excellence its all gone. Mark davis is exactly like Jiy Buzz son Jerry buzz. Mr. Buzz was liked Al Davis Smart not scared of the NFL he a shot caller not whimper like mark davis. Mr Buzz made the Greatest Lakers of all time!!! Just liked Al Davis Street Smart. I surely missed old guy. Go Raiders somehow someone has to come helped us be great again bring us happiness please just a miracle
Worst. Article. Ever.