The Official 2011 Oakland Raiders offseason thread
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Raiders give Jon Condo a second-round tender
The Oakland Raiders have assigned a second-round restricted free agent tender to veteran long snapper Jon Condo, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.
Condo is a former Pro Bowl specialist regarded as one of the top long snappers in the NFL.
Before joining the Raiders, Condo had stints with the New England Patriots and the Dallas Cowboys.
Condo, 29, played collegiately at the University of Maryland.
The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder was an all-state linebacker, baseball player and wrestler growing up in Pennsylvania.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Source-Raiders-give-Jon-Condo-a-secondround-tender.html/
The Oakland Raiders have assigned a second-round restricted free agent tender to veteran long snapper Jon Condo, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.
Condo is a former Pro Bowl specialist regarded as one of the top long snappers in the NFL.
Before joining the Raiders, Condo had stints with the New England Patriots and the Dallas Cowboys.
Condo, 29, played collegiately at the University of Maryland.
The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder was an all-state linebacker, baseball player and wrestler growing up in Pennsylvania.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Source-Raiders-give-Jon-Condo-a-secondround-tender.html/
Ford is probably one of the greater Raider draft picks in a while. Explosive and athletic as an orangutan... What I really respect about the dude though is that he knows how to play football and he attacks the football like no other ive seen lately.
When I played football I was slow as snails but I had crazy hops and idc if the ball was underthrown or what I was getting that shit. Plus we got some other young cats that I know don't want to play second fiddle so the competition at that position should really raise the play of our receivers this year!
When I played football I was slow as snails but I had crazy hops and idc if the ball was underthrown or what I was getting that shit. Plus we got some other young cats that I know don't want to play second fiddle so the competition at that position should really raise the play of our receivers this year!
Maybe we are looking at those big contracts the wrong way. Maybe it's just Al Davis fucking with the league. Interesting article.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/619225-oakland-raider-owner-al-davis-still-at-war-with-the-nfl
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/619225-oakland-raider-owner-al-davis-still-at-war-with-the-nfl
after I seen Jacoby Ford live against the queefs, he instantly became my fav. WR on our squad.. He literally won that game for us on his own... had tha kickoff return for a TD in the start of tha 2nd half... then in tha 4th qtr it looked like Jason Campbell was about to throw tha game away by throwing the ball right into a queefs defenders hands and here comes Jacoby to snatch it out and complete tha reception.. dude is a ball hawk! and it didn't end there.. in OT he had that big yardage reception which led to Janos game winning FG! He needs to teach DHB a couple of things
tha good thing about DHB is he has tha work ethic to wanna improve and isnt a lazy bum like Russell was.. but damn the kid has stone hands! He's had a lot of important drops in games last season (especially against tha jags), and there was even plays where he would sprint right past the defender on a interception and not even tackle like wtf?! dude needs to polish his game up badly and have a breakout season.. Im content with Murphy and Ford but your right DHB has to have a breakout season or he will live up to the BUST hype.. and Schillens better stay healthy! dudes a beast when he is, and has tha best hands on this squad... Im still hoping Hue will bring in a vet WR
Raiders don’t tender Bruce Gradkowski
Posted by Mike Florio on March 6, 2011, 9:43 PM EST
Bruce Gradkowski
Plenty of guys with four and five years of service whose contracts will expire whenever the current league years ends have received restricted free agency tenders.
Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, with five accrued seasons and an expiring contract, could have been slapped with an RFA tender. Gradkowski told Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune that he wasn’t.
“No, nothing,” Gradkowski said in response to the question of whether he received a tender.
The Raiders bounced back and forth between Jason Campbell and Bruce Gradkowski in 2010. Gradkowski was 1-3 in four starts. Campbell, the presumed starter for 2011, was 7-5.
The Raiders could still sign Gradkowski once the 2011 league year begins, but he’ll be free to leave if he so chooses.
Then again, there’s a good chance that all of the players with four or five years of experience who have received RFA tenders also will be unrestricted free agents, since the new labor deal (if there is one) presumably will reset the minimum threshold for unrestricted free agency from six years to four. So if any team really wanted to keep a four-or-five-year guy for 2011, the team should have used the franchise tag, or the team should have signed him to a long-term contract.
Posted by Mike Florio on March 6, 2011, 9:43 PM EST
Bruce Gradkowski
Plenty of guys with four and five years of service whose contracts will expire whenever the current league years ends have received restricted free agency tenders.
Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, with five accrued seasons and an expiring contract, could have been slapped with an RFA tender. Gradkowski told Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune that he wasn’t.
“No, nothing,” Gradkowski said in response to the question of whether he received a tender.
The Raiders bounced back and forth between Jason Campbell and Bruce Gradkowski in 2010. Gradkowski was 1-3 in four starts. Campbell, the presumed starter for 2011, was 7-5.
The Raiders could still sign Gradkowski once the 2011 league year begins, but he’ll be free to leave if he so chooses.
Then again, there’s a good chance that all of the players with four or five years of experience who have received RFA tenders also will be unrestricted free agents, since the new labor deal (if there is one) presumably will reset the minimum threshold for unrestricted free agency from six years to four. So if any team really wanted to keep a four-or-five-year guy for 2011, the team should have used the franchise tag, or the team should have signed him to a long-term contract.
no need to tender Grads.. we all kno who our starting QB is now that T. Cable is gone... Jason Campbell!! Jason proved me and a lot of other fans wrong... he's had his on and off games.. but I'll give him a break since it was his first season with this team and hada deal with tha whole qb controversy.. he really turned his game on in tha last few games.. especially tha game in SD.. Hue Jackson will have a lot of good packages for Campbell, and his mobility will def. help this team out.. I'd love to keep Grads around as a backup tho..
Stanford Routt interview with NFP
pretty good interview.. let me jus highlight this for some of you still knockin Routt..
Oakland Raiders starting cornerback Stanford Routt recently signed a three-year, $31.5 million contract that included $20 million in guaranteed money during the first two years of the pact.
The former second-round draft pick from the University of Houston is coming off a breakthrough season, excelling in man-to-man coverage. He regained his starting job, intercepting two passes and deflected a career-high 15 passes.
Targeted 99 times, Routt only allowed 39.4 percent of those throws to be completed. It marked a major step forward after allowing 62.7 percent of passes thrown in his direction to be completed in previous seasons combined.
Last season, Routt's numbers were competitive with New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (33.9 percent) as well as Raiders star cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (39.4 percent).
Although four touchdowns and five pass interference penalties were attributed to Routt, he was targeted more than most cornerbacks around the league since teams tend to avoid throwing in Asomugha's direction.
Routt also recorded 55 tackles, forced a fumble and scored one touchdown while matching up with fast receivers like the Pittsburgh Steelers' Mike Wallace and the Kansas City Chiefs' Dwayne Bowe.
He finished the season with the lowest opponent quarterback ranking in the NFL and the second lowest completion percentage behind Revis.
A former track All-American in college, Routt ran the 40-yard dash in 4.25 seconds at the NFL scouting combine. For his career, Routt, 27, has registered 188 tackles and six interceptions.
National Football Post caught up with Routt this weekend for a wide-ranging interview:
NFP: What's it like to get that kind of vote in confidence from the Raiders with the big contract?
Routt: "It's definitely a great feeling. Now, we just need to get this CBA done. On the field, I know that high expectations come with getting the contract. That goes with the territory. Now, I want to get across the water and get to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl. That can go hand in hand with us going to the playoffs and being a driving catalyst on defense."
NFP: What sort of goals have you set off the field?
Routt: "Off the field, I just want to keep doing what I've been doing. I want to preach to kids and give them as much knowledge as I can. I'm blessed. I'm lucky to have made it on my own. I've made my fair share of mistakes. When you see kids make mistakes, it can ruin their chances. I want to continue to guide kids and impart as much knowledge as I can, being a big brother, being an uncle, being a confidant and mentor. I want to continue to try to help out my family and make sure that they're taken care of."
NFP: With the Raiders signing you, do you think that means Asomugha won't be back?
Routt: "I really don't look at it like that, but this is a business. Coach [Tom] Cable told us going into the Kansas City game to look around and he said the 11 guys that take the field won't be the same guys taking the field to start next season. It's a business, but there's a chance Nnamdi may be back."
NFP: What do you think was the key to your improvement last season?
Routt: "I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about that from time to time. It's like I'm the new guy on the block. I just worked hard and believed in myself. I was starting every game and then I wasn't starting and then I became a starter again. People only pay attention to starters. Because I wasn't a starter, I wasn't on the map. This past season, I got back on the map. The common, regular, ordinary fan isn't going to see how I played because the common fan is just looking at interceptions. You've got to dig underneath the surface to see how someone is playing.
"The film doesn't lie. All the fans only pay attention to what ESPN and Sports Illustrated tell them. I can't put great stock into that. What's so funny is I was allegedly thrown at 99 times this year. In my own personal opinion, it was more like 70. Some of the completions charted for me weren't even my coverage. People thought it was me because I was close in the area or it looked like my coverage."
NFP: Your former secondary coach in Oakland, Chuck Pagano, is now the Ravens' defensive coordinator. How do you think he'll do?
Routt: "I remember Chuck. He's got a lot of knowledge and really studies the game and prepares. He was really big on the film study part. He had a really good grasp of what offenses are trying to do you and how to read the quarterbacks' eyes. I think he's going to do pretty good."
NFP: What do you think the prospects are for the Raiders as a team?
Routt: "We definitely put the best foot forward or right foot forward in the division, but we didn't wind up with a playoff berth. It was a stepping stone. We were three or four plays from throughout the entire season from looking at us going about 11-5 and us having a completely different conversation.
"The Jaguars, 49ers and the Cardinals games, you change the outcome and we're not 8-8. We're 11-5 and we're in the playoffs. We're a lot closer to making the playoffs than people think. Even though we went 8-8, it was more a case of us not doing what we were supposed to do."
NFP: What do you think Hue Jackson will bring to the table as a head coach?
Routt: "I think the sky's the limit. Hue has got a lot of fire in him. You don't know how old he is. I think it's his youthful mentality. He makes you want to work hard and not go through the motions. Every day, he wants to work on something new to get better. He's always challenging you. The first time I met Hue was the minicamp after the draft last year and he walked up to me and asked me my name and said, 'You're No. 26. I've been waiting to meet you. Don't worry, we're going to baptize you.'
"It's 8 o'clock in the morning. I had just woke up. I was thinking I can't wait for this camp to be over with so I can get back to Texas, but somehow that little small banter got me motivated to compete instead of going through the motions like I had planned to. It's little things that separate coaches. He doesn't give you that monotone talk. He doesn't kiss your ass. He's going to make you work. He believes in motivating you."
NFP: When are you guys going to get a defensive coordinator?
Routt: "Oh yeah, we're all anxious to see who it's going to be. I'm sure we'll get somebody good."
NFP: What are your plans if there's a lockout?
Routt: "As of right now if there's a work stoppage, I'll continue my offseason the way I always do. I'll be in school, finishing up my degree in kinesiology."
NFP: Routt is heavily involved in charity with Routt to Success and the Stanford Routt Foundation in Houston and Oakland to provide extracurricular activities after school as well as school supplies and clothing for kids from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as an essay competition for Oakland high school students with the winners going to a Raiders game.
What are some of your other off-field pursuits?
Routt: "Every year, I do a football camp on the north side of Houston. Their team name is the Raiders. I sponsor a YMCA basketball league. I recently spoke to a high school track team that a friend of mine coaches. I try to spread a little knowledge. The basic running point of my foundation is that kids don't realize a lot of times that the decisions you make today will stick with you the rest of your life because you're too young and immature to understand that.
"Kids get out of school and most are at home with nothing to do or outside and possibly getting into the wrong things. An idle mind is the devil's workshop. That's when there's a chance for negatives to seep in. I always stayed busy with football and sports. It doesn't have to be sports. It can be the band or science club, but it's important to fill those hours.
NFP: What's it like growing up in Austin?
Routt: "It's a great place to be. Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConnaughey live there. There's great real estate, great restaurants and great entertainment. Austin is basically a small town, a college town. I have great memories there. I reside in Houston, but my family still lives there. I take great pride in that city. That city is what made me who I am today mentally, emotionally, spiritually, athletically."
NFP: Does speed run in the family?
Routt: "I definitely had to work hard. I will have to say that I think it's hereditary. It took me until I was 14 years old and my dad was 47 before I could beat him in a foot race."
NFP: What's the goal for next season?
Routt: "We went undefeated last season in the division, but didn't make the playoffs. I heard we're like the second team in NFL history to sweep the division and not make it. That's not necessarily a record or stat you want to be known for. We definitely want a playoff berth. We want to be playing in January. We're hungry and the fans are hungry."
NFP: How is Al Davis doing?
Routt: "The last time I saw him was last season. That was the last time I talked to him. Physically, he's doing just fine. Everybody always thinks he's getting old and losing it, but his mind is sharp as a tack. He's one of, if not the sharpest football minds in the NFL. What so many people overlook is that he's forgotten more about football than most of us ever knew about the game. I have so much respect for him."
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Stanford-Routt-QA.html
pretty good interview.. let me jus highlight this for some of you still knockin Routt..
Oakland Raiders starting cornerback Stanford Routt recently signed a three-year, $31.5 million contract that included $20 million in guaranteed money during the first two years of the pact.
The former second-round draft pick from the University of Houston is coming off a breakthrough season, excelling in man-to-man coverage. He regained his starting job, intercepting two passes and deflected a career-high 15 passes.
Targeted 99 times, Routt only allowed 39.4 percent of those throws to be completed. It marked a major step forward after allowing 62.7 percent of passes thrown in his direction to be completed in previous seasons combined.
Last season, Routt's numbers were competitive with New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (33.9 percent) as well as Raiders star cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (39.4 percent).
Although four touchdowns and five pass interference penalties were attributed to Routt, he was targeted more than most cornerbacks around the league since teams tend to avoid throwing in Asomugha's direction.
Routt also recorded 55 tackles, forced a fumble and scored one touchdown while matching up with fast receivers like the Pittsburgh Steelers' Mike Wallace and the Kansas City Chiefs' Dwayne Bowe.
He finished the season with the lowest opponent quarterback ranking in the NFL and the second lowest completion percentage behind Revis.
A former track All-American in college, Routt ran the 40-yard dash in 4.25 seconds at the NFL scouting combine. For his career, Routt, 27, has registered 188 tackles and six interceptions.
National Football Post caught up with Routt this weekend for a wide-ranging interview:
NFP: What's it like to get that kind of vote in confidence from the Raiders with the big contract?
Routt: "It's definitely a great feeling. Now, we just need to get this CBA done. On the field, I know that high expectations come with getting the contract. That goes with the territory. Now, I want to get across the water and get to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl. That can go hand in hand with us going to the playoffs and being a driving catalyst on defense."
NFP: What sort of goals have you set off the field?
Routt: "Off the field, I just want to keep doing what I've been doing. I want to preach to kids and give them as much knowledge as I can. I'm blessed. I'm lucky to have made it on my own. I've made my fair share of mistakes. When you see kids make mistakes, it can ruin their chances. I want to continue to guide kids and impart as much knowledge as I can, being a big brother, being an uncle, being a confidant and mentor. I want to continue to try to help out my family and make sure that they're taken care of."
NFP: With the Raiders signing you, do you think that means Asomugha won't be back?
Routt: "I really don't look at it like that, but this is a business. Coach [Tom] Cable told us going into the Kansas City game to look around and he said the 11 guys that take the field won't be the same guys taking the field to start next season. It's a business, but there's a chance Nnamdi may be back."
NFP: What do you think was the key to your improvement last season?
Routt: "I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about that from time to time. It's like I'm the new guy on the block. I just worked hard and believed in myself. I was starting every game and then I wasn't starting and then I became a starter again. People only pay attention to starters. Because I wasn't a starter, I wasn't on the map. This past season, I got back on the map. The common, regular, ordinary fan isn't going to see how I played because the common fan is just looking at interceptions. You've got to dig underneath the surface to see how someone is playing.
"The film doesn't lie. All the fans only pay attention to what ESPN and Sports Illustrated tell them. I can't put great stock into that. What's so funny is I was allegedly thrown at 99 times this year. In my own personal opinion, it was more like 70. Some of the completions charted for me weren't even my coverage. People thought it was me because I was close in the area or it looked like my coverage."
NFP: Your former secondary coach in Oakland, Chuck Pagano, is now the Ravens' defensive coordinator. How do you think he'll do?
Routt: "I remember Chuck. He's got a lot of knowledge and really studies the game and prepares. He was really big on the film study part. He had a really good grasp of what offenses are trying to do you and how to read the quarterbacks' eyes. I think he's going to do pretty good."
NFP: What do you think the prospects are for the Raiders as a team?
Routt: "We definitely put the best foot forward or right foot forward in the division, but we didn't wind up with a playoff berth. It was a stepping stone. We were three or four plays from throughout the entire season from looking at us going about 11-5 and us having a completely different conversation.
"The Jaguars, 49ers and the Cardinals games, you change the outcome and we're not 8-8. We're 11-5 and we're in the playoffs. We're a lot closer to making the playoffs than people think. Even though we went 8-8, it was more a case of us not doing what we were supposed to do."
NFP: What do you think Hue Jackson will bring to the table as a head coach?
Routt: "I think the sky's the limit. Hue has got a lot of fire in him. You don't know how old he is. I think it's his youthful mentality. He makes you want to work hard and not go through the motions. Every day, he wants to work on something new to get better. He's always challenging you. The first time I met Hue was the minicamp after the draft last year and he walked up to me and asked me my name and said, 'You're No. 26. I've been waiting to meet you. Don't worry, we're going to baptize you.'
"It's 8 o'clock in the morning. I had just woke up. I was thinking I can't wait for this camp to be over with so I can get back to Texas, but somehow that little small banter got me motivated to compete instead of going through the motions like I had planned to. It's little things that separate coaches. He doesn't give you that monotone talk. He doesn't kiss your ass. He's going to make you work. He believes in motivating you."
NFP: When are you guys going to get a defensive coordinator?
Routt: "Oh yeah, we're all anxious to see who it's going to be. I'm sure we'll get somebody good."
NFP: What are your plans if there's a lockout?
Routt: "As of right now if there's a work stoppage, I'll continue my offseason the way I always do. I'll be in school, finishing up my degree in kinesiology."
NFP: Routt is heavily involved in charity with Routt to Success and the Stanford Routt Foundation in Houston and Oakland to provide extracurricular activities after school as well as school supplies and clothing for kids from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as an essay competition for Oakland high school students with the winners going to a Raiders game.
What are some of your other off-field pursuits?
Routt: "Every year, I do a football camp on the north side of Houston. Their team name is the Raiders. I sponsor a YMCA basketball league. I recently spoke to a high school track team that a friend of mine coaches. I try to spread a little knowledge. The basic running point of my foundation is that kids don't realize a lot of times that the decisions you make today will stick with you the rest of your life because you're too young and immature to understand that.
"Kids get out of school and most are at home with nothing to do or outside and possibly getting into the wrong things. An idle mind is the devil's workshop. That's when there's a chance for negatives to seep in. I always stayed busy with football and sports. It doesn't have to be sports. It can be the band or science club, but it's important to fill those hours.
NFP: What's it like growing up in Austin?
Routt: "It's a great place to be. Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConnaughey live there. There's great real estate, great restaurants and great entertainment. Austin is basically a small town, a college town. I have great memories there. I reside in Houston, but my family still lives there. I take great pride in that city. That city is what made me who I am today mentally, emotionally, spiritually, athletically."
NFP: Does speed run in the family?
Routt: "I definitely had to work hard. I will have to say that I think it's hereditary. It took me until I was 14 years old and my dad was 47 before I could beat him in a foot race."
NFP: What's the goal for next season?
Routt: "We went undefeated last season in the division, but didn't make the playoffs. I heard we're like the second team in NFL history to sweep the division and not make it. That's not necessarily a record or stat you want to be known for. We definitely want a playoff berth. We want to be playing in January. We're hungry and the fans are hungry."
NFP: How is Al Davis doing?
Routt: "The last time I saw him was last season. That was the last time I talked to him. Physically, he's doing just fine. Everybody always thinks he's getting old and losing it, but his mind is sharp as a tack. He's one of, if not the sharpest football minds in the NFL. What so many people overlook is that he's forgotten more about football than most of us ever knew about the game. I have so much respect for him."
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Stanford-Routt-QA.html
Bresnahan to defensive coordinator
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders promoted assistant Chuck Bresnahan to defensive coordinator Monday, just weeks after bringing him back for a second stint with the organization.
The Raiders won three division titles and made a trip to the Super Bowl with Chuck Bresnahan (above) as their defensive coordinator from 2000 to 2003. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press)
The Raiders hired Bresnahan last month as a defensive assistant, but they didn't immediately specify his duties.
New coach Hue Jackson said he talked to some people outside the organization about the job, but he stuck with someone he had previously worked with in Cincinnati.
"The fact that I've had the chance to be in defensive meetings with Chuck and watch him lead the defensive staff made it an easy decision to name him our defensive coordinator," Jackson said in a statement released by the Raiders. "I am impressed with his passion, attention to detail and energy. This staff gives us the opportunity to have one of the top defenses in the NFL."
The Raiders have made significant changes on their defensive staff since Jackson replaced Tom Cable as coach in January. Hall of Famer Rod Woodson was brought on to coach the cornerbacks, and Greg Biekert was promoted to linebackers coach.
Woodson and Biekert played for Bresnahan during his first stint as defensive coordinator of the Raiders, from 2000 to 2003. Oakland won the AFC West in his first three seasons and went to the Super Bowl following his third year in 2002.
"This is an incredible opportunity for me to come back to the Raiders and work again where we had so many great years," said Bresnahan, who also was a defensive backs coach in Oakland in 1998 and 1999. "It's so exciting to be reunited with Hue Jackson because of the passion and energy that he brings. I'm also thrilled to be a part of this talented staff, many of whom I've shared previous success with."
The Raiders have been aggressive about keeping some of their key potential free agents on defense. They gave cornerback Stanford Routt a three-year, $31.5 million deal; signed defensive tackle Richard Seymour to a two-year, $30 million contract; placed an $11.312 million franchise tag on linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, who already has signed it; and agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract with defensive tackle John Henderson.
Oakland has two other key defensive free agents in Pro Bowl cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and safety Michael Huff. Decisions on those two players won't be made until after a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.
Regardless of what happens with Asomugha and Huff, the Raiders have some talented, young defenders whom they believe can be part of a stellar defense. Oakland's top two draft picks from last year, middle linebacker Rolando McClain and defensive end Lamarr Houston, started as rookies and showed promise.
Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly had his best season with seven sacks, and the Raiders have high hopes for safeties Tyvon Branch and Mike Mitchell, linebackers Trevor Scott and Travis Goethel, and defensive tackle Desmond Bryant.
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Bresnahan's primary task will be to improve a run defense that has been a problem for years in Oakland. The Raiders allowed the fourth-most rushing yards in the NFL last season at 133.6 per game and have the worst run defense in the league since Bresnahan left before the 2004 season. Oakland has allowed 140.4 rushing yards per game over those seasons, with a league-worst 139 touchdowns on the ground.
Oakland did finish second in the league in pass defense and was tied for second with 47 sacks.
During Bresnahan's first tenure as defensive coordinator, the Raiders ranked 17th in rushing defense (117.2 yards per game), tied for 14th in scoring defense (20.5 points per game), tied for 22nd in total defense (331.3 yards per game), tied for 17th in turnovers forced (117) and tied for 12th in sacks (152).
Bresnahan spent last season as defensive coordinator for Florida in the UFL. He also was defensive coordinator for three years with the Bengals and coached as an assistant with the Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...-to-defensive-coordinator?module=HP_headlines
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders promoted assistant Chuck Bresnahan to defensive coordinator Monday, just weeks after bringing him back for a second stint with the organization.
The Raiders won three division titles and made a trip to the Super Bowl with Chuck Bresnahan (above) as their defensive coordinator from 2000 to 2003. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press)
The Raiders hired Bresnahan last month as a defensive assistant, but they didn't immediately specify his duties.
New coach Hue Jackson said he talked to some people outside the organization about the job, but he stuck with someone he had previously worked with in Cincinnati.
"The fact that I've had the chance to be in defensive meetings with Chuck and watch him lead the defensive staff made it an easy decision to name him our defensive coordinator," Jackson said in a statement released by the Raiders. "I am impressed with his passion, attention to detail and energy. This staff gives us the opportunity to have one of the top defenses in the NFL."
The Raiders have made significant changes on their defensive staff since Jackson replaced Tom Cable as coach in January. Hall of Famer Rod Woodson was brought on to coach the cornerbacks, and Greg Biekert was promoted to linebackers coach.
Woodson and Biekert played for Bresnahan during his first stint as defensive coordinator of the Raiders, from 2000 to 2003. Oakland won the AFC West in his first three seasons and went to the Super Bowl following his third year in 2002.
"This is an incredible opportunity for me to come back to the Raiders and work again where we had so many great years," said Bresnahan, who also was a defensive backs coach in Oakland in 1998 and 1999. "It's so exciting to be reunited with Hue Jackson because of the passion and energy that he brings. I'm also thrilled to be a part of this talented staff, many of whom I've shared previous success with."
The Raiders have been aggressive about keeping some of their key potential free agents on defense. They gave cornerback Stanford Routt a three-year, $31.5 million deal; signed defensive tackle Richard Seymour to a two-year, $30 million contract; placed an $11.312 million franchise tag on linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, who already has signed it; and agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract with defensive tackle John Henderson.
Oakland has two other key defensive free agents in Pro Bowl cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and safety Michael Huff. Decisions on those two players won't be made until after a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.
Regardless of what happens with Asomugha and Huff, the Raiders have some talented, young defenders whom they believe can be part of a stellar defense. Oakland's top two draft picks from last year, middle linebacker Rolando McClain and defensive end Lamarr Houston, started as rookies and showed promise.
Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly had his best season with seven sacks, and the Raiders have high hopes for safeties Tyvon Branch and Mike Mitchell, linebackers Trevor Scott and Travis Goethel, and defensive tackle Desmond Bryant.
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Bresnahan's primary task will be to improve a run defense that has been a problem for years in Oakland. The Raiders allowed the fourth-most rushing yards in the NFL last season at 133.6 per game and have the worst run defense in the league since Bresnahan left before the 2004 season. Oakland has allowed 140.4 rushing yards per game over those seasons, with a league-worst 139 touchdowns on the ground.
Oakland did finish second in the league in pass defense and was tied for second with 47 sacks.
During Bresnahan's first tenure as defensive coordinator, the Raiders ranked 17th in rushing defense (117.2 yards per game), tied for 14th in scoring defense (20.5 points per game), tied for 22nd in total defense (331.3 yards per game), tied for 17th in turnovers forced (117) and tied for 12th in sacks (152).
Bresnahan spent last season as defensive coordinator for Florida in the UFL. He also was defensive coordinator for three years with the Bengals and coached as an assistant with the Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
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