There are no statistics that measure true coaching ability; there are no formulas that aid a general manager in selecting a head coach. That is why there is a plethora of opinions whenever a coach is fired or hired.
Many opinions are floating around after the dismissal of Raiders Head Coach Lane Kiffin. It seems the majority of football fans view this as a wrong move and consider it another horrible decision by owner Al Davis. I have to agree with them.
Lane Kiffin isn't a bad coach by any stretch. His first year as head coach of the Raiders garnered no special results, aside from the fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft.
The Raiders finished 4-12 in 2007 and seemed destined to continue down that road for a long time. However, immediately after that lackluster season, you could almost hear the screeching of the brakes.
The Raiders wanted to contend, and their trip down the road of ineptitude was coming to an end.
Loads of talent were brought in by the Raiders this past offseason, and many expected that to carry over to immediate success this year.
I beg to differ. Usually the team that has played together longer will beat the team with the most star power.
The Raiders certainly have star power now, after the acquisitions of Javon Walker, Darren McFadden, DeAngelo Hall, Gibril Wilson, and Drew Carter. What they didn't have, after more than 10 major pickups was experience together. Reasonable fans knew it would take at least a year before this team could be very good.
Lane Kiffin had other plans. He had done an excellent job of bringing these players together and allowing them to get to know their new teammates. Almost nobody thought the Raiders would be great this year, but Kiffin tried to instill a winning mentality in 2008.
- Lane Kiffin
They are trying to do that so far this year. Sure, they have only one win, but they have done so against three of the toughest teams in the AFC. The Broncos, now with four wins, blew the Raiders out in Week One. Then came a game in Kansas City, where the Raiders delivered their own blowout for their first win of the season.
Week Three brought a very close game against the Buffalo Bills, who now have four wins. The final score was 24-23 and ended in a losing effort from Oakland.
Week Four was another close game against the San Diego Chargers, where the referees were blamed for a few bad calls.
Going into the season, the Raiders had the third-easiest schedule in the league, based on 2007 records. The Oakland schedule will never see a tougher month than it just endured. The Raiders did what they needed to: beat the team they were supposed to, and they left everything on the field in the tougher games.
Did Al Davis really expect more than one win in this opening month? I think everyone expected the Raiders to beat the Chiefs, but the Broncos, Bills, and Chargers are amongst the leagues' elite.
The Raiders are still meshing together. You can't expect perfection from a group of guys who have spent just months together. There are things that take time to develop.
- Al Davis
If Al Davis' ultimate goal is to continue down the inept road the Raiders of recent history have been known for, he has created a huge paradox. Why would he spend so much money to acquire as much talent as he did only to fire his coach four games into the season? Even he must have realized that good teams take time to mesh, right?
The answer is no. Any other owner would have kept Lane Kiffin as head coach and looked forward to easier games in the future. The truth of this situation is that Lane Kiffin has done an excellent job of bringing this team of new faces together. Even Brad Childress could come in and win with this team after what Kiffin has done.
Kiffin may be young, but he knew what he was doing. He may not be considered so by Al Davis, but Lane Kiffin is a winner in my book.
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3 months ago
Good article. I agree, the Raiders have become competitive under Kiffin and you can tell they are in the right direction. The last thing they needed was to do another coaching shuffle, which will only lead to one more this offseason because I doubt Cable is a long term solution.
from 3 months ago
Thanks Matt. You are right, Cable is not a long-term solution; he is only an interim head coach.
3 months ago
Well said. Although there's alot of pressure that comes with the large paychecks these coaches receive, owners owe it to the franchise to allow the talent to mesh with the coaching staff. I have to say that I do enjoy seeing the Raiders mirred in mediocrity. That's not a statement towards the players, fans or the many hard working people behind the scenes. Just towards the enigma that is Al Davis.
from 3 months ago
Thanks for the comment. Al Davis does make the Raiders a fun team to watch/follow, doesn't he?
3 months ago
good article, for defending Kiffin's underachieving and dysfunctional coaching essence...I wonder if Avery Johnson ever got an article like this written for him here on B/R.com????
...hmmmm
from 3 months ago
maybe if u pulled yur finger out of where it shudnt be for 5 minutes u wood have time t right the article yurself!
from 3 months ago
Thanks for the comment. I'll second Mike's suggestion: you should write something about Johnson here!
3 months ago
I'm with you - I think Kiffin was doing a respectable job - especially in the last few weeks of his tenure, when all the rumors were swirling around his job security, he not only was able to focus himself, but get his players to fight and stay in the games too. That in itself was an accomplishment. He's young... he'll be back somewhere and I think he deserves to be. Good read.
from 3 months ago
Thanks for the comment, Kevin. Here's hoping he lands in Minnesota.
from 3 months ago
Ahh... you want him to coach the Vikes? Not a Childress guy, eh?
from 3 months ago
Not at all. As you can see from one of the last lines above, I can hardly write an article without taking a jab at him.
I am overreacting just a touch, though. The Vikings can win with him, but it would be extremely hard.
from 3 months ago
True, you did have that jab. I just thought you were trying to use your Minny knowledge to drive the point home... but I see where you're going with it.
Speaking of the Vikes, big win last night. That Central division is up for grabs... they need to take care of business against Detroit next weekend.
3 months ago
we'll find out what the damage is to his career after the fall when teams are looking for staff. What he did really wrong was call out players in the media and not be complimentary to players or the organization. Most employers will look at that and think, "so if this guy gets disgruntled he becomes a jerk in the media" We'll find out how many employers think this was a one time thing or if he really is an arrogant fool as people around him have indicated.
Personally i think he is clueless with dealing with the media and my bet is he is too proud to see this as a failed experience (since he was fired, he loses, grievance or not)
from 3 months ago
Thanks for the comment. Kiffin and the media should not mix at all until he learns how to deal with them, as you say.
In this case his arrogance will probably serve him better when he is looking for a job, like you said.
3 months ago
How many Raiders game did you watch? The offense sucked ....bottom if not DFL in red zone td scoring, 3rd down conversion, first half scoring, etc......did he ever make a halftime adjustment? How many 4th quarter leads did he blow. Did he know how to call a time out. Could he have any time of possesion in the second half. Could he do more then run the ball on first and second down.....
Lame Kiffin Sucked, and should go back to being the waterboy at USC, where pete can take care of his friend monte son....because that is really all he is...He is a son of Pete Carrol friend no more no less.
from 3 months ago
Thanks for the comment, but you can't attribute the lack of offensive the Raiders have endured entirely to Kiffin. Like I said in the article, it comes back to some of the players having only been together for a few months.
3 months ago
Hey Al's WINGMAN, I would really like to meet you in person. I don't like you very much because you stink too much like your boyfriend Davis. I would like to kick your ass. This team needed time to jell. None of you homo's could have done a quarter of the job kiffin has. lucky for me and anyone who agrees with me that Kiffin was the right man for this job, is that Al is 79 years of age. He Will Be Done Soon. I wanna see you then mr. Wingman. I wanna see you cry !
Other then my ranting, kiffin has done a remarkable job juggling football and al davis dirty laundry. Al davis was hust fed up he couldn't get the best of him. Al is as sorry as it gets. He will never learn. Neither will his pathetic inpatient following. Ain't that right wingman, Johnny.
This team like any other team need more that a year to gel. 2 years of consistency would be sufficient. So all you Al lovers, I hope you like losing because you'll gonna get some more of that will your main squeeze davis.
3 months ago
87 % approval rating. That means some of these al lovers are really as delusional as they get. You cannot be an Al davis fan and make sense at the same time. It is against the laws of, of whateva you wanna call it. 87 % . how the hell does anyone in the minority 13 % say the 87 % of voters are wrong? impossible.
3 months ago
Here's the problem with Lane Kiffin: There's more to being a head coach than coaching.
He then turned on the franchise and bashed them publicly at every opportunity. He questioned his own roster. He questioned his own coaching staff. He took shots at his owner. He leaked negative stories to the press.
There were mitigating circumstances, yes. The front office was even more to blame, yes. Al Davis is completely insane, yes. But he could have handled the situation better.
He did a good job as an on-field coach, but a terrible job as the Oakland Raiders head coach.
He did not come out of this looking good to other NFL owners....
-Sean
from 3 months ago
Couldn't be more wrong if you tried.
Kiffin came out smelling like a rose. simple reason. he didn't put up with Al and his crap, like many coaches do. you think shell got respect, walking out with his tail between his legs, even while al was blaming him? why is it when al mouths off, you al lovers state it's his choice, yet when someone does it back, they should just shut up?
Gruden didn't take Al's crap, and did exactly what kiff did. so did shanarat. both are viewed as good to excellent coaches. you think they would have more respect by being a mouse? wrong, then wouldn't.
read up first, then post. the media asked about the defensive play calling, kiff didn't bring it up, they did. he simply replied that he doesn't make the defensive calls. adding that ryan and al meet each week, which ryan admitted to.
Kiff did what he should do on the roster, DEMANDED BETTER. see, that's his job. it's not to be a mouse and just sit there, it's to try and improve the team, then improve the players. Al didn't do HIS JOB (obviously it should have been a GM's job, but we all know Al clearly states he's the GM) by bringing in depth.
As far as taking shots at Al?
Al has made it his lifelong goal to crap on anyone and everyone.
Why should he not get it back?
3 months ago
nick: Lane Kiffin had to get fired because he wasnt commited to the raiders and the raiders couldnt of moved forward with him
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