Oakland Raiders Interviewing Todd Grantham for DC Position
By Chase Ruttig
Oct 30, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Grantham talks with safety Gerod Holliman (8) during the second half against the Florida State Seminoles at Papa John
It appears that one of the mystery candidates for the Oakland Raiders defensive coordinator search through the NCAA ranks has been revealed and the candidate in question is as expected in having both NFL/NCAA experience to satisfy head coach Jack Del Rip’s criteria.
According to Dianna Marie Russini of NBC4 Washington (who has been reporting heavily on the Raiders offseason), Oakland will be meeting with Louisville defensive coordinator Todd Grantham this week in an attempt to find their defensive coordinator after interviews with Eric Mangini and Mike Smith earlier this month.
The Oakland Raiders are interested in Louisville's defensive coordinator Todd Grantham for their defensive coordinator position per sources
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) January 26, 2015
Grantham was the defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns from 2005-07 giving him NFL DC experience, and has been a defensive line coach for the Indianapolis Colts (1999-2001), Houston Texans (2002-04) and Dallas Cowboys (2008-09). That experience gives him the NFL experience that Del Rio seeks when trying to hire his defensive coordinator to work under him.
More from Just Blog Baby
- Raiders news: Free agent TE Foster Moreau diagnosed with cancer
- Order your Jimmy Garoppolo Las Vegas Raiders gear now
- Las Vegas Raiders: 2023 NFL Draft will make-or-break David Ziegler Era
- Raiders news: Jimmy Garoppolo offered a different kind of deal
- Raiders 2023 NFL Draft: Trading down for an elite DT on Day 1
Since leaving the NFL, Grantham has been the defensive coordinator of Georgia and most recently Louisville, never overseeing one of the best defenses in the nation on a consistent basis despite doing quality work as a defensive playcaller. Grantham’s best year came with the Bulldogs in 2011 where Georgia ranked 3rd nationally in total defense, 7th in pass defense and 9th in rush defense. They also finished 2nd in the SEC in sacks (34), tackles for loss (94) and turnovers forced (29).
In 2012 the Bulldogs finished 12-2 in winning the SEC East, so Grantham has a strong reputation in coaching a national power in the SEC before heading to Louisville in the ACC this past season where the Cardinals had mixed success in the year following quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s departure to the NFL.
While team success wasn’t achieved in the same level as his stay in Georgia, Grantham kept the Cardinals sixth in total yards allowed and 10th in passing yards allowed which is something that should be factored in his consideration for the Raiders job. Overseeing more than respectable defenses while having NFL experience with the Browns and a defensive line career, Grantham could be in the mix for a serious step up to the NFL with the Raiders where he would be coaching promising rookie Khalil Mack.
With the Raiders looking to college coaches there may be few candidates at their disposal with better recent resumes than Grantham, so don’t be shocked if the former Georgia and current Louisivlle defensive coordinator is seriously considered for the Oakland job if his interview goes well. Unless a bigger fish enters the interview pool, Grantham may just be the candidate come later this week when the Raiders should be expected to make their defensive coordinator hire an official one.