Oakland’s search for a defensive coordinator recently turned to the collegiate ranks after the franchise was unable to secure interviews with various candidates. Tarver arrives having spent last year at Stanford where he served as co-defensive coordinator for David Shaw.

For Tarver his task is a difficult one. He’ll be pitted with changing the culture of an underachieving defense that has been unable to stop the run for the better part of a decade. In recent years Raider Nation has heard far too many promises from the likes of Tom Cable and Hue Jackson that the defense would solve their run stopping deficiencies. That never came to be.

Last season saw the Raider defense devolve into a historically terrible unit with regards to run defense. Normally the run defense is offset by a top tier pass defense. That too came tumbling down in 2011 as the departure of Nnamdi Asomugha combined with a lack of depth at cornerback left the Raiders completely defenseless.

Tarver’s defense at Stanford was ranked near the top of the PAC-12 in most every defensive category. Most notably was the Cardinal defense ranking third nationally in run defense. Let’s hope that translates to the NFL.
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Tarver could be returning to the NFL in a coordinator capacity.

With the ease at which Dennis Allen replaced Al Saunders with Greg Knapp the defensive mined head coach of the Oakland Raiders must have thought doing the same for Chuck Bresnahan would be even easier. After all, he already had a man in mind in the form of Richard Smith whom Allen coached with in Denver.

At least that was the plan until the Donkeys denied the Raiders an interview with Smith. Same goes for Bill Johnson who the Saints gave the same non-stamp of approval for interview.

No worries though because Greg Manusky was available and had ties to the Bay Area. Too bad he chose the Indianapolis rebuilding project over the Oakland renovation for his choice of employment.

All those closed doors have left a couple names floating through the rumor mill both of which have ties to Reggie McKenzie and the Green Bay Packers. That’s a little like being unemployed and your best bet at finding work are all friends of your parents.

Dennis Allen has already had three strikes in trying to hire NFL defensive coaches so that’s why he’s turning to the NCAA specifically Stanford University.

According to reports, the Raiders are looking at Stanford co-defensive coordinator Jason Tarver to become the lone defensive coordinator of the silver and black.
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Manusky could be East Bay bound. (Photo: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE)

With Greg Knapp said to be in place as Oakland’s offensive coordinator Dennis Allen can now shift his attention to his bread and butter – the defense.

While Chuck Bresnahan has yet to be officially let go it is all but obvious that he won’t return as defensive coordinator. Considering the fact that over a year ago Bresnahan sat around for weeks as a defensive coach before finally being named the coordinator, this twisting in the wind act must be old news for him.

When it comes to old news Allen is building his staff with blasts from the past. Knapp returns to Oakland in the same coaching capacity three years after leaving with Lane Kiffin. Now the news is that Allen is looking to tap another AFC West retread by interviewing former Chargers defensive coordinator Greg Manusky for the same position.

Manusky was in San Diego for all of one season but was fired by Norv Turner. Prior to that Manusky was on the other side of the Bay coordinating the 49ers defense for some years.

One name that you won’t hear mentioned in Oakland’s defensive coordinator search is that of Richard Smith. Dennis Allen was looking to bring Smith over from Denver where he coached linebackers. Having to lose one coach to an AFC West rival was apparently one too many for Denver’s liking. The Broncos denied Allen and the Raiders the opportunity to talk to Smith.
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