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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“Everyone in the Stanford football family is deeply saddened by the passing of Chester McGlockton. For the past two seasons, Chester has been a valuable member of our football staff and a wonderful friend to us all. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chester’s wife, Zina, and their two children.”

McGlockton was originally selected by the then L.A. Raiders in the first round of the 1992 NFL draft. The former Clemson Tiger was a freakish athlete that was named to the NFL All-Pro team four times in his 12 year career. During a dominant four year stretch McGlockton was a fixture in Hawaii for the Pro Bowl.

It is being reported that McGlockton’s passing was due to a heart attack suffered overnight.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends.