This week was filled with numerous reports on coaching hires as Dennis Allen fills out his staff. Until yesterday all we had were press reports on new hires. The Raiders issued the following statement on their website.

The Oakland Raiders have added seven coaches to the 2012 coaching staff, including three assistants who were with the Silver and Black last season.

Kelly Skipper returns for his sixth season with the Raiders and his fourth as running backs coach, while Frank Pollack joins the Silver and Black as offensive line coach. Steve Wisniewski will serve as assistant offensive line coach after spending last season in the same capacity, while Al Miller joins the staff as strength and conditioning coach and will be assisted by John Grieco. Defensive quality control coach Eric Sanders returns to the Raiders for his third season, while former Raiders fullback Justin Griffith assumes offensive quality control duties.

In addition the team also confirmed the hiring of Steve Hoffman as John Fassel’s replacement on special teams.

Now that leaves a healthy portion of the defensive staff to be hired most notably defensive coordinator. Thus far the Raiders haven’t had much luck in nailing down a candidate. Rest assured Coach Allen will be logging some long hours in his quest to find the right mind for the silver and black defense. Unlike most every head coach hired by Al Davis, Allen is a defensive coach so he knows what message was sent by his hiring.

With all of the movement on the staff it is becoming difficult to keep track of who is staying and who is going. Of course, with only a couple of coaches staying put (as of now) it is much easier to start with the men that don’t have to clean out their offices.

Kelly Skipper has received high praise for his work with Darren McFadden and Michael Bush. That’s why it was a done deal for Allen to retain the services of Skipper as the running backs coach. Both Bush and McFadden have a great deal of respect for their position coach as you’d expect from two men that have featured prominently in Oakland’s offense.

Stefen Wisniewski got high praise during his rookie year. Playing both guard and center during the season the New Wiz showed plenty of promise. Therefore it is just good business sense to keep his 8-time All-Pro uncle Steve Wisniewski on the coaching staff.

While Wisniewski is staying the man he answers to is gone. Bob Wylie might have done the best coaching job of any member on Oakland’s staff last season. His offensive line allowed the 4^th fewest sacks in the league and was by far the biggest surprise of the season for the Raiders. However Allen has allowed Wylie to move on, choosing to replace the O-line coach with Frank Pollack. Pollack comes over with Greg Knapp from the Houston Texans.
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