Allen had better be ready for all that comes with coaching in Oakland.

Today Reggie McKenzie was slated to sit down with Dennis Allen for a second time in as many weeks. If all goes well then Allen will become the next ex-coach of the Oakland Raiders.

You’ll excuse my lack of enthusiasm. Naturally I’ll be rooting for Allen to have success. I’m just dreading yet another of these bland introductory press conferences in which Allen and McKenzie will praise one another then promise a Super Bowl.

Yeah…ok…sure. We’ve heard it all before from Lane Kiffin, Norv Turner, Art Shell, Tom Cable, Hue Jackson and every other stiff that walked the East Bay sideline since Chucky took his talents to Tampa. Wake me up when the trophy is being paraded through the streets of Oakland.

If I sound like I’m talking as if Allen already has the job it’s because it is his to lose. Like a frat boy hitting on the drunkest chick at the bar, at this point he can only talk himself out of sealing the deal. Winston Moss was thought to be the front runner but he only got one interview. Same goes for Marty Mornhinweg. So you do the math. I’ll be in the back of the room counting how many clichés Allen tosses out in his intro to Raider Nation.

If I sound bitter over this whole process it’s because I am.
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Currently it is believed that Reggie McKenzie has finally narrowed his list of candidates for the Raiders coaching job down to three candidates. The good news is that of those supposed three none are named Marty Mornhinweg or Mike Tice. McKenzie came to his senses and told the two men thanks but no thanks.

In addition it is being reported that Pete Carmichael is also out of the running.

So, where does that leave us?

Through some patchwork journalism from various reports it would appear that Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, Packers assistant head coach Winston Moss and an alleged “mystery candidate” are still in the mix.

First let’s discuss Allen who, in some circles, is being called the front runner. As stated previously, the official JBB take is that McKenzie – at the behest of Mark Davis – will go with a defensive minded coach. Allen certainly fits that criteria even though he didn’t coach an elite NFL defense this past season.

The former DB at Texas A&M did make a drastic improvement for Denver’s woeful D of the previous season. In fact, a very large portion of the success the Donkeys enjoyed with Tim Tebow at the helm was directly a result of Denver’s defense keeping opponents out of the end zone and the game close so the Mile High Messiah could work his magic. Allen has never been a head coach but neither was Hue Jackson…not sure if that helps or hurts his cause.

With regards to Allen’s supposed standing as the top candidate it should be noted that over the weekend Marty Moron-weg was being called the front runner. So take that speculation with a grain of salt and a shot of Cuervo.

From the moment the Raiders job opened up the name Winston Moss was circled as the odd-on-favorite to get the gig. His working relationship with McKenzie plus his ties to the Raider organization made it all too easy to pencil in Moss as the new boss.

Without anyone knowing, McKenzie snuck in a 4-hour interview with Moss on the eve of Green Bay’s playoff loss. Whether or not that meeting violated any NFL tampering rules is debatable. Except from within the league office where there is no debate. They allowed the meeting to occur without issue.

Thanks for that, NFL. Now if only you guys can screw over the Pats with the tuck rule in the Super Bowl then you’ll be square with Raider Nation.
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McKenzie has got the Raiders franchsie in his hands.

Reggie McKenzie has hit the Easy Bay running (or swimming if you prefer) since becoming Oakland’s general manager. He wasted no time in firing Hue Jackson but has since taken his time in searching for qualified candidates. With names like Marty Mornhinweg and Mike Tice floating around the term “qualified” becomes a relative one. But that is a different topic.

No matter my opinion of the Raiders’ known candidates the fact remains that the business of football moves forward…rapidly. Already the NFL season is nearing its conclusion which means free agency and the draft are right around the corner.

Generally you need a head coach in place well in advance in order to get up to speed. But when you’re searching for your third head coach in as many years you’d hope McKenzie is taking his sweet time for a good reason.

As reports slowly filter out regarding just who the Raiders have interviewed the logical question every member of Raider Nation wants to know is when a decision will be made. Luckily Paul Gutierrez asked that exact question of McKenzie.

When Gutierrez asked McKenzie if a coaching announcement was in the cards for this week, the new football boss of the East Bay responding with the following.

Yeah. Yeah. It could happen. It could happen by Saturday.

Not exactly a quote to plaster across billboards but it at least indicates where McKenzie is in the process. Then again, the interview with Winston Moss passed by without so much as a blurb appearing on any of the NFL gossip sites.

So how do we know what is what? Well, it’s the Oakland Raiders. You’ll find out when they want you to. Now take your bread and get out of the line.
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