Oakland Raiders Set to Interview Eric Mangini for DC Position
By Chase Ruttig
When Eric Mangini interviewed for the Oakland Raiders head coach position in early January, many fans were worried about the team potentially bringing on a coach who hasn’t had much success in the head coaching ranks save for his first year with the New York Jets. However fans may be more apt to warm to the idea of Mangini as he interviews with the Raiders for a different role within the team’s coaching staff.
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According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Mangini will interview for the Raiders defensive coordinator job. A move that would see Mangini go back to his roots when he earned his reputation working on the New England Patriots defensive staff during their best run in the early 00’s.
#49ers assistant Eric Mangini is slated to interview with the #Raiders for their defensive coordinator position, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 19, 2015
Mangini had recently moved to the offensive side of the ball to stay in the NFL as the tight ends coach of the San Francisco 49ers, but it is well documented that the former head coach of the Jets and Browns is a talented defensive mind. Part of the Patriots coaching tree, Mangini even helped the Jets succeed before Rex Ryan took the job and although his defenses were never top in league rankings they were always tough to score points on everywhere he went.
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Perhaps more interesting when looking at Mangini is his background as a defensive backs coach, the role he held for the majority of his time in New England and a position that the Raiders desperately need to improve upon. TJ Carrie, Keith McGill and DJ Hayden could all benefit from having the experience of Mangini in working with the secondary as the Raiders hope to build up their young defensive backs into starters as a big part of their rebuild.
Mangini will need a solid interview to win the defensive coordinator job however as the team reportedly has their sights set on Mike Smith, who hasn’t yet warmed up to the idea of taking a coordinator job after being fired as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. If Mangini does earn the job it would be another hire of a experienced coach who has climbed the ranks during his coaching career. A constant theme amongst the Raiders 2015 coaching search, don’t count out Mangini as he is set to interview with Jack Del Rio as he hopes to catch a big break in restoring his once promising coaching career by earning the Raiders defensive coordinator job.