Oakland Raiders: A More Attractive Free Agency Option in 2015
By Vic Lopez
November 17, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos interim head coach Jack Del Rio (right) instructs defensive tackle Mitch Unrein (96) and defensive tackle Terrance Knighton (94) during the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Coaching Staff: Jack Del Rio
Respect is the first word that comes to mind when thinking about Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio. Respect is what coaches must earn from their players before they can do anything. Scheme, drills, technique, game plans, motivation, all of which can only be implemented when a coach and his staff has the respect of its players.
Coach Del Rio has that, it is built-in. From his time with the Jaguars to his years with the Broncos, coach Del Rio is a coach players want to play for. Captain Jack will be a key cog in helping Reggie McKenzie rectify his track record for signing free agent players. Reggie should be thanking his owner Mark Davis for bringing in a coach like Del Rio who can attract top talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
To add to that coach Del Rio has assembled a mixture of veteran and young coaches throughout his staff that also command that respect. Not to knock Dennis Allen and his staff, but this group of coaches is head and shoulders above the former staff.
The most notable names include Mike Tice/OLine, Brad Seely/ST, Bill Musgrave/OC, Rod Woodson/Ast DB, and Ken Norton JR/DC getting his first crack as a coordinator. This group is one with not only name recognition but also tangible NFL experience and success. The entire coaching staff will have it’s work cut out in trying to sell the Oakland Raiders to visiting free agents. They will have to get players to buy in the same way they bought in, and hope they can be the coaching staff to turn things around.
While Jack Del Rio may not be Jim Harbaugh, he and his staff still represent the most credible coaching staff since Jon Gruden was wearing Silver and Black.
Free agent players from all of these coaches former teams may now see Oakland as a realistic landing spot in the next phase of their careers. Players from the Eagles, Falcons, Broncos, Seahawks and others now all have ties to the Raiders and its staff. That is a lot of big names and a lot of talent that could be headed our way with help from this new staff.