Re-Signing Mike Tice Should be the Top Priority for The Oakland Raiders

With the contract of Oakland Raiders Offensive Line Coach Mike Tice now expired, bringing him back to the coaching staff should be a top priority for Jack Del Rio and Reggie McKenzie.

When the Oakland Raiders hired Mike Tice two years ago to be their offensive line coach, I was one of the most skeptical people you could find in regards to the hire.

Tice was a primary target for the Jack Del Rio and the Raiders, despite coming off an abysmal Atlanta Falcons season, which led to my distaste for the hire. Add in his depressing tenure in Chicago that saw Jay Cutler sacked 113 times in two years, and my distaste seemed warranted.

Skepticism aside, the Raiders were in need of a coach for the offensive line due to former interim head coach/offensive line coach Tony Sparano moving on after not landing the permanent head coaching position.

My, was I wrong about Tice.

Following a solid enough year in 2015, in which the Raiders offensive line showed solid progression, my impression of Tice began to change. By seasons end last year, I was sold. His ability to maximize the talent he had, and adjust accordingly, had me gushing.

Looking back on what he had to work with in Chicago and Atlanta, my understanding of Tice changed.

In Atlanta, his being forced to adopt and install a zone blocking system when he is a man-blocking scheme coach hindered his ability to develop the linemen. His talent in Chicago, outside of Olin Kreutz and Roberto Garza, was abysmal at best.

Seeing what Tice has been able to do in molding the second-best offensive line in the NFL has been nothing short of remarkable, even with the struggles at right tackle.

Add in the fact that Tice was a massive part of what drew Kelechi Osemele to Oakland, and the hire has been an absolute home run.

Which brings us to a very pressing issue — Mike Tice’s contract is up.

Tice, arguably a top three offensive line coach in the NFL, should be priority number one following the promotion of Todd Downing to offensive coordinator.

More from Just Blog Baby

• Raiders news: Free agent TE Foster Moreau diagnosed with cancer
• Order your Jimmy Garoppolo Las Vegas Raiders gear now
• Las Vegas Raiders: 2023 NFL Draft will make-or-break David Ziegler Era
• Raiders news: Jimmy Garoppolo offered a different kind of deal
• Raiders 2023 NFL Draft: Trading down for an elite DT on Day 1

With the development of Gabe Jackson, Rodney Hudson, and Kelechi Osemele into the second-best interior trio behind the Dallas Cowboys, as well as Tice’s ability to adjust on the fly with guys like Jon Feliciano, Vadal Alexander, and Denver Kirkland, Tice is by far the biggest priority re-signing for Reggie McKenzie.

With Penn aging, and the glaring hole at right tackle, continuity in the offensive line meeting room is key. Especially if the Raiders plan to develop within. Nothing hurts an offensive line more than too many voices telling them what to do.

Continuity within a meeting room, as well as on the practice field, is a major boon to an offensive line. Having to adjust terminology, drills, steps, everything is never ideal.

With Tice’s developmental ability, as well as his ability to draw key free agents to the Raiders, there is no reason for Reggie to allow him to leave.

Next: JBB's Raiders Mailbag

And I think it’s safe to say I might actually shed a tear if that were to happen.