Ahhhh..........leaned back in my chair, watching sport channel news flashes on the tube. There seems to be so much media babble and so little concrete information regarding the Raiders.
Lucky for you, and for your reading enjoyment, I have provided below a list of the "Eight Steps to Great" for the 2009 Oakland Raiders in Chronological Order.
So let's make this short, sweet and to the point. This is what is needed, in chronological order, for the Oakland Raiders:
• First—The Raiders (of course, when I say "the Raiders", I mean "Al Davis") need to decide on who their GM will be. (IF Mr. Davis decides he will have one!)
If the Raiders do hire a GM at all, it should be the first order of business, even before the hiring of the head coach. The GM position will be vital for this team as he could help Mr. Davis to carry out his will and direction for the team. There are also many coaching positions that will need to be filled this offseason and Mr. Davis (born on the Fourth of July) at age 79, should seek some assistance.
• Second—The Raiders need to decide on who will be the head coach for 2009.
Choosing who will lead this team for the 2009 season is what I consider to be the top priority of the team. This is before any hiring or firing of personnel and/or player changes. Also, by choosing the head coach first before any of the positions listed below, he could be involved in the recommendation and choosing of other coaches with Mr. Davis. Which leads me to the third and fourth steps.
• Third/Fourth—The Raiders should hire new offensive and defensive coordinators.
It doesn't matter which comes first but AFTER the head coach is named, Mr. Davis and the head coach for 2009 should choose the new offensive and defensive coordinators together. This will give Mr. Davis and the head coach the ability to choose who is best to work with and who is the best fit for the players and styles of play that is "RAIDERS FOOTBALL".
• Fifth—The Raiders should then be in a position to hire other coaches and assistants.
I am talking about the coaching and staff below the offensive and defensive coordinators. Let the offensive and defensive coordinators choose who they want assisting them. The Raiders might also be in need of a new offensive line coach and possibly a running back coach depending on what happens with Tom Cable and running back coach Tom Rathman.
• Sixth—Sign Nnamdi Asomugha.
Do I really need to explain why keeping one of the top defensive backs in the NFL is a good idea? Just get 'er done!
• Seventh
7 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
TJ Jenkins 6 months ago
You could make an argument to move number six to number one. Although, I'd LOVE to see Asomugha in a Steelers uniform.
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Simon Birmingham 6 months ago
Hey Mikey, I like it!!!
Isn't #9 Attend "The Raiders Fan Convention 09"
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SHREDGOD 13 6 months ago
Nice list Mike! But isn't this the same list of fixes/needs we had last year? And the year before? And the year before that? And so on, and so on, and so on...
I don't think Big Al will ever hire a GM
-and-
I would add re-signing Lechler to #6
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Mike Sommers 6 months ago
It seems to be similar to previous years lists... except this time we will have a boat load of coaching positions open.... I am just in hopes that Al follows the logical steps above and doesnt piece-meal our coaching staff or make player changes without the new coaches input..... as usual --- fingers crossed..
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Pat Cowan 6 months ago
Mike, your article is right on point. The things on that list are going to have a big impact on the success of the Raiders next year. Can they happen? Absolutely!
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Mike Sommers 6 months ago
Can they happen in that order though??? Will there be player changes before the coaching staff (including oc and dc) are set??? I would hate to see a michael huff get cut early when the new dc might be able to get the most from him????? just a thought.
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Mike Sommers 6 months ago
Rio, you are right... a lot of this stuff should have been taken care of over the years and now the Raiders find themselves looking for a complete coaching staff and an owner that some just cant work for... it is going to be tough for sure... the main jist of my article is that BEFORE any players are changed out, whatever coaching staff gets hired should be in place.... no need to go changing players by Al right now.. let the coaches have some say (if they get too)...
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