Fire Lane Kiffin? Don't Stop There

The bell tolls for thee, Lane Kiffin. 

Barring a completely unexpected and ultimate thrashing of the Chiefs in KC this Sunday, the death knell on Lane Kiffin's time in Oakland grows louder, week by week, until the bye. By all accounts, Kiffin seems not only to be expecting it, but looking forward to it. 

But firing Lane Kiffin and making NO other changes would mean nothing to the Raiders' franchise. The team's organizational and coaching structure are dysfunctionally divided, making team unity and accountability impossible. Replacing Kiffin without making wholesale changes at the top will be, unfortunately, like putting lipstick on a pig, no offense to Sarah "V-Pilf" Palin.

Kiffin is clearly responsible for the offense. As head coach, he is also responsible for the team as a whole. But with Rob Ryan and Al Davis directing the defense, the division in the team's structure undermines Kiffin's authority and effectiveness. And what of accountability?

For the last 17 games, the Raiders' offense has outplayed the Raiders defense. And yet Rob Ryan is still there, Al's puppet and fattest cheerleader of an under-performing squad.  Fire Kiffin if you must, but just try to justify keeping Ryan to the team, or to me, without laughing out loud.

And what of the plan for the team after Kiffin is gone? For all the money spent, the Raiders have added more young talent on offense than defense, young talent they MUST develop.

The one positive to come out of Monday's game against Denver is that JaMarcus Russell looked pretty good, and for that, Kiffin and QB coach John DeFillipo deserve credit. Russell has been Kiffin's project from Day One (at least since Russell finally signed), and Russell appears to be developing.

I don't see firing Kiffin as a positive for continuing to develop the Raiders' franchise QB.

So go ahead, fire Kiffin. I get it, it's the humane thing to do. Lofton may be a reasonable interim solution. But don't stop there. 

Fire Ryan. Let him take Martindale, Millard, and every other remora attached to his great girth with him, to the Jets or any other franchise foolish enough to open their front door.  Trim the Fat.

And hire a GM, a real one. Don't make Kiffin the scapegoat, he's done as much as can be expected, given the situation he's in. Move forward, as much as the team deserves a unified coaching staff and front office, Raiders fans deserve it more.

I have all the respect in the world for Al Davis and all he has accomplished. He has earned the right to run the Raiders as he sees fit, even as he is doing now, running them right into the ground.