Oakland Raiders Head Coach Hugh Jackson Is Ready To Win The AFC West

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I caught Oakland Raiders head coach Hugh Jackson on the NFL Network today and he seems really excited about the upcoming season.

While the players are away Jackson and the Raiders staff are preparing for the player’s return, but just as importantly they are already preparing for the teams they will need to beat.

When asked about the 30 or so Raiders players working out in Georgia, a giddy Jackson said he couldn’t watch the tape enough, because it’s the only contact he gets with the team.

Unfortunately for Jason Campbell, the promotion of Jackson to head coach means yet another offensive coordinator, but at least he’ll be in the same offense for the second straight season. I don’t think that has happened in his career. One thing that ticks me off about criticism against Campbell is that people don’t take the horrific coaching that he’s received into account.

While the San Diego Chargers‘ Philip Rivers and Green Bay Packers‘ Aaron Rodgers have enjoyed minimal change in their offensive systems for their entire career, guys like Campbell or the San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith have not had the consistency needed to develop the sixth sense that comes from knowing your offensive system like the back of your hand.

The Raiders have the potential to become very scary if they are allowed to grow as a group in one system without change.

The glee on Jackson’s face when asked about Jacoby Ford was hilarious. Coach feels like Ford will become a household name. He has what Marty Schottenheimer calls “rare ability,” meaning 2% of active players can do what he does. The guy is amazing.

Ford will continue to return kicks, because he’s one of the most explosive weapons in the league.

• Hue Jackson resurrecting old-school Raiders themes (fanaticsportsandcards.com)