As first reported in Raiderfans.net PREMIUM forums, the Oakland Raiders will announce Hue Jackson as their next head coach.
He will be promoted from his offensive coordinator position, a role Jackson had for one season in Silver & Black; a play caller for the first time in his entire career at the NFL level.
The move, announced on the official Raiders web site, was speculated about for weeks since Oakland decided not to bring back Tom Cable on January 4th. This is Jackson’s first head coaching gig at any level.
As in the past, no terms have been announced, but you can speculate that it will be for two seasons; with an option for two more as Oakland has done in the past.
Jackson was the driving force in the team ranking 10th in the NFL in total offense and ending with 410-points, a year after ranking 31st and scoring 197-points.
He interviewed for the 49ers before they landed their man, Jim Harbaugh. “Al’s very happy to do that,” senior executive John Herrera said of Jackson’s opportunity to talk to other clubs. “He would not stop Hue Jackson from having the opportunity to interview for a head coaching position. He believes in diversity. He didn’t need the Rooney Rule to hire Art Shell [in 1989].”
“The challenge with going to the Oakland Raiders and helping them become what they want to become is exciting,” Jackson said last year when he arrived. “That’s what you look for. I want to run to the challenge.”
Jackson thrived in his first challenge. But can he succeed in his second? A more challenging up hill climb, taking a team that is disappointed after an 8-8 season, not making the playoffs and losing their beloved coach, and turning a perennial loser from respectable, to a legitimate title contender in 2011.
“I spent most of my time talking with Mr. Davis,” Jackson said last January. “What a man. My conversations with him led me there. Hopefully, things will work as planned and I think we’re capable of doing it.”
Per the Raiders site:
Prior to joining the Raiders, Jackson spent two seasons as Baltimore’s quarterbacks coach and helped the Ravens advance to the postseason in 2008 and 2009. In 2008, Jackson tutored Joe Flacco, who became the first rookie QB to win two playoff games in NFL history as the Ravens advanced to the AFC Championship game.
ANALYSIS
This was the only move Oakland could make. The team would have been under siege throughout the off-season if Jackson was not elevated. There are many unhappy campers after Cable’s departure, so the Raiders had to bring back a coach the players liked, respected and more importantly, was a key part of the resurgence in 2010.
Jackson has the daunting task of taking a team that finally broke a seven-year losing stretch with a .500 record, and transforming them into playoff contenders. After years of dreadful campaigns, Cable’s 8-8 effort was not good enough in Al Davis’ eyes. So Jackson better get into the playoffs in 2011 or, he’ll begin to feel the heat from the owner.
Davis was one of the key factors Jackson landed in Oakland in 2010. And there’s no denying that Davis will make the new coach jump through hoops. How Jackson handles that, keeps the team en route to the playoffs and elevates their play will be key factors in 2011.
The team went undefeated in the AFC West, something that won’t happen again. They got a career year out of Darren McFadden and solid development from their youth.
It will take way more than that to propel this team atop the division.
The continuity will help. Jason Campbell could only benefit from this. Maybe some of their key free-agents (i.e Michael Bush & Robert Gallery) will come back due to Jackson’s presence.
Jackson should be under the microscope. His play calling was not mesmerizing, nor his playbook amazed anyone. His handling of players, the owner and how he’ll navigate a team not used to winning are all major questions.
He’s not the ‘best’ man for the job, but he was the only man for the job. And like many Davis hires, he’s a first-timer, cheap and won’t demand the reigns of the organization. If he is a success, Davis can then claim he discovered him and that his career started in Silver & Black. A typical Raider hire.
Oh, and if he has to much success, enough to anger the owner, especially if Jackson steps on his toes, he’ll suffer the same fate many have before him.
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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist
