The Oakland Raiders have officially announced the retaining of Al Saunders on the coaching staff on Wednesday.
Al Saunders, last year's offensive coordinator, has been retained by new Raiders head coach Dennis Allen
Saunders served as the Raiders offensive coordinator last season under former head coach Hue Jackson, but was believed to be let go when new Raiders head coach Dennis Allen hired Greg Knapp to be his offensive coordinator. Instead of being let go, Allen decided to keep him on the staff as a senior offensive assistant. Saunders’ contract runs through 2013.
Keeping Suanders keeps some continuity in the offense, although it will likely see change with Knapp implementing his own offense. Saunders also brings a veteran presence to a coaching staff that is largely young and inexperienced.
Saunders has been a part of 15 playoff teams, five divisional titles and one Super Bowl championship during his 29-year career as an NFL coach. Saunders also holds 11 years of collegiate coaching experience in addition to his NFL coaching experience, giving him over 40 years of coaching history in all.
Saunders is known for being a protege under Don Coryell, the founder of the “Air Coryell” offense. The “Air Corryell” offense is described as a vertical passing game that involves timing, rhythm and lots of motion prior to the snap of the ball.
Saunders helped guide Oakland’s offense to 9th in the NFL in total offense last season with 379.5 yards per game.
In other news about the Raiders, Oakland has reportedly hired John DiFilippo as their quarterbacks coach. DiFilippo previously worked for the Raiders under Knapp from 2007-2008.
Allen has also reportedly hired Ted Gilmore as his wide receivers coach, the same position he held at University of Southern California last season under former Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin.
It appears that Ole Miss secondary coach Keith Burns has been added to Allen’s staff, possibly for the same position, according to footballscoop.com
ESPN is also reporting that Kansas City Chiefs assistant Tim Krumrie is a candidate to be Oakland’s defensive line coach.
