Raiders Close to Hiring Dennis Allen

Added on Jan 24, 2012 by Scott in

NFL

It appears the Oakland Raiders have found their new head coach. Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has emerged as the frontrunner and could be introduced within days. Allen spent the 2011 season running Denver’s 24th ranked defense. If hired, Allen will replace Hue Jackson who was fired two weeks ago by new general manager Reggie McKenzie.

The Raiders also interviewed Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, Bears offensive coordinator Mike Tice and Denver offensive coordinator Mike McCoy. If reports are accurate, all three have been removed from consideration, leaving Allen as the leading candidate to land the job.

The 39-year-old Allen has been an NFL assistant since 2002. After three years in Atlanta, he moved to New Orleans in 2006 as an assistant defensive line coach before being promoted to run the secondary in 2008. His 2009 Super Bowl-winning secondary recorded 20 interceptions, led by Pro Bowl safeties Darren Sharper and Roman Harper.

Should Allen be tabbed, it would mark a shift in strategy in the post Al Davis era. The team has leaned exclusively toward offensive coaches since John Madden retired in 1978, including the likes of Tom Flores, Mike Shanahan, Jon Gruden and Lane Kiffin.

McKenzie is hoping to stabilize an organization that has been in utter disarray since their last Super Bowl appearance in 2002. Six head coaches have manned the sidelines during the last nine seasons, none of which resulted in a winning record or playoff berth.

The inability to find a franchise quarterback has also hampered their success. Journeyman Kerry Collins, washed-up Daunte Culpepper and a pair of first-round busts, JaMarcus Russell and Jason Campbell, have failed to generate consistency or wins. An attempt to remedy the situation cost the team first- and second-round picks to acquire ex-Bengal Carson Palmer in October, but whether or not it pays dividends remains to be seen.

Oakland is rich in talent on both sides of the ball, but nagging injuries and a complete lack of discipline have plagued them in recent years.

Source: ESPN.com