It had been previously reported that the favorite for the Oakland Raiders Head Coaching job was Jack Del Rio
. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on the Oakland Raiders’ head coaching search:
“For the Oakland Raiders, they are looking for someone to finally put them in the win category, someone to help them build maybe without all of the resources that some of the other NFL teams have.”
“Plus, Jack Del Rio grew up a Raiders fan; his parents actually had season tickets for the Oakland Raiders. They’ve interviewed some let’s just say interesting candidates; Pat Shurmur, Eric Mangini. Tony Sparano is going to get a chance as well”
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MyTopSportsbooks.com as lists Shurmur now as the favorite for the Oakland Raiders job, followed by Bowles and Marrone. Take a look:
Pat Shurmur (Philadelphia OC): 3/1
Todd Bowles (Arizona DC): 3/1
Jack Del Rio (Denver OC): 5/1
Shurmur’s résumé includes 26 years of coaching experience, including 15 in the NFL. In those 15 seasons, he has been a part of eight playoff teams, winning six division crowns and appearing in the Super Bowl. However, he bombed out as the leader of the Cleveland Browns; going just 9-23 in 2011-12, finishing last in both seasons that he was the head coach of the Brownies.
However, the Ann Arbor native and Michigan State alum (co-captain of the team that beat USC in the 1988 Rose Bowl) had found a lot of success as an offensive coordinator. He is currently in his second stint holding down that gig with the Philadelphia Eagles.
No doubt he’s riding the coattails of Chip Kelly; the true genius (at least offensively) at work in Philly. Still look how Nick Foles developed. Look at how Mark Sanchez didn’t look atrocious for once. Credit Shurmur. He did similar good work during his first Eagles tenure. Donovan McNabb had some of his best years under Shurmur’s tutelage. Likewise with Sam Bradford in St. Louis.
You’ve seen Bradford regress since. These are all reasons why Shurmur is hot again; and the Oakland Raiders are after him.
He’s a fine coordinator. But as a head coach? I just don’t see it.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net ,which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his feature stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on KOZN 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks). His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN 2