Having been introduced as the Raiders’ new head coach earlier today, Jon Gruden says that interviews for assistant coaches will begin on Wednesday morning, according to Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal (Twitter link). Gruden, who already has three coordinators in place, kept certain NFL coaches on “red alert” in regards to when he’d re-enter the league, per Gehlken. Oakland has agreed to terms with Greg Olson (offensive coordinator), Paul Guenther (defensive coordinator), and Rich Bisaccia (special teams coordinator) to join Gruden’s initial staff.
Here’s more from the Bay Area, with a focus on other coaches that Gruden could soon lure to Oakland:
- Former Bengals staffer David Lippincott will follow Guenther and join the Raiders as the club’s next linebackers coach, per Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirier and Alex Marvez of the Sporting News (Twitter links). Lippincott had worked for the Bengals for a decade, beginning as a quality control coach before becoming Cincinnati’s assistant linebackers coach/quality control. He’ll offer familiarity with Guenther’s scheme, and attempt to renovate a unit that was arguably among the league’s worst in 2017.
- Virginia State head coach Reggie Barlow is being considered for the Raiders’ wide receivers coach job, tweets Marvez. Barlow, 45, spent three seasons playing under Gruden, both with Oakland and Tampa Bay. Primarily a return man during his playing career, Barlow also served as the head coach at Alabama State from 2007-14. All told, Barlow has posted an impressive 68-45 during his collegiate career, including a 10-1 mark last season. He interviewed for the Browns’ wide receivers coach job in 2015.
- Raiders cornerback Sean Smith was officially arraigned on felony assault and battery charges related to a July 4 incident, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Smith, 30, almost certainly won’t be a member of Oakland’s roster next year, and the assault allegations are only part of the story. Smith graded as the No. 73 cornerback among 121 qualifiers (per Pro Football Focus), and is due $8.5MM in 2017. The Raiders can clear that entire total from their books by cutting ties with Smith in the coming months.
Sean Smith is gone no question
Gruden is overrated. He’ll be gone in 4 years
no he won’t not with his close ties with mr. Davis
He has a ten year deal. They are going to eat 5 years of it? No way
What if in 4 years he never has a .500 season or better?
Jeff Fisher coached for 22 seasons and only had a record better than .500 in 6 of them. If Jeff Fisher can find a way, I’m sure John Gruden can considering Mark Davis loves him.
Are the 10 years guaranteed years?
I highly doubt it’s all guaranteed.
10-4=6
“One Fan” must be in the Browns analytics department, or suffers from a major case of CTE. Poor fella…
4 years and say they only make the post season once? Even you’ll be calling for his firing
10 yrs minus 4 yrs equals 5 yrs? OK
It depends on the money and how much is guaranteed. Plus how much is back loaded until they get to Las Vegas. I heard a lot was back loaded because there is no state income tax on Vegas. They are also paying Jack. Davis can’t afford to pay two coaches a ton of money so if a bunch of this money is guaranteed he will have to keep him.