Oakland Raiders offensive coordinator Hue Jackson doesn’t have a
firm timetable for meeting with Raiders managing general partner Al
Davis about the team’s coaching vacancy, but he has been informed
that one is forthcoming.
ALAMEDA
Oakland Raiders offensive coordinator Hue Jackson doesn’t have a firm timetable for meeting with Raiders managing general partner Al Davis about the team’s coaching vacancy, but he has been informed that one is forthcoming.
Jackson interviewed with the 49ers for their head coach opening Wednesday morning, but he departed without an offer.
“Al Davis was happy for Hue to have the opportunity to interview for a head coaching position,” Raiders senior executive John Herrera said.
Jackson is believed to be in the running to replace Tom Cable, who was informed Tuesday night that the Raiders won’t pick up the two-year, $5 million option on his contract.
A person close to Jackson said that he is slated to meet with Davis in the coming days. The person said Davis wants Jackson to know that “he should be ready.”
Herrera said no meeting is scheduled with Jackson at this point, or with any other prospective candidate.
“We haven’t talked to anybody about the head coaching position,” Herrera said, “and we haven’t offered the job to anybody.”
Jackson was hired by Davis in late January last year and guided the Raiders offense to the sixth-most points—more than double the 197 scored in 2009 — and the 10th-most yards in the NFL.
In the process, Jackson caught the eye of general managers and owners around the league interested in an offensive-minded coach.
Mike Singletary was a defensive-minded coach who failed to make much progress with the 49ers offense during his tenure, notably with the quarterback position.
Jackson made a “strong impression” on the 49ers during his interview, according to an NFL.com report. His interviewing with the 49ers also satisfied the NFL’s Rooney Rule, which mandates that a minority candidate be interviewed before a new coach is hired.
Jackson interviewed for the 49ers offensive coordinator vacancy last year, before he was hired by the Raiders and the 49ers settled upon Jimmy Raye.
“It was a position I seriously did consider,” Jackson said in October. “It just didn’t go right at the time. Obviously, they went in a different direction. ” That was their call at the time. And that’s OK. I feel I’m where I’m supposed to be now, here with the Raiders getting this organization where it needs to be.”
On Wednesday, Raiders six-time Pro Bowl punter Shane Lechler said he isn’t sure what to expect if Jackson gets promoted to head coach.
“It’s kind of hard for me to say,” Lechler said in an interview with Sirius NFL Radio. “I don’t know Hue that well. He’s only been there one year. Yeah, we talk on a normal basis but ” who is prepared to walk in this organization right now? Can you find one person in the world ready to walk into this deal? It’s not your every-day deal.”
Lechler said that’s where Cable succeeded so well, understanding the unique dynamics of coaching for a team presided over by Davis.
“I understand what head coaches go through because I’ve been through so many of them,” said Lechler, who has played for six coaches in his 11 seasons with the Raiders. “He was able to keep Al’s angriness, I guess you would say, or decision-making, away from the team.
“That was a big reflection on Coach Cable being very much a professional in this whole deal; understanding how to isolate problems and only addressing the ones that seriously need to be addressed.”
Lechler said he phoned Davis on Tuesday night but didn’t get through. They last spoke on Christmas eve.
“He was bitter about the Jacksonville loss,” Lechler said. “I don’t know if he was using the conversation to vent a little bit or what. He was also checking on my leg, making sure everything was fine. But I visited with him then, we did not discuss (Cable) at all. So, this one has totally got me off-guard, man.”
In other news: the Raiders signed running back Louis Rankin, wide receivers Shaun Bodiford and Damola Adeniji, tight end Kevin Brock, fullback Manase Tonga, guards Alex Parsons and Roy Schuening, cornerback Joe Porter, defensive end Tommie Hill, linebacker Quentin Scott and punter Glenn Pakulak. Seven of those players spent time on the Raiders practice squad last season. Outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his three-sack effort against the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday. He led the Raiders with nine sacks this season.
— Story by Steve Corkran, Contra Costa TImes
