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http://www.ibabuzz.com/raidersblog/2006/11/28/a-five-game-audition/
A five-game audition
Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on November 28th, 2006
John Shoop got in some face time with the boss not long after Norv Turner was fired.
Wore a suit, went into the office of Al Davis and got the full-on Al interview. He then made the mistake of going to the Senior Bowl with other Raiders coaches and told a reporter from Chicago about it.
Only Davis knows if he was interviewing Shoop for the position of head coach, but Shoop thought that’s what was happening.
Shoop, Oakland’s quarterbacks coach at the time, didn’t get the job, and it probably had to do more with his lack of experience than talking to the media.
When Art Shell was hired, Shoop almost didn’t make the staff. He was eventually assigned to tight ends, while Jim McElwain, a college coach with no pro experience, was named quarterbacks coach.
Chances are Shoop will be spending some more quality time with Davis, having been named the Raiders offensive coordinator Tuesday. If Shoop is smart, he’ll listen to what makes sense, discard what doesn’ and as much as possible forge his own identity.
As much as Davis loves to “dominate,'’ he encourages debate. And Shoop will be better off in the long run if he stands his ground for things he truly believes in. Even if things don’t work out in Oakland, word will get out and it will help his credibility elsewhere.
The concern about Shoop having been in charge of an ultra-conservative passing system with the Bears _ they still gripe in Chicago about 5-yard passes on third-and-15 _ probably isn’t worth the worry.
Eleven games into a season, a system is in place. Shoop will choose from the menu at this point, mixing and matching with what fits with his own belief system. He’s coached the short game at Chicago and with Jon Gruden in Tampa Bay. He learned the Ernie Zampese system with Norv Turner last year.
With the Raiders at their low point, this is Shoop’s big chance. It is virtually impossible for the offense to be worse, and if he can make this disjointed unit look organized in a matter of a few weeks, he may get another shot next year.
Otherwise, Davis and Shell should be on the prowl for dynamic young mind who thinks vertically or a proven commodity like Norm Chow, should Tennessee decide to clean house.
Some other thoughts regarding Tuesday’s move:
– If Andrew Walter had remained the quarterback, getting sacked every other down, you wonder if Shell would have ever made the change. Shell no doubt felt guilty about the poor pass protection, figuring the offenisve failings had as much to do with him as with Walsh.
Then Aaron Brooks returned, started sidestepping the rush, and kept the Raiders in a couple of tight AFC West games where the offense showed a little life. But the scoring still wasn’t there, not to mention the clock and game management issues.
– Randy Moss wasn’t there either. Even buying him self time to throw, Brooks still isn’t finding Moss, and the coordinator is responsible for getting the ball into the hands of his best players.
– Shoop is a practice dynamo, extremely vocal and agitated. Frankly, the guy’s eyes are scary sometimes. He could provide a nice counterpoint to the serene Shell.
– You wonder if the decision to make the change happened in the final two series’ against San Diego. The Raiders were out of timeouts early (an officials’ challenge cost them one) and then were so disorganized they couldn’t managed to line up on a crucial third-and-18 while down 21-14 without getting a delay of game penalty.
– There was talk weeks ago of Shoop getting involved with the play-callling, and Shell brushed it off as an unfounded rumor. Media members, who are able to watch practice until team drills start, have been watching closely for the past few weeks to see if Shoop had begun working with quarterbacks in individual drills.
Nope. He’s been working with the tight ends. Which of course doesn’t preclude the possibility he has been doing more in meeting rooms and during the closed portion of practice.
– There’s an interesting dynamic at work that Shell might not be entirely comfortable with. Shoop is ambitious enough to have made a run at the head coaching job. Now he has some control over the offense.
Shell wasn’t comfortable enough to make Shoop his quarterbacks coach, but now he’s the coordinator. Shell was pushed out of his office the last time when Mike White and others advised Davis to make a switch _ with White getting the job.
Shell will protect his back this time.
– Putting Shoop in charge of the offense sends a message to the defense that their frustrations are heard and acted upon. Considering the quality of play on that side of the ball, they deserve at least that.
A five-game audition
Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on November 28th, 2006
John Shoop got in some face time with the boss not long after Norv Turner was fired.
Wore a suit, went into the office of Al Davis and got the full-on Al interview. He then made the mistake of going to the Senior Bowl with other Raiders coaches and told a reporter from Chicago about it.
Only Davis knows if he was interviewing Shoop for the position of head coach, but Shoop thought that’s what was happening.
Shoop, Oakland’s quarterbacks coach at the time, didn’t get the job, and it probably had to do more with his lack of experience than talking to the media.
When Art Shell was hired, Shoop almost didn’t make the staff. He was eventually assigned to tight ends, while Jim McElwain, a college coach with no pro experience, was named quarterbacks coach.
Chances are Shoop will be spending some more quality time with Davis, having been named the Raiders offensive coordinator Tuesday. If Shoop is smart, he’ll listen to what makes sense, discard what doesn’ and as much as possible forge his own identity.
As much as Davis loves to “dominate,'’ he encourages debate. And Shoop will be better off in the long run if he stands his ground for things he truly believes in. Even if things don’t work out in Oakland, word will get out and it will help his credibility elsewhere.
The concern about Shoop having been in charge of an ultra-conservative passing system with the Bears _ they still gripe in Chicago about 5-yard passes on third-and-15 _ probably isn’t worth the worry.
Eleven games into a season, a system is in place. Shoop will choose from the menu at this point, mixing and matching with what fits with his own belief system. He’s coached the short game at Chicago and with Jon Gruden in Tampa Bay. He learned the Ernie Zampese system with Norv Turner last year.
With the Raiders at their low point, this is Shoop’s big chance. It is virtually impossible for the offense to be worse, and if he can make this disjointed unit look organized in a matter of a few weeks, he may get another shot next year.
Otherwise, Davis and Shell should be on the prowl for dynamic young mind who thinks vertically or a proven commodity like Norm Chow, should Tennessee decide to clean house.
Some other thoughts regarding Tuesday’s move:
– If Andrew Walter had remained the quarterback, getting sacked every other down, you wonder if Shell would have ever made the change. Shell no doubt felt guilty about the poor pass protection, figuring the offenisve failings had as much to do with him as with Walsh.
Then Aaron Brooks returned, started sidestepping the rush, and kept the Raiders in a couple of tight AFC West games where the offense showed a little life. But the scoring still wasn’t there, not to mention the clock and game management issues.
– Randy Moss wasn’t there either. Even buying him self time to throw, Brooks still isn’t finding Moss, and the coordinator is responsible for getting the ball into the hands of his best players.
– Shoop is a practice dynamo, extremely vocal and agitated. Frankly, the guy’s eyes are scary sometimes. He could provide a nice counterpoint to the serene Shell.
– You wonder if the decision to make the change happened in the final two series’ against San Diego. The Raiders were out of timeouts early (an officials’ challenge cost them one) and then were so disorganized they couldn’t managed to line up on a crucial third-and-18 while down 21-14 without getting a delay of game penalty.
– There was talk weeks ago of Shoop getting involved with the play-callling, and Shell brushed it off as an unfounded rumor. Media members, who are able to watch practice until team drills start, have been watching closely for the past few weeks to see if Shoop had begun working with quarterbacks in individual drills.
Nope. He’s been working with the tight ends. Which of course doesn’t preclude the possibility he has been doing more in meeting rooms and during the closed portion of practice.
– There’s an interesting dynamic at work that Shell might not be entirely comfortable with. Shoop is ambitious enough to have made a run at the head coaching job. Now he has some control over the offense.
Shell wasn’t comfortable enough to make Shoop his quarterbacks coach, but now he’s the coordinator. Shell was pushed out of his office the last time when Mike White and others advised Davis to make a switch _ with White getting the job.
Shell will protect his back this time.
– Putting Shoop in charge of the offense sends a message to the defense that their frustrations are heard and acted upon. Considering the quality of play on that side of the ball, they deserve at least that.
