Walsh out, Shoop in
Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on November 28th, 2006
Sources inside and outside the Raiders organization have confirmed that John Shoop has replaced Tom Walsh as offensive coordinator of the Oakland Raiders.
It is not known whether the call was made by coach Art Shell or owner Al Davis, but the a source said Walsh would be re-assigned and that Shell would address the matter Wednesday following practice.
The Raiders are 11 games into the worst offensive season of the Al Davis era, ranked No. 32 in the NFL with 239.8 yards per game and are also last in scoring at 12 points per game.
Walsh was a controversial choice as coordinator from the outset. He hadn’t coached in the NFL since 1994 and most recently was working as the owner of a bed and breakfast inn in Swan Valley, Idaho, where he also served as mayor.
Shell, however, had kept in contact with Walsh when both were relieved from the Raiders staff in 1994. He promised Walsh if he ever got back into coaching, that Walsh would run his offense.
Shell continued to defend Walsh all season even as the Raiders offense struggled. When backup quarterback Andrew Walter complained after a loss to Denver about the limited options of the playbook and the lack of quick-release passing plays, Shell rebuked Walter and defended Walsh.
Running back LaMont Jordan, out for the season with a torn MCL, said a few weeks ago the Raiders went into a game with three running plays.
Shoop, 36, was the offensive coordinator the Chicago Bears from 2001-03, where he was criticized for a short-passing offense that was too conservative. He was in command, however when the Bears won the NFC Central Division title with a 13-3 record.
The following season, however, Shoop had inspired a fans Web site in his honor called firejohnshoop.com. He spent 2004 working under Jon Gruden as quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Bucs before joining the Raiders.
Shoop interviewed with Davis after coach Norv Turner was fired following the 2005 season, ostensibly for the head coaching position. When Shell was hired, a club source said Shoop was almost not re-hired. When he was retained, he moved from quarterbacks to tight ends.
