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Kiffin meets the Boss
By Tim Kawakami
Mercury News Sports Columnist
http://www.mercurynews.com/sportsheadlines/ci_7908221?nclick_check=1
Article Launched: 01/07/2008 10:24:38 PM PST
Eight days into 2008, Lane Kiffin probably feels like he has aged eight decades since Dec. 31, which is about normal for a Raiders coach.
In the best-case scenario for Kiffin's Raiders coaching career, it looks like he'll enter his second season stuck with a defensive coordinator he tried to fire and a quarterback he never really wanted.
That ought to be tons of fun.
Kiffin is still working for Al Davis, who predictably overruled Kiffin on both counts and probably spent the past few days daring Kiffin to do something about it. (Do you like Hawaii, Lane? There's a job there.)
In the worst-case scenario . . . hey, it's odd: Kiffin's best- and worst-case Raiders scenarios for 2008 are exactly the same.
Kiffin apparently is trapped with Rob Ryan, a talented guy who has his own, non-Lane way of doing things and who, rare among defensive coordinators, has earned Davis' long-term faith.
Kiffin is also stuck with JaMarcus Russell, a supremely talented quarterback who will never run Kiffin's kind of controlled passing game.
Plus, Kiffin can't run to any other NFL job without Davis demanding compensation. Meanwhile, there aren't any more good college jobs to take, unless Kiffin craves Oahu-style loco moco for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
So he's basically trapped. Kiffin probably should've known that a year ago, when 816 better-qualified candidates declined to consider working under Davis. But now Kiffin really knows it.
Maybe Kiffin thought he had earned some political power after reorganizing the locker room and getting the offense back to a middling level. Yes, he did those things. He proved he was better than Norv Turner and Art Shell, and that's why Al is fine with keeping Kiffin around for a while longer.
But Kiffin went 4-12, which is far from the 8-8 rookie record that got Jon Gruden the benefit of Al's doubt.
Though he kept the players' respect, Kiffin has irritated just about everybody else in the building either because he's a naturally brusque operator or because he thinks everybody in there is secretly back-stabbing him, up to and including Mr. D.
Both things are probably true.
So, after getting rebuffed on Ryan, it seems like Kiffin's trying his own spin. It's worth a try. He has ruminated that he might be bolting for unknown parts and - who could imagine it? - NBC's Peter King got that tip in time for Saturday night's broadcast.
Then, shockingly, CBS insider Charlie Casserly said he has heard that Kiffin has only one guaranteed year left on his contract. Subliminal CBS hint: Maybe Davis needs to give Kiffin an extension.
But wait: Davis always signs his coaches to two-year deals and Davis keeps multiple team options, so his coaches are tied to him for longer than he is tied to them.
I've been told that Kiffin's deal is no different - he is signed through 2008, then Al has some team options after that. I've heard that there will be zero extension talk or bowing to Kiffin pressure.
Which leads to the current stalemate. Kiffin's a pretty hardheaded guy and obviously took the job ready to butt noggins.
You might figure Davis' safest path is to fire Kiffin and promote either Ryan (unlikely, since Davis likes offensive guys for head coach) or offensive coordinator Greg Knapp to the big job.
But last January Al had to come up with almost several million bucks to get rid of Shell and Tom Walsh after one year, so Al is in no mood to gobble up another $1 million or more.
Of course, Davis never sobs over coaches. He let Gruden go for massive compensation, moved Tom Flores out, let John Madden retire. Coaches come and go, The Al always stays, and he's the one who gathers the talent that he is quite sure should go 13-3 every season - even last season.
This has been brewing for a while, but the flash point is Ryan. Davis isn't going to let Ryan go for nothing. That led to the blistering statement from public relations man Mike Taylor on Friday.
Davis, I'm told, is open to the possibility of letting Ryan go for compensation, but no team is going to give up draft choices or cash for a defensive coordinator. In addition, Davis really likes Ryan, who is probably the best defensive coordinator possible under Al. Ryan can handle Al's meddling, is loved by his players, and is more than capable of running a tough four-man line scheme with man-to-man principles and very little blitzing.
Kiffin wants to change up to a zone-look Cover 2 style? Al doesn't. That's what matters. Still.
Kiffin was the 817th choice last year. He did OK as the Raiders' coach. If he leaves, Al will sigh for a moment, then phone Candidate No. 818 and give it another rip for 2008.
By Tim Kawakami
Mercury News Sports Columnist
http://www.mercurynews.com/sportsheadlines/ci_7908221?nclick_check=1
Article Launched: 01/07/2008 10:24:38 PM PST
Eight days into 2008, Lane Kiffin probably feels like he has aged eight decades since Dec. 31, which is about normal for a Raiders coach.
In the best-case scenario for Kiffin's Raiders coaching career, it looks like he'll enter his second season stuck with a defensive coordinator he tried to fire and a quarterback he never really wanted.
That ought to be tons of fun.
Kiffin is still working for Al Davis, who predictably overruled Kiffin on both counts and probably spent the past few days daring Kiffin to do something about it. (Do you like Hawaii, Lane? There's a job there.)
In the worst-case scenario . . . hey, it's odd: Kiffin's best- and worst-case Raiders scenarios for 2008 are exactly the same.
Kiffin apparently is trapped with Rob Ryan, a talented guy who has his own, non-Lane way of doing things and who, rare among defensive coordinators, has earned Davis' long-term faith.
Kiffin is also stuck with JaMarcus Russell, a supremely talented quarterback who will never run Kiffin's kind of controlled passing game.
Plus, Kiffin can't run to any other NFL job without Davis demanding compensation. Meanwhile, there aren't any more good college jobs to take, unless Kiffin craves Oahu-style loco moco for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
So he's basically trapped. Kiffin probably should've known that a year ago, when 816 better-qualified candidates declined to consider working under Davis. But now Kiffin really knows it.
Maybe Kiffin thought he had earned some political power after reorganizing the locker room and getting the offense back to a middling level. Yes, he did those things. He proved he was better than Norv Turner and Art Shell, and that's why Al is fine with keeping Kiffin around for a while longer.
But Kiffin went 4-12, which is far from the 8-8 rookie record that got Jon Gruden the benefit of Al's doubt.
Though he kept the players' respect, Kiffin has irritated just about everybody else in the building either because he's a naturally brusque operator or because he thinks everybody in there is secretly back-stabbing him, up to and including Mr. D.
Both things are probably true.
So, after getting rebuffed on Ryan, it seems like Kiffin's trying his own spin. It's worth a try. He has ruminated that he might be bolting for unknown parts and - who could imagine it? - NBC's Peter King got that tip in time for Saturday night's broadcast.
Then, shockingly, CBS insider Charlie Casserly said he has heard that Kiffin has only one guaranteed year left on his contract. Subliminal CBS hint: Maybe Davis needs to give Kiffin an extension.
But wait: Davis always signs his coaches to two-year deals and Davis keeps multiple team options, so his coaches are tied to him for longer than he is tied to them.
I've been told that Kiffin's deal is no different - he is signed through 2008, then Al has some team options after that. I've heard that there will be zero extension talk or bowing to Kiffin pressure.
Which leads to the current stalemate. Kiffin's a pretty hardheaded guy and obviously took the job ready to butt noggins.
You might figure Davis' safest path is to fire Kiffin and promote either Ryan (unlikely, since Davis likes offensive guys for head coach) or offensive coordinator Greg Knapp to the big job.
But last January Al had to come up with almost several million bucks to get rid of Shell and Tom Walsh after one year, so Al is in no mood to gobble up another $1 million or more.
Of course, Davis never sobs over coaches. He let Gruden go for massive compensation, moved Tom Flores out, let John Madden retire. Coaches come and go, The Al always stays, and he's the one who gathers the talent that he is quite sure should go 13-3 every season - even last season.
This has been brewing for a while, but the flash point is Ryan. Davis isn't going to let Ryan go for nothing. That led to the blistering statement from public relations man Mike Taylor on Friday.
Davis, I'm told, is open to the possibility of letting Ryan go for compensation, but no team is going to give up draft choices or cash for a defensive coordinator. In addition, Davis really likes Ryan, who is probably the best defensive coordinator possible under Al. Ryan can handle Al's meddling, is loved by his players, and is more than capable of running a tough four-man line scheme with man-to-man principles and very little blitzing.
Kiffin wants to change up to a zone-look Cover 2 style? Al doesn't. That's what matters. Still.
Kiffin was the 817th choice last year. He did OK as the Raiders' coach. If he leaves, Al will sigh for a moment, then phone Candidate No. 818 and give it another rip for 2008.
