MasterRaider
‘What Happens In Vegas’ YouTube Show
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Current Oakland offensive coordinator John Shoop, who was elevated into that position for the final five games of the Raiders' 2006 season, has emerged as a strong in-house candidate to succeed Art Shell as the team's head coach.
Shoop, 37, joins defensive coordinator Rob Ryan as the current Oakland assistants with a chance to fill the vacancy, which was created when Art Shell was fired on Thursday after only one season. Shoop is said to be highly regarded by owner Al Davis.
One outside candidate who is expected to be interviewed this weekend is Southern California assistant Steve Sarkisian, who was on the Raiders' staff two weeks ago. League sources confirmed Saturday that Sarkisian was flying to the Bay Area for an interview.
Sarkisian certainly fits the mold of the kind of coaching candidate that Davis typically prefers -- a younger assistant, with impressive expertise on the offensive side, and well versed in the vertical passing game.
As usual with Davis, who tends to be very deliberate in the search process, there is no timetable for filling Shell's job. Davis characteristically interviews several candidates before making a choice, although some in the organization have insisted the past few days that the Raiders' owner is inclined this time around to not drag out the process.
The Raiders, who had a league-worst 2-14 record and who own the first overall selection in the draft, are one of five franchises with head coach vacancies.
Shoop is a 12-year NFL veteran who began the season as the Raiders' tight ends assistant. But with the offense miserable under Tom Walsh through nearly three months, Shoop took over as the coordinator for the final five contests. Shoop had previously been a coordinator with the Chicago Bears, 1999-2003.
Among his other stops in the league: Carolina (1995-98), Tampa Bay (2004) and Oakland (2005-2006).
Davis recently had Shoop huddle with another former Oakland assistant, longtime NFL offensive aide Marc Trestman, because of the latter's vertical passing game designs. It is believed that Trestman could be a candidate for the offensive coordinator post. The Raiders are expected to retain most of their defensive staff, although defensive backs coach Chuck Pagano will depart to accept the defensive coordinator job at North Carolina State.
Shoop, 37, joins defensive coordinator Rob Ryan as the current Oakland assistants with a chance to fill the vacancy, which was created when Art Shell was fired on Thursday after only one season. Shoop is said to be highly regarded by owner Al Davis.
One outside candidate who is expected to be interviewed this weekend is Southern California assistant Steve Sarkisian, who was on the Raiders' staff two weeks ago. League sources confirmed Saturday that Sarkisian was flying to the Bay Area for an interview.
Sarkisian certainly fits the mold of the kind of coaching candidate that Davis typically prefers -- a younger assistant, with impressive expertise on the offensive side, and well versed in the vertical passing game.
As usual with Davis, who tends to be very deliberate in the search process, there is no timetable for filling Shell's job. Davis characteristically interviews several candidates before making a choice, although some in the organization have insisted the past few days that the Raiders' owner is inclined this time around to not drag out the process.
The Raiders, who had a league-worst 2-14 record and who own the first overall selection in the draft, are one of five franchises with head coach vacancies.
Shoop is a 12-year NFL veteran who began the season as the Raiders' tight ends assistant. But with the offense miserable under Tom Walsh through nearly three months, Shoop took over as the coordinator for the final five contests. Shoop had previously been a coordinator with the Chicago Bears, 1999-2003.
Among his other stops in the league: Carolina (1995-98), Tampa Bay (2004) and Oakland (2005-2006).
Davis recently had Shoop huddle with another former Oakland assistant, longtime NFL offensive aide Marc Trestman, because of the latter's vertical passing game designs. It is believed that Trestman could be a candidate for the offensive coordinator post. The Raiders are expected to retain most of their defensive staff, although defensive backs coach Chuck Pagano will depart to accept the defensive coordinator job at North Carolina State.
