Trestman's bum rap
Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on Friday at 4:59 pm
No doubt there were a few groans out there when Marc Trestman's name came up, ostensibly for the role of offensive coordinator.
It's one of those maneuvers that is typical Al Davis, seeking a potential coordinator before a head coach is in place.
When Art Shell came aboard, Rob Ryan had just been signed to an extension and line coach Irv Eatman was newly added to the offensive staff.
So put aside any thoughts Davis has suddenly seen the light and will somehow "change'' because of a 15-49 record over the past four years. People in their 70s don't often change the way they go about things, or at least that's been my experience where my father is concerned.
As far as Trestman goes, Davis could do worse _ as evidenced by the 2006 season. He's a cerebral, technical coach who is highly thought of within the business even if his reputation in the Bay Area has suffered.
Trestman got ripped pretty good by the Bay Area media, and not all of it was fair.
Look at it this way _ Trestman was the play-caller and offenisve architect of a 1998 Arizona Cardinals team that won a playoff game and of a Raiders team that made it to the Super Bowl.
Yet in these parts, it seems all anyone wants to remember Trestman for is presiding over the 49ers when they slipped after their Super Bowl season of 1994 and being the offensive coordinator when the Raiders fell off the map, never to return, starting in 2003.
He was a convenient scapegoat in San Francisco. After beating San Diego in the Super Bowl, 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan was hired by the Denver Broncos. Coach George Seifert pulled a surprise when he selected Trestman, who had been out of football since 1991.
The 49ers went 11-5 and led the NFL in offense, a remarkable feat considering Ricky Watters had left in free agency and had been replaced by Derrick Loville, and that Steve Young played in 11 games, with Elvis Grbac getting considerable playing time for the first time in his career.
In the playoffs, Young threw a routine checkdown pass to fullback Adam Walker on the first play from scrimmage. Walker fumbled, the Packers eventually scored and went on to a 27-17 win. From the reaction afterward, you'd have thought Trestman had spent weeks devising this play and assuming it would turn the game in the 49ers favor.
In 1996, the 49ers were the No. 3 ranked offense in the NFL, this time with Terry Kirby, whose strength was as a receiver, as the lead runner. In two years under Trestman, Jerry Rice caught 230 passes for 3,102 yards and 23 touchdowns.
He was fired when George Seifert was pushed out in favor of Steve Mariucci, with Eddie DeBartolo saying, "He's gone'' with regard Trestman's status at a press conference.
On Vince Tobin's staff in Arizona, Trestman did solid work with Jake Plummer, with the Cardinals goingto the wild card round and beating Dallas 20-7 in 1998.
With the Raiders, Trestman was brought in at the request of Jon Gruden as an offensive coach without a title. The two were friends, had vacationed together, and Gruden simply wanted another voice to share ideas with.
When Gruden left, Trestman became offensive coordiantor. Instructed by coach Bill Callahan to open up the offense, the Raiders became a daring, innovative team, with Rich Gannon passing for 4,669 yards, 26 touchdowns and throwing for 300 yards in a game an NFL record 10 times.
Trestman helped make Charlie Garner one of the most dangerous players in the league, approaching 1,000 yards both rushing and receiving.
It ended badly, when the Raiders didn't age gracefully in 2003, had some key injuries, and fell off dramatically. Callahan quietly took the play-calling duties from Trestman, with the offense continuing to struggle and in fact getting worse.
If the Raiders hire a coach who does not serve as offensive coordinator and play-caller, Trestman could find himself with another chance.
Notes and rampant speculation:
– Not sure if the name Mike Tomlin will come up with the Raiders, but the Vikings defensive coordinator is a charasmatic leader. Spent about 20 minutes talking to Tomlin in an informal setting a few years back and came away absolutely certain he would be an NFL head coach one day.
Tomlin, just 35, will interview with Miami.
– Jim Mora is believed to be very interested in the Raiders job.
– Listed Mike Sherman as an available candidate based on his four 10-win seasons in Green Bay, but an e-mailer reminded me Warren Sapp might not be too thrilled to have Sherman as his coach.
Sherman and Sapp exchanged harsh words after Sapp leveled Chad Clifton with a legal block on an interception return in Green Bay.
– If Davis really wants to liven up the sideline, he'll add Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride to the staff and keep Rob Ryan around.
Ryan's father, Buddy, got into a sideline punchout with Gilbride with the Houston Oilers.
– Not a single vote for Ronald Curry for the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award. What a joke. Chad Pennington recovered from serious shoulder surgery which threatened his career and was a deserving winner.
But no one on the rest of the list would even conceive of tearing an Achilles' tendon twice within a year and returning to catch 62 passes for 727 yards.
That's what happens when you're 2-14.
– If Davis wants to revisit the 1990s Raider again, Terry Robiskie is available as offensive coordiantor. He was dismissed by the Cleveland Browns.
– Miami quarterbacks coach Jason Garrett, an extremely sharp offensive mind who was essentially a player/coach in the latter part of his career, is interviewing with Cleveland for the offensive coordinator's job. He's a Rich Gannon-type who might be worth a look.'
– Note to fans who are clamoring for the Raiders to pursue Bill Cowher _ he wants Mike Holmgren money. That's in the $8 million per season range. If Davis pays half that for a coach, it will be a major upset.
– The Raiders passed on the opportunity to coach at the Senior Bowl. The Bucs will coach the South, and the 49ers the North in the game on Jan. 27.
– Jerry Rice had this to say about the Raiders Friday on Sirius NFL Radio with co-host Tim Ryan: "This team, you just need to go in and clean house. Idon'tk now who they're going to bring in to be the next coach, but maybe Al Davis might just slide away just a little bit and let this guy coach and not be all over him and just watching his every move so he can get the job done.''
– Hard to believe Brady Quinn would be anyone's No. 1 pick after his performance in the Orange Bowl. Yes, LSU had the superior team, but at no point did Quinn look capable of elevating Notre Dame to LSU's level.
In the Fiesta Bowl, Boise State faced a greater talent disparity against Oklahoma than the Irish had against LSU, but that didn't stop Jared Zabransky from making big plays when his team needed them. Zabransky even recovered from an interception returned for a touchdown to lead his team on the winning drive.
That's not to suggest Zabransky is a top-pick material. It is suggesting Quinn is not.
– LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, assuming he comes out, deserves closer study.
