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Raiders insider: Shell defends his pick to coordinate offense
By Jim Jenkins -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, April 8, 2006
Of all the hires Art Shell has made in his return as coach of the Raiders, only one has raised some eyebrows - Tom Walsh as offensive coordinator.
Walsh last coached in the NFL when he was with the Raiders, beginning in 1982 under then-coach Tom Flores and ending as an offensive aide to Shell from 1989 to '94.
When Shell was fired by owner Al Davis following a 9-7 1994 campaign and an overall 54-38 mark, Walsh was sent packing too. He later resurfaced for an unsuccessful term as head coach of Idaho State in 1997 and 1998, and then as a minor-league professional coach in 1999.
What's puzzling about the hire is that Walsh, 56, was re-hired by the Raiders while operating a bed and breakfast ranch with his wife and serving as mayor of Swan Valley, Idaho, a community of a few hundred people.
With all due respect, that hardly sounds like apt preparation for someone who will be at the forefront of game-planning every week in the NFL and adjusting to the ever-increasing time demands on coaches.
Nevertheless, during last week's NFL meetings in Orlando, Fla., Shell was positive Walsh could get the job done.
"He hasn't been involved in the NFL, but he's been involved in football," said Shell of Walsh. "He's a great football mind. He's a smart guy. He knows what I want. He knows how I want to do things. He knows the system I like to run.
"We've been talking two or three years now about football. I told him, 'If I ever got back into this thing, I want you to come with me.'
"We've put together an outstanding staff; people who will teach, work together. The interaction of our staff has really been great so far - they're energetic. But having Tom back is a real plus to me. Because he knows me."
Walsh hasn't been available for comment since joining the staff, nothing new in the Raiders' world of limited access. In fact, the last time he was spotted was two months ago at the team's headquarters in Alameda, attending Shell's introductory news conference along with several other former coaches and players in the organization.
When Shell was fired in 1994 and went on to assistant jobs in Kansas City and Atlanta, he made references to former coaches disloyal to him in his first stint as Raiders coach. Indeed, even Davis has said he blames himself for listening to the wrong people.
One of the coaches who remained loyal to Shell? Walsh.
Rival admirer
If it means anything, San Diego coach Marty Schottenheimer, who once employed Shell as an offensive line coach with Kansas City, thinks the Raiders made a good choice bringing him back.
"The football part of it he understands completely," Schottenheimer said of Shell at the league meetings. "The dynamics of people, players' personalities now, he's been able to stay abreast of because of his (recent administrative position) in the league office. He has tremendous credibility in my view. I always thought he was a very good teacher."
Schottenheimer will get an early look at his former assistant. The Chargers and Raiders open the 2006 regular season Monday night, Sept. 11, in Oakland.
Good-guy image
Randy Moss has a reputation for being an outstanding athlete with a big ego. But, evidently, there's a soft side to the Raiders receiver as well.
Last week in Moss' hometown of Rand, W. Va., the receiver took 80 children on an all-expenses paid, charter-bus trip to Cleveland to watch an NBA game between the Cavaliers and Miami Heat.
The Raiders' public-relations department said Moss, who was unable to attend NBA games as a child, regularly involves himself in such functions to benefit youth groups without seeking publicity.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14240801p-15060463c.html
By Jim Jenkins -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, April 8, 2006
Of all the hires Art Shell has made in his return as coach of the Raiders, only one has raised some eyebrows - Tom Walsh as offensive coordinator.
Walsh last coached in the NFL when he was with the Raiders, beginning in 1982 under then-coach Tom Flores and ending as an offensive aide to Shell from 1989 to '94.
When Shell was fired by owner Al Davis following a 9-7 1994 campaign and an overall 54-38 mark, Walsh was sent packing too. He later resurfaced for an unsuccessful term as head coach of Idaho State in 1997 and 1998, and then as a minor-league professional coach in 1999.
What's puzzling about the hire is that Walsh, 56, was re-hired by the Raiders while operating a bed and breakfast ranch with his wife and serving as mayor of Swan Valley, Idaho, a community of a few hundred people.
With all due respect, that hardly sounds like apt preparation for someone who will be at the forefront of game-planning every week in the NFL and adjusting to the ever-increasing time demands on coaches.
Nevertheless, during last week's NFL meetings in Orlando, Fla., Shell was positive Walsh could get the job done.
"He hasn't been involved in the NFL, but he's been involved in football," said Shell of Walsh. "He's a great football mind. He's a smart guy. He knows what I want. He knows how I want to do things. He knows the system I like to run.
"We've been talking two or three years now about football. I told him, 'If I ever got back into this thing, I want you to come with me.'
"We've put together an outstanding staff; people who will teach, work together. The interaction of our staff has really been great so far - they're energetic. But having Tom back is a real plus to me. Because he knows me."
Walsh hasn't been available for comment since joining the staff, nothing new in the Raiders' world of limited access. In fact, the last time he was spotted was two months ago at the team's headquarters in Alameda, attending Shell's introductory news conference along with several other former coaches and players in the organization.
When Shell was fired in 1994 and went on to assistant jobs in Kansas City and Atlanta, he made references to former coaches disloyal to him in his first stint as Raiders coach. Indeed, even Davis has said he blames himself for listening to the wrong people.
One of the coaches who remained loyal to Shell? Walsh.
Rival admirer
If it means anything, San Diego coach Marty Schottenheimer, who once employed Shell as an offensive line coach with Kansas City, thinks the Raiders made a good choice bringing him back.
"The football part of it he understands completely," Schottenheimer said of Shell at the league meetings. "The dynamics of people, players' personalities now, he's been able to stay abreast of because of his (recent administrative position) in the league office. He has tremendous credibility in my view. I always thought he was a very good teacher."
Schottenheimer will get an early look at his former assistant. The Chargers and Raiders open the 2006 regular season Monday night, Sept. 11, in Oakland.
Good-guy image
Randy Moss has a reputation for being an outstanding athlete with a big ego. But, evidently, there's a soft side to the Raiders receiver as well.
Last week in Moss' hometown of Rand, W. Va., the receiver took 80 children on an all-expenses paid, charter-bus trip to Cleveland to watch an NBA game between the Cavaliers and Miami Heat.
The Raiders' public-relations department said Moss, who was unable to attend NBA games as a child, regularly involves himself in such functions to benefit youth groups without seeking publicity.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14240801p-15060463c.html