Filling out the coaching staff under Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce is extremely important, and perhaps no position on that staff is more important than the offensive coordinator spot. For a defensive-minded, first-time head coach, the offensive coordinator will basically have full control of the offense and thus, must be someone who can handle that responsibility and call plays.
Because of this many are expecting the Raiders to look towards someone with previous experience, and ideally someone who has called plays in the past. It is why former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury was floated out as a possibility, but now there is another former NFL head coach who may be in the running as well.
Former Philadelphia Eagles and current UCLA head coach Chip Kelly is reportedly looking to get back in the NFL, and according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, he may be targeting the Raiders’ offensive coordinator spot as the way to do it:
There’s one team he might specifically be targeting — the Raiders. That’s the word percolating out of Mobile, Alabama, where plenty of NFL folks are gathered for Senior Bowl practices.
With Antonio Pierce taking over as head coach, the Raiders will need a good offensive coach. It’s not known, however, whether Pierce would be interested in adding Kelly to his staff.
Kelly would certainly check the boxes the Raiders want in an offensive coordinator under Pierce. He is experienced, can call plays, and has had success at both the NFL and college levels. Although most of his success has come in college, he is perhaps more suited to be a coordinator at the NFL level, as is the case for many coaches.
As Florio noted, however, it remains unknown whether Kelly is someone Pierce would be interested in bringing in. Obviously, whoever runs the offense will have to gel with the head coach, so that will obviously be a factor.
The Raiders have the type of talent at the skill positions that would intrigue many looking for an offensive coordinator job, and maybe that is what is leading Chip Kelly to push for this position.
LSU’s Jayden Daniels the answer to Raiders’ quarterback problems?
The main area the Raiders are lacking on offense however, is the most important position. The team still does not have a franchise quarterback, but this draft is loaded at the position, and some feel LSU’s Jayden Daniels would be perfect for the franchise.
ESPN’s Robert Griffin III recently spoke on his talent and feels that the Raiders would be a playoff team immediately with Daniels under center. He is also familiar with Pierce, who recruited him while a member of the staff at Arizona State, where his college career started. Even Raiders star receiver Davante Adams is a fan.
Daniels won the Heisman Trophy this year at LSU after throwing for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns with just four interceptions while adding another 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
