Only the Oakland Raiders could provoke speculation about who will be the interim head coach.
To paraphrase the immortal Allen Iverson: Not the real head coach, we talkin’ ‘bout the interim head coach.
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But Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, citing league sources, reported that Raiders owner Mark Davis has discussed the job status of both head coach Dennis Allen and general manager Reggie McKenzie both inside and outside the organization.
It has been assumed that if Allen was to be fired—presumably during Oakland’s bye week after they return stateside following Sunday’s game in London against the Miami Dolphins—former Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano, Oakland’s offensive line and assistant head coach, would be the guy to run the team for the remainder of the season.
However, according to La Canfora, there is building momentum to give the temporary post to offensive coordinator Greg Olson.
Olson has a history of working well with young quarterbacks and has bonded with rookie quarterback Derek Carr.
Few would be surprised if Davis were to fire Allen after the London game, particularly if Oakland falls to 0-4. Allen is trying to find a new stadium—in the Bay Area or elsewhere—and an 0-4 start with blowout losses is not the way to make a franchise look good to potential suitors.
Davis reportedly wants to evaluate coaches who he may want to retain as part of the next staff, which makes Olson a more attractive option than Sparano.
The 51-year-old Olson has never been a head coach at any level but is in his 12th season as an NFL coach, the last two as offensive coordinator for the Raiders.
He was the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2012, spent four seasons as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2008-11), was offensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams from 2006-07, ran the offense and coached the quarterbacks for the Detroit Lions in 2004-05 and was a quarterbacks coach for the Chicago Bears in 2003 and San Francisco 49ers in 2001.
Olson also has 12 seasons as an assistant coach at the collegiate level.
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