Oakland Raiders: Jack Del Rio Expected To Be Top Dog in 2016
By Erik Lambert
The expectations for the Oakland Raiders this year are reaching a high point, and with nobody is that more true than their head coach Jack Del Rio.
He was hired to turn what had become a perennial loser for the past decade back into the contender the Silver and Black had been for so many years. Del Rio brought quite a list of accomplishments with him. After playing in the league for 10 years, he rose through the coaching ranks and after just six years became the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. They made the playoffs twice under his direction and even beat the favored Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in 2007. A good time later he ended up in Denver where he turned the Broncos defense into a powerhouse, helping them to reach the Super Bowl in 2013.
That success and prior experience was what drew the Raiders to him. Now the stage is set. The roster has been fortified with proven veteran talent around a dynamic young core. For some this presents a golden opportunity for him to claim a prestigious honor if he can lead them to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. That being NFL Coach of the Year.
Elliot Harrison of NFL Network wrote in his column of bold AFC predictions that he believes Del Rio is in perfect position to win the honor.
"“It would be easy to say the Raiders will make the postseason for the first time since 2002. But that doesn’t feel too bold. So how about Del Rio winning coaching’s highest honor? It might seem like a long shot — yet, if we are going to dump buckets of praise on Derek Carr and Khalil Mack, then shouldn’t the coach (and staff) with a hand in leading those guys also receive something more than a Pez dispenser? This just in: All teams have talent. Stellar coaching involves pulling the most out of that talent. You don’t get a winning nucleus without leadership on the headset.”"
That is the truth and Del Rio already showed a significant impact on the team. The previous three seasons the Raiders had finished 4-12, 4-12 and 3-13 respectively. His first year on the head set, Del Rio gets them to a 7-9 mark. A four-game improvement from the previous season. That is an excellent job of coaching, and it’s a big reason why the players are feeling so optimistic and confident about 2016.
Jack Del Rio won’t be focused on winning Coach of the Year of course. His mind is on a much bigger prize. It starts with getting the Oakland Raiders to the playoffs, but ultimately ends in Houston playing for a championship. At least that is the end game.