Raiders Pluck From Broncos For Next Head Coach

by Joel Thorman on Jan 25, 2012 8:01 AM CST

We said a few weeks ago that it was a rare moment of continuity in the AFC West as three of the four teams weren't changing their head coach and the Kansas City Chiefs were simply promoting Romeo Crennel.

And then the Oakland Raiders had to go out and fire head coach Hue Jackson. New GM Reggie McKenzie has been on the market for a new coach and despite reports that he was likely to hire someone from Green Bay (where he came from), he has selected Dennis Allen as the Raiders new head coach.

Allen, 39, comes from Denver where he was most recently the Broncos defensive coordinator. He was with the Saints for five years before that as secondary coach and assistant defensive line. And from 2002-05 he was the Falcons assistant defensive line/quality control coach.

39 is pretty young for an NFL head coach. Allen's experience resides mostly on the defensive side of the ball so it'll be interesting to see how the offensive staff is constructed. (There's a great coordinator out there named Hue Jackson the Raiders should look at. A real go-getter.)

So the AFC West head coaches are set -- Romeo Crennel, Norv Turner, John Fox and Dennis Allen. Now's time for the most important question: Who are you taking in a fight? I got Romeo all day, without question.

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Romeo is the man

I will take romeo any day of the week over all of these choices.the afc west will be a shootout next season.

by chiefsfool on Jan 25, 2012 8:09 AM CST reply actions

Fox is good.

He’s not in the best situation in Denver, but he’s made most of it. So far.

"Be an analyst. Don’t be a douchebag." - Terrell Suggs to Skip Bayless

by Tarkus on Jan 25, 2012 10:24 AM CST up reply actions

Thats cool

It’s nice to see guys get opportunities. Oakland should now be a better HC gig with Al gone.

How long should you try? Until.
- Jim Rohn

by Matt_Grbac on Jan 25, 2012 8:19 AM CST via mobile reply actions

it's on ... the rivalries should be fun in 2012

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by upamtn on Jan 25, 2012 9:50 AM CST up reply actions

I have no idea how I feel about this hire

I couldn’t tell you three things not featured above about Dennis Allen. But he immediately becomes the 3rd best coach in the division ahead of Norv, that I do know.

by Steve_in_RI on Jan 25, 2012 8:20 AM CST reply actions

One thing I might not like about it is

It may pave the way for Del Rio and Fox to reunite.

"Give them nothing! But take from them everything!"

by GenericBrand on Jan 25, 2012 8:23 AM CST up reply actions

I'd take Romeo as my coach anyday

As much as his game management is iffy at least it didn’t lose his team a Super Bowl like Fox’s did. But only in Oakland can a guy who’s been a DC for one year, improving his(and John Fox’s) defense from 30th to the mid 20s, be a candidate for a HC. If I were the going for a boom or bust coach with little experience I probably would’ve gone with Bowles but good luck to the Raiders.

"Give them nothing! But take from them everything!"

by GenericBrand on Jan 25, 2012 8:21 AM CST reply actions

plus, he can beat up Allen

by upamtn on Jan 25, 2012 9:51 AM CST up reply actions

That's because he's never gotten there.

didn’t lose his team a Super Bowl like Fox’s did.

"Be an analyst. Don’t be a douchebag." - Terrell Suggs to Skip Bayless

by Tarkus on Jan 25, 2012 10:26 AM CST up reply actions

I like to think he wouldn't chase points in the 3rd quarter and cost his team a Championship trophy.

Its the optimist in me.

"Give them nothing! But take from them everything!"

by GenericBrand on Jan 25, 2012 12:57 PM CST up reply actions

I know one thing

I’m tired of hearing other teams hires.

If Romeo hires some second rate retreads after taking this long I’m gonna be pissed! He better be bringing in top notch coaches and coordinators.

How long should you try? Until.
- Jim Rohn

by Matt_Grbac on Jan 25, 2012 8:26 AM CST via mobile reply actions

If we're to read into yesterdays report

It sounds like he might have all the “big” hires done and he’s just fine tuning who is going to do what before he announces it all, unlike Haley who hired two DCs and didn’t announce who was going to be what until three months later.

"Give them nothing! But take from them everything!"

by GenericBrand on Jan 25, 2012 8:31 AM CST up reply actions

So you think we already have the OC on the team?

This scares the hell out of me.

by old_school on Jan 25, 2012 9:04 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

Wouldn't be surprised if it is Zorn

Men succeed when they realize that their failures are the preparation for their victories.
Hammerfisting my own balls since 2006

by KingChief on Jan 25, 2012 9:14 AM CST up reply actions

Ugh.

Better than Muir, but still, ugh.

by TwelfthMan on Jan 25, 2012 2:24 PM CST up reply actions

Raiders are just now hiring their HC.

The Chiefs hired their HC weeks ago.

Relax.

"Be an analyst. Don’t be a douchebag." - Terrell Suggs to Skip Bayless

by Tarkus on Jan 25, 2012 10:31 AM CST up reply actions

And besides...........

it’s the Raiders!

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by LadyChief on Jan 25, 2012 10:32 AM CST up reply actions

This just came out of nowhere for me

I hadn’t heard Dennis Allen’s name anywhere… most of what I had heard was regarding their OC, not DC.

Oh well whatever – can’t wish the fella luck because he’s going to the Raiders. So let’s just say – “I hope you and your family manage to stay safe and healthy during your stay in Oakland…. and I hope you lose 80% of your games going forward.”

by Ochophosphate on Jan 25, 2012 8:50 AM CST reply actions

And he looks like Mike Wolfe from American Pickers

…. kinda

by Ochophosphate on Jan 25, 2012 8:59 AM CST up reply actions

These were in google's top searches for Dennis Allen... can you spy the new Raiders coach?

Good Luck…

Meh...
I don't only want to stand out here when we get our asses kicked... I like to stand out here when we kick somebody else's ass... Big Win, Big Win ~ Todd Haley
@w_a_watts

by Chief-blinders-on on Jan 25, 2012 9:14 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

OOOH, OOH! BOTTOM CENTER BOTTOM CENTER!!!

do I win a prize?

by Ochophosphate on Jan 25, 2012 9:42 AM CST up reply actions

top right

the one(s) bottom left is the comedian/actor

by upamtn on Jan 25, 2012 9:52 AM CST up reply actions

Yep Laugh In

Meh...
I don't only want to stand out here when we get our asses kicked... I like to stand out here when we kick somebody else's ass... Big Win, Big Win ~ Todd Haley
@w_a_watts

by Chief-blinders-on on Jan 25, 2012 9:56 AM CST up reply actions

Alright Romeo...Now's your time to shine

I think I saw on twitter that for Denver this will mean they have had a new DC every year for the past 7 years. Continuity is so overrated.

by Spiderwomn69 on Jan 25, 2012 10:03 AM CST reply actions

That may have something to do with them not finishing over .500 in that span as well.

The Raiders have an opportunity to turn around their organization. It doesn’t seem like it is getting off on the right track so far, but let’s see how they put together the rest of that staff.

If they keep Al Saunders they might still be formidable on offense.

Dennis Allen was building an aggressive unit in Denver even if they weren’t statistically great, but how much of that was John Fox? I think Reggie McKenzie was a good hire for the Raiders GM, so it is really hard to judge this surprise.

We shall see.

Meh...
I don't only want to stand out here when we get our asses kicked... I like to stand out here when we kick somebody else's ass... Big Win, Big Win ~ Todd Haley
@w_a_watts

by Chief-blinders-on on Jan 25, 2012 10:09 AM CST up reply actions

Completely agree

I do like how the single move puts two rivals in a situation where they both have new coaches. As much as I don’t like the Raiders or Donkeys I do want to see the AFC West built up to a respectable division again and I hope that happens in the next few years.

by Spiderwomn69 on Jan 25, 2012 10:13 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Unless the Broncos hire Jack Del Rio

hopefully the Chiefs already hired him just so we don’t have to face him twice a year.

Meh...
I don't only want to stand out here when we get our asses kicked... I like to stand out here when we kick somebody else's ass... Big Win, Big Win ~ Todd Haley
@w_a_watts

by Chief-blinders-on on Jan 25, 2012 10:20 AM CST up reply actions

I saw an interview with McKenzie on tv the other day.

Wow. Maybe the guy just isn’t good at being the face of an organization but good god he came off like a complete buffoon. And Al Davis’ son Mark looks really creepy.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on Jan 25, 2012 10:37 AM CST up reply actions

But he was great in Dumb and Dumber

Meh...
I don't only want to stand out here when we get our asses kicked... I like to stand out here when we kick somebody else's ass... Big Win, Big Win ~ Todd Haley
@w_a_watts

by Chief-blinders-on on Jan 25, 2012 10:48 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Al Saunders is the man.

Dennis Allen, most likely, is happy he’s already in house(the brown hole).

"The best way to convince a fool that he is wrong is to let him have his way" Josh Billings
Kansas City Chiefs - 2020 Team of the Decade

by skunk420 on Jan 25, 2012 10:40 AM CST up reply actions

Romeo's the man!

Providing COLOR commentary for Arrowhead Pride! AKA The Picture Diva!
"I am not embarrassed to be with a younger man, except when I drop him off at school."-Angie Dickinson, veteran vixen

by LadyChief on Jan 25, 2012 10:18 AM CST reply actions

I hope we are still saying that next January

Lady…

Meh...
I don't only want to stand out here when we get our asses kicked... I like to stand out here when we kick somebody else's ass... Big Win, Big Win ~ Todd Haley
@w_a_watts

by Chief-blinders-on on Jan 25, 2012 10:19 AM CST up reply actions

Me two!

Providing COLOR commentary for Arrowhead Pride! AKA The Picture Diva!
"I am not embarrassed to be with a younger man, except when I drop him off at school."-Angie Dickinson, veteran vixen

by LadyChief on Jan 25, 2012 10:32 AM CST up reply actions

wonder how long he lasts

2-3 years maybe unless he does some good and surprises maybe give him another year or two.

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by KC Nate on Jan 25, 2012 10:36 AM CST reply actions

It's been pretty much one and done the last few hires.

"The best way to convince a fool that he is wrong is to let him have his way" Josh Billings
Kansas City Chiefs - 2020 Team of the Decade

by skunk420 on Jan 25, 2012 10:43 AM CST up reply actions

Raiders fans seem to kinda like the hire over at Silver and Black Pride

Are you more excited about Dennis Allen now?
73%
Yes
715 votes
26%
No
259 votes

974 votes total

That’s not to bad

Meh...
I don't only want to stand out here when we get our asses kicked... I like to stand out here when we kick somebody else's ass... Big Win, Big Win ~ Todd Haley
@w_a_watts

by Chief-blinders-on on Jan 25, 2012 10:59 AM CST reply actions