Oakland Raiders bring in Dennis Allen as new head coach for four-year term – NFL News Update
According to news pouring from the National Football League (NFL), Oakland Raiders have signed Denver Broncos’ defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen as their new head coach for a four-year term.
The decision was taken by Raiders' general manager, Reggie McKenzie, who dwelt on a long search to bring in a new head coach for the team.
Raiders have been without a head coach ever since McKenzie took over as the new general manager of the team.
McKenzie had the then head coach, Hue Jackson fired on the first day he took over, saying that he wanted to bring his own man in.
McKenzie had talked of bringing a change in the team, saying it was time for a new “era”.
McKenzie was confident of bringing the best head coach available and that was very much the reason why his list of potential candidates was so long.
Jackson had been hired by Raiders' former owner, Al Davis, who died in October after which his son, Mark Davis took over.
The new owner endorsed McKenzie’s actions as he sacked Jackson. Jackson had pointed out to that, saying he would have remained the coach had Al Davis been alive.
Allen, who was hired after sidelining many other candidates, is a defence specialist and is likely to help Raiders improve their defence.
Raiders' defence has been the most vulnerable one this season, and it was the primary reason why Raiders were eliminated from the playoffs, ending at 8-8 this season.
Though McKenzie had earlier said that the defensive or the offensive requirements of the team will have no say in the hiring of the new coach, it turns out that McKenzie finally decided to take a shot at the team's defence.
Allen helped Broncos reach the playoffs this season, helping the team overcome their weaknesses, in terms of points and yards allowed per game. Broncos improved from being the worst team in the NFL for allowing 29.4 points per
game, to the 24th rank.
Under Allen, Broncos also improved to the 20th place in terms of yards allowed from conceding 390.8 yards per game to 357.8 yards.
Allen therefore, has the potential to help Raiders' failing fragile defence.
Allen's hiring also appears a bit surprising as it had seemed a strong possibility that McKenzie would bring in a Green Bay Packers' coach.
McKenzie had earlier signified his intentions of building the team on the Packers' model, with whom he had spent 18 years, and had also interviewed four Green Bay Packers’ coaches, Joe Philbin, Winston Moss, Dom Capers and Tom
Clements, in this regard.
Philbin joined Miami Dolphins recently, but Moss and Capers still seemed to be the strongest contenders.
Allen has become the first defensive coach to be hired by Raiders after a very long time. The last time Raiders hired a defensive coach was back in 1969, when Al Davis brought in John Madden.
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