Oakland Raiders’ coach Hue Jackson could face possible ouster from team – NFL News Update
The new general manager of the Oakland Raiders, Reggie McKenzie is now evaluating coach Hue Jackson to determine whether he should stay with the team or be replaced, according to news circulating in the media.
The former director of football operations for the Green Bay Packers was signed by the team earlier on Friday, and had been expected to make changes in the team since the beginning.
A change in the head coach could spoil much for the team that has seen quite some inconsistency this season, and lost many of its key players to injuries, hence bringing about a change in the coaching position is the least requirement.
Under Jackson, the Oakland Raiders put up a stiff fight and almost reached the playoffs.
If anything is to be blamed for the failure, then they are reasons other than Hue Jackson.
A weakened defense that gave in the most number of penalties in the history of the National Football League (NFL) is what McKenzie should look at.
The team has been faring without a general manager ever since owner, Al Davis, died in October of 2011 and effectively speaking, the team has been without a manager as early as 2003, when the then senior assistant to Davis, Bruce Allen, left Raiders to join
Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It has been Jackson who was looking after the team's affairs since October. Therefore, if McKenzie wants to kick Jackson out, taking such a big step would prove to be a challenging task.
However, the 48-year-old McKenzie has arrived in the team with a strong backing.
Three executives of the Raiders, Ron Wolf, Ken Herock and John Madden, who were handed the task of looking for a new general manager, all voiced their support for McKenzie, making his position quite strong indeed.
"Reggie's a tremendous evaluator. He can tell you who can play and who can't play. That's what it's all about. Some can write reports but can't tell you who can play. Whatever that is, he has that. He has a feel." Wolf said.
Jackson, who has remained optimistic and certain about his stay with the Raiders, never for a moment seemed worried about the acquisition of McKenzie.
As it is in most cases, a new general manager usually means that he would try getting his own favourite head coach into the team, but that did not seem to move Jackson earlier on.
"I know people say, 'If they hire a G.M. then he's going to want to bring in his head coach.' Whoever comes here, I think it's going to be somebody who wants to share the same vision as I do." Jackson said.
McKenzie has started his evaluation of the team and chances persist that Jackson could be relieved of his duty by the end of the week.
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