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NFL Oakland Raiders

Oakland Raiders OC Greg Olson Lobbying to Keep Job, Should be Fired

By @Kevin_Saito

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

While the Oakland Raiders may still be celebrating their first win of the season over the Kansas City Chiefs, the fact remains that this is a 1-10 ballclub. It was a stirring win over their division rival, one that snapped a profoundly long streak of futility, and offered fans a possible glimpse of the better days ahead for the organization. But it’s critical to remember that in the end, it was just one win and it took Oakland 11 tries to get it. While some fans are seeing this as a turning point, and the first step back toward relevancy,  the reality of the situation is that more changes are coming in the not too distant future. And one of those changes that Oakland must make deals with Offensive Coordinator, Greg Olson.

Olson assumed the OC duties in 2013, replacing Greg Knapp. He was supposed to innovate and invigorate Oakland’s stagnant offense. If anything, though, in his two seasons on the job, the Raiders’ offense has grown even more lifeless and has been even far less productive. His offensive unit in 2013 ranked 25th in the league, and this year’s version, despite an upgrade in talent, is even worse, clocking in as the 29th ranked unit.

That isn’t stopping Olson from lobbying for his job – or perhaps he’s even lobbying for a shot at the HC slot. In a recent interview with ESPN.com, Olson was quoted as saying:

“Just look at the last three years when you’ve switched head coaches, switched offensive coordinators, switched systems. We did a different system for (Terrelle) Pryor. There has been a lot of change here. When you look at the whole thing, get some stability here, whether that’s with me or without me, with Tony Sparano, without Tony Sparano, I just think there has got to be some continuity here for these players and this team.”

While it might sound like he is acknowledging the fact that he will likely be gone by season’s end, with all of his references to continuity and stability, he’s sending out a very clear message to team owner Mark Davis – “let me keep my job or perhaps take on the HC spot.”

The problem with Olson’s statement though is that ex-HC Dennis Allen was given more than two years to show progress. There was a time in Raiders history when consecutive 4-12 seasons would get a coach fired. But for the sake of continuity and stability, Davis and GM Reggie McKenzie stuck with Allen for a third season, and after a massive overhaul and upgrade of the roster, the team actually got worse. Much like Olson’s offensive unit has over the past two seasons.

Olson’s game planning has been terrible. His play calling has been even worse. He does not exploit a team’s weaknesses, such as calling a total of 20 running plays against a Cleveland Browns defense that was giving up yards by the bushel. He does not put his players or his team in a position to succeed, and Oakland’s near historically bad offense – along with a 1-10 record – prove it.

When Allen and Olson opted to go with rookie Derek Carr as their starting QB, they should have seen the growing pains that would follow. To help ease that burden, Oakland needed to rely on their ground game, something that coming out of training camp was supposed to be one of the strengths of the team. Olson, though, has all but abandoned Oakland’s running game. The Raiders average the fewest rushing attempts in the league, and not surprisingly, have the worst YPG average in the NFL.

Oakland’s offense is hot garbage, but Olson would have you believe continuity and stability are the keys to turning the whole thing around. From where many fans are sitting, continuity would only allow the Raiders to continue being a punchline around the league.

Olson is a dead man walking. But he’s apparently not going to go down without a fight. A shake up is coming, and Raiders fans can only hope that when the dust settles, the last dregs of the Allen regime – Olson and DC Jason Tarver – are swept out with the rest of the rubbish.

Kevin Saito is a fiction writer, sports junkie, history nerd, and NFL contributor to www.RantSports.com  Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, or on Google

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