Comments on: Tony Sparano lands in Oakland

By: vadertime

vadertime — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 17:06:47 +0000

As a Miami Dolphin’s fan, I had to endure 4 years of mediocrity under Sparano’s guidance. After the disastrous 2007 season, it didn’t take much to get our hopes up with a new regime headed by Bill Parcell’s executive leadership. It soon became clear that neither Parcell nor Sparano had a clue to turning around the Dolphin’s fortune. We broke even in 2011, which thankfully ended Sparano’s tenure. Parcell had long departed. Apparently, Sparano’s one-horse trick, the wildcat, didn’t pan out in New York either and he was fired after a dismal season for the Jets. Oakland has got to be desperate to bring in an offensive coach with such a mediocre resume to fix the enormous problems they have with their roster.

By: jjackwagon

jjackwagon — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:42:36 +0000

Nothing is too good for the Raiders so that’s what they get…nothing.

By: lostsok

lostsok — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 06:33:53 +0000

Tony S is a coach players love, and he was considered one of the best line coaches when he was with Dallas. As a head coach he wasn’t organized enough, and he was too conservative. As an OC he was just abysmal.

Players will love him in this role, though. He’s a genuinely decent person.

Now that’s he not with the Jets, I wish him and the Raiders the best.

By: felixinmiami

felixinmiami — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 22:29:46 +0000

@Skyleralan… Living in Miami and seeing Sporano’s work upclose and personal, as long as the ONLY area he touches IS the O-Line, then the Raiders should be fine. Miami had a good O-Line with LITTLE weapons. What I am afraid of is if the Raiders do not start off well, and Reggie gets an itching trigger finger, Sporano is not a good leader of men and history indicates that O-Line coaches have never been very successful as a HC.

By: skyleralan

skyleralan — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:13:40 +0000

I get all the bias Raider hate, but to say Sparano is not a quality OL coach is crazy! He would have never gotten a chance in Miami or with the Jets if he would not have succeeded while an OL coach. This guy has good experience dealing with bad situations why wouldn’t you want to bring a guy in who stays calm in a rebuilding phase who could lend some insight to DA.

All of this, “he was a terrible OC” or a “terrible hire” has nothing to do with what he was brought into to do. He was brought in to work in the one area he was successful COACHING O-LINEMEN!

By: fearthehoody

fearthehoody — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:44:29 +0000

Ahhh Oakland Raiders, where Players/Coaches careers go to die!

By: backstageatapuppetshow

backstageatapuppetshow — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:38:57 +0000

“I am more afraid of an army of 100 sheep led by a lion than an army of 100 lions led by a sheep.”

By: kev86

kev86 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:58:01 +0000

He upgraded. Impressive.

By: starchybunker

starchybunker — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:41:29 +0000

well, to his credit O-line was the last thing he coached that he was actually good at…so there’s that…

not sure if Train Wreck West is an upgrade over Train Wreck East, but at least it shouldn’t be boring…

By: spfripp

spfripp — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:05:28 +0000

Sparano’s biggest down fall is that he is not very creative. People give him too much credit for bringing the wildcat to Miami when it was David Lee who gave Sparano the idea for running the wildcat. Sparano did a good job in Dallas but my question is when teams figure out his blocking scheme is he able to adjust? Dallas never met expectations under Parcells, after teams figured out the wildcat Miami never amounted to anything and from the get go the Jets offense was a disaster.

By: njraiderfan19

njraiderfan19 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:44:31 +0000

I haven’t been a fan of some of their hires but I think Sporano falls into a plan of bringing in coaches to implement the power blocking scheme that the personnel is suited for. You use coaches to bring the offense back around which allows you to draft/sign thru FA the defensive players you desperately need. If Olson and Sporano can get on the same page the D might spend less time on the field.

By: nmrdr795

nmrdr795 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:24:04 +0000

People dont really understand how good these coaches are. Just because he was horrible in miami doesnt mean he sucks everywhere. Everyone is horrible in miami. Da and big reg are just putting pieces that fit together. Coaches schemes and players that work as one. The old raiders were a mess just thrown together tryin to make somethin happin. This is the new era and big reg is doing it right. Look at the packers, niners, ravens and a normal fan cant name more then 2 coaches on each staff. So to say this is good or bad is dumb. Nobody knows but big reg sees something so ill take it

By: lrjets

lrjets — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:18:01 +0000

Bet there’s not a 49ers or Ravens fan above. But they sure know how to criticize a decent man.

By: rickeydynamite25

rickeydynamite25 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:54:57 +0000

Now would be the time to start praying for the quarterback’s physical health. Anybody remember the beating Sanchez took this past season? I fear the day DA gets fired and Sparano takes over as head coach. I think I’m going to be sick. ;-(

By: ronlpitts

ronlpitts — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:27:16 +0000

As a Raider Fan I just have to say that Dennis Allen has a nack for picking coaches who were once “”awesome” but who now merely “”suck”".

By: henryd3rd

henryd3rd — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:21:08 +0000

Having seen Sporano’s volume of work here in Miami I can only say you folks in Oakland better be ready for a lot of fist pumping after field goals. That’s what you get with Sporano and not a lot of imagination.

By: vicksprman

vicksprman — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:10:21 +0000

The list goes on and on Shurmer as the OC of the Eagles why? Ed 4th and 26 Donatello soon to be DC of the Eagles. Bobby April coaching the Raiders special teams did they not have any film of the Eagles games last year? The more these guys get recycled the more opportunities of younger guys regardless of color get overlooked.

By: masterblaster78

masterblaster78 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:07:04 +0000

Sorry, I’m not jumping thru hoops on this hire. I don’t think he’s that good. Look at his track record.

By: vicksprman

vicksprman — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:07:03 +0000

Okay he’s a great line coach who’s last two teams had terrible offensive lines so as the Head Coach and OC he had no input to the offensive line play?

By: Grinds My Gear

Grinds My Gear — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:03:14 +0000

As bad of a coach as Sparano was in Miami and Jets, he’s probably the best offensive lines coach on the market. People can hate on what he did over the last couple of years, but he’s back in a position where he’s good at. Cowboys had some of the best power blocking offensive lines during his year under Parcels. They were ranked pretty high in rushing TDs under Sparano, and they never had a rusher like Darren McFadden.

By: hifive123

hifive123 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:57:08 +0000

Folks, he’s been brought in to coach the O line, not be the OC. Your criticisms are unwarranted.

By: csdaddy7777

csdaddy7777 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:33:42 +0000

Peeps can laugh all they want. But Oakland is turning things around. This is another competent hire. A former head coach comes in to coach the offensive line. Something he knows really well. I’ll take it. Sit back Oakland is transforming into a modern competent franchise

By: wtfpft

wtfpft — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:28:34 +0000

How could you not support this, he’s a great line coach and it’s what got him a head coaching gig, he’s not calling plays people.

By: vicksprman

vicksprman — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:27:17 +0000

Hate to bring race into this, but here is another reason why it so hard to find minority coaches. Guys like this no matter how much they fail continue to get jobs. Thumbs down if you want but please tell me the last two jobs he had they couldn’t find anyone better.

By: rajbais

rajbais — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:22:50 +0000

The only reasonable decision Allen has made all offseason.

Get ready for a 4 win season in Oakland!!

By: sandersond2013

sandersond2013 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:21:48 +0000

Finally a good move by DA…

By: RexCanCoach

RexCanCoach — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:11:12 +0000

…I can see Tebow in the Silver and Black…

By: schmitty2

schmitty2 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:55:41 +0000

Lets just hope Sprano doesn’t jump around like a crazed gorilla every time Seabass kicks a FG. Fins fans know what I mean

By: calibear831

calibear831 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:52:29 +0000

Now bring in tebow for special teams protection!

By: raiderlyfe510

raiderlyfe510 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:50:55 +0000

LOL. Dennis Allen loves hiring coaches that failed in their previous stop. The man can not hire a staff.

We should have hire Mike Mularky as Offensive Coordinator. Bad head coach, but succeeded everywhere he’s been as a O Coordinator.Also Mularky’s O Lines are know for being physical and nasty.

Also why not hire Bob Wylie as O Line coach? He was successful at his last stop(Raiders 2011). Unlike Sparano. Wylie knows how to get the most out of McFadden. This has been proven.

Anyway we’ll most likely have a new head coach in 2014. We just have to rise this out.