The Oakland Raiders want to talk to both of the coordinators on the team that won their division.
The Raiders have received permission to interview Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and offensive coordinator Mike McCoy for their head coaching vacancy, ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting.
It’s an interesting strategy from Raiders owner Mark Davis and G.M. Reggie McKenzie. It makes sense from a competitive standpoint to consider bringing in coaches from the team ahead of them in the standings, but it may also be a tactic designed at gathering intelligence on a division rival.
If that’s what it is, it sounds like a strategy that Al Davis would love.
That’s not to say Allen and McCoy aren’t both worthy candidates for head-coaching opportunities. Allen coordinated a stellar defense that didn’t get enough credit during the regular season, while Tim Tebow was getting praised for winning games by scores including 18-15, 17-10, 17-13, 16-13 and 13-10. And McCoy is one of the hottest candidates in the league, having also drawn interest from the Jaguars and Dolphins. Both Allen and McCoy are 39-year-olds with bright futures in the coaching business.
McKenzie said shortly after he fired former coach Hue Jackson that he wants to bring in his own guy, and that has led to speculation that it would be someone from the Packers, likely defensive coordinator Dom Capers or assistant head coach/inside linebackers coach Winston Moss. But the Raiders are casting a wider net, also interviewing Todd Bowles, who finished the season as the Dolphins’ interim head coach, and now considering two Broncos coordinators as well.