Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Shoop to call offensive plays for Raiders

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Associated Press

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders replaced offensive coordinator Tom Walsh on Tuesday, promoting tight ends coach John Shoop to take charge of the team's struggling offense.

Walsh is a close friend of coach Art Shell, having served as his offensive coordinator during Shell's first stint as Raiders coach. But Walsh had been out of the NFL since being fired with Shell after the 1994 season and was the recipient of much of the blame for the NFL's worst offense.

Walsh's previous jobs as a bed and breakfast operator and mayor of Swan Valley, Idaho, made him the butt of jokes during the team's struggles. But Shell stood by Walsh despite all the criticisms, including those from players.

Shell said earlier in the season that he does not like changing his coaching staff during the season but ultimately decided to make the move with five games left. Shell called it a "difficult decision" that had to be made for the good of the team.

"Tom has been diligent in his effort to get our offense going in the right direction," Shell said in a statement. "In no way should the lack of a more successful offense be placed totally at his feet. Everyone plays a part in the success of any team. ... We look forward to John's input as we continue our goal of bringing the Raiders back to prominence."

Shoop, quarterbacks coach for Oakland last year, served as offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears from 2001-03, helping the team post a 13-3 record and win the NFC Central in 2001. Shoop has also worked with Tampa Bay and Carolina in his 12 years in the NFL.

"I think it's a great opportunity for coach Shoop and a great opportunity for us as well," receiver Alvis Whitted said in a phone interview. "It's unfortunate for our offensive coordinator that he had to get demoted. I guess that's just part of this business. It's a bottom-line business."

Tuesday is an off day for the Raiders, so Whitted said he wouldn't know how the team's game plan would change under Shoop until Wednesday.

Walsh was unavailable for comment. He will remain on the staff.

Oakland (2-9) has scored a league-low 132 points this year and is assured of a fourth straight losing season for the first time in franchise history. The Raiders were last in the league in passing offense and total offense and 21st in rushing offense.

The return of starting quarterback Aaron Brooks from an injury has provided a spark the past two weeks but has not been enough to help the team win.

"Our defense has been playing very well, and we as an offense have not been playing up to par," Whitted said. "We've gotten a lot better and you can see it in our play the last few weeks. Collectively, we need to continue to get better."

Walsh was out of the NFL for 11 seasons before Shell hired him in February. Since being fired following the 1994 season, Walsh was head coach for two seasons at Idaho State and worked as director of operations and head coach of a minor-league franchise in Mobile, Ala. He had been out of football since 1999, except for a few announcing stints.

Walsh was supposed to return the Raiders to the power-running, deep-passing style so successful during Shell's time as a player in the 1970s. But with an offensive line that struggled to block, the running game never got on track and the Raiders didn't have time to run the long-developing pass plays.

Andrew Walter, who started seven games in place of the injured Brooks, vocalized some of the players' complaints earlier this month, saying the playbook lacked "depth" and didn't have enough quick-hitters to combat the defensive pressure.

Oakland has just 10 offensive touchdowns all season, less than half of LaDanian Tomlinson's individual total for San Diego, and had scored just two offensive touchdowns in the second half all season when Walter said the problems were most serious.

The Raiders have allowed a league-high 53 sacks -- 10 more than second-place Cleveland -- and are the only team in the league gaining fewer than 250 yards per game, with a 239.8 average.

Randy Moss has also been mostly a non-factor and has complained that his unhappiness with the team have led to his frequent dropped passes. Moss has just four receptions for 34 yards the past three games and often runs patterns at half-speed.

Yeah, when I heard this I laughed out loud. That's the answer to their offensive woes, I'm sure.

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You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

OH. GOOD. LORD.

If anybody is in a fantasy league with bonuses for 2 yard receptions, you better jump on Randy Moss right now.

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You know me like that.

Does anyone find the fact that Shoop was the Tight Ends coach funny? I don't remember him even knowing what a TE was while he was Off Coord of the Bears.

I'm glad I'll be able to see more of my most favorite Shoop play: Fake the run to the right...then run right. Perfection!

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I don't really gamble on football, but I think this would be a good week to bet the house against the Raiders, no matter what the spread is...

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

Funny you mention that. I just laid a nice chunk of change on an advanced line for week 14. The Bengals -9.5 at home against the Raiders. Should be a beating...

I make the line 13, Nas, so I'll gladly jump on 9.5. On top of that, 9.5 is a nice spot to be from a value standpoint. In the NFL, there is essentially no difference at all between -7 & 1/2 and -9 & 1/2.

Either way, I'll live. After the string of bad beats and back door covers I endured this past weekend*, dropping a game that won't be played for another 10 days is the last thing on my mind.

* GA Tech wets the bed (pushed on +3, but should have won outright)
* Oklahoma misses an extra point and fails to cover (pushed)
* Minnesota give Arizona a meaningless TD at the end of the game
* New York implodes and blows not only the spread, but the under
* Clemson decides not to show up for the 2nd half

There were more, too, I had some NBA totals that tanked in the final seconds as well. Screw it, you have to put it behind you and just get back on the horse. I like the Cinci play, and like the fact they have a week and a half of rest (Thursday night game this week), and feel the line will be higher by next Sunday.

It's simpler than you're making it out to be, Nas. The Raiders are good statistically against the pass because nobody is passing on them. Oakland gets their asses whipped every weekend and teams are simply running all over them. Most teams don't throw the ball with a lead.

Exhibit A - Oakland is the worst in the NFL when it comes to rushing attempts by the opposing team.

Exhibit B - Their total passing stats are low, but from an averages standpoint, they are just that: average. They are middle of the road in opponent's completion percentage, as well as TD to INT ratio.

Man, it just proves it's time for the dead Al Davis to hand over the reins to someone who knows what football is in the 21st century. The Committment to Excellence? Bzzz....Wrong!

LOL! "Helping."

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You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

Do these guys not know his history? If i didnt know better, I would say Art Shell was trying to be funny.

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