After hiring and firing Gregg Knapp from the Houston Texans in a single season, and attempting to implement the zone running scheme, the Raiders have chosen Tony Sporano as their new offensive coordinator and assistant HC. Sporano is coming off another rough year with the Jets, a year that actually included seeing QB Mark Sanchez lose his starting job. Now with 2nd year HC Dennis Allen in Oakland Sporano will attempt to revamp an offense with weapons like Carson Palmer and Darren McFadden to a competitive level in the AFC West.
The last place that Sporano was an effective play caller was in Miami where the Wildcat offense was used with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. And honestly besides 1 10-6 season I'd say that it was almost a complete failure. Since the 07 season when the Dolphins had that 10-6 record Sporano hasn't been apart of anything productive in the NFL. As the Raiders OC Sporano will have many tough decisions to make, 1st being who's the starting QB? Me personally I'd say Carson Palmer's a no brainer here but, I've already heard rumors of Terrell Pryor competing for that starting job. The next big question is what's the Raiders identity on offense? Last season they had trouble really figuring that out. McFadden hasn't shown he can stay healthy, and if the Raiders are to succeed they'll need him or another back to carry the load at the end of games. My last question, will the Raiders seriously think of running the wildcat or zone read offense with Pryor and McFadden? That would be a even worse decision than the Sporano hire in my opinion. The zone read offense takes time to learn especially at the pro level, if the Raiders O line can't block in a traditional scheme good luck in one that they'll have to learn on quickly. Much like the zone scheme they're now ditching.
Nothing seems bright about the future of the Raiders. They need a lot of help on both sides of the ball, and if they keep making bad hires they'll never get back to a competitive team. In a division now in the clutches of Peyton Manning every hire is key. Believe me as Texans fan I watched Manning control the AFC South for years. Raiders and the AFC West may be his next victims if hires like this keep happening.
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