By now, you know the story: since SiriusXM Blitz host Rich Gannon led the team to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXVII, the Raiders have not had a winning season and have lost 10 or more games a staggering seven times.
The 2012 Raiders have been unable to buck the trend. They are 3-8 and have lost six games by double-digits, including the last four in a row.
It’s been yet another embarrassing season for the once-proud franchise, which features one of the NFL’s finest fanbases.
Even though 2012 has gone off the rails, there is hope for the long-term direction of the franchise. While there have been missteps made by new general manager Reggie McKenzie and head coach Dennis Allen, both men deserve the opportunity to right the ship, and do it their way.
No, it’s not the fault of McKenzie or Allen that the Raiders are once again staring down the barrel of a double-digit loss season.
So, let’s examine where the blame for the 2012 Raiders actually lies.
Offensive Coordinator Greg Knapp
One thing it’s fair to criticize Dennis Allen for is his hiring of Greg Knapp as offensive coordinator, which was a first guess.
It was a move that greatly frustrated the fanbase, which had already suffered through two seasons of Knapp as their offensive coordinator, in 2007 (offense ranked 25th) and 2008 (offense ranked 29th).
With Allen’s expertise on defense, he needed to slam the hire of an offensive coordinator out of the park. Instead, he whiffed badly.
Knapp, a run-first coordinator, has been unable to get the rushing attack on track. While injuries to star back Darren McFadden and backup Mike Goodson haven’t helped, the Raiders weren’t running the ball well when both b...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
