Just two weeks ago, head coach Dennis Allen’s job was thought to be safe. For all intents and purposes the Raiders were out of the playoffs at that time, but he had done enough with a talent-impoverished team.
After allowing 93 points to the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets, Allen’s job may now be in jeopardy as it’s become apparent that talent isn’t the only reason the Raiders are 4-10.
According to NFL.com’s Michael Silver, the final few games will be crucial toward determining if Allen is brought back in 2014. Per the report, Allen will be back if the team is competitive but will be fired if the team gets embarrassed.
Through the first eight weeks of the season, the Raiders were 3-4. The Raiders also had wins over the San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers in the first half of the season.
While the first seven games were better than anyone expected, the last seven games have been what everyone expected. The Raiders have gone 1-6 with the lone victory over the Houston Texans—the worst team in the NFL.
The central question owner Mark Davis and general manager Reggie McKenzie must answer when deciding Allen’s fate is if the poor performance of the team is due to talent or coaching. Getting embarrassed clearly indicates both are to blame, but that’s also not the entire body of Allen’s work.
The Talent
Oakland’s apparent lack of talent is well-documented. According to spotrac.com, the Raiders have an amazing $55.6 million in dead money against the cap in 2013. With less money to spread around and a bunch of missing draft picks from previous seasons, it&...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
