Oakland Raiders: Changes Dennis Allen Will Make

General manager Reggie McKenzie hired Dennis Allen to be the first head coach of the Oakland Raiders in the post-Al Davis era.

McKenzie made it clear during Allen's introductory press conference that the Raiders organization is not just a team, but will function like a team. The coaches and front office will share ideas and information and provide input as appropriate. 

McKenzie's primary responsibility will be shaping the roster with input provided by Allen. Allen's responsibility will be taking what McKenzie gives him and winning football games. If the Raiders are to win a Super Bowl under the leadership of these two men, they will both need to be successful. 

McKenzie reportedly handed Allen a four-year contract which is a clear departure from the contracts Al Davis would give to his head coaches. Two-year contracts with two-year team options made previous head coaches perpetually interim, and the turnover is partly to blame for the Raiders lack of success during the last decade.

Dennis Allen may be young, but he's the powerful head coach Raider fans have coveted since Jon Gruden walked the halls of the Raiders' Alameda headquarters. For the first time in nearly 50 years, there will be significant changes in the football department, and a lot of them will be at the prompting of the Raiders' 39-year-old head coach.

 

Culture

McKenzie has committed to Allen and given him all the power he needs to address the Raiders' biggest problem: penalties.

The penalty issue in Oakland is well-known and dates back to the days just after the AFL-NFL merger. Al Davis built a team with a "criminal element" and feuded with then NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle. The reputation created then is still impacting the way the Raiders are officiated today.

Allen will address the mental penalties that plague the Raiders such as off sides and encroachme...

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