The Raiders announced on Saturday that Todd Downing will take over for Bill Musgrave at the position. Musgrave played out the 2016 season on the last year of his contract and will not be returning. Bay Area Radio host John Middlekauff and George Takata of KSEE 24 first reported the news on Jan. 10.
Musgrave, 49, has served as the Raiders offensive coordinator under coach Jack Del Rio for the last two seasons. He came over after a one-year stint as the Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach.
Downing, 36, has served as the quarterbacks coach under Del Rio. He previously held the same position with the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions but has never been a coordinator at any level.
Del Rio's decision to make a change here is puzzling, given Oakland's 2016 success. The Raiders ranked sixth in total offense and seventh in scoring, which were seismic improvements over their struggles in 2015. (Oakland ranked 24th in total offense and 17th in scoring the year prior.)
Football Outsiders ranked Oakland's offense seventh, a leap of 11 spots.
Much of that can be attributed to an offensive line that ranks among the best in football and a leap from Carr, who was an MVP candidate before a late-season injury. Carr threw for 3,937 yards and 28 touchdowns against six interceptions, leading the Raiders to their first winning season and playoff appearance since 2002.
“I love Coach Musgrave,” wide receiver Amari Cooper told Vic Tafur of SFGate in November. “He gets me in great position and in space where I can make plays. He calls the plays based on everyone’s strengths, and there is more trust now that we’re all in our second year together and we’re going deeper into th...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
