Raiders

Downing’s Seat Hotter Than You Think

After a disappointing season offensively for the Oakland Raiders, could offensive coordinator Todd Downing be on the outside looking in?

Jason La Canfora of CBS reported the Oakland Raiders are expected to make a change at offensive coordinator by season’s end.

According to a source per La Canfora, players are growing frustrated with the coordinator and the front office is unhappy with the results on the field.

Raiders offensive coordinator Todd Downing is under increasing pressure with his unit struggling and is coaching for his job down the stretch. He is unlikely to be back with the team in 2018 at this point and the situation could come to a head before then. Jason La Canfora, CBS Sports

Downing was promoted to the offensive coordinator position this past off-season after impressing as the Raiders quarterbacks coach. Quarterback Derek Carr improved significantly under Downing who was also named Quarterback Coach of the Year by PFF in 2015. Downing was rumored to be on the short list for a few offensive coordinator positions and the Raiders did not want to lose him. In doing so, Oakland cut ties with Bill Musgrave and promoted Downing to oversee the whole offense.

Downing has had a rough start as the offense has regressed significantly under his leadership. Oakland ranks 16th in yards per game and 21st in points per game going into week 14. At the end of last year, the Raiders offense finished 6th and 7th in the same categories.

With head coach Jack Del Rio getting a lucrative contract extension prior to the season, it’s very unlikely ownership would make a move there. However, the construction of the staff is expected to look much different in 2018…One possibility on offense is Mike McCoy Jason La Canfora on possible future changes to the coaching staff

La Canfora recently spoke to Greg Papa on 95.7 The Game and added that “It’s going to be an uphill climb for the people on that staff to perform to a degree where there’s not some other changes made there,”. You can listen to the entire podcast here.

It will be interesting to see if any there are any changes in regards to Downing given the recent resurgence by the team. Downing and company will be given another opportunity to succeed once again in Week 14 against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that allowed the Jets to score 38 points and rack up nearly 500 yards of total offense.

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17 thoughts on “Downing’s Seat Hotter Than You Think”

  1. Gabriel D. Martin

    Whether Downing rates another year or not? I’m undecided. Firing Norton Jr. and promoting Pagano, was the right thing to do. It’s already easily apparent. Our kick return team seems flat. Been forever since a TD return. If McKenzie continually shows a fetish for drafting projects: Do we have coaches whom are capable of coaching them up? I’m not a scheme scholar. Is it me, scheme, or does Vanderdoes seem like he’s regressing? Really impressed but not surprised of the play by Autry! Hope Raiders are trending up. I hope we fix the secondary. I hope Raiders receivers catch catchable balls. That toe tap reception by Holton was something else! RaiderGabe.

  2. I have seen all I need to see to know Todd Downing wasn’t ready to lead this offense. There are entirely too many weapons and match up problems up & the roster that are just not being utilized correctly. Schematically, Todd Downing’s offense is simplistic. There is no creativity in getting our playmakers the ball in position to be explosive. This offense puts the onus on DC to make a perfect pass on a fade or jump ball & our recievers have to make an extraordinary catch. That won’t work on a consistent basis. The Raiders need an experienced play caller who will know how to utilize the wealth of talent they possess on offense. Downing aint it.

  3. Todd is not ready to be a OC. We should have just kept Musgrave if we’re going to run this pedestrian offense. The explosiveness of the offense has not been unleashed. Amari Cooper Crabtree have not had a good game together. He’s running zone blocking schemes for our power back. The receivers are running the same routes we’re lucky to be winning games.

  4. Downing is not the answer. He’s too vanilla. He rarely uses play action. Changing from power blocking to zone blocking and his stubborn desire to run right when our All-Pros are on the left side has destroyed our running game. You can’t just “take what they give us.” Especially with the talent on offense the Raiders possess. You attack and play to your strengths until someone shows that they can stop you. Stop wasting time trying to trick the opponent by not doing what you’re best at. And stop feeling the need to get all 3 backs regular snaps. Lynch should get the lion’s share. The other two should get the scraps.

  5. Falcons offense was terrible first year with Shannihan as OC because his system took some time for the players to grasp then was statistically one of the best ever the following year. Downings offense is terrible because he doesnt know how to scheme and his play calling is un original and predictable. Downing has got to go!

  6. The Raiders run the ball on almost every 1st down, now if know that what makes you think coaches and players looking at film weekly can’t see it. Inheriting a top 10 offense, with improved personal on the offense goes backwards??? Either Downing goes or Jack should.

  7. Downing is no OC where Musgrave was. Anyway our offense high octane now they can’t get out of their own way. Need a high octane OC to get this offense back on the right track. Now our defense since Norton was fired our defense has been better not much. At least a step in the right direction. Clean house in the secondary come the off season as there will be plenty of decent DB ‘S then we got now or draft another one in the first round. As for our GM have not been happy with recent 2nd round picks. They need to be ready to play right away or don’t draft them. Jihad has not played for 3 season , Watson was a project at best still out on Obi hoe he can make an impact in the near future.

  8. Pingback: Raiderdamus’ Sunday Foretelling: Jets vs. Raiders – Raiders Bay

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