DMD Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 Okay, so he was in the NFL only a short 13 years ago. But you thought 1994 was already over... Walsh hired as Raiders' offensive coordinatorBy Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com The Oakland Raiders reached deep into their past in choosing Art Shell as their new head coach. And now Shell has done the same in selecting his offensive coordinator. In a move that has been rumored since he replaced Norv Turner as head coach, Shell has hired Tom Walsh to oversee an offense that, despite having plenty of potential playmakers, statistically ranked No. 21 in the league in 2005. Walsh has not coached in the NFL since 1994, when he was fired, along with Shell, by the Raiders. Walsh hasn't worked at any level of the game since 1999, when he was director of operations and head coach of a minor-league franchise in Mobile, Ala., in 1999. Before that, he was head coach at Idaho State, where he compiled a 6-16 record in two seasons. That recent idleness aside, Shell has great faith in Walsh, who worked for the Raiders from 1982 to '94, coaching quarterbacks and receivers before being elevated to coordinator. Walsh most recently has operated a bed-and-breakfast ranch and served as mayor of Swan Valley, Idaho. Oakland's most recently hired coordinator, Jimmy Raye, is a close friend of Shell and the two have worked together in the past. But Raye departed the Raiders to become running backs coach with the New York Jets before Oakland hired Shell as head coach. The Raiders did retain quarterbacks coach John Shoop, who actually interviewed for the head coach spot with the team, and he figures to have considerable input into the offensive design as well. Also, as rumored, Shell has added Hall of Fame tackle Jackie Slater as offensive line coach. Slater played 20 seasons in the NFL, with the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001. He will work with another former NFL lineman, Irv Eatman, in tutoring the Raiders' blockers. Former NFL defensive lineman Daryl Sims, who most recently was head coach of the Cologne franchise in the NFL Europe League, was hired as a defensive line assistant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackass Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 I did hear that he's won his fantasy football league 2 out of the last 3 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainHook Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 (edited) Al Davis deserves this big-time. Nobody wants to work for that clown. Edited February 23, 2006 by CaptainHook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McBoog Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 Al Davis deserves this big-time. Nobody wants to work for that clown. 1339343[/snapback] As a CHarger fan, I LOVE THIS!!! Bye bye Faider Nation! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muck Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 Everyone in the AFC West is loving this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raider.Nation Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 As a CHarger fan, I LOVE THIS!!! Bye bye Faider Nation! 1339363[/snapback] ouch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Vatican Hitsquad Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 KC has hired a deserter for a head coach who washed out with the Jets to help them move passed being a 37-year no-show in the Super Bowl. Denver is talking to T.O. because you know, they can probably make it work when SF and Philli couldn't. SD is deep sixing their Pro Bowl QB for their untested 2-year rookie so they can improve on the tired "best team not in the playoffs" title. With these 3 teams improving their situations this much, I think we'll be fine in our div with Walsh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 As a Bronco fan, I LOVE THIS!!! Bye bye Faider Nation! 1339363[/snapback] That works too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpholmes Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 KC has hired a deserter for a head coach who washed out with the Jets to help them move passed being a 37-year no-show in the Super Bowl. Denver is talking to T.O. because you know, they can probably make it work when SF and Philli couldn't. SD is deep sixing their Pro Bowl QB for their untested 2-year rookie so they can improve on the tired "best team not in the playoffs" title. With these 3 teams improving their situations this much, I think we'll be fine in our div with Walsh! 1339533[/snapback] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikesVikes Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 Commitment to Failure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheezhed Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 I think Woodson will be glad to be released. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMD Posted February 24, 2006 Author Share Posted February 24, 2006 I do not want to come down too hard on the guy, but he has not been in the NFL for 13 years, failed at the college level at a small school and then was with a semi-pro team before dumping all that to run some bed and breakfast for the horse loving crowd. It is pretty amazing to me that Al Davis, who I think was "passed by the game" many moons ago, would find his best options to be the headcoach he fired 13 years ago (and that had never been more than an O-line coach thereafter) coupled with just about as bad a resume for an OC as I have ever seen, would come together to make the team better. I guess I am more concerned too because I have to project and rank these players and man - this will be interesting. The last running back that Walsh used was Harvey Williams. I just find it all so "befuddling". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikesVikes Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 Davis is a Steinbrenner wannabe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Vatican Hitsquad Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 I think Woodson will be glad to be released. 1340968[/snapback] I think the Raiders will be glad to release him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Vatican Hitsquad Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 I do not want to come down too hard on the guy, but he has not been in the NFL for 13 years, failed at the college level at a small school and then was with a semi-pro team before dumping all that to run some bed and breakfast for the horse loving crowd. It is pretty amazing to me that Al Davis, who I think was "passed by the game" many moons ago, would find his best options to be the headcoach he fired 13 years ago (and that had never been more than an O-line coach thereafter) coupled with just about as bad a resume for an OC as I have ever seen, would come together to make the team better. I guess I am more concerned too because I have to project and rank these players and man - this will be interesting. The last running back that Walsh used was Harvey Williams. I just find it all so "befuddling". 1341003[/snapback] I think Dick Vermiel did ok after crying in the boothe for 20 years, and Joe Gibbs did OK after running a NASCAR team for 10. It is odd, I would be a liar to deny it, but it's not as outrageous as it's being portrayed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muck Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 I'm sure Randy Moss is ecstatic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Return Of S&B Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 Hmm....Raider offensive coordinator from 1982 to 1994. That means he was the offensive coordinator of the 1983 Team that beat the Redskins 38-9 in the Superbowl. Funny how the media always focuses on the negative when it comes to the Raiders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blips Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 The Raiders did retain quarterbacks coach John Shoop, who actually interviewed for the head coach spot with the team, and he figures to have considerable input into the offensive design as well. Any Bears fan can tell you this is a real bad sign for Oakland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMD Posted February 27, 2006 Author Share Posted February 27, 2006 Hmm....Raider offensive coordinator from 1982 to 1994. That means he was the offensive coordinator of the 1983 Team that beat the Redskins 38-9 in the Superbowl. Funny how the media always focuses on the negative when it comes to the Raiders. 1343587[/snapback] Errr... no. He was only the offensive coordinator for the last couple of seasons I believe. Prior to that he was either a QB or RB position coach and certainly was in 1983. I cannot tell you exactly the years he was an OC because that was back before the internet was invented and the OAK web site still has not updated to show Walsh as the coach (with bio information). I want to say he was only an OC for 2 or 3 years though, roughly half the amount of time he ran his bed and breakfast and horse farm. I think the term "stud" has all different meanings to him than what fantasy football thinks of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Score 1 Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 I think Dick Vermiel did ok after crying in the boothe for 20 years, and Joe Gibbs did OK after running a NASCAR team for 10.1341032[/snapback] I think both Vermiel & Gibbs had a tad more in the pedigree department when they returned to Coaching than Walsh.....however, point taken.It is odd, I would be a liar to deny it, but it's not as outrageous as it's being portrayed.1341032[/snapback] Again, point taken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voltaire Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 I don't know the first thing about this guy, but my gut (good ol' gut feeling) thinks this may be all an overreaction. The guy's been around football for a long time in a high position. Since this is who Art Shell wants, I have no problem with it. It's a long layoff -big deal. There's a lot of rust between him and Shell (and Al), and we'll probably see something boneheaded as they get up to speed to laugh about, but probably minor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Return Of S&B Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 (edited) Errr... no. He was only the offensive coordinator for the last couple of seasons I believe. Prior to that he was either a QB or RB position coach and certainly was in 1983. I cannot tell you exactly the years he was an OC because that was back before the internet was invented and the OAK web site still has not updated to show Walsh as the coach (with bio information). I want to say he was only an OC for 2 or 3 years though, roughly half the amount of time he ran his bed and breakfast and horse farm. I think the term "stud" has all different meanings to him than what fantasy football thinks of. 1343729[/snapback] I stand corrected...he was QB and WR coach from 1982 to 1988, before Shell got hired and Shanahan got canned. During Shell's previous 6 year run as the Raiders coach 1989-1994, Walsh was his offensive coordinator. During that time the Raiders compiled an overall regular season record of 54-38 and playoff record of 2-3. I am not saying he's a genius or even someone I am happy with, but if Art had some success in the past with Walsh as his coordinator, I expect them to have similar results as they did in the past. Shell's winning percentage isnt all world, but is very similar to Gruden's 4 year stint when he coached the Raiders from 1998-2001. Edited February 27, 2006 by Return Of S&B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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