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Raiders defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan won’t be back next season, a source close to the coach confirmed. Yahoo’s Mike Silver reported this morning that Bresnahan and cornerbacks coach Rod Woodson, linebackers coach Greg Biekert and safeties coach Kevin Ross have all been told that their contracts will not be renewed when they expire on Jan. 15.
Chris Townsend of 95.7 The Game was the first to report the firings Tuesday, but the Raiders denied the report. (Townsend also had the entire staff being fired Sunday, but it’s all good.)
The Raiders had the 29th-ranked defense in the league this season and had franchise worsts in touchdown passes allowed (31), yards per carry (5.1), yards passing (4,262) and total yards (6,201), while giving up the third most points (433) in team history.
Bresnahan was hired by late owner Al Davis last February as a defensive assistant, but the Raiders did not immediately specify his duties. He was announced as the defensive coordinator a month later — his second time taking that job with the Raiders.
Woodson and Biekert played for Bresnahan during his stint as defensive coordinator of the Raiders from 2000-03. Oakland won the AFC West in his first three seasons and went to the Super Bowl following his third year in 2002.
The 31 touchdown passes allowed reflects on Woodson and Ross, as well as the lack of quick development for rookie cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke. Not to mention Stanford Routt’s league-high 17 penalties.
Jackson talked up the third-round pick all preseason, but signed Lito Sheppard off the street when injuries hit and wound up starting him over Van Dyke down the stretch. Jackson was asked if he was happy with Van Dyke’s progress on Monday and he said yes, but he never put the 6-foot-1 rookie in last Sunday when 6-5 Malcom Floyd kept abusing the 5-10 Sheppard.
As for Biekert, Jackson has been saying for a while now how good Kamerion Wimbley is and how much potential Rolando McClain has. He can’t just get rid of those guys so the linebackers coach hits the road and hopefully some new blood there and at defensive coordinator can help turn around the 5.1 yards-against-rushing average.
Source: blog.sfgate.com