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Art Shell took issue with quarterback Andrew Walter's criticisms of the Oakland Raiders' struggling offense and appears ready to make a switch back to Aaron Brooks.
Walter took shots at coordinator Tom Walsh's offense after Sunday's 17-13 loss to Denver, saying there is not enough "depth" in the playbook, the offense was too predictable, and that the team needed to utilize more quick-developing plays than five- and seven-step drops.
That didn't sit well with Shell, who has fiercely defended Walsh all season long from criticisms that he is out of touch after being away from the NFL for more than a decade.
"You have to be accountable for what you do," Shell said Monday. "To start making statements about what's in and what's not in, then you need to take a hard look at what's there. Obviously, I don't want to get into a contest with a young man but for him to come out and say those things, [that's] totally off-base as far as I'm concerned."
Walter was unavailable for comment Monday, but had plenty to say after Oakland's latest loss.
"We need to make it more complex," Walter said, referring to the Raiders' playbook. "I'd like more swing routes, flat routes, short stuff. There are certain things I'd like to see."
Shell did not respond to criticisms of the offense and coaching staff earlier in the season from receiver Randy Moss, saying everyone can "speak their mind." But the coach wasn't as accepting of the comments from Walter, who is in his second year in the NFL.
"When you speak out, you need to know what you're talking about when you make those statements," Shell said. "You can speak out. I've said that before. Guys are capable of speaking out but when you start going out and you start airing your laundry in public, then you've got to have some accountability for that, too."
Shell said Walter's comments wouldn't play into the decision about who would start at quarterback Sunday at Kansas City, but he appears ready to give the job back to Brooks.
Brooks began the season as the starter before straining a pectoral muscle in the first quarter of the second game. The injury took longer to heal than the Raiders originally thought, giving Walter an extensive opportunity to prove he was ready to be an NFL starter.
Brooks returned to practice two weeks ago and said Monday he's ready to play in games as soon as the coaches give him the go-ahead.
"I'm going to take a hard look at it and see where we are with him," Shell said. "He's been throwing the last couple of weeks. I thought last week he threw the ball a whole lot better. ... I think he's very close. We'll see how he goes."
Brooks, who was just 6-for-14 for 68 yards before getting hurt, said the problems on the NFL's worst offense are more about execution than play calling. Brooks has made 84 starts in his career and said he believed he gives the team a better chance to win than the inexperienced Walter does.
"I think we have a greater chance," Brooks said. "I possess some skills that with my experience gives us a greater chance."
Walter has shown sporadic signs of success, but needs to do much more to overcome a poor offensive line. Walter has completed just 48.1 percent of his passes and thrown only three touchdowns and nine interceptions. He has also lost seven fumbles and been sacked 40 times.
Walter said he has asked for changes in the offense and the coaches have sometimes listened to his suggestions.
Shell said Walsh's offense runs many of the same plays as other teams in the NFL and does not call more deep drops than many other teams. He also said that the players have more say on what plays get called than he has seen in the past.
Shell also was upset about comments made by Moss, who blamed his frequent dropped passes this season on a loss of focus because he's not happy with what's going on around the team.
"My concentration and focus level tends to go down sometimes when I'm in a bad mood," Moss said. "So all I can say is if you put me in a good situation and make me happy, man, you get good results."
Shell said he "hates" to hear comments like that.
"You're paid to play a game that you've played for many years and that you love and once you hit the field, you compete," Shell said. "That's the way I see it."
Sources: AP
Walter took shots at coordinator Tom Walsh's offense after Sunday's 17-13 loss to Denver, saying there is not enough "depth" in the playbook, the offense was too predictable, and that the team needed to utilize more quick-developing plays than five- and seven-step drops.
That didn't sit well with Shell, who has fiercely defended Walsh all season long from criticisms that he is out of touch after being away from the NFL for more than a decade.
"You have to be accountable for what you do," Shell said Monday. "To start making statements about what's in and what's not in, then you need to take a hard look at what's there. Obviously, I don't want to get into a contest with a young man but for him to come out and say those things, [that's] totally off-base as far as I'm concerned."
Walter was unavailable for comment Monday, but had plenty to say after Oakland's latest loss.
"We need to make it more complex," Walter said, referring to the Raiders' playbook. "I'd like more swing routes, flat routes, short stuff. There are certain things I'd like to see."
Shell did not respond to criticisms of the offense and coaching staff earlier in the season from receiver Randy Moss, saying everyone can "speak their mind." But the coach wasn't as accepting of the comments from Walter, who is in his second year in the NFL.
"When you speak out, you need to know what you're talking about when you make those statements," Shell said. "You can speak out. I've said that before. Guys are capable of speaking out but when you start going out and you start airing your laundry in public, then you've got to have some accountability for that, too."
Shell said Walter's comments wouldn't play into the decision about who would start at quarterback Sunday at Kansas City, but he appears ready to give the job back to Brooks.
Brooks began the season as the starter before straining a pectoral muscle in the first quarter of the second game. The injury took longer to heal than the Raiders originally thought, giving Walter an extensive opportunity to prove he was ready to be an NFL starter.
Brooks returned to practice two weeks ago and said Monday he's ready to play in games as soon as the coaches give him the go-ahead.
"I'm going to take a hard look at it and see where we are with him," Shell said. "He's been throwing the last couple of weeks. I thought last week he threw the ball a whole lot better. ... I think he's very close. We'll see how he goes."
Brooks, who was just 6-for-14 for 68 yards before getting hurt, said the problems on the NFL's worst offense are more about execution than play calling. Brooks has made 84 starts in his career and said he believed he gives the team a better chance to win than the inexperienced Walter does.
"I think we have a greater chance," Brooks said. "I possess some skills that with my experience gives us a greater chance."
Walter has shown sporadic signs of success, but needs to do much more to overcome a poor offensive line. Walter has completed just 48.1 percent of his passes and thrown only three touchdowns and nine interceptions. He has also lost seven fumbles and been sacked 40 times.
Walter said he has asked for changes in the offense and the coaches have sometimes listened to his suggestions.
Shell said Walsh's offense runs many of the same plays as other teams in the NFL and does not call more deep drops than many other teams. He also said that the players have more say on what plays get called than he has seen in the past.
Shell also was upset about comments made by Moss, who blamed his frequent dropped passes this season on a loss of focus because he's not happy with what's going on around the team.
"My concentration and focus level tends to go down sometimes when I'm in a bad mood," Moss said. "So all I can say is if you put me in a good situation and make me happy, man, you get good results."
Shell said he "hates" to hear comments like that.
"You're paid to play a game that you've played for many years and that you love and once you hit the field, you compete," Shell said. "That's the way I see it."
Sources: AP