pete carroll
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Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll.
The Las Vegas Raiders have been a chaotic organization for years, so they decided to hire Pete Carroll as their head coach in the offseason in hopes that he could at least steady the ship. It wasn’t a bad strategy considering his track record of turning teams around.
Unfortunately, it appears that the game may have passed the 74-year-old coach by. The Raiders are 2-8 and aren’t doing anything well. It’s obvious that the team needs to focus on rebuilding, but that doesn’t make sense with the oldest head coach in NFL history employed.
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report believes the Raiders need to make a drastic decision and fire Carroll after one season.
“Instead of putting the future in Carroll’s hands amid a disastrous season, team brass should allow general manager John Spytek to have input on a new head coaching hire,” Moton wrote. “Carroll and his staff have refused to play much of an 11-player rookie draft class, which indicates a possible disconnect between Spytek and the coaching staff.”
The Raiders fired both of their last two head coaches before they finished their second seasons, which isn’t a recipe for success. Giving up on Carroll so quickly would be another admission of failure. That said, it’s better for the Raiders to cut their losses now than to continue employing a coach who isn’t the right fit.
Klint Kubiak Named Possible Replacement
With the Raiders rebuilding, it would be wise to bring in a young head coach. There isn’t a robust list of great candidates right now, but there are some promising names.
One coach who is bound to garner some interest is Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Moton believes that’s the coach who should replace Carroll in Las Vegas.
“Last offseason, the Raiders missed out on Ben Johnson, who has led the Chicago Bears to an NFC North-leading 7-3 record and elevated quarterback Caleb Williams,” Moton added. “Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady should lead the charge for Klint Kubiak, who’s the play-caller for the Seattle Seahawks’ third-ranked scoring offense.
“If Kubiak declines the offer, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady is also a quality candidate. Las Vegas must swing for the fences to hire an innovative, play-calling head coach who will develop its quarterback of the future.”
Is Kubiak the Right Head Coaching Candidate?
Kubiak is enjoying a meteoric rise this season. He showed some real promise with the New Orleans Saints last year, but injuries ravaged that offense. He moved to Seattle last offseason and has quickly turned them into an offensive juggernaut.
Kubiak has been coaching in the NFL since 2013, and he’s also the son of former Super Bowl-winning head coach Gary Kubiak, so he has plenty of experience. Plus, he’s only 38, which is a perfect age to embrace a rebuilding franchise.
The Raiders have been going with retreads and defensive-minded coaches for over a decade. The last up-and-coming offensive coach they hired was Hue Jackson in 2011, and they only gave him one season. It’s time for the Raiders to go with a young offensive playcaller and give them time to build things.