The Oakland Raiders are once again beginning a new era. The team has officially announced that Jack Del Rio will be taking over as head coach after Dennis Allen was fired last season and Tony Sparano was not retained after being the interim fill in. While the Raiders only one a small handful of games last season, they showed some real potential for the future as several young players stepped up during the year. Del Rio certainly has more to work with than other coaches who stepped into Oakland and it begins with quarterback Derek Carr.
Owner Mark Davis announced the hire on Thursday after the team had interviewed a slew of candidates. Del Rio was the defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos after helping the team to three-straight AFC West titles and a Super Bowl appearance. The Raiders are hopeful that he can bring some of that championship experience to Oakland as they continue to rebuild the roster and franchise.
"After a thorough interview and evaluation process, we are excited to announce Jack Del Rio as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders," Davis said, via the team website. "I have no doubt that he will make a significant impact and help reach the goal of everyone in this building, which is to win championships."
Oakland's future begins with Carr who will return for his second season as the starting quarterback. While Carr did not win too many games in his rookie season, he showed all the potential needed to be successful in years to come. According to wide receiver James Jones, Carr will have a long and productive future for the Raiders.
One player that might not be around to see the growth of the franchise is Maurice Jones-Drew. Despite having one more year remaining on his contract, most do not expect to see the running back return to the Raiders. However, Jones-Drew continues to praise the franchise, noting that Del Rio will be very successful for the team.
"I'm happy that coach Del Rio got a second chance," Jones-Drew said via CSN Bay Area. "He was a really good coach while I was with him in Jacksonville. With his mindset and the talent of this team, great things are on the way for this franchise."
The Raiders are expected to bring in playmakers to help Carr out. That could include drafting Amari Cooper, trading for Larry Fitzgerald or Mike Wallace and acquiring a free agent like Frank Gore or CJ Spiller. The Raiders are on the upswing as they continue to put the right players in place for the future.