Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie in an Awkward Position
By Kevin Saito
Reggie McKenzie is now more than three years into his tenure as the general manager of the Oakland Raiders and needless to say, the results on his watch haven’t been good. McKenzie has overseen a record of 11-37, a string of failed free agent signings, draft pick busts, and had his hand picked head coach fired four games into the season. As the Raiders enter the offseason, McKenzie’s track record has led to an interesting, but unmistakeable power shift within the organization, and has left him in a very awkward position.
Once the Raiders finished their disappointing 2014 campaign, owner Mark Davis took command of the search for a new head coach to replace the fired Dennis Allen, putting himself out front and center. Davis made it clear that he would be taking a more heavily involved role in the process of interviewing and selecting the next head coach of the team.
“I know my limitations and I’m not an X’s and O’s guy. So I need somebody who knows X’s and O’s to sit with me and ask all the football questions.”
Davis’ involvement in the search and hiring process was a direct contrast to the last time the Raiders went looking for a head coach. That year was 2012 and was McKenzie’s first year on the job. They needed a new head coach because McKenzie had fired Hue Jackson – the only coach since 2002 who’d guided the Raiders to a non-losing record (8-8) – and hired an unproven and inexperienced Dennis Allen to run the team.
Despite going to great lengths to convince people that he still supported his GM, given Davis’ very public involvement so far this offseason, it’s hard to believe he actually still retains the same level of confidence in McKenzie. Not only did Davis insert himself into the head coaching search, he seemingly usurped McKenzie’s power by bringing in Raiders icon John Madden to give him advice and help oversee the entire process.
In an interview with Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News, Davis said:
"“I know my limitations and I’m not an X’s and O’s guy. So I need somebody who knows X’s and O’s to sit with me and ask all the football questions. The other stuff, I can talk about—macro theory, all those things. But when you put the tape on and start looking at football and why did you do this or do that, I want somebody who knows why you did this.”"
One would think though, that as a former player and somebody who’s been around the league for 30 years McKenzie would have a good head for the “X’s and O’s” of the game, and that he could advise Davis in that capacity. But that of course, speaks to the possibility that despite his public stance, Davis’ confidence in his general manager is waning. If it hasn’t already evaporated entirely.
That idea is only reinforced by the recent reports stating that McKenzie was all in with bringing Tony Sparano back in 2015, but was contradicted by Madden who was a strong proponent of Jack Del Rio. Ultimately, Davis took Madden’s advice and has hired Del Rio to lead the team which all but neutered McKenzie in the process. The belief that Del Rio will be given much of the responsibility for helping shape the roster through the draft and free agency further undermines McKenzie by seemingly stripping away even more of his responsibilities.
It’s not hard to see why Davis’ confidence in McKenzie has been shaken to the core. After all, it was McKenzie who burned money and draft picks to bring in Matt Flynn – releasing him after just six months with the team. It was McKenzie who burned more money and more draft picks to bring in Matt Schaub – who was then beaten out by rookie Derek Carr. He burned a first round pick on DJ Hayden who, when he’s managed to stay healthy, hasn’t looked anything like a first round pick. And of course, who can forget the Rodger Saffold debacle?
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McKenzie’s run hasn’t been all bad, and he has had some success with his personnel decisions. Some of his free agent signings have worked out better than expected. And though he shouldn’t get too much of the credit since they essentially fell into his lap, he did draft Carr and Khalil Mack last year. He’s also drafted Gabe Jackson, Latavius Murray, Sio Moore, Justin Ellis, TJ Carrie and others who look like they can play at a high level for the Raiders for years to come.
But McKenzie’s shortcomings have been more numerous than his attributes, and his failures have far overshadowed his successes. If the legendary Al Davis were still alive and running the team, McKenzie would have been fired two and a half seasons ago.
But Mark is running the show now and things are different. He’s more patient than his father, but even his patience has its limits. He inherited a mess and guided the organization out of salary cap Hell. But given McKenzie’s seemingly diminishing role with the team, it seems that Davis’s patience may have indeed hit that limit. Though he has two years left on his original five year deal, the way this offseason has begun to shake out leaves McKenzie in something of an awkward position.