Oakland Raiders: Five Who Should Be Considered For OC Job In 2018
By Kevin Saito
If anybody is concerned about continuity and saddling Carr and the offense with yet another new face in the offensive coordinator’s chair, Tice could be the answer that satisfies everybody.
Having been Oakland’s offensive line coach since Del Rio took charge of the team, the Raiders have excelled along that front. With a power blocking scheme that emphasizes a strong rushing attack that will open up the passing game, Oakland’s offense (pre-Downing) flourished.
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Tice has done an amazing job of transforming Oakland’s offensive line into one of the league’s best. The offense flourished when the line was allowed to line up, get off the ball, and simply start blowing people off of it.
Last season, that power scheme translated into the league’s sixth-best rushing attack, the sixth-best offense overall, and the seventh-ranked scoring unit.
That, of course, all changed with the elevation of Downing. The Raiders moved away from the power scheme and into a zone-blocking scheme that doesn’t play to the strengths of this group. Tice understands the importance of the run – obviously, given his work with Oakland’s offensive line.
As the offensive coordinator in Chicago in 2012, Tice and the Bears had the league’s tenth-ranked rushing attack, with the tenth-most rushing attempts in the league – which mirrors what the Raiders were doing pre-Downing.
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Of course, Tice would also have one of the most electrifying passing games to work with, which would be a stark contrast to his Jay Cutler-led Bears team.
Tice has experience and he has experience doing exactly what made this offense so special last season. Continuity would not be an issue since he’s been with the team since Del Rio took over, and he can help re-install that rugged, in your face, line up and punch you in the mouth mentality this team had last season – something this team is sorely lacking this season.