Oakland Raiders managing general partner Al Davis still hasn’t decided on a head coach, or at least he isn’t sharing his thoughts on the matter.
However, he also isn’t letting his decision-making process inhibit his work toward assembling a coaching staff.
On Friday, Davis concluded a series of interviews with a handful of the assistant coaches who worked under Lane Kiffin, whom Davis fired Sept. 30 after four games and replaced with offensive line coach Tom Cable on an interim basis.
The contracts of every coach expired Tuesday. At this point, Lionel Washington is the only coach under contract on a staff that featured 20 coaches last season, and he was hired Tuesday.
Even so, defensive backs coach Darren Perry, quarterbacks coach John DiFilippo and wide receivers coach James Lofton met with Davis about the prospect of sticking around, even if it isn’t in the same role they filled last season.
Lofton was fired Tuesday despite having one year remaining on his contract. He now is under consideration for a new role, perhaps in the front office, a person familiar with the process said.
Washington is expected to take Perry’s place as the secondary coach. Therefore, Perry would hold a new title if he is brought back.
The more pressing matter involves hiring a head coach. To date, Davis has interviewed Cable, New York Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and Green Bay Packers assistant head coach/linebackers coach Winston Moss.
Gilbride interviewed Thursday afternoon. Raiders senior executive John Herrera said, “It went well. He had a good interview.”
Cable is believed to be the front-runner based on his team’s impressive finish — the Raiders won their final two games — his familiarity with the players and the fact Davis has allowed him to take part in the interviewing of assistant coaching candidates.
Still, Herrera said Friday afternoon, Davis intends to interview one or two more coaching candidates before he makes a decision. An interview might be conducted as soon as today, Herrera said.
Davis reached his decision to interview other candidates for the coaching vacancy before news broke Friday that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired former Raiders coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen.
Herrera said it would be reckless to speculate on the possibility of Gruden and Allen returning to the Raiders.
Two front-office people said they refused to rule out the possibility. However, they added that they would “be shocked” if it happened.
In other news, Davis intends to interview linebackers coach Don Martindale, perhaps as soon as today, for the defensive coordinator vacancy created by the departure of Rob Ryan.
Martindale has spent the past five seasons with the Raiders. He worked closely with Ryan and is considered well-versed in the kind of defensive scheme Davis prefers.
