The Oakland Raiders are going to need a new offensive coordinator, as it appears that Bill Musgrave will not be returning in 2017, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Raiders move on from OC Bill Musgrave to promote QB coach Todd Downing
Oakland may have a replacement already on staff.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Under Musgrave’s direction, the Raiders had the sixth-ranked offense in the NFL this season. Derek Carr had a career year at quarterback, completing over 63 percent of his passes, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards, and throwing for 28 touchdowns against just six interceptions before his season-ending injury.
Musgrave was hired by the Raiders in January of 2015 upon giving Jack Del Rio the head coaching position. His deal was expiring at the end of this season, and his replacement is expected to be quarterbacks coach Todd Downing:
Downing was hired shortly after Musgrave was, after having served on the Buffalo Bills staff the previous season in the same capacity. Downing is just 36 years old, but has been working with NFL teams for 10 years as some form of assistant.
His best work might be with the Detroit Lions as quarterbacks coach from 2011-2013, in which Matthew Stafford had his three best seasons as a quarterback.
Defensively, Ken Norton Jr. will be back as the team’s defensive coordinator, despite the team having the 26th-ranked defense in the NFL.
With Oakland’s offense being one of the better in the NFL ones this season, it appears that the only true reason was that they didn’t want to lose Downing, as Breer indicated.
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