Because the OAK offense is so bad their opponents usually just play it safe and run the ball against them. This keeps the scores low and gives the OAK good statistics. People who never watch the games think OAK has a good defense because all they know about are the stats.
I only mention him because his brother can get him to do whatever he wants him to do. You don't have that kind of influence with anyone else and since you can't be a DC and a HC at the same time that would be the perfect solution. Other than that I could care less about Rob Ryan and if he can't get him he can hire his father as an advisor.
I went to a few oakland games this year (they have the best tailgate parties, im sorry) and they truely suck on "D".
Every time I hear his name, I can't help thinking how his timeout extended the Patriots' undefeated season. I don't know how well that bodes for his head coaching career; the last thing we need is another garbage clock manager like Herm Edwards. You could've said the same thing about him before he came here. "Oh, he's a strong personality, nobody fucks with him, everyone plays for him!" Sure, he has produced results on defense. That leaves an entire opposite side of the ball that needs to be worked out. Additionally, you flat-out NEED to be able to manage timeouts and challenges. It's the one thing that's held Andy Reid back from a ring all these years.
I recall defensive guru Buddy Ryan, once hired by Arizona as head coach, proclaiming to all Cardinal fans, "You've picked yourselves a winner!" The Cards ended up with season records of 4-12 over the next two years... I still chuckle whenever I see classic footage of Buddy punching Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride on the Houston Oilers Sidelines back in ~93.
To run that though you need the right people. I don't think we're there yet with linebackers and safties.
Someone here earlier said they've heard Rex isn't the smartest guy around. That's okay with me. Mangini was seen as a brilliant football mind...a great student of film; great X's and O's understanding; very technical but that didn't pan out. I think Mangini often went above his players' heads with the technicalities. Football players know their jobs, but they're not all Rhodes Scholars like Pennington. Give me a guy who's inventive and more importantly, fire and passion. That could be the only props I could give his bro coming in as DC. Oak's def has been far from spectacular during the Lane Kiffin/Cable tenure, but Rob is a fire breather. I don't want any Herm Edwards or Bob Sutton types. Be inventive, get pissed, get psyched, and choose players who have instinct rather than ones who can study hard but fail the test. If clock management is an issue, I think that's a key area that Westhoff could contribute if he was retained
