Raiders reportedly hire Greg Olson as offensive coordinator

January 19, 2013|By Dan Loumena

Jaguars quarterbacks coach Greg Olson talks to quarterback Blaine Gabbert… (Stephen Morton / Associated…)

The Oakland Raiders have reportedly hired former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback coach Greg Olson to be offensive coordinator.

Although Coach Dennis Allen hasn't confirmed it, the Contra Costa Times and Associated Press have reported that Olson has been hired.

The team, which went 4-12 this season, had been looking to find a coordinator who could take advantage of dynamic running back Darren McFadden. Olson seems to be the right person, having guided offenses recently with St. Louis and Tampa Bay that capitalized on the talents of Steven Jackson and LeGarrette Blount, who were both 1,000-yard rushers.

Olson has been an assistant coach or offensive coordinator in the NFL for 11 seasons. He will try to help turn around an offense that ranked 18th overall and 28th in rushing.

"I'm not an offensive guru, but I do know when Darren is running certain plays, it's pretty doggone good, and he had some last year,” Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie said earlier this week when the club was interviewing candidates. “But when you talk about a scheme, he's not a lateral mover. He's not one of those guys. As soon as he can go north and south, that's when he's at his best.”

McFadden played in 12 games last season, rushing for 707 yards in 216 attempts for an average of 3.3 yards a carry with only two touchdowns. His best season came in 2010 when he played in 13 games and gained 1,157 yards and scored seven touchdowns rushing and three receiving.

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