AFC West: Kevin Ross
Another report of Bresnahan's demise
In a series of tweets by Mike Silver of Yahoo.com, Silver confirms a report by Bay Area radio station, 95.7 The Game, that the Raiders are firing defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan, linebackers coach Greg Biekert and defensive backs coach Rod Woodson and Kevin Ross. The Raiders denied the radio report earlier in the week. Silver reports that the group will be fired effective two weeks from the date of the Raiders’ final game. That will be Jan. 15.
It been long been thought Bresnahan would be fired. The Raiders’ defense didn’t make any strides in 2011 and it gave up way too many big plays. The name of former Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Bresnahan.
It is interesting that Biekert and Woodson are reportedly being fired. They were former Raiders’ players and the Raiders usually keep their own around. Former owner Al Davis, who died in October, had a lot to do with hiring Biekert and Woodson and I wonder if he would have given the young coaches more time to develop in their roles.
Whatever happens down the road, the Raiders have to improve on defense. Oakland had problems with past coordinators. The bottom line is there is talent on this unit, but it has to develop and it has to make more plays regardless who is running the defense.
A local radio station reported that defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan, linebackers coach Greg Biekert and secondary coaches Kevin Ross and Rod Woodson have been fired. A team spokesman told the paper the report is not true.
Oakland coach Hue Jackson couldn’t comment on his staff, but he said a decision would be made soon.
It has been widely expected that Bresnahan will be fired. Perhaps these changes will happen and I could see big changes on the defensive staff because the unit played so poorly all season.
Biekert and Woodson are former Oakland players. They were hired into their roles by Jackson last year. There was great excitement among Raiders fans that the two were brought in and it would be interesting if they last only one year.
Again, there is nothing official here, but don’t be surprised if we hear something concrete on changes soon.
Denver: John Fox
Dennis Allen, defensive coordinator
Mike McCoy, offensive coordinator
Jeff Rodgers, special teams coordinator
Clancy Barone, tight ends
Keith Burns, assistant special teams
Brian Callahan, quality control/offense
Adam Gase, quarterbacks
Sam Garnes, assistant secondary
Justin Lovett, strength and conditioning assistant
Dave Magazu, offensive line
Ron Milus, secondary
Wayne Nunnely, defensive line
Jay Rodgers, quality control/defense
Greg Saporta, strength and conditioning assistant
Richard Smith, linebackers
Eric Studesville, running backs
Tyke Tolbert, wide receivers
Rich Tuten, strength and conditioning
Kansas City: Todd Haley
Romeo Crennel, defensive coordinator
Bill Muir, offensive coordinator/offensive line
Maurice Carthon, assistant head coach
Richie Anderson, wide receivers
Mike Clark, strength and conditioning
Gary Gibbs, linebackers
Steve Hoffman, special teams
Bernie Parmalee, tight ends
Pat Perles, assistant offensiveBe Line
Anthony Pleasant, defensive Line
Brent Salazar, assistant strength and conditioning
Nick Sirianni, offensive quality control
Otis Smith, defensive quality control
Emmitt Thomas, defensive backs
Adam Zimmer, defensive assistant/assistant linebackers
Jim Zorn, quarterbacks
Oakland: Hue Jackson
Al Saunders, offensive coordinator
Chuck Bresnahan, defensive coordinator
John Fassel, special teams coordinator
Greg Biekert, linebackers
Chuck Bresnahan, defensive coach
Willie Brown, squad development
Adam Henry, tight ends
Sanjay Lal, wide receivers
Brad Roll, strength and conditioning
Kevin Ross, assistant coach, safeties
Kelly Skipper, running backs
Mike Waufle, defensive line
Steve Wisniewski, assistant offensive line
Rod Woodson, assistant coach, cornerbacks
Bob Wylie, offensive line
San Diego: Norv Turner
Clarence Shelmon, offensive coordinator
Greg Manusky, defensive coordinator
Rich Bisaccia, special teams
Cris Dishman, assistant secondary
Steve Gera, coaches assistant
Hal Hunter, offensive line
Jeff Hurd, strength and conditioning
Don Johnson, defensive line
Charlie Joiner, wide receivers
Jason Michael, tight ends
John Pagano, linebackers
John Ramsdell, quarterbacks
Vernon Stephens, assistant strength and conditioning
Mike Sullivan, offensive line
Steve Wilks, assistant head coach-secondary
Greg Williams, assistant linebackers
Ollie Wilson, running backs
He is the 41st member of the hall of fame. Ross will be honored this weekend and he will be enshrined during a weekend this fall, perhaps when the Raiders visit the Chiefs or perhaps during the Raiders’ bye week.
Ross was a seventh-round pick by Kansas City in 1984. He started 144 games and had 30 interceptions in 11 seasons with the Chiefs.
“On behalf of our family and the entire Chiefs organization, we are extremely honored to announce Kevin Ross’ election into the Chiefs Hall of Fame,” Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said. “Kevin went from an unknown seventh-round pick to one of the top performers in the defensive backfield in the NFL during his tenure. He had a true appreciation for the game and we are excited to welcome him into the Chiefs Hall of Fame.”
This may be a sign that second-year player Alphonso Smith may not be completley ready to contribute. Smith was replaced by undrafted free agent Tony Carter late last season. Denver gave up its 2010 No. 1 pick (No. 14 overall) to Seattle to draft Smith at No. 37 last year.
- Kansas City re-signed backup running back Jackie Battle. He played in 17 games the past three seasons for the Chiefs.
- Former Denver starting guard Ben Hamilton is visiting with the Seahawks. Denver does not want to bring him back.
- Here is a chance to keep up with all the free- agency movement on ESPN.com.
- Oakland brought back left tackle Khalif Barnes. He was hurt last year, his first in Oakland. If he stays healthy, he could vie for playing time.
- Oakland hired Kevin Ross to work with the secondary. He replaces Clancy Pendergast, who quit Oakland two weeks after he took over as the defensive coordinator at Cal.
- New England re-signed guard Stephen Neal. He was a considered a possibility in Denver and Kansas City.
- Detroit cut massive defensive tackle Grady Jackson. Jackson, 37, could interest both Oakland and San Diego. He could fit both the 4-3 and 3-4 defenses.
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
The Chargers' strong finish didn't save some assistant coaches.
Two days after the team was dispatched in the AFC divisional playoffs by Pittsburgh, coach Norv Turner made some changes.
Secondary coach Bill Bradley and tight ends coach Clancy Barone were released from their contracts, according to the team in a statement. It was also announced the contracts for offensive line coach Jack Henry and assistant defensive secondary coach Kevin Ross will not be extended.
"We appreciate the contributions and hard work of these four men and wish them only the best in their future endeavors," Turner said.
The Chargers fired defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell at the midway mark of the 2008 season. The team will be looking for another defensive coordinator if Cottrell's replacement, Ron Rivera, gets a head coaching job this offseason. He is interviewing in Detroit on Wednesday.
AFC WEST SCOREBOARD
Thursday, 9/5
Sunday, 9/8
1:00 PM ET Oakland Indianapolis 1:00 PM ET Kansas City Jacksonville
Monday, 9/9
10:15 PM ET Houston San Diego - ESPN/WatchESPN
- Tickets
- Conversation

