AFC West: Kevin Ross

It really won’t matter until the moves become official, but there is another report that the Oakland Raiders will likely make major changes on the defensive side of the ball.

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.

Raiders deny firing report

January, 3, 2012
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According to the Oakland Tribune, the Raiders are denying a report that several members of the defensive coaching staff have been fired.

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.

AFC West coaching staffs

March, 16, 2011
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Thanks to ESPN Stats and Information’s Russell S. Baxter, here is a look at the complete coaching staffs of each AFC West team:

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

Chiefs honor Kevin Ross

March, 3, 2011
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Defensive back Kevin Ross -- now an assistant coach in Oakland -- is the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2011 inductee to their hall of fame.

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.”
Denver signed Miami nickel cornerback Nathan Jones on Friday evening. He has three interceptions in six NFL seasons.

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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Chargers cut loose four coaches

January, 13, 2009
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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.

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