Oakland Raiders coach Dennis Allen is believed to be safe. His top offensive assistant is not.
The Raiders were expected to fire offensive coordinator Greg Knapp and other offensive staff members this week, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, and a source informed of the news confirmed to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport that Knapp, linebackers coach Johnny Holland and two other unnamed offensive coaches are out.
The Raiders later announced in a release that Knapp, Holland, special teams coordinator Steve Hoffman and offensive line coach Frank Pollack have been relieved of duties.
Knapp preferred a zone scheme in the running game, which collapsed this season. The Raiders finished 28th in the NFL in rushing at just 89 yards per game. They were a top-seven rushing unit over the previous two years. Their supposed star rusher, Darren McFadden, finished with 707 rushing yards and a 3.3 yards-per-carry average.
"I don't want to speak on it anymore," McFadden said Sunday. "It is what it is. The season is over now. I am just looking forward to next year."
McFadden is expected to be back next season on the final year of his contract, but he has been among the Raiders' biggest problems. He's rarely healthy or productive for long. That's not on Knapp. Oakland can't count on McFadden as a centerpiece for its offense next season. Carson Palmer figures to be back as the starting quarterback because it's too expensive to get rid of him. On a list of Raiders problems, Palmer actually isn't too high.
Multiple reports, including one by Fox Sports insider and NFL Network contributor Jay Glazer, have suggested that Allen will remain after a 4-12 season. New GM Reggie McKenzie hand-picked Allen and will give him more than one season to turn things around. That's more than the last Raiders coach got.
Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.
