ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) - Oakland coach Jack Del Rio confirmed that the Raiders plan to incorporate the no-huddle offense into their system next season.
Just how much the Raiders will employ the hurry-up schemes will likely vary from week to week depending on the opponent. But Del Rio, a former NFL linebacker whose background is on defense, said that it will be a consistent part of the offense.
Speaking at an informal lunch with reporters on Thursday, Del Rio outlined some of the plans he has for the team in 2015. He also spoke about his relationship with offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, whom he fired when both men were coaching in Jacksonville.
Del Rio’s comments on Oakland using the no-huddle come on the heels of reports quoting quarterback Derek Carr saying the Raiders would have it as a significant part of their offense.
“We will have that ability to attack people in that manner,” Del Rio said. “Bill Musgrave has a wealth of knowledge. We’re going to, as a staff, sit down and determine what the Raider way is going forward. But I do know that that is an element that he brings to the table.”
Musgrave was the quarterbacks coach in Philadelphia last season and said last month he intends to bring some of the elements of the Eagles’ high-octane offense to Oakland.
The Raiders finished the 2014 season last in the league in total offense and rushing. They were also 31st in scoring at 15.8 points a game.
Using the no-huddle, Del Rio said, will enable the Raiders to be more diverse on offense.
“That’s something that we will want to be able to do when we decide we want to do it,” Del Rio said. “We want to be able to go at different speeds. If we want to go fast, we’ll go fast. If we want to play at a no-huddle but methodical pace, we can do that. If we want to huddle and really milk it, we’ll know how to do that.”
Del Rio has spent the past month getting acclimated to his new job. He recently filled the final vacancies on his coaching staff and has been reviewing Oakland’s roster while prepping for the NFL scouting combine next week.
He hasn’t been back to Denver since mid-January - Del Rio’s wife had their belongings boxed and packed in two short days - and is hopeful of finding a new home in the Berkeley hills, about 15 minutes north of the Raiders facilities.
The biggest item on his to-do list was reaching out to his players and getting more familiar with the team’s roster.
“I have a much greater reference point in terms of the building, the makeup of the team and some of the things we need to do going forward,” Del Rio said. “We’ll clearly increase the talent level but I think it’s important that we develop the players that are here. We want to create a competitive environment where guys enjoy coming to work.”
Del Rio’s decision to hire Musgrave as Oakland’s offensive coordinator seemed to be a head-scratching move given the history between the two men. Del Rio coached Jacksonville from 2003-11 and had Musgrave as his offensive coordinator for two seasons before firing him in 2004.
The two men parted on good terms, however, and Del Rio was quick to reach out to Musgrave after being hired to coach the Raiders.
“I think it’s a really good fit for us,” Del Rio said. “I thought he was really bright back then. Both of us were kind of green. We were both cutting our teeth. As we get back together now I think we’re both in a much better position, a lot wiser and a lot better prepared.”
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