ALAMEDA, Calif. — The Raiders hired former Atlanta offensive coordinator Greg Knapp to fill the same job in Oakland, giving first-year coach Lane Kiffin an experienced coordinator to ease his transition from college to the NFL.
Knapp spent the previous three seasons with the Falcons before being let go when coach Jim Mora was fired after the season and replaced by Bobby Petrino. Knapp ran a West Coast offense in Atlanta that struggled at times to work with quarterback Michael Vick.
"I've been familiar with his success coaching in this league for some time now," Kiffin said in a statement. "He shares the same vision and passion for what it will take to bring an explosive offense back to the Raider Nation."
Kiffin said at his introductory news conference that he would call the plays in Oakland, meaning Knapp will help in putting together game plans and other activities.
The Raiders need plenty of help on offense after scoring a league-low 168 points last season and allowing an NFL-worst 72 sacks. Oakland scored just 12 offensive touchdowns on the way to a fourth straight losing season.
The biggest question on offense for the Raiders is at quarterback, where Aaron Brooks and Andrew Walter struggled last season. Oakland could choose to take a quarterback with the No. 1 pick in April's draft, with Notre Dame's Brady Quinn and LSU's JaMarcus Russell the top two coming out this year.
"His history of getting his quarterbacks to play at an elite level is second to none," Kiffin said. "He's thrilled about moving back to the Bay Area, and we're excited to have him."
Knapp, a former Sacramento State quarterback, previously worked with the San Francisco 49ers from 1995-2003, spending his final three seasons with the team as offensive coordinator.
Kiffin, 31, has only one year of NFL experience as a defensive assistant in Jacksonville in 2000. He spent the past six seasons as an assistant at Southern California, including two years as offensive coordinator.
Rob Ryan is returning for a fourth season as defensive coordinator in Oakland after helping the Raiders become the No. 3-ranked defense in the NFL last season. Ryan was a candidate for the head coaching job.
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