The Raiders put another piece in place in the process of rebuilding their coaching staff. Joining the staff on Monday is former Bronco co-offensive line coach Bob Wylie. He spent the 2010 season with the Broncos after spending the previous five seasons out of the NFL coaching ranks.
Despite not coaching in the NFL since 2004, he was not out of football altogether. He spent two seasons coaching in the CFL and two seasons at Syracuse. All told, he has been an offensive line coach for over 30 years. He fits the theme of the new coaching staff with new offensive coordinator Al Saunders having 45 years in coaching and Hue Jackson at 25 years.
“Bob is a spectacular teacher, motivator and drill sergeant,” Raiders newly hired coach Hue Jackson said in a statement. “His vast knowledge and experience, including last year with a team in our division, will really help us as we move forward in assembling a really good offensive line.”
Wylie spent 14 years coaching in the NFL starting in 1990 as the Jets’ Tight Ends Coach. He spent two seasons there before new Buccaneers coach, Sam Wyche, came calling on Wylie to do what he did for ten years in the college ranks — coach the offensive line. During his 14 years in the NFL, Wylie would also coach for the Cincinnati Bengals (’97-98), Chicago Bears (’99-03), and Arizona Cardinals (’04).
Wylie’s best season came in 2001 when he coached the offensive line for the Bears. The Bears went 13-3 that season as Anthony “A Train” Thomas ran for over 1000 yards and they won the NFC Central.
Overall, Wylie would coach the offensive line in the NFL for ten years. Six of those seasons, he had a running back go over 1000 yards. Two other times he had a back exceed 900 yards rushing. And we are talking about some forgettable runners too. Anthony Thomas went downhill immediately after Wylie left. Then there were Erict Rhett, Reggie Cobb, and the last gasp of an over the hill Emmitt Smith in Arizona. If he can get guys like Rhett, Cobb, and Thomas over 1000 yards multiple times each, he has to be pretty excited about what he could accomplish with Darren McFadden and Michael Bush.
Here is his coaching resume:
2010 Co-offensive Line coach Denver Broncos
2009 Offensive Line Coach Saskatchewan Roughriders
2007 Offensive Line Coach Winnipeg Blue Bombers
2005-06 Offensive Line Coach Syracuse
2004 Offensive Line Coach Arizona Cardinals
1999-2003 Offensive Line Coach Chicago Bears
1997-98 Tight Ends Coach Cincinnati Bengals
1996 Offensive Line Coach University of Cincinnati
1992-95 Offensive Line Coach Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1990-91 Tight Ends Coach New York Jets
1988-89 Offensive Line Coach Colorado State
1985-87 Offensive Coordinator Ohio University
1983-84 Offensive Line Coach Holy Cross
1980-82 Offensive Line Coach Brown University
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