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Mike McCoy and Raiders coach Dennis Allen are close friends who vacationed together in the Virgin Islands six months ago. Under Broncos coach John Fox in 2011, McCoy and Allen were the coordinators on Fox's first AFC West championship team. Previously Allen won a Super Bowl ring directing the Saints secondary. He is known as a defensive expert.
Allen could be available for hire in a few weeks. His first Raiders team went 4-12 last year, and his second Raiders team, coming off a 56-31 loss at home to the Chiefs, will bring a 4-10 record into San Diego on Sunday. Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie, who hired Allen, may want to give him a third season. But an 8-22 record in two years isn't good for job security.
McCoy, meantime, has seen the Chargers defense struggle mightily at times this year. The tackling, pass coverage and pass rush have lagged at various times.
Would McCoy turn to his friend Allen if he becomes available?
I doubt it. McCoy seems to think very highly of John Pagano, the Chargers defensive coordinator. Talking with reporters McCoy has praised Pagano several times, and never hinted displeasure with him.
And McCoy showed faith in Pagano last February by retaining him as the defensive coordinator, while not bringing back 13 other coaches from Norv Turner's staff.
"I can't thank the coach enough about the opportunity he gave me this year," Pagano said Friday.
Pagano's unit is coming off one of the better performances by an NFL defense this year. Forcing four consecutive punts without allowing a first down, the Chargers shut down a Broncos offense that was averaging an NFL-best 39.6 points per game.
"The game plan that John Pagano put together, and the way the players executed it, is out of this world," McCoy said Friday.
McCoy noted that the Chargers held Denver to 18 yards rushing and took away the deep pass. He pointed out that the Chargers held the Broncos to 13 yards across four series.
"They have one of the best offenses in the history of the game. They are very explosive and they all know what they can do. Give John Pagano and his staff a ton of credit. That's an outstanding performance by the defense," he said.
The victory was the first by an AFC West team over the Broncos since Peyton Manning joined the division. And for Manning, who seems likely to be named the league's MVP, it was his second loss versus a Pagano this year. Chuck Pagano's Colts beat Denver earlier this year.
Coaching dynamics can change in a hurry. But if Pagano wants to return, it seems he'll be back in 2014 for his third year as defensive coordinator.
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