Could interim offensive coordinator Scott Turner end up getting the Raiders’ full-time OC job after the season?
After three games in his new role with the Raiders, Turner has turned the offense around in many ways, but The Athletic’s Vic Tafur believes we should pump the breaks on the interim OC’s overall stock.
“I laugh because obviously I think the offense looks better. I guess you can say when you watch, but they haven’t scored 20 points yet under the Turner. So I think we’re getting a little ahead ourselves as far as how much better the offense is and how great the Turner’s have been,” Tafur said on the Just Win podcast.
“Ideally, we mentioned in the last five games, they actually have some improvement, they score some more points,” Tafur continued. “But I think he’s done some things that the players have appreciated. I think he’s kind of had a good approach and a good game plan, but still need more points for me, at least, before I’m talking about full time job next year.”
The good news for Turner and the coaching staff is that the last three weeks have featured some of the better defenses on the Raiders’ schedule.
The Dolphins have held three of their last four opponents under 20 points while the Broncos (18.0) and Chiefs (19.6) rank 3rd and 8th in the NFL, respectively, in points-per-game allowed this season.
The next four games on the Raiders’ schedule feature the Buccaneers, Falcons, Jaguars and Saints. Each of those games should be good opportunities for Turner and the offense to make a case for next season.
Turner still has an uphill climb to get the job in an official capacity, but if Aidan O’Connell continues to play the way he did against the Chiefs and the offense starts finishing drives in the end zone, it’s conceivable that the offensive coaching staff could stay mostly intact after the season.
