Michalczik jumps UW ship, joins Raiders

By Os Davis  |   Tuesday, February 10, 2009  |  Comments( 17 )

Oakland Raiders
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
On Monday evening, Jim Michalczik was announced as the Oakland Raiders’ offensive line coach, leaving behind an O-coordinator position at the University of Washington he’d held for under two months. Michalczik reportedly quit the job because of his close personal relationship with Tom Cable, having played ball with the coach back at Washington State. (Personal relationships between coaching staff – is that good or bad, again?)

California football fans will recall Michalczik as the mastermind who made the O-line a staple of play in Berkeley: Over his career with Cal spanning from 2002-08, some 23 All-Pac-10 honors were scored for Golden Bear linemen, who paved the way for seven 1,000-yard RBs.

Indeed, the years Michalczik spent with Cal could be considered something of a golden era (so to speak) for the team, with three consecutive seasons cracking the national top 10. In 2004-2006, the team was a combined 28-9. In 2006, the Bears scored 32.8 points per game and reached No. 2 in national polling the next season. Truly, Golden Bears fans hadn’t seen this kind of offensive production and winning since the 1920s.

For the 2008 season, Michalczik got an extended and/or diversified title when named Cal’s assistant head coach/assistant line coach – a move described in California with extremes such as “surprising” and “a near irrecoverable loss.” The Bears were 8-4 last season, a finish relatively impressive enough, loaded as the team was with freshmen and sophomores, to land him a promotion as O-coordinator in Washington. Unfortunately for the Huskies, Michalczik bailed.

Keep an eye on this bit of the story’s spin, Raider Nation. While Washington athletic director Scott Woodward was quick to play passive/aggressive about Michalczik to local media, complaining that “It's almost déjà vu for me. Two weeks after Nick Saban hired his first defensive coordinator, John Thompson, he left." (Woodward concluded with “So, good or bad, it's getting more and more common for things to happen." Oh, OK.) However, it is important to remember that Michalczik had not signed a contract with the university and said contract was reportedly to contain bailout and buyout clauses regardless.

And now Michalczik must make the big jump to the pro game. As everyone from Kornheiser ‘n’ Wilbon on down has noted, the current NFL trend calls for the young hire in the hopes of bringing fresh ideas and innovation to the game plan. This observer’s gut feeling is that this is a decent choice; in fact, it could even be stated that Michalczik just be shot straight up to Raiders offensive coordinator. At least the man’s bromance with Cable may get him some say in Cable’s typically limp play-calling.

A skeletal Q&A-type interview with Michalczik from 2007 can be read here.

Well, Raider Nation, what do you make of Mr. Michalczik?
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (17)

About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's...
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report
CommentsComments: 17  |  Sign Up  View all comments
Avatar
No.1
The Franchise		03:12 AM
02/10/2009
This signing might just be the biggest one the raiders have done so far this year...this guy comes highly reccomended and...
Avatar
No.2
The Shape		07:12 AM
02/10/2009
The off season is starting to mold itself. Now if we can make some nice additions and restructure some contracts on our high...
Avatar
No.3
neil b		07:33 AM
02/10/2009
I don't follow the college game so he's a total unknown to me.If Cable thinks he can coach the O line then thats fine with me.
Team News  |  View All Raiders Content
Oakland Raiders:  Is Nnamdi...
The Raiders have a lot of key free agents to sign. Guys like Zach Mil...
11 months, 3 weeks ago   |   Oakland Raiders:  Is Nnamdi Asomugha really done as a Raider? ( 15 )
Meanwhile… Back at the Asylu...
As many expected, the Oakland Raiders named offensive coordinator Hue...
1 year ago   |   Meanwhile… Back at the Asylum ( 1 )
The Oakland Comet Rides Agai...
The NFL post-season is underway, with a wild, wild, wildcard weekend i...
1 year, 1 month ago   |   The Oakland Comet Rides Again! ( 0 )
Eight and Eight Doesn’t Beat...
Note: This article was written prior to the news about Tom Cable being...
1 year, 1 month ago   |   Eight and Eight Doesn’t Beat Seven and Nine ( 3 )
Banner Day in Raider Nation
When you have a 24-hour period involving the Raiders sweeping one divi...
1 year, 2 months ago   |   Banner Day in Raider Nation ( 1 )