Mike Waufle spent the 2011 season coaching in relative secrecy with the Raiders, his promotion to assistant head coach by then-coach Hue Jackson never publicized for reasons still not known.The respected defensive line coach's departure from Silver and Blackdom was shrouded in just as much mystery. Because while Waufle spent the week after Jackson's firing and Reggie McKenzie's hiring as general manager saying his good-byes to assorted employees at the Raiders compound, he never said where he was going.
According to the NFL Network, Waufle is headed to St. Louis, to coach the Rams' D-line under new coach Jeff Fisher. The Rams, though, have yet to verify his hiring and the Raiders still have Waufle listed on their Web Site.Waufle had two tours of duty with the Raiders, having previously been the Raiders' D-line coach from 1998 through 2003 before coaching in the same capacity with the New York Giants from 2004 through 2009.He returned to Oakland in 2010, when the Raiders had 47 sacks, 29 12 of which came from the front four. This past season, though, Oakland's sack total fell to 39, with 22 courtesy of the D-line.Waufle's departure is not all that surprising, what with so many rumblings over the Raiders potentially switching to a 3-4 base defense next season -- Waufle specializes in four-man fronts -- and his close relationship with the late Al Davis.Last week, receivers coach Sanjay Lal left for the same job with the New York Jets.
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