Dennis Allen was finally able to grip the reigns as head coach of the Oakland Raiders today. Most teams won't get started until April 18th, but the Raiders were allowed a head start on their training after taking on a new head coach for this season.
The Raiders will get 9 weeks of preseason training over a 12 week period while teams with returning coaches get 9 weeks in only a 10 week period. This preseason includes three mandatory phases and Phase One kicked off in Oakland today.
Phase One lays out the first two weeks of workouts, which are limited to strength and conditioning and rehabilitation for injured players. Footballs may not be used during phase one unless quarterbacks elect to throw to unguarded receivers. No helmets are allowed to be worn during this phase.
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Phase Two encompasses the next three weeks of training where helmets are still not worn, but coaches will be allowed on the field. Individual instruction is permitted and drills may be executed. There is still no contact in this phase or defense vs offense drills.
Phase Three takes care of the last three weeks and this is where the helmets are finally on! There is still no contact, but special teams are now allowed to run drills.
There is no doubt that Dennis Allen can use all the extra time he can get to establish his new game plan for the Raiders. Today was drenched in the aura of the unknown as players did not know what to expect from their first-year head coach. This was also the first time that Allen really got to see the talent and potential he has to work with this season. The next 12 weeks will be crucial for Allen to bring together the loose seams and establish a clear direction for the team.
Dennis Allen is the first head coach in 3 Raiders coaching regimes previously unaffiliated with the program, so it is clear that GM Reggie Mckenzie recognizes the need for change. Today only marked the beginning with strength and conditioning and Allen is ready for Phase Two to begin when he can start working with his players.
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"I don't think you ever really truly know until you get out on the field and get an opportunity to work with them," Allen said "I'm excited about a lot of the pieces to the puzzle that we have. But I don't think you fully know what you have until you get on the field with them. That's why I'm really looking forward to this mini-camp starting on April 17."