Monthly Archives: February 2020

Las Vegas Raiders

Las Vegas Raiders Sign Jalen Richard To Extension

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ALAMEDA, Calif. – The Las Vegas Raiders have signed RB Jalen Richard to a two-year contract extension, the team announced Wednesday.

Richard originally signed with the Raiders after participating on a tryout basis at the team’s rookie mini-camp as an undrafted free agent following the conclusion of the 2016 NFL Draft. In four seasons with the Silver and Black, Richard has appeared in 64 contests and made two starts, logging 233 rushing attempts for 1,170 yards and three touchdowns, adding 160 receptions and an additional 1,380 yards and three scores. Richard has also played a large role on special teams, tallying 34 kickoff returns for 680 yards and 68 punt returns for 485 yards.

In 2019, Richard appeared in all 16 contests for the fourth consecutive year. He tallied 39 carries for 145 yards, adding 36 receptions and 323 yards. His 36 receptions were tied for fourth-most on the squad in 2019. 

In 2018, Richard was a major offensive contributor, as he tallied a career-high 68 receptions, tied for most on the club and also tied with Marcus Allen for the fourth-most receptions in a single season by a Raiders running back. Richard’s 104 receptions since 2018 rank eighth-most among all running backs in the league. During his 2017 campaign, he totaled 531 yards from scrimmage and scored two times on offense. 

As a rookie in 2016, Richard made the initial 53-man active roster out of training camp. In his NFL debut and on his first career carry, Richard scored his first career touchdown on a 75-yard rush midway through the fourth quarter and became just the fourth player ever to score on a 75-or-more yard run in his NFL debut, joining the likes of Oran Pape (1930), Alan Ameche (1955) and Ottis Anderson (1979). Additionally, his average of 5.9 yards per carry ranked first in the NFL among players with at least 80 rushing attempts that season. He was also recognized as a Pro Bowl alternate as a return specialist after posting 17 kickoff returns for 402 yards (23.6 avg.) and 34 punt returns for 306 yards (9.0 avg.).

A native of Alexandria, La., Richard played four years for Southern Miss, appearing in 41 games and making 29 starts. As a Golden Eagle, he totaled 2,082 career rushing yards on 397 carries and logged 19 touchdowns, while also hauling in 83 passes for 675 yards and an additional five scores.

Press Release Courtesy of the Las Vegas Raiders Media Relations

Las Vegas Raiders, Other

Las Vegas Raiders Announce Rod Marinelli as Defensive Line Coach

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ALAMEDA, Calif. – Rod Marinelli has been named the defensive line coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, the club announced Wednesday. Marinelli is entering his 25th season as an NFL coach, having spent the previous seven seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, including the last six as defensive coordinator/defensive line coach. Marinelli brings 44 years of coaching experience to the Raiders, including 24 in the NFL.

In his seven seasons with the Cowboys, Marinelli helped the club capture three NFC East titles (2014, 2016 and 2018), having advanced to the divisional round in each of those three seasons. Marinelli’s defense finished in the top-10 three times (2017-19) in total yards allowed during those seasons, while leading the league in rush defense in 2016 with the fifth-best rushing average allowed (83.5 avg.) in franchise history.

Last season, the Cowboys ranked ninth in the NFL and third in the NFC in opponent yards per game (327.0 avg.), as the team improved its pass defense ranking from 13th in 2018 to 10th in 2019, allowing just 223.5 yards per game. The unit also finished 11th in the league in points allowed per game, ending with an average of 20.1, marking the fourth consecutive season averaging less than 21 points allowed per game. Under Marinelli, DE Robert Quinn led the defensive unit with 11.5 sacks on the year, tying for ninth-most in the NFL. LB Jaylon Smith finished sixth in the NFL with a career-high 142 tackles. 

For five consecutive seasons (2014-18), Marinelli’s defense improved its total ranking from the year prior, finishing seventh in 2018 after ranking eighth in 2017. The defensive unit also forced 20 turnovers on opposing offenses for the third consecutive season in 2018, en route to landing three Cowboy defenders’ Pro Bowl honors including two second-team All-Pro selections. 

Prior to joining the Cowboys in 2013, Marinelli spent four seasons with the Chicago Bears, serving as the team’s assistant head coach/defensive line coach in 2009 before spending the next three seasons (2010-12) as the club’s assistant head coach/defensive coordinator. Over his three years leading the defensive unit, the team forced a league-best 59 fumbles and recorded 65 interceptions, third-most in the NFL over that span, while returning a league-high 13 interceptions for touchdowns. His defense also allowed just 904 points during that same time frame, the fourth-fewest in the NFL.

Before his tenure with the Bears, Marinelli spent three seasons within the division with the Detroit Lions as the team’s head coach from 2006-08. Ahead of his arrival in Detroit, Marinelli spent the first 10 years (1996-2005) of his NFL coaching career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his first five seasons, he was the club’s defensive line coach, spending the last four (2002-05) with the added title of assistant head coach alongside former Buccaneers and current Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden.

Over his 10 seasons with the Buccaneers, the defensive line tallied an NFL-best 328.5 sacks. His tenure in Tampa Bay was highlighted by a 2002 campaign that saw the team capture a Super Bowl XXXVII victory led by the NFL’s best defense, as the Buccaneers held opposing offenses to a league-low 252.8 yards and 12.3 points per game. Prior to 2019, the team’s top-five single-season sack totals all came under Marinelli’s tenure (1997, 1999-2000, 2002 and 2004), with a franchise-best 55 sacks recorded in 2000 that still holds today. From 1999-2003, the team logged a sack in 69 consecutive games, marking a new NFL record.

Before making the move to professional football, Marinelli coached for 20 years at the collegiate level, serving as the defensive line coach at USC (1995), the assistant head coach/defensive line coach at Arizona State (1992-94), the defensive line coach at the University of California for seven seasons (1983-89), while also adding the title of assistant head coach during his final two years (1990-91) with the program. Prior to Cal, Marinelli started in the collegiate ranks with Utah State in 1976, where he spent six seasons (1976-81) as the defensive line coach before transitioning to the offensive line and special teams in 1982.

Prior to his coaching career, Marinelli played offensive tackle in college, beginning at Utah in 1968 and finishing at California-Lutheran from 1970-72 after having his playing days split by a tour of duty in Vietnam. As a senior in 1972, Marinelli earned All-American honors for Cal-Lutheran on the offensive line.

A native of Rosemead, Calif., Marinelli’s first coaching job came as an assistant at his alma mater at Rosemead High School (1973-75). 

Rod Marinelli’s Coaching Background

Years                     College/Pro Team                           Position Coached

1976-81                Utah State                                           Defensive Line Coach

1982                       Utah State                                           Special Teams Coach/Offensive Line Coach

1983-89                California                                             Defensive Line Coach

1990-91                California                                             Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach

1992-94                Arizona State                                     Head Coach

1995                       USC                                                        Defensive Line Coach

1996-2001            Tampa Bay Buccaneers                  Defensive Line Coach

2002-05                Tampa Bay Buccaneers                  Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach

2006-08                Detroit Lions                                      Head Coach

2009                       Chicago Bears                                    Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach

2010-12                Chicago Bears                                    Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator

2013                       Dallas Cowboys                                Defensive Line Coach

2014-19                Dallas Cowboys                                Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach

Press Release Courtesy of the Las Vegas Raiders Media Relations

Las Vegas Raiders, Other

Las Vegas Raiders Hire Austin King as Offensive Quality Control Coach

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ALAMEDA, Calif. – Austin King has been named the offensive quality control coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, the club announced Wednesday. King brings eight years of collegiate coaching experience to the post including the last five years with the University of Dayton.

In 2019, King completed his fifth year with the Flyers’ and his third as the program’s offensive coordinator. Prior to joining the Flyers, King spent one season with Syracuse as an offensive quality control coach with a focus on the offensive line.

King began his coaching career at the University of Toledo in 2012, where he spent two seasons as the program’s offensive quality control coach. While tutoring the offensive line, King helped guide the team to an average of 240 rushing yards and 33 points per game. Additionally, the squad surrendered just six sacks in 361 pass attempts.

Before entering the coaching ranks, King was selected as an offensive lineman in the fourth round (133rd overall) by current Raiders and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Jon Gruden in the 2003 NFL Draft. King went on to play 34 games and make one start over his four-year career (2003-06) with the Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons.

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, King earned his B.A. in secondary education from Northwestern in 2004. He was a three-sport captain and first-team All-Ohio football player at Purcell Marian High School before graduating and playing four years for the Wildcats as a starter and earning an honorable mention All-Big 10 selection three times.

Austin King’s Coaching Background

Years                     College/Pro Team                           Position Coached

2012-13                University of Toledo                        Offensive Quality Control Coach

2014                       Syracuse                                              Offensive Quality Control Coach

2015-16                University of Dayton                       Assistant Coach

2017-19                University of Dayton                       Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator

Press Release Courtesy of the Las Vegas Raiders Media Relations

NFL Communications, Other

​​KANSAS CITY CHIEFS QB PATRICK MAHOMES WINS PETE ROZELLE TROPHY AS SUPER BOWL LIV MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES was voted the winner of the Pete Rozelle Trophy, awarded to the Super Bowl LIV Most Valuable Player. 

Mahomes led Kansas City back from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit, tied for the second-largest comeback in Super Bowl history. The Chiefs became the first team to record three comebacks of at least 10 points in a single postseason in NFL history.

This is the 30th time that a quarterback has won the award and at 24 years and 138 days old, Mahomes is the youngest quarterback and third-youngest player to win the Super Bowl MVP award. 

The youngest players to win Super Bowl MVP:

PLAYERTEAMSUPER BOWLAGE
Marcus AllenHOFL.A. RaidersXVIII23 years, 302 days
Lynn SwannHOFPittsburghX23 years, 317 days
Patrick MahomesKansas CityLIV24 years, 138 days


Mahomes completed 26 of 42 passes for 286 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed for 29 yards and a touchdown.

The award is chosen by a panel comprised of 16 media members and by fans interactively through the National Football League’s official website, NFL.com.

Press Release Courtesy of the NFL Communications Media Relations

Central Valley Sports, STOCKTON HEAT

CZARNIK LEADS STOCKTON HEAT TO 4-1 WIN OVER CONDORS

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STOCKTON, Calif. – Led by a pair of goals from Austin Czarnik, the Stockton Heat used a big second period to overcome an early hole and win the club’s first game back from the All-Star break by a 4-1 final over Bakersfield.

Both of Czarnik’s markers came in the second period as Stockton turned a 1-0 deficit into a two-goal advantage through 40 minutes, with Alex Gallant punctuating the frame with an insurance goal just 13 seconds after Czarnik’s second score of the frame. Luke Philp then pushed Stockton’s lead to three with his 16th goal of the season late in the third, pulling the rookie into a tie with Buddy Robinson for the Heat team lead for the campaign. Stockton will hit the road for the next three games before returning home on Friday, February 14 against the Ontario Reign.

GOALIES

W: Jon Gillies (33 shots, 32 saves)

L: Shane Starrett (37 shots, 33 saves)

NOTABLE STATISTICS

Three Stars: First – Austin Czarnik (2g), Second – Jon Gillies (32 svs), Third – Alex Gallant (1g)

Shots On Goal: STK – 37, BAK – 33

Power Plays: STK – 1-3, BAK – 0-2

– Austin Czarnik registered his 10th and 11th goals of the season, coming in his 18th game. The game was his second multi-goal effort of the season (last on January 12).

– Byron Froese’s helper on Czarnik’s first strike extended his scoring streak to four games, with two goals and four assists in that span.

–  Alex Gallant’s goal to put Stockton ahead 3-1 came just 13 seconds after Czarnik’s second strike. It was his first point against Bakersfield in his six games played against the Condors this season.

– Luke Philp pulled into a tie with Buddy Robinson for Stockton’s team lead with 16 goals on the season after lighting the lamp in the third.

– The Condors have scored first in four of Stockton’s six wins over Bakersfield.

UP NEXT

The Heat hit the road for three-straight games before returning home on Friday, February 14 to play host to the Ontario Reign at 7 p.m.

Match Recap Courtesy of the Stockton Heat Media Relations