Raiders add coaches, still no defensive coordinator

The Raiders continued filling out their coaching staff Tuesday, signing four new faces.

Bobby Johnson, Rob Moore, Bernie Parmalee and Tracy Smith will all begin their first tour in Oakland, though there has not been an official decision on whom will oversee the defense.

Johnson was hired as tight ends coach, after two seasons in Detroit. The 42-year-old has a background as a tight ends coach and offensive line coach. He began his coaching career in the college ranks, where he spent a combined 15 years with Indiana, Miami of Ohio, and Akron.

A two-time All Pro receiver, Moore totaled 49 touchdowns and 9,368  receiving yards in 12 NFL seasons with the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals. He will serve as Oakland wide receivers coach after receiving his first NFL coaching opportunity last year with Buffalo.

Parmalee, who has played nine NFL seasons as a running back for Miami and the Jets, will coach running backs. He coached tight ends for Kansas City from 2011 to 2012. Smith will serve as special teams assistant.

Todd Grantham was reportedly interviewed by the Raiders this weekend, though there has been no indication as of yet that he is the Raiders’ man. A name that hasn’t surfaced yet, but could in the coming week, is Kris Richards.

Richards is Seattle’s secondary coach, and unavailable to hire until after the Super Bowl. Partially responsible for the “Legion of Boom,” Richards is well liked by players and peers alike, and it speaks to reason that he may begin to rise quickly in the coaching ranks.

Mike Smith, who was believed to be one of Jack Del Rio‘s top candidates as defensive coordinator, may be taking the year off. Smith would have had an sincere opportunity to accept the coordinator position had it been offered.

If it hasn’t, and the Raiders nor Del Rio will say for sure, then the team is way behind in their process. Defensive line coach is the only non-coordinator position that remains available.

Jason Leskiw is SFBay’s Oakland Raiders beat writer and member of the Professional Football Writers of America. Follow @SFBay and @LeskiwSFBay on Twitter and at SFBay.ca for full coverage of the Oakland Raiders.