Bert Kolde

West Rumors: 49ers, Cards, Hawks, Raiders

With Week 17 practices beginning Wednesday, here is the latest from the league’s two West divisions:

  • Teams with coaching vacancies have been heavily connected to offensively oriented candidates. With a supply-and-demand issue potentially arising, certain teams will have to pivot to consolation prizes or defensive coaches. For a team eyeing a possible up-and-comer for the future as an offensive coordinator, Matt Barrows of The Athletic (subscription required) mentions an under-the-radar possibility in 49ers quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello. Kyle Shanahan‘s QBs coach in his two 49ers seasons, Scangarello was a quality control coach with the Falcons in 2015 and Wagner’s OC in 2016. Rampant injuries have affected an already-limited offense, and Scangarello has helped UDFA Nick Mullens (18th in QBR) to some decent performances.
  • The Seahawks franchise is expected to be sold, but for the time being, Paul Allen‘s sister, Jody, is running the team. Allen confidant Bert Kolde is taking an expanded role during this time, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times notes, adding that the status quo appears to be working at this point. Pete Carroll said Monday he was excited about the team’s current ownership situation, and Condotta adds indications point to Jody Allen continuing to serve as the team’s chairperson for a while.
  • The Cardinals have the inside track on the 2019 No. 1 pick, but one player believes (via the Arizona Republic’s Bob McManamon) the team has too many needs not to trade down. As of now, no quarterback is looking like a surefire top-five pick. Such a scenario has not unfolded since 2013. But as Baker Mayfield, Patrick Mahomes and Carson Wentz have shown, the pre-draft process can see some fast-rising prospects. If a member of this class gets to that point, the Cardinals could auction their pick off to a QB-needy team like the Jaguars, Giants or Broncos, McManamon offers. Entering the offseason, the Cardinals hold seven picks in the ’19 draft, their own seven.
  • Although the Raiders have discussed playing at the San Francisco Giants’ AT&T Stadium next season, the team has not picked a 2019 home yet. Listing possibilities, NBC Sports Bay Area suggests Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, Calif. The Cardinal’s home field seats just more than 50,000 and is located a bit south of the 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium. This has not been mentioned as a consideration, and many cities have emerged as such thus far. The NFL wants the Raiders to decide on their 2019 home by Super Bowl LIII.