Raiders Insider: Coaches in transition after college graduation

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Traffic in Los Angeles can be unbearable, even for those who carpool. It helps if there's someone to talk to.

As a young coach at USC, Raiders coach Lane Kiffin carpooled with the man he eventually succeeded as the director of the Trojans' offense.

Norm Chow, regarded as one of the greatest offensive coordinators in college history, left USC in 2005 to become the Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator. Chow's move to the NFL allowed Kiffin to become the Trojans' co-offensive coordinator with Steve Sarkisian and take over play-calling. Early this year, Kiffin landed the Raiders job at age 31.

"He's still young, but he was extremely young then," Chow said in a telephone interview. "You could see the potential for him to be a head coach then. ... I was surprised when he got the Raiders job. I think he was surprised, too."

Chow said he had a good working relationship with Kiffin, aided by sitting in Southern California traffic together.

Kiffin credited USC's Pete Carroll with teaching him how to be a head coach, but he admitted he learned a few things from watching Chow. Kiffin noted Chow's good relationships with players and how he called a game.

"I thought he handled game day really well, and he really had a killer instinct when games were going our direction and really keeping (opposing teams) down," said Kiffin, who worked under Chow from 2001 to 2004 as a tight ends and receivers coach. "We never, ever really went into a conservative mode. (He) was very aggressive when the time was right."

Kiffin has had to adjust his play-calling in the NFL. He no longer has a roster of All-Americans at his disposal, no Reggie Bush to turn a simple counter run into an 80-yard touchdown.

One of Chow's biggest adjustments was how quickly defensive coordinators adapt to offenses after a play works. "I'd save a play and try it again in the third quarter, and it would get smashed," said Chow, who admitted he also had to learn to call plays much faster.

"In college, the clock stops, and the big fat guys have to move the chains down field," Chow said. "In the NFL, after a 40-yard play, the clock is moving, and I've got to get the next play in fast."

Chow likes Mike

Kiffin has a high standard for wide receiver Mike Williams, whom he coached at USC.

The Raiders acquired Williams and quarterback Josh McCown from the Detroit Lions in a draft-day trade in April. Williams is the Raiders' third receiver, but he has only five catches for 70 yards.

Williams was an All-American in Chow's offense at USC, but he was a disappointment in Detroit.

"I tried to get him here," said Chow, who added that he is surprised Williams hasn't been more productive with the Raiders. "I don't think there's any question (Williams) will be successful. I think he's a tremendous talent."

Plummeting stock

Kiffin's announcement Friday that Daunte Culpepper would start Sunday against the Titans wasn't surprising.

The surprise was the probable third quarterback would be rookie JaMarcus Russell, meaning he has surpassed Andrew Walter on the depth chart since joining the team last month. It now seems only a matter of time before Walter, a third-round pick in 2005, is a former Raider.