When you have a head coach like the Las Vegas Raiders do in Klint Kubiak, it’s important you get the personalities right around him on the staff. Kubiak is not a big rah-rah guy who is going to yell and make a ton of noise or show a ton of emotion. That’s not him, and that’s fine.
However, you can’t have everyone on the staff be exactly the same. Luckily for Kubiak, his defensive coordinator, Rob Leonard, is a guy who shows emotion and gets loud.
The Raiders knew that because Leonard had been on the staff for a few years now. But what can we expect from the new offensive coordinator, Andrew Janocko? Does his personality fit with Kubiak’s? Yes, it does, perfectly.
Derek Carr breaks down the kind of guy Janocko is
“Love him, love him,” Carr said on his podcast of the Raiders’ new offensive coordinator, Andrew Janocko. “House music is playing as soon as you walk in the room.
Coffee, he’s already ridden his Peloton, his hair looks nice, and he’s a good catholic man… They’re getting ready for the Super Bowl, and he texts me, Haener, and Spencer (all former Saints QBs) a hilarious picture, and then another funny one of Jake (Haener).
That’s just him. It says something when all of the quarterbacks you have continue to talk to you and have a relationship with you. And, he helped me play great football. He taught me the standard and everything.”
This offensive coordinator position is critical not only for implementing the playbook but also for shaping team culture and performance—whether Janocko or Kubiak is calling plays.
Last season reminded us that the offensive coordinator is central to a team’s success, regardless of play-calling duties. For example, the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense declined under Matt Nagy, who managed the offense but did not call plays. This underscores why the Raiders must choose the right OC, even with Kubiak as playcaller.
A strong offensive coordinator is essential for establishing consistency and identity in a team’s offense, with or without the play-calling headset. The offensive coordinator’s weekly duties start on Monday, the day after a game, with a review of the team’s performance. The OC evaluates what was effective, notes areas for improvement, and meets with position coaches and quarterbacks to discuss corrections.
Early in the week, the OC analyzes the upcoming opponent’s defense—studying formations, coverages, pressures, and personnel to spot potential mismatches or weaknesses. Mid-week, the OC works with assistants to develop a tailored game plan, designing packages for serious situations like the red zone, third down, and two-minute drills.
The OC wraps up the week by finalizing the play sheet, emphasizing the team’s strengths and the game plan. During practices and meetings, the OC installs the plan, leads discussions, and adjusts as needed based on practice performance.
Whether the OC calls plays or not, they design and coordinate the offensive strategy, ensuring every detail is addressed to give the team the best chance to score. Janocko now steps into this essential role, and it’s clear he and Kubiak are a perfect fit.
If they weren’t, Janocko wouldn’t have now followed Kubiak everywhere from the New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, to the Raiders.
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