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Jack Del Rio, Richard Smith Potential Replacements Should Dennis Allen Leave Broncos For Raiders

Should Dennis Allen be hired by the Oakland Raiders for its vacant head coaching position, the Denver Broncos will be looking for its seventh defensive coordinator in seven years. For a defense that finally turned corners in 2011 after years of disappointment, another change could prove to be costly. But if Jack Del Rio is brought in that could very well be a positive. Over at 850 KOA, Dave Krieger believes Del Rio, former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach, could be a potential candidate for the defensive coordinator position.

Del Rio was Fox's defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers in 2002 before taking over the Jaguars. It would provide some measure of continuing the John Fox way. But so would Richard Smith, another candidate Krieger suggests is possible for the Broncos. Smith has coached linebackers for the previous three years under Fox and has been a defensive coordinator in the past.

But first, Allen needs to head over to Oakland. We saw Mike McCoy's dalliance with the Miami Dolphins fall apart over hiring staff positions, so nothing is done yet with Allen.

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