Raiders bring back defensive coord­inator Tarver

Just days after the Oakland Raiders inked offensive line coach Tony Sparano to a two-year deal, they re-signed another important element of their coaching staff.

Jason Tarver, who’s served as Oakland’s defensive coordinator over the past two seasons, accepted a new contract Tuesday, the day his original contract expired.

The Raiders have not released details on the specifics of Tarver’s contract, though it is believed to be a two-year deal.

Perhaps Tarver is best known throughout the league for flipping off an officiating crew twice in 2013, though he is more than that to Raiders’ faithful.

Under Tarver, the Raiders ranked near the top of the NFL in defensive penalty yards, giving away 423 free yards. That’s a mild number when compared to divisional foe Denver Broncos, who gifted 646 yards to opposing offenses.

Tarver also was able to take a roster made up of the league’s table scraps and turn them into a formidable unit, ranking 13th against the run. Rookie linebacker Sio Moore surged from a third-round draft selection to being named to the Pro Football Writers Association’s all-rookie team.

After earning a masters degree in biochemistry from UCLA, Tarver was given the moniker “the mad scientist,” creating schemes and blitz packages that helped the Raiders to four wins that came mostly on defense — while also holding losing margins to a minimum.

Tarver’s resume includes positions as running backs coach for the 49ers and most recently before he was hired by Reggie McKenzie and the Raiders, served as co-defensive coordinator under David Shaw at Stanford.

Tarver is one reason behind the 49ers defense across the Bay that Raider Nation envies, as well as the current Stanford powerhouse defense that was seen during the New Year’s Day Rose Bowl.

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