Now in the fast Lane, Kiffin's steering like a pro

PHOENIX -- The youngest head coach in the NFL's modern era didn't act like it Tuesday.

Of coaching the Raiders, Lane Kiffin says, 'I don't see anything intimidating about it.' (AP)

Lane Kiffin, in fact, acted like he had been taking part in these AFC coaches breakfasts for years. His circular table was swarmed with media trying to get a listen to what he had to say, trying to see if there were any flaws in his game, anything that might say the new coach of the Oakland Raiders is far from ready for the job in front of him.

The verdict: At 31, he appears more than ready.

Kiffin was polished, poised, candid, entertaining and informative. Despite his age, he seems to have a good feel for this coaching thing, at least on this day.

I'll admit it. I had my doubts about him before Tuesday.

It's not that Kiffin doesn't have the pedigree. He is the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant Monte Kiffin, so he grew up around the game. It's just that with seven years of college coaching experience and just two as offensive coordinator at USC, it's easy to wonder how he landed the job in the first place.

His only NFL experience was as the defensive quality control coach for Tom Coughlin on the Jacksonville Jaguars' staff in 2000. I covered that team. Kiffin, who some said was nothing more than a glorified ball boy, barely said a word.

Yet here he was on Tuesday as engaging as any coach sitting on that lawn here at the Arizona Biltmore.

To say he handled himself well would be a grave understatement. His table was two-deep with reporters for two reasons. One is his team owns the top overall pick in next month's draft, which always makes for a lot of attention.

The other is because, well, he's the coach of the Raiders. In recent years, that position has brought new meaning to the term Black Hole, with Kiffin the fifth head coach since 2002.

The Raiders haven't exactly been media darlings, either. Their manta: Just Shut Up. So when their coach is made available in this manner, especially a coach most don't know much about, there is going to be curiosity.

As Kiffin answered question after question, most with bright, thought-out answers, he was naturally asked about the enormity of his leap from a college offensive coordinator to coach of the Raiders, and whether it could intimidate him. Kiffin winced at that one.

"It's not intimidating, it's a job," Kiffin said. "I take it one day at a time. I don't see anything intimidating about it."