Oakland Raiders head coach Dennis Allen told ESPN Tuesday that he feels the progress of newly acquired quarterback, Matt Flynn, is similar to that of Matt Schaub and Aaron Rodgers, who both spent time as backups early in their careers before reaching success as starters. Flynn was acquired by Oakland on Monday after spending his lone season in Seattle backing up rookie sensation Russell Wilson after losing the quarterback battle in preseason.

"I think for Matt Flynn, a guy that's had an opportunity now to be in the league for five years as a backup quarterback, to learn, to grow, to develop, I would say he's not unlike some other guys that you've seen go through the same type of process," Allen said Monday in a conference call to discuss the trade that brought Flynn to Oakland from the Seattle Seahawks.

Allen and Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie both have personal experience with Schaub and Rodgers to back up that feeling. Allen served as an assistant with the Atlanta Falcons when Schaub backed up Michael Vick before he was traded to Houston. McKenzie, meanwhile, was with Green Bay when Rodgers backed up Brett Favre and when Flynn was selected in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft.