Category: Jon Gruden news

Raiders Jon Gruden among top odds to be next NFL head coach fired

Three years without making the playoffs is usually not something a head coach survives. Jon Gruden is in a different situation with the Raiders, as Mark Davis had long been enamored by the head coach turned ESPN personality. So much so that Davis …

Three years without making the playoffs is usually not something a head coach survives. Jon Gruden is in a different situation with the Raiders, as Mark Davis had long been enamored by the head coach turned ESPN personality. So much so that Davis lured Gruden out of the broadcast booth with a reported 10-year, $100 million deal.

The question though is how long of a leash does that give Gruden to turn this team around and get them back to winning football? Highly doubtful it’s anywhere near ten years. In fact, some oddsmakers are putting that number at four.

The oddsmakers at BetOnline.ag put out their top five odds to be the next head coach fired and Gruden landed at number four.

There are many who will naturally be skeptical. The argument being that Mark Davis wouldn’t want to eat the cost of the final six years of Gruden’s deal. The problem is that you don’t know what Davis would have to eat, because you don’t actually know how Gruden’s contract is structured.

Gruden is quoted as saying in an interview with USA Today that if he can’t get the job done, he won’t take the Raiders’ money. Some took that to mean he would give money back if the team doesn’t win. But it could simply mean that he would not seek money above and beyond the years he is head coach.

For example, one early report from Pro Football Talk when Gruden first signed his deal said indications he received were that Gruden’s deal was backloaded, with the numbers jumping up in the final five years. Due in part to the lower taxes in Nevada than in California.

Combined, this could suggest Gruden’s deal is more of a five-years-and-we’ll-see type of situation. And it that’s the case, hypothetically, Davis would likely only be on the hook for one year of Gruden’s deal should he let go of him in year four.

Mind you, this is just reading tea leaves here, but the point is there is a decent chance that should the Raiders be unable to make the jump this year and thus look to move on from Gruden, it may not mean Davis and the Raiders are eating a boat load of money. And the odds are reflecting that.

Jon Gruden ‘confident’ Raiders’ top rookies are ready for their first NFL action

No preseason, no problem. Coach Jon Gruden is confident his top rookies will perform against the Panthers.

In the weeks leading up to the Raiders’ initial campaign in Las Vegas — which coincides with the third year of a roster rebuild — there was something missing. Something big.

There were no preseason games. Not a reduced stretch of games, as some have called for, but none whatsoever.

Every NFL team had the same situation, due to the spread of COVID-19, but it was a particularly bad blow for the Raiders. Much of the young roster needs more seasoning, especially the rookies.

But this year, they must find their form quickly because these games count, starting this weekend against the Panthers. Coach Jon Gruden is confident his young roster is prepared.

“We’ve done all we can to get them ready,” Gruden told reporters on Wednesday. “We’re confident in these young people. That’s why we brought them here.”

Gruden mentioned that in 2018, his first year back with the Raiders, he started two rookie offensive tackles in Kolton Miller and Brandon Parker. Last season, Las Vegas relied on two rookies in the backfield with Josh Jacobs and Alec Ingold. Rookie wide receiver Hunter Renfrow started in the slot.

“We’re rebuilding the team. Now we’re starting to see the products of our labor,” Gruden said. “And we’re hoping that [Damon] Arnette and [Henry] Ruggs and [Bryan] Edwards are up to the challenge because Carolina is going to challenge them.”

Defensive back Damon Arnette and wide receivers Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards are listed as rookie starters on the Raiders’ initial depth chart. Arnette and Ruggs III are both first-round picks, and Edwards is the next highest-drafted rookie on the team.

How they respond to their first NFL action could reveal a lot about their skill, and of their character.

They’re bound to make mistakes they could have made in the preseason and will have to persevere with live bullets flying. Any miscue by Arnette is likely to be extremely visible, as well, due to his position.

But Gruden is confident. And why wouldn’t he be? It’s year three of his run as coach, and many roster pieces are in place. He and general manager Mike Mayock have targeted tough, competitive players, just the type that can fight through rough patches.

Now, it’s up to these three rookies to embrace the challenge and thrive in Las Vegas, along with the rest of the youthful roster and their veteran leadership.

[vertical-gallery id=73182]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Raiders Gameplan Week 1: Slow down Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey

Christian McCaffery is one of the best running backs in the NFL. Raiderswire looks at the options of how to contain the young running back.

It’s finally time for football after one of the weirdest offseasons we have seen with the pandemic. The Raiders are coming in with high expectations in year three of a rebuild, and fans are thinking playoffs or bust. That journey begins in North Carolina with the Raiders facing the Carolina Panthers in Week 1.

The Panthers are a completely new regime after moving on from long time head coach Ron Rivera in 2019. They added one of the hottest names in coaching by hiring Matt Rhule, who led the Baylor Bears from last place to play in the Big 12 championship game.

He brings an innovative philosophy to football with his college defensive coordinator Phil Snow following him to the next level and hiring the leader of the best passing offense we have seen in college football, Joe Brady.

While there is a new coaching staff for the Panthers, most of the offense is returning with Teddy Bridgewater as the new signal-caller. DJ Moore is still the number one receiver and free-agent signing Robby Anderson gives them a deep threat they were missing the year before. But at the end of the day, this team evolves their elite running back, Christian McCaffrey.

McCaffrey has proved he was worth the first-round pick in 2017. He has accumulated 2,920 yards on the ground and 2,523 yards receiving along with 39 total touchdowns in his first three seasons. He is the complete modern-day running back and has been the bell cow for this offense and will be target No. 1 for the Raiders defense.

How do you slow down one of the best running backs in the game? Let’s take a look at a few details that can help slow down the running back.

Controlling the Power Run Game

One thing McCaffrey is a master at is executing the power run game. His vision, decisiveness, and patience help him let blocks develop and use his 4.4 speed to burst through holes at top acceleration to help gash the defense.

This play against Tennessee, the Panthers will be running Power O, which is a staple in power run games. McCaffrey does a great job of being patient and letting the pulling guard get to the second level and seal off the linebacker. He then accelerates through the hole for a long touchdown.

Brady brings the power run game with him from LSU. The tigers primarily stuck to power concepts running things that Christian McCaffrey is comfortable with executing.

An example below is a creative power concept with the tight end pulling up through the A gap to help spark a considerable gain for the LSU offense.

The Raiders need to win upfront because outside of designed holes, McCaffrey isn’t a world-beater. He was only 19th  in PFF’s elusive rating and his 22nd in yards after contact at 2.62, which is average for his prowess.

The Raiders specialize in stopping the run with Hankins inside at the 1-technique and Maxx Crosby, who finished second among all edge rushers in ESPN’s new run block win rate metric. The Panthers are nicked up on their offensive line with Dennis Daley missing practices at the guard position.

McCaffrey can, for sure, be contained if the Raiders can beat blocks and allow the linebackers to fill in gaps and make tackles on the football. The Panthers are going to do everything they can to get their bell cow carries, but I believe the Raiders will be up for the challenge.

Tackling in Open Space

Another thing Joe Brady brings with him from college is throwing the ball to running backs with designed plays. He was probably foaming at the mouth when he saw a chance to work with McCaffrey and all the ways he could get him the football. That’s why the Raiders must be able to tackle in space.

I mentioned earlier about McCaffrey’s elusive rating, but in the passing game, he’s a whole different animal. He leads all running backs in avoided tackles after the catch with 26 (according to PFF) and which helped him become the first 1,000-yard back in rushing and receiving since Marshall Faulk.

Brady loved to use angle routes or the Texas route to get players open in space out of the backfield. The example below shows how tough it can be for linebackers to guard this route without them being flat-footed when the running back comes out of the backfield. With someone as quick as McCaffrey, it can become a challenging task for any linebacker.

This is part of the reason the Raiders signed Cory Littleton for these types of matchups. Last season Littleton had 14 tackles and held McCaffrey to 19 total yards on five targets, according to Pro Football Focus. He can be a huge key to helping contain the pass-catching running back and help lead the Raiders to victory.

Additional thoughts:

  • With the Raiders going with two starting rookie wide receivers, expect to see 12 personnel early and often with Waller lined up at the X position. With the Panthers weakness at linebacker, this should help favorable matchups for the budding superstar tight end.
  • Expect a heavy dose of Josh Jacobs as the Raiders should handle a young defensive line. I expect a big game from Jacobs as he bullies his way through the Panthers’ weak linebacker corps.

[vertical-gallery id=73182]

[lawrence-newsletter]