Oakland Raiders: Jon Gruden says ‘There is unfinished business’
The Oakland Raiders formally introduced Jon Gruden as their new head coach. What did he say about his return to the Silver and Black? What’s on the horizon?
The twinkle in owner Mark Davis’ eye. The stern business look on general manager Reggie McKenzie face. The fire that Jon Gruden brought to the microphone. There’s something brewing within the Oakland Raiders organization, and their new head coach called it ‘unfinished business.’
On Tuesday, the Silver and Black officially introduced Gruden as the new head coach. He also confirmed former Cincinnati Bengals defensive assistant Paul Guenther, former Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coach Greg Olson and former Dallas Cowboys special teams coach Rich Bisaccia will join him as coordinators.
Approximately 16 years after his unceremonious departure in a trade to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Gruden says coaching his last game on the Raiders sideline after losing to the New England Patriots in the 2002 AFC Divisional Round still ticks him off—special thanks to the Tuck Rule for that.
The former ESPN broadcaster will circle the wagons back to an organization he never wanted to leave. Davis couldn’t have been happier to see him back. It’s the owner’s dream choice. Now, it’s a reality, and Gruden brought the same passion millions saw in his commentary Monday nights.
ESPN analyst Charles Woodson jokingly asked if his 10-year deal included a no-trade clause:
https://twitter.com/FallonSmithNBCS/status/950830701649321984
Gruden Sees Bigger Picture
Critics wonder how will time away from the sidelines affect Gruden’s ability to handle today’s NFL locker room and the game’s progression. There’s no doubt the game has changed since Gruden’s last coaching stint ended with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008. However, the Raiders head coach flipped the perspective and talked about how his experience could also help him.
Gruden sees himself as more of a big-picture guy, which alludes to his time in the booth, meeting with players and talking football with other coaches around the league. As a broadcaster, his research likely broadened his focus. It’s not about just one team, he needed to learn aspects of every club set to play on Monday Night Football.
With league-wide data stored in his memory bank, Gruden has kept pace with the nuances of the game and has the knowledge to implement what he’s learned while away from the sidelines.
It’s not as if Gruden played golf for a decade and decided to hop back into football. He’s been around the game, studying, analyzing and understanding how teams operate on both sides of the ball.
Refreshed and Passionate
After listening to Gruden, anyone with a pulse felt the need to put on the pads and take the field for him. He talked about the desire to optimize player strengths and unlock potential.
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The 54-year-old also compared his tenures with the Raiders and Buccaneers as teaching lessons for this unforeseen return to the head-coaching ranks. The man of the hour briefly spoke about fitting systems to his quarterbacks in Rich Gannon and Brad Johnson in the past.
Will we see Derek Carr use his athleticism, throwing on the move? Could we see an emphasis on pass protection to allow the 26-year-old more time to deliver downfield throws on complex schemes? It’s possible, but we know Gruden will tailor a system to the players as opposed to forcing assets into a cookie-cutter offensive system.
When listening to Gruden talk about the intricacies of the game, you knew he made the right choice to return. His love for football hasn’t wavered, and he’s bringing a new perspective to a roster loaded with talent.
Uncomfortable Important Discussions
A reporter asked directly about running back Marshawn Lynch, and Gruden revealed he never held a conversation with the 31-year old back. Obviously, that’ll change.
Questions about social media came up. Gruden mentioned being responsible for what’s said and compared a public post to spoken words on the mic. Basically, he wants his players to choose their words carefully when expressing thoughts. Clearly, the Raiders head coach plans on having an in-depth conversation with his team about specifics.
According to Gruden, he doesn’t anticipate agreeing with everyone but intends to work with decision-makers in the building including McKenzie who still holds the general manager position.
We won’t know who carries more clout, but Davis didn’t hire his dream candidate only to minimize Gruden’s influence on the roster. The head coach and executive will work together on assessing the depth chart over the offseason. Expect a joint effort on decisions to add assets via free agency and the draft wherever necessary.
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Gruden skirted around specific assessments. It’s the right thing to do as he digs into the strengths and weaknesses of the roster. As free agency approaches in March, we’ll begin to understand where he feels the need to make changes. In some cases, valuable players in previous regimes may have to find new homes and others may see expanded roles.
Nonetheless, we do know Gruden won’t shy away from having uncomfortable discussions and shaking up the roster in order to put the Raiders back in postseason contention.