Oakland Raiders: Sebastian Janikowski explains 2017 struggles

Former kicker Sebastian Janikowski shared his viewpoint on the Oakland Raiders’ subpar 2017 season, citing one issues specifically.

When you’re involved in anything of importance, it’s best to take full responsibility and give maximum effort for optimal results, something kicker Sebastian Janikowski says some players didn’t do for the Oakland Raiders in 2017.

In a phone conversation with San Jose Mercury News reporter Jerry McDonald, the 39-year-old kicker, who’s set to become a free agent, didn’t mention any names (of course) but said some of his teammates were “cruising through it,” in reference to their duties:

"The chemistry was different. I felt like the guys never got on the same page on offense, defense, special teams. There wasn’t the same emotion or feeling. People were just cruising through it. Jack (Del Rio) did a good job. I just feel like some players didn’t take responsibility. You’ve got to commit."

Though Janikowski praises his former head coach Jack Del Rio for doing a good job, part of his position description as the leader of a locker room includes motivating his players. Clearly, he struggled to instill accountability among the group.

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A 12-4 team can’t look into the rearview mirror and expect to carry over success. Secondly, a head coach must pose a threat to those who don’t buy into commitments on and off the field, whether it’s benching someone or trimming snap counts.

On the surface, head coach Jon Gruden has already gripped the team with his intensity within approximately two months. SI.com reporter S.L. Price profiled the Raiders lead skipper. In the piece, Oakland’s head coach pushes the proverbial ball into running back Marshawn Lynch‘s court:

"I said to him: ‘I need Marshawn Lynch. I don’t need this part-time Lynch. I need full-time Lynch.We need the real deal. If you’re going to put those letters on the back of your jersey, man, you’ve got to back it up, Marshawn—right? We don’t need another back, we need a feature back."

Personally, it sounds like Gruden wants Lynch back on the roster in the final year of his deal. However, the 31-year old ball-carrier must fully commit to his position. He’s placing the onus on Beast Mode to buy in even before we head into the new calendar year.

In the past, Gruden hasn’t been opposed to utilizing an older able-body tailback. Tyrone Wheatley, Charlie Garner and Michael Pittman all flourished or reached career highs in rushing yards while approaching age-30 seasons under the fiery head coach. Lynch will turn 32 years old in April, but if he’s willing to coexist with the new regime, he should flirt with a 1,000 yards on the ground.

Nonetheless, it’s not all about Lynch. If the veterans in the locker room take well to Gruden, the younger players will likely follow their lead.

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Quarterback Derek Carr and edge-rusher Khalil Mack stand out as roster cornerstones, but they’re not overtly vocal leaders at this stage in their careers. Gruden’s in-your-face style of coaching will compensate for the lead-by-example influences on the field.

Expect Gruden to sign veteran free agents who will police the locker room as his roster captains. A depth-chart sweep of those lacking commitment shouldn’t surprise anyone either. More importantly, we won’t see offseason quotes about players going into cruise control at any point during the 2018 campaign.

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