Oakland Raiders: Veteran acquisitions will play a role in scheme transition

Skeptics have described the Oakland Raiders’ free-agent acquisitions as head-scratchers, but there’s a method to the madness.

When Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden jokingly said he wants to take it back to 1998 with an ominous smirk, many took the comments literally.

Remember Gruden just came from the Monday Night Football booth. He knows what quotes stick and how to cause a stir in the media. Following his comment, the team signed or re-sign seven players who will play at age 30 years or older in the upcoming season. In fact, the Raiders only acquired one talent under 27 years old, fullback Keith Smith.

Why would the Raiders rapidly age their overall roster when we see young talents make their mark in the league right out of the draft every year? Why not go after the 25- or 26-year-olds looking for second deals on the market?

Gruden added context to his 1998 comment and answered criticisms about the team’s free-agent moves, per Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Michael Gehlken:

"But when I say 1998, I’m going to do this very similar to how I did it then (when first joining the Raiders). We’re going to bring in a lot of free agents that are going to help us send a message, set the tone. We did it (in 1998) with Richard Harvey and Anthony Newman and Elijah Alexander and Eric Allen. We brought in a lot of guys who were pros that love football, that will compete and fight for the Raiders. That’s kinda what I meant, ‘taking it back to 1998."

The philosophy translates into more knowledgeable veterans able to help their younger teammates grasp what’s taught on the practice field.

In a short interview with Eddie Paskal of Raiders.com, general manager Reggie McKenzie emphasized bringing in good leaders for the locker room. And typically, that quality comes from older players, who’ve been around the league:

More Teachers in Transition

When looking at some of the veteran signings, connect the dots. You’ll eventually notice their connections to coaches on staff.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the Raiders would re-sign safety Reggie Nelson. Most of the fanbase rolled their eyes when thinking about his play from the previous season. Often late in help coverage over the top, the 34-year old logged just one interception and five pass breakups. Many assumed he wouldn’t return for the upcoming term.

However, Gruden added defensive coordinator Paul Guenther to the staff, who coached Nelson during the 2014-15 seasons. The veteran safety went to his first Pro Bowl in the second year of that pact with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Nelson will play an active role installing his former defensive coordinator’s schemes. It shouldn’t surprise anyone if he makes the final roster in September, especially with Obi Melifonwu recovering from hip surgery. He also has a step on Marcus Gilchrist who’s not familiar with Guenther.

Linebacker Emmanuel Lamur also played under Guenther between the 2014-15 seasons and started 15 games in that span.

Tackle Breno Giacomini started 33 games between the 2011-13 campaigns with the Seattle Seahawks under offensive line coach Tom Cable.

Wide receiver coach Edgar Bennett served in the same position and as an offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers between the 2011-17 seasons with wideout Jordy Nelson on the roster.

It’s not a coincidence the oldest acquisitions, both Nelsons and Giacomini, have a past with the prominent coaches on staff. Gruden seems intent on building roster chemistry through familiarity to start the transition process.

Next: NFL Free Agency 2018: Biggest steal for each team

Aside from (Jordy) Nelson, the oldest veterans are far from a lock to remain on the roster throughout the 2018 campaign. During the offseason, competition will take over and solidify roles for the upcoming year. In the meantime, new and old teammates will help each other in the learning process as the incoming coaching staff leads the roster in a new direction.