Oakland Raiders: 5 Pressing questions for the 2018 season
Jon Gruden: Sage or Archaic?
Whenever a Raiders fan reads criticism of Gruden, it usually includes comments about taking the game back to 1998. It’s an overplayed sound bite that fits perfectly with the questions about whether the game passed him as he stood in the Monday Night Football booth.
Despite numerous outlets running endless laps with Gruden’s words, it’s a legitimate concern for the Raiders. Owner Mark Davis invested 10 years and $100 million in the hire, which suggests he’s all in on Chucky.
If you don’t think so, just watch the introductory press conference. The Raiders organizational leader essentially chased the person of his dreams. Now it’s a reality that’s forged with an emotional attachment. If Gruden falls flat out of the gate, will the infatuation wear off? Will Davis allow his ideal head coach take the organization for a long ride regardless of the outcomes?
On the bright side, Gruden does have success in multiple places. He served as an offensive coordinator for three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles (1995-97). During that period, the team finished with a top-five offense in yards for two of those years.
As a head coach for the Raiders, his offensive units didn’t rank any lower than No. 8 in yards or points scored between the 1999-01 seasons. In 2003, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense ranked 10th in yards with 35-year-old Brad Johnson under center, a 33-year-old Keenan McCardell leading the wide receiver corps with 1,174 yards and without a 1,000-yard rusher.
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In the past, Gruden optimized production in older players, which bodes well for Lynch, Doug Martin and Nelson. Now, he’s tasked with developing the franchise centerpiece in Carr and his top receiving weapon Amari Cooper. They’re not Rich Gannon and Tim Brown two decades ago in their early-to-mid 30s, but there’s untapped potential in both players that’s crucial in re-establishing the Raiders’ offensive excellence.