== OFFICIAL OAKLAND RAIDERS 2018 thread == (1 Viewer)

[DocHolliday]

The first few years were cleaning up a huge mess. Apparently your memory is not so good but we were in cap hell with no talent at all on the roster when he came on board. He cleaned that up and started to build.

If not for Carr getting hurt last year and with an offensive system that made sense from an OC that had a clue..... we had a good shot at winning at least against the Texans who we already beat in the season.

Again, I firmly believe the coaching imploded. It was clear that Norton should have been let go.... pretty much everyone saw that. And he continued to show everyone was right in that. Letting Musgrave go to promote Downing was a massive failure. IF that was Reggie's decision then I would be willing to destroy him on that but I think it was more Del Rio. Then Del Rio just let the team turn into a circus and never had a handle on it.

I expect a good solid turn towards the team prior than last year under Gruden as they use the talent on the team. The offense is there- they just need to utilize the talent. The D does not talent but there are some significant pieces already there that are easy to build around.

I was going to write something very similar.  The talent is definitely there on O.  The talent is not there on D.  The lack of talent at LB is a disgrace. 

 

[ICON211]

The first few years were cleaning up a huge mess. Apparently your memory is not so good but we were in cap hell with no talent at all on the roster when he came on board. He cleaned that up and started to build.

If not for Carr getting hurt last year and with an offensive system that made sense from an OC that had a clue..... we had a good shot at winning at least against the Texans who we already beat in the season.

Again, I firmly believe the coaching imploded. It was clear that Norton should have been let go.... pretty much everyone saw that. And he continued to show everyone was right in that. Letting Musgrave go to promote Downing was a massive failure. IF that was Reggie's decision then I would be willing to destroy him on that but I think it was more Del Rio. Then Del Rio just let the team turn into a circus and never had a handle on it.

I expect a good solid turn towards the team prior than last year under Gruden as they use the talent on the team. The offense is there- they just need to utilize the talent. The D does not talent but there are some significant pieces already there that are easy to build around.

Bottom line if you told any any any fan of any team - you're going to have a new GM and in his first 6 years you will have 1 winning season, 1 playoff appearance, 0 playoff wins and will be coming off a 6-10 record going into year 7 and he will be on his third head coach - I don't know too many people that would consider that a job well done. 

 

[Chadstroma]

Bottom line if you told any any any fan of any team - you're going to have a new GM and in his first 6 years you will have 1 winning season, 1 playoff appearance, 0 playoff wins and will be coming off a 6-10 record going into year 7 and he will be on his third head coach - I don't know too many people that would consider that a job well done. 

Bottom line. Most fans are morons.

 

[ICON211]

Bottom line. Most fans are morons.

On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate Reggie's job performance for his first 6 years?  I'd give him a 5 or 6.

 

[Bruno2]

Bottom line. Most fans are morons.

Ha! That gave me a good laugh. I tend to agree. All the Derek Carr bashing and Beastmode love on other boards drives me nuts. Most people are uninformed and don't have a clue. 

 

[Bruno2]

On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate Reggie's job performance for his first 6 years?  I'd give him a 5 or 6.

I give him a 7. He did a good job cleaning house and he has drafted a centerpiece on defense to build around and obviously got us a promising QB, and a solid Oline (although RT continues to be an issue).

The misses are obvious.  Other than Carr, he hasn't had a 2nd round draft pick produce much. I can give him a pass on Edwards as he was looking good before injuries took their toll on him. Joseph is starter quality but he hasn't done much to warrant a mid 1st round pick yet IMO. Ward, Calhoun and Vanderdoos are just bodies. And trying to mine for LBs late in drafts hasn't paid off yet. Conley and Obi TBD. I like what I saw in Conley but Obi looks like a long term project.

FAs have been hit and miss. Smith is slow, Amerson had one good year. Nelson was ok, Irvin has been good, then invisible at times. A lot of that was probably scheme. Bowman was solid. Overall, the defensive talent is sub par and couple that with poor scheme and lack of intensity, they have been embarrassing more often than not.

 

[joey]

Am I really the first person to come in here to mention that Garapolo was just paid $137mil for 5 years.

Carr deal gets better and better (this sentence was much easier to swallow BEFORE this past season, but I'm confident this past year's problems weren't due to Carr regressing into a "bad" QB).

 

[Chadstroma]

On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate Reggie's job performance for his first 6 years?  I'd give him a 5 or 6.

We are only slightly off from each other then. I would say around a 7. His biggest strengths has been contracts/cap management and nailing two elite players in the most important positions on the team (QB and pass rusher). Biggest weakness has been in talent evaluation for LB and DB- too much missed on high value picks.

 

[massraider]

On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate Reggie's job performance for his first 6 years?  I'd give him a 5 or 6.

I think that's fair.

His biggest accomplishments have been putting the team in a salary cap position as good as anyone in the league, present and future, and making the team a legitimate franchise again.  Which took a while, but this team was really down.  He took a crap franchise and made them better, but he was hired to put together a contender.  

This might sound a little weird, but I'm not concerned with McKenzie's batting average in the draft.  I think the best GMs realize that you never really have a good batting average. From a percentage standpoint, none of them have a great batting average over a long period of time. Bill Walsh to me was the best ever. Guys like Bill Belichick, his average is the same as most others, he just takes more swings, because the team always winds up with more draft picks.  Walsh and Jimmy Johnson, they traded down to get more, Belichick works the compensatory picks market. Reggie is doing that as well.  We're going to wind up with 4 more picks this year, Reggie can bat .250 with those picks, but if one is Richard Sherman, or he uses one of those picks to trade up and get a Pro Bowler, he did a great job.  Same percentage as the other guys, but more at bats.  

He has failed at head coaching choices, but it has to be said, who would consider the job? Todd Bowles wouldn't even visit.  

I give him points for signing Carr ASAP, he knew there was a bunch of contracts coming, and got in front of it.  I give him points for giving himself an out on free agency deals, knowing that they won't all work out. Building through the lines, even if the D-line picks haven't paid off yet.  

Overall, I am more than happy with McKenzie, Gruden, and Carr being the basis for the forseeable future.  

 

[Chadstroma]

Ha! That gave me a good laugh. I tend to agree. All the Derek Carr bashing and Beastmode love on other boards drives me nuts. Most people are uninformed and don't have a clue. 

That number of idiots who have called Carr a bum or worst is mind boggling. Morons.

 

[Chadstroma]

Am I really the first person to come in here to mention that Garapolo was just paid $137mil for 5 years.

Carr deal gets better and better (this sentence was much easier to swallow BEFORE this past season, but I'm confident this past year's problems weren't due to Carr regressing into a "bad" QB).

I laughed out loud at work when my phone buzzed with that breaking news. I am willing to bet money that he has a rough year next year. He is not worth that money. But the reality is that the QB market is so starved that teams are forced to pay on potential and hopes than actual verified ability.

 

[efactor]

I am willing to bet money that he has a rough year next year.

You would lose

 

[Chadstroma]

You would lose

He will be under 67.4% on completions and under 99.7 QB rating for the season next year. That is the standard, I am willing to put money on it. Are you? 

 

[efactor]

He will be under 67.4% on completions and under 99.7 QB rating for the season next year. That is the standard, I am willing to put money on it. Are you? 

99.7 passer rating is considered a "rough year"?  Only 5 QBs had a higher rating last year (6 if you include Watson).  Guess your definition of a "rough year" is finishing just outside the top 5 QBs.  

That said, I would be  willing to make a bet that he finishes with a higher QB rating and completion percentage than Carr does. 

 

[Chadstroma]

99.7 passer rating is considered a "rough year"?  Only 5 QBs had a higher rating last year (6 if you include Watson).  Guess your definition of a "rough year" is finishing just outside the top 5 QBs.  

That said, I would be  willing to make a bet that he finishes with a higher QB rating and completion percentage than Carr does. 

No, 99.7 passer rating is his season average for 2017. He isn't that QB is my point. He got a "unknown bump" in his stats because there was no tape on him. DC's will start to figure him out and as tape mounts and he will struggle. What he did last year is the standard I am using and the standard of what he got paid on. My overall point is that he is fool's gold and it will show this year.

 

[efactor]

No, 99.7 passer rating is his season average for 2017. He isn't that QB is my point. He got a "unknown bump" in his stats because there was no tape on him. DC's will start to figure him out and as tape mounts and he will struggle. What he did last year is the standard I am using and the standard of what he got paid on. My overall point is that he is fool's gold and it will show this year.

 No offense but the success due to “no tape” is just a foolish stance. Anyone saying he is “fools gold” mearly looked at stats and didn’t watch him play. If you watched him play every game, you would know what a special player he is and should continue to be. Amazingly quick release, accuracy and ability to pick up a complex offense in a couple weeks is not fools gold. Now I don’t blame you for not watching since I wouldn’t have watched either if I wasn’t a fan of the team. No reason to.  

You stated he was going to have a rough year and seem to base that simply on “more tape” being available. What about the plus of more time in a complex system, therefore having more of the playbook available? How about the plus of having Garçon back and perhaps another receiver added in FA or the draft. OL upgrades in the draft or free agency, allowing for better protection? That would be a plus, wouldn’t it? They have the cap space and the draft capital to accomplish these things. 

Lastly, a small variation in QB rating and completion percentage doesn’t really mean much. Some QBs achieve high rankings by checking down a lot and not taking a lot of chances, ala Alex Smith, sometimes to the detriment of the team.  Always a head shaker when a QB throws it out of bounds just before halftime instead of trying a Hail Mary because they don’t want a pick in their stats.  Garoppolo threw one right before halftime in the Houston game and it actually made me happy to see it because he was trying to get another score and the pick didn’t hurt the team.  

Anyway, since my intention is not to hijack the Raider team thread with Garoppolo talk, I will stop. 

 

[massraider]

Cordy Glenn is worth keeping an eye on. Coming off some surgery, and won't be able to work out, but is a young LT, and the Bills may cut him.

 

[Ed Wood]

Anyway, since my intention is not to hijack the Raider team thread with Garoppolo talk, I will stop. 

Speaking of Garoppolo... Jerry McDonald has a column about the high expectations awaiting him with his large contract:

"In one stroke of the pen, Garoppolo went from an intriguing prospect for the future and instead must be the next Joe Montana or Steve Young."

That's exactly how it was with Carr--and of course it still is. So with Gruden on board, what can you realistically expect from him? Comparing him to other Gruden-coached QBs, I think you hope for another Rich Gannon-type. You'd think he's got to be better than Brad Johnson and Jeff Garcia. Or in Raiders lore, you're hoping he's another Stabler and not another Marc Wilson.

I don't think he'll be Gannon or Stabler. But I think he'll be better than Johnson or Garcia or Wilson. Hopefully a lot closer to the former than the latter.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/02/09/next-step-for-49ers-jimmy-g-dealing-with-great-expectations/

 

[DocHolliday]

Speaking of Garoppolo... Jerry McDonald has a column about the high expectations awaiting him with his large contract:

"In one stroke of the pen, Garoppolo went from an intriguing prospect for the future and instead must be the next Joe Montana or Steve Young."

That's exactly how it was with Carr--and of course it still is. So with Gruden on board, what can you realistically expect from him? Comparing him to other Gruden-coached QBs, I think you hope for another Rich Gannon-type. You'd think he's got to be better than Brad Johnson and Jeff Garcia. Or in Raiders lore, you're hoping he's another Stabler and not another Marc Wilson.

I don't think he'll be Gannon or Stabler. But I think he'll be better than Johnson or Garcia or Wilson. Hopefully a lot closer to the former than the latter.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/02/09/next-step-for-49ers-jimmy-g-dealing-with-great-expectations/

Carr will be fine.  He will be good and could be very good.  Last year was a mess for Carr and the whole team.    I find it tough to believe that he could regress so much so fast without stuff going on mentally and physically.  

 

[Stompin' Tom Connors]

Was reading the Reggie talk earlier and can see both sides. There is no question we would still be mired in mediocrity had Reggie not done all of the cap space freeing and put us in the best position possible to rebuild, which we were able to do to become competitive from a talent perspective. Big, big plus on that side of the ledger.

Not being more active in driving the right coaching staff and being more aggressive to help this team make course corrections is a minus on the ledger. You want to give your coaches some autonomy, but was clear something was rotten in Denmark on the coaching staff for the bulk of last year.

Missing on/misjudging talent in the draft and FA happens to everyone. Not sure Reggie and the staff are anything more or less than par for the course in terms of the NFL average in this regard.

So in balance, I think he's done more than not in his tenure. But totally fine with keeping scrutiny on -- this is, without question, THE make or break year. We have the best HC situation we could possibly hope for. We have key talent to be competitive in the division and league, with some specific areas of desperate need to address in the upcoming draft and FA. And we have to do this now, given our aging OL strengths -- otherwise I feel a great window is missed.

And agree -- the Garappolo and impending Cousins deal has and will -- as expected -- make our deal with Carr look fantastic in comparison.

 

[RaiderBones]

Reggie designed Carr’s contract so that if Carr doesn’t work out that by next year the Raiders can move on and only take a 7.5 million cap hit and it only goes down each year from there. That’s why I like Reggie because if a player doesn’t work out the contact won’t hamstring the team for years especially a big ticket item like Carr.

 

[DocHolliday]

Was reading the Reggie talk earlier and can see both sides. There is no question we would still be mired in mediocrity had Reggie not done all of the cap space freeing and put us in the best position possible to rebuild, which we were able to do to become competitive from a talent perspective. Big, big plus on that side of the ledger.

Not being more active in driving the right coaching staff and being more aggressive to help this team make course corrections is a minus on the ledger. You want to give your coaches some autonomy, but was clear something was rotten in Denmark on the coaching staff for the bulk of last year.

Missing on/misjudging talent in the draft and FA happens to everyone. Not sure Reggie and the staff are anything more or less than par for the course in terms of the NFL average in this regard.

So in balance, I think he's done more than not in his tenure. But totally fine with keeping scrutiny on -- this is, without question, THE make or break year. We have the best HC situation we could possibly hope for. We have key talent to be competitive in the division and league, with some specific areas of desperate need to address in the upcoming draft and FA. And we have to do this now, given our aging OL strengths -- otherwise I feel a great window is missed.

And agree -- the Garappolo and impending Cousins deal has and will -- as expected -- make our deal with Carr look fantastic in comparison.

I'm excited to have Gruden as HC.  He was the best we could hope to get.   But, I think this year may not be all joyous.  I expect some rough waters and some player issues.   Gruden is not going to let players do what they want.  

 

[massraider]

Every mock has us taking Tremaine Edwards or Roquon Smith.  Anyone have a preference?

 

[SDJohnny]

Every mock has us taking Tremaine Edwards or Roquon Smith.  Anyone have a preference?

Tremaine, Smith's size worries me.

 

[RaiderBones]

Every mock has us taking Tremaine Edwards or Roquon Smith.  Anyone have a preference?

I prefer Tremaine Edwards over Smith but would be good with Smith if he were the pick. If I were the Raiders depending of course what they do with free agency I would also look at DT or DB as well. LB, DB, or DT with that first round pick.

 

[Ed Wood]

I'm excited to have Gruden as HC.  He was the best we could hope to get.   But, I think this year may not be all joyous.  I expect some rough waters and some player issues.   Gruden is not going to let players do what they want.  

No question. The D is a mess and the O took a big step back this season. I expect a pretty big roster shuffle. But I'll bet they're better than 6-10. And I'll bet they're ready to play nearly every Sunday and I know they'll be well-coached.

 

[Stompin' Tom Connors]

Every mock has us taking Tremaine Edwards or Roquon Smith.  Anyone have a preference?

Classic potential higher ceiling v higher floor - Edmunds has great raw skills and could have the highest potential out of Smith, Rashaad Evans, etc. And as @SDJohnny mentions, size is definitely a delta, with Smith at 6'1 225 vs Edmunds at 6'5 250. Edmunds also grades out a little better. 

I'd rather actually take Smith right now as his instincts seem that much better. We need some help in this area and while Tremaine could add some needed bulk and push with Irvin (Bowman, the only other talent we really have @ LB, is similarly undersized @ 6 ft, 220), would rather go with a guy who can contribute right now especially with speed to the corners and sidelines. Will add a great dimension to run D and defending the flat/bubble screen game that's so prevalent in today's playbooks.

Smith is more polished, and I'd like to go with a guy whose instincts aren't average and whose patience and skills are still developing than another athletic specimen who has the raw frame and potential to be prototypical in his position, but isn't there yet.

 

[massraider]

Speaking of LB, since draft day Reuben Foster has had one serious injury, one arrest for weed, and one arrest for domestic violence.

 

[BustedKnuckles]

saw something on twitter saying the Raiders were interested in RB Dion Lewis in the offseason

Boston Herald's Jeff Howe reports the "early vibe" is Dion Lewis won't be on the Patriots in 2018.

Lewis is reportedly looking for a deal somewhere in the range of $15-18 million over the course of three years with $10 million guaranteed. The Patriots seem to draw the line for paying running backs at around $3 million annually, making Lewis an unlikely candidate to return. With Le'Veon Bell expected to remain with the Steelers, Lewis may be the best running back available in free-agency.

 

[Chadstroma]

Carr will be fine.  He will be good and could be very good.  Last year was a mess for Carr and the whole team.    I find it tough to believe that he could regress so much so fast without stuff going on mentally and physically.  

We know physically there was. He came back very fast with that back injury. The normal expectation on that injury is 2-6 and he missed on start. And reports suggest there was some mental stuff going on with a team imploding.

 

[Moonshine]

I prefer Tremaine Edwards over Smith but would be good with Smith if he were the pick. If I were the Raiders depending of course what they do with free agency I would also look at DT or DB as well. LB, DB, or DT with that first round pick.

This is where I'm hoping we spend our first round pick, and hope for a guy like Malik Jefferson with our second round pick (or possibly even trade up a little higher in the second to get him).

 

[32 Counter Pass]

While I have my preference at the end of the day I just want the team to select play makers in rounds 1 and 2. This team needs players that can help immediately! Unlike last year's wasted season.

 

[massraider]

https://itshinesforever.wordpress.com/2018/02/11/early-2018-ilb-inside-linebacker-thoughts/

 

[DocHolliday]

https://itshinesforever.wordpress.com/2018/02/11/early-2018-ilb-inside-linebacker-thoughts/

Very encouraging for the Raiders and their huge need at LB.  

 

[Chadstroma]

Very encouraging for the Raiders and their huge need at LB.  

Isn't Bowman an ILB? Assuming we retain him (I think that would be wise) then our need is really at the OLB position, no? Obviously, if we do not keep him then we are back to a screaming need at ILB and even so, with his age it would be nice to get a young guy to groom under him.

 

[massraider]

Isn't Bowman an ILB? Assuming we retain him (I think that would be wise) then our need is really at the OLB position, no? Obviously, if we do not keep him then we are back to a screaming need at ILB and even so, with his age it would be nice to get a young guy to groom under him.

I think you can find a ton of people that think Smith is more of a WLB than MLB, and Edwards is more of a SLB than MLB. 

Either way, Navarro Bowman isn't the reason I pass on a player.  

 

[Stompin' Tom Connors]

Boston Herald's Jeff Howe reports the "early vibe" is Dion Lewis won't be on the Patriots in 2018.

Lewis is reportedly looking for a deal somewhere in the range of $15-18 million over the course of three years with $10 million guaranteed. The Patriots seem to draw the line for paying running backs at around $3 million annually, making Lewis an unlikely candidate to return. With Le'Veon Bell expected to remain with the Steelers, Lewis may be the best running back available in free-agency.

Honestly would rather look to draft a between-the-tackles Lynch replacement like Chubb, Kerryon Johnson, or Guice (or even better, a similar type back later to free up earlier picks for BPAs on CB, DT, and LB) than spend money on Lewis -- I love Dion and what he brings to the game, but worry about durability and tire wear.

 

[Stompin' Tom Connors]

Very encouraging for the Raiders and their huge need at LB.  

Great article, @massraider, and agree @DocHolliday - I was thinking we may want to focus on landing the biggest area of need IMHO at corner with our 1st round pick, but these constant praises of guys like Smith and Edmunds are making me think we can't pass up the value to get an impact player in another position of need.

 

[massraider]

In my annual love of defensive tackles, I'm keeping an eye on Maurice Hurst. Penetrating, inside presence. 

Watching college teams trying to trap him is hilarious.

 

[Chadstroma]

Honestly would rather look to draft a between-the-tackles Lynch replacement like Chubb, Kerryon Johnson, or Guice (or even better, a similar type back later to free up earlier picks for BPAs on CB, DT, and LB) than spend money on Lewis -- I love Dion and what he brings to the game, but worry about durability and tire wear.

Is there any RB's who left NE and produced at same or better level in the Belicheat era?

 

[Chadstroma]

In my annual love of defensive tackles, I'm keeping an eye on Maurice Hurst. Penetrating, inside presence. 

Watching college teams trying to trap him is hilarious.

Did we get a good sampling out of Vanderdoes? I am excited to see what him and a few other youngsters whom I don't think have hit their potential.... most likely due to our coaching staff.... under the new regime.

 

[Stompin' Tom Connors]

Is there any RB's who left NE and produced at same or better level in the Belicheat era?

Wow, interesting thought. Only RBs I can think of are:

• Curtis Martin -- guy was a stud on NE for his first 3 years then a HOF stud thereafter for the Jets.
  
• BenJarvis Green-Ellis who, after a 1K rushing season then another season marred by injury, go on to the Bengals for another 1K season, followed by a 750+ yard season before leaving the NFL
  

Jury is still out on Woodhead; Blount wasn't too shabby though clearly below the stats he garnered in NE.

 

[Chadstroma]

Wow, interesting thought. Only RBs I can think of are:

• Curtis Martin -- guy was a stud on NE for his first 3 years then a HOF stud thereafter for the Jets.
  
• BenJarvis Green-Ellis who, after a 1K rushing season then another season marred by injury, go on to the Bengals for another 1K season, followed by a 750+ yard season before leaving the NFL
  

Jury is still out on Woodhead; Blount wasn't too shabby though clearly below the stats he garnered in NE.

I think Martin left before Belicheat got there.

 

[Stompin' Tom Connors]

I think Martin left before Belicheat got there.

True enough.

 

[ICON211]

In my annual love of defensive tackles, I'm keeping an eye on Maurice Hurst. Penetrating, inside presence. 

Watching college teams trying to trap him is hilarious.

I like him a lot and Payne.  Payne dominated in the semi-final and national title game.

 

[SDJohnny]

Did we get a good sampling out of Vanderdoes? I am excited to see what him and a few other youngsters whom I don't think have hit their potential.... most likely due to our coaching staff.... under the new regime.

Vanderdoes played a ton and made little or no impact. Plus he blew out his ACL in the last game of the season. No telling when he'll be back to full strength. 

 

[Chadstroma]

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22442918/oakland-raiders-say-sebastian-janikowski-return-2018-season

How did this thread slip? SeaBass will not be back with us.

Thanks for the 18 years of kicking that ball long and true. I believe he is the longest tenured Raider ever.

 

[Chadstroma]

https://www.silverandblackpride.com/2018/2/15/17015556/raiders-hire-nfl-scouting-combine-prep-guru-tom-shaw-as-strength-coach
 

Raiders hire NFL Scouting Combine prep guru Tom Shaw as strength coach

By Levi Damien@LeviDamien Feb 15, 2018, 6:00am PST

As Jon Gruden continues to build his coaching staff, his latest hire fits right in with the cadre of football minds with whom Gruden has had extensive experience. He has hired long time draft prep training specialist, Tom Shaw as the team’s strength coach.

“Tom Shaw, our strength coach, is very established in this business and he’s going to change the way we’ve done things here and hopefully our players respond to it,” Gruden told the Mercury News Wednesday.

Shaw emphasizes improving players’ speed. His first NFL job came with the Saints in the early 2000’s and then moved on to be the Speed and Conditioning coach for the Patriots, during which time they won three Super Bowls. He boasts having trained 10 of the last 14 Super Bowl MVP’s. Among those who have trained with him are Khalil Mack.

Shaw’s training facility is at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando Florida where he and Gruden often partnered up for Gruden’s QB camp, which also dealt in prepping NFL draft prospects. In an announcement on Tom Shaw’s site, he detailed the work he and Gruden were doing together.

We have partnered with Coach Gruden to assist in the production of his Gruden QB Camp, as well as incorporate his immense experience into our training. This relationship gives our athletes the unique opportunity to work first-hand with another Super Bowl-winning coach, whose knowledge of the game is unrivaled. With four Super Bowl rings between Coach Gruden and Coach Shaw, our athletes can’t ask for a more success-breeding environment. Our partnership with Gruden’s QB Camp gives our athletes the opportunity to showcase their abilities on a global scale, as well as work hand-in-hand with world class quarterbacks from around the country. This is an opportunity that can only be found at Tom Shaw Performance.

Now with Gruden back in the NFL, he is bringing Shaw along with him.

Gruden’s son Deuce said at his father’s introductory press conference that he would be joining the strength staff as well. Though there has been no official word on that hire yet.

 

[Chadstroma]

Jon Gruden insists Tom Cable hire does not signify Raiders will be a zone blocking team

By Levi Damien@LeviDamien Feb 15, 2018, 3:34pm PST

Tom Cable is known for running the zone blocking scheme. He ran it in Oakland when he was their Offensive Line coach from 2007-10 and he has run it in Seattle the past seven years since. But according to Jon Gruden, that doesn’t necessarily mean the Raiders will be a zone blocking team this season.

When asked in an interview with the Mercury News when Cable’s addition means the Raiders will be running zone, Gruden said flatly “No.”

“I think Cable’s background is one of the outside zone, then inside zone, but he’s also a very versatile coach,” Gruden continued. “He’s proven that. He can run gap schemes. He’s going to run what we’re good at running. If we have a good back, and some good linemen and a tight end and a fullback, we’ll have a good running game with Tom Cable. But we’ve got to get the components in place so he can be all he can be. That’s something we’re working on right now. He’s a versatile coach, certainly he’s an expert in the zone scheme and I’m excited about that, but there’s a lot of ways he’s run the ball in his background.”

To get some answers to what this means, I consulted someone who is familiar with Cable’s blocking schemes over the past seven years in Seattle. I spoke with John Gilbert who covers the Seahawks for SB Nation blog Field Gulls.

What Gilbert had to say lined up pretty well with what Gruden said. That being, yes, Cable is a zone guy, but there are some wrinkles to that. I’ll let him tell it.

“Cable is an Alex Gibbs disciple when it comes to the zone blocking scheme, and seems to believe in strict adherence to the blocking assignments for offensive linemen. In terms of those assignments for the offensive linemen, he didn’t change anything over the course of his tenure. However, the offense changed during in his seven years with the club and that change in the offense may have contributed to many of the issues Seattle faced in the running game in 2016 and 2017.

“When Cable arrived in 2011, the Hawks were a run-first team that sent both Marshawn Lynch and FB Michael Robinson to the Pro Bowl behind an offensive line that was made up primarily of youngsters and a couple of castoffs from other teams. LT Russell Okung was in his second season, RG/RT James Carpenter was a rookie, LG Robert Gallery had been signed from the Raiders, C Max Unger was in his third season and first as a starter and RT Breno Giacomini was in his first year as a starter after having spent a couple of seasons on the practice squads of the Hawks and Packers.

“Over time the Seahawks went from being a run first team to a team that threw the ball more. As Russell Wilson’s pass attempts by season went up steadily over the course of his career . . . the Seahawks went from using a fullback on nearly a third of offensive plays (Robinson played 32.38% of offensive snaps in 2012) to using a fullback on less than 10% of plays in 2017.

“So, in short, as the team evolved around Russell Wilson and went from running on 55% of offensive plays in 2012 to running on only 40.6% of offensive plays in 2017, they tried to run from different formations, and that obviously didn’t work.

“In summary, the Hawks didn’t change the blocking scheme up front, but they did try to maintain the same up front blocking with different personnel groupings, which didn’t go very well, as the stats show.

“Cable uses the Gibbs inside zone and wide zone concepts, but while Gibbs famously stated he could turn a garbageman into a guard, Cable likes his linemen big, strong and highly athletic. That allowed him to sprinkle some man blocking/power concepts in at times with great effectiveness.”

Big, strong, and highly athletic? Well, that is just what the Raiders have in their interior offensive line with the trio of Kelechi Osemele, Rodney Hudson, and Gabe Jackson. And they block for a guy with whom Cable is quite familiar — Marshawn Lynch. Likewise they have a good fullback in Jamize Olawale.

They started last season slowly in a new blocking scheme, but by season’s end, Marshawn and the running game was clicking. It will be Cable’s job to keep doing what they do best.

https://www.silverandblackpride.com/2018/2/15/17018326/jon-gruden-insists-tom-cable-hire-does-not-signify-raiders-will-be-a-zone-blocking-team

 

[Chadstroma]

Q & A with Gruden