It took longer than expected, but Raiders head coach Jon Gruden finally has the kind of roster he envisioned when he was hired to replace the fired Jack Del Rio in 2018. Gruden had to endure a series of missteps and questionable moves his first season, which was highlighted by his trades of defensive end
Roster Jon Gruden wanted taking shape in third year
A really good summary of all the changes among the starters, Cork. It’s clear to see the improvements on paper, especially on the D – although your article on Ferrell makes it clear we aren’t sure we are there just yet.
I’m taking some comfort from the depth that Mayock has put into the roster as well. Good drafting the last two years has brought us Renfrow and Moreau and I think Bryan Edwards is going to be a really good receiver for us.
Depth is everywhere on the interior OL – both through good FA acquisitions and this year’s draft. Tackle does look thin though, after Miller & Brown.
Picking up Mariota also works for me…. competition and starting experience in the back up should push Carr to be what he hope he can be again – the 2016 version.
Progress on the D depth is a bit behind but we look to be getting there. Excellent pickups at LB this off-season will help but there is not much behind the new guys.
Nassib and Collins will help up front and the new talent in the secondary gives us stronger options. The late pick up of Amukamara could look very good when we are in the thick of the season.
Writing this reinforces for me just what a solid job Mayock is doing for us. It looks like we have a plan….at last!
Thanks, Andy. Yes, in regard to Ferrell and the rest of the current defense, there are several players that are clear upgrades over the starters from the 2017 team Gruden inherited. The likes of Nick Kwiatkoski, Cory Littleton and Maxx Crosby come to mind. Others such as Maliek Collins, Maurice Hurst Jr. and Trayvon Mullen seem like they are poised to join the list. Still, though, there are question marks on the defense and still no clear-cut impact players. Someone needs to emerge into an every game difference-maker.
The Mariota pick-up was a good one. Mostly, those who played behind DC were unreliable. When he was hurt, no one could step in and play at the same level. Mariota, though, has to get back his mechanics coming off two seasons from a bad elbow on his passing arm. The other value from Mariota was when he ran the scout team for the Titans last season. Their defensive players said Mariota gave them fits in practice, but it made them ready. The other upside to Mariota is that the Raiders can bring him in when a game is out of hand, rather than risk DC getting hurt late.
What has made an impression, though, is that the Raiders aren’t having to sort through the trash heap. Sure you can find a player who was given up on too soon, but finding a gem in the trash heap is a lot like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
All valid feedback, especially the part about the Raiders refraining from sorting through the so-called trash heap. The flip side is, cutting players becomes an exercise of parting ways with players that you might not want to let go.
I’m not sure I am willing to deem players with one good year (Waller) as an upgrade, yet. I’d also like to see more consistency at the backup QB position. With all of the talk of the QB needing to “be in” Gruden’s system more than one season to really understand it and know it, it would be nice to see the backup QB having the same type of familiarity as the starter.
Having such a small sample size is reason for cautious optimism, but it’s all we have to go off right now. So, based off what we know, tied in with Jared Cook’s decline in production, it’s enough to consider Waller an upgrade.