The Raiders spent big on defensive back Lamarcus Joyner in hopes of adding an impact player to their secondary. They used the No. 4 pick of the 2019 draft on defensive end Clelin Ferrell because they envisioned him becoming an impact player. The same line of thinking went into head coach Jon Gruden and general
Lack of impact players preventing Raiders from closing gap on Chiefs
Totally agree.
If you don’t have impact players, and at least some that are elite, you are not in the playoffs. When Raiders were contending for Super Bowls 1960s – 1980, they had Hall of Fame players on the roster.
Until the roster is infused with impact players, Raiders won’t be contending. Let’s hope some of young players can start playing at a high level.
That would be a fun project, to break down just how many legitimate impact players those elite Raiders teams had. For instance, at one point, you had a team with Kenny Stabler, Jim Otto, Art Shell, Gene Upshaw, Freddie Biletnikoff, Dave Casper, Ted Hendricks, Cliff Branch, and more. Later teams had many of those same guys, as well as the likes of Todd Christensen, Jack Tatum, Matt Millen, George Atkinson and so many others.
I think the Mack trade will help the Raiders get to the next level. This is a team sport and Gruden is getting players that love the game before eye popping talent. Seem like someone else in this league has do well with that approach.
Agreed, there are no “elite” players on this roster . . . yet. No Woodsons who can make a play that seals/saves a win, no Snake who can somehow throw through a sea of hands to a receiver to win a game. Nor is the team have enough talent collectively to make plays by “doing their job(s).”