It’s hard to imagine Al Davis watching his defense get pounded three straight weeks and not coming unglued. Heads would roll and someone would lose his job, right? Even though the whole world knew Davis had major input on the weekly defensive game plans, the blame was always heaped on someone else’s shoulders.
Thus we come to Paul Guenther, the personally hand-picked defensive coordinator selected by Jon Gruden to put the Raiders long-suffering defense back in order.
Guenther has been working with a shorthand almost from Day One. He inherited a defense that was short on talent, long on expenses and had very little otherwise. Guenther called 2018 one of the most challenging of his coaching career.
Buoyed by the additions of a handful of veterans in key positions and a draft class heavily flavored in defense, Guenther expected things to be much better in 2019. Outside of a few bright moments here and there, that has failed to materialize.
The list of issues began with a season-ending injury to first-round draft pick Jonathan Abram less than 30 minutes into the regular season. Three-and-a-half weeks later Vontaze Burfict, who knows Guenther’s defense better than any other player, was suspended for the remainder of the season following a hit on Indianapolis tight end Jack Doyle.
It’s gotten worse since.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 2020-Ausgabe von Silver & Black Illustrated.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 2020-Ausgabe von Silver & Black Illustrated.
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‘We have to be a much more detailed football team'
Like so many Raiders fans, coach Jon Gruden found himself searching for answers after the Raiders’ second-half collapse that cost the team a spot in the expanded playoffs.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Starting Tackle Kolton Miller is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Wanted: Defensive coordinator
The Raiders didn’t wait long to begin their search for a new defensive coordinator, and it’s becoming clear that Jon Gruden has already narrowed his list down.
Raiders' good, bad, ugly
Raiders’ good, bad, ugly
NEWS & NOTES
The Raiders had one of the easier schedules in 2020 and got only eight wins to show for it. Things won’t get any easier in 2021, either.
Looking back at 2020 season
The 2020 season will absolutely be remembered for being one of the strangest and most disappointing in franchise history.
Gruden feeling the heat?
“I know there is a big bull’s-eye on my chest, certainly. If the people want to use that as an incentive, then so be it. I worked for Al Davis in 1998. That was pressure. I was 34 years old. I’ve dealt with pressure before. I don’t really feel pressure. I love the excitement and thrill of competing, and I can’t worry about things I can’t control in that regard. I know people will want to step on me and beat me, and that is just the way this league is.”
From the SILVERANDBLACK.com Message Boards
S&BI continually scans the message boards across Raider Nation to see what Raider fans are talking about now that the 2020 season has ended for the Raiders. We chose some of the better posts and present them here.
Checklist for 2021
Now that the 2020 season has been put to rest for Las Vegas, the Raiders have shifted their focus to what figures to be a busy offseason as they prepare for 2021.
AFC WEST ROUNDUP
The Chargers fired coach Anthony Lynn after four seasons.