“When I come back it’s going to be a completely different player. Probably won’t recognize me,” Ferrell said. “Just building on everything. I know what I have to work on. I know what I want to improve on. Just getting guys around to buy in on that, too.
“I hope the guys on the team really understand how special of a group we got and how bright our future is.”
That optimism was a common theme in the Raiders locker room one day after their season-ending loss in Denver. While the team did not make the playoffs again — that’s 16 times in 17 years they’ve been shut out of the postseason — the general belief within the organization is that they are not that far away from being a legitimate contender again.
“I think we all are in agreement that we’re in a better position now than we were a year ago,” quarterback Derek Carr said. “A year ago we had a lot we needed to address. We still have some things we need to address but it’s definitely a better place this year than we were 12 months ago. There’s no denying the fact of what we put on tape, and what we have to come in the future is nice.”
The Raiders indeed made strides in 2019. They won three more games than they did in Jon Gruden’s first season back on the sidelines, and they were in contention for a playoff berth up until the final week of the regular season.
But as Ferrell pointed out, it wasn’t good enough. Sounding an awful lot like the late, great Al Davis, the Raiders rookie defensive linemen wasn’t satisfied with merely coming close.
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Denne historien er fra February 2020-utgaven av Silver & Black Illustrated.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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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.
