Jon Gruden Has Message for Pete Carroll Amid Raiders’ Struggles
Pete Carroll is learning the hard way that turning around the Las Vegas Raiders is going to take a Herculean effort. The franchise has been trying for years to find the right coach to turn things around, and the hope was that Carroll would have the right mentality.
Through three games, the Raiders don’t look like they’re any better than last year’s team. While many fans have already started to sour on Carroll, former head coach Jon Gruden believes that he just needs more time.
He spoke about the coach and expressed how getting the running game on track would help the entire team.
“Well, it’s still early in his regime, let’s not forget that,” Gruden told Derek and David Carr on “Home Grown.” “It’s his third game; he’s only been there for three games. We’ve got to get the running game going. I don’t know what the running game is … but they’ve got to get Ashton Jeanty introduced to Raider Nation. He’s the sixth pick in the draft. We have to get this man going and take some pressure off our offensive line.”
Gruden then went on to detail how the Raiders need to be better in all three phases of the game, but he still believes in Carroll.
“I think Pete Carroll’s upbeat, positive background that he has, I think he’s gotta keep that,” Gruden added. “We gotta get some of these young guys to come through.”
It Took Carroll 3 Seasons to Get Seahawks on Track
Considering Carroll won a Super Bowl in his fourth season with the Seattle Seahawks, it’s easy to forget that it took time for him to get things going. In his first two seasons with Seattle, he went 7-9 in each year.
It wasn’t until Year 3 that the Seahawks went to the playoffs. Raiders fans have only seen the team make the playoffs twice in two decades, so it’s easy to understand why they wouldn’t be patient, but it’s going to take time to build.
The Raiders don’t really have the roster talent to compete with the best teams in the NFL. That said, Carroll does need to have the team show signs of growth as the season goes on. If not, the Raiders might have a bigger problem.
Raiders Still Tinkering With OL
A major reason for the early-season struggles has been the offensive line. Quarterback Geno Smith is getting limited time to throw, and running back Ashton Jeanty is frequently getting hit before he has a chance to make a play.
The biggest talking point among the Raiders’ offensive line is the right guard spot. Jackson Powers-Johnson got the Week 1 start, but Alex Cappa started the last two games. Neither player has looked great. Carroll spoke about the position and also noted that we might see young players get more of a chance later in the season.
“We’re working at the right guard spot,” Carroll said Wednesday. “Our young guys, they’ll get their turn sometime, but they’re not ready yet. So, we have what we have, and we got to make our guys do better, and we got to fit it together better than we have.”
Bills’ Defensive Depth Tested With Injuries to Key Starters Ahead of Saints Game
Bills Defensive Stars Ed Oliver and Matt Milano Out for Week 4 Against Saints
The Buffalo Bills
With both players out, the Bills’ defense will have to rely on
Despite these challenges, Sean McDermott remains confident in his team’s ability to adapt and perform, stating, “We’ve been hit with a few injuries, but we’ve got the depth and talent to step up. The next man always needs to be ready, and we’re confident we’ll be ready against the Saints.”
The Bills’ defense has been a strong point this season, but the loss of Oliver and Milano will test the unit’s depth. As the Saints look to capitalize on this, the
