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Raiders mailbag: Panic level rises as Jon Gruden’s play-calling, job security are called in to question

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Raiders mailbag: Panic level rises as Jon Gruden’s play-calling, job security are called in to question

Getting to your mailbag questions with the panic level rising in the aftermath of a 43-6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons . . .

Q: With all the failures on offense yesterday, is Jon Gruden looking at pulling out the stops on play calling? Also is he looking at more changes with the defense game planning/play calling? — @GladsonSteven

He went for it on fourth-and-1 and Josh Jacobs got stuffed. Derek Carr threw a 36-yard completion to Henry Ruggs III on fourth-and-3 on a very low percentage play. I’d say that’s pulling out some stops. Better to wonder if the Raiders will get back to being efficient. Their offense was pretty good before Sunday. I’m guessing the goal will be to get back to that rather than scrapping the whole thing and pretending to be the Kansas City Chiefs. Defensively, the plan changes every week based on the opponent and who’s available on defense.

Q: How long until the Jets game? LOL  — @anovello88

In any other year that would be a ridiculous question. This year it’s a good one. As of now, pending COVID-19 tests, it’s still on for Sunday a 10 a.m. (PST)

Q: Was wondering if Marcus Mariota is doing better with the offense in practice and if he will be activated for any of the remaining games? — @Erndog67

Offensive coordinator Greg Olson made it clear last week Derek Carr takes almost every snap, and that’s the way it is around the league with first-string quarterbacks. They’re all Ebenezer Scrooge when it comes to practice reps. Mariota was healing when he arrived, and when he had the pectoral injury late in camp, it pretty much wiped out his season. The Raiders paid $7.5 million in salary and utilized $9 million in cap space on a gamble that came up snake eyes.

Q: If we finish off 1-5 like we did last season, is there any chance Gruden loses his job? — @trejames

Q: If the Raiders tank like they did last year and go one and five, are there wholesale changes Gruden, Derek Carr, Or one or both gone next season — Brandon Taylor (email)

A downward spiral can change a lot of things. If Carr and the offense play poorly — and I’m willing to write off the Falcons game as a one-game aberration — then the quarterback issue could come in to play at 7-9. But keep in mind you’d better have a replacement in mind that’s better than Carr. As for Gruden, Mark Davis wants a full house at Allegiant Stadium next year to see him on the sideline. It’s the “look what I did” moment Davis never got this year. I’m not factoring in the alleged 10-year, guaranteed $100 million contract. I’ve had my doubts about it from Day 1 because coaches salaries are never made public the way they are for players. And if there’s one thing we know about initial reports on contracts it’s that they’re almost always inflated. Sometimes in a huge way. Davis wants people to think he signed Gruden to a 10-year, guaranteed $100 million deal. Gruden’s agent wants people to think his client signed a 10-year deal, guaranteed $100 million deal. Doesn’t that make you a little suspicious that it’s actually a 10-year, guaranteed $100 million deal?

The Raiders offensive line, led by Rodney Hudson, struggled against the Atlanta Falcons. AP Photo

Q: Given how well they have performed this season, was the poor offensive line display the most surprising part of the Falcons embarrassment? — @JPOzstriker

To me it was. I pretty much took them for granted because they’ve been so good all year even with the constant change at left guard and right tackle. When the Raiders couldn’t win at the line of scrimmage against the Falcons, it changed everything.

Q: Why don’t the Raiders run more screens? — Albert Rodriguez (email)

Andy Reid and Jon Gruden are friends, but I think Andy’s holding back when it comes to talking about executing a screen. He’s always been brilliant at it. Gruden has never been big into screens. I’m not sure if he considers it too deceptive when he’s more of a punch-in-the-mouth guy or that his success with it has been marginal so he’s simply moved on to other things. I think you’ll find there are really only a few teams that are really good at screens, and the Raiders aren’t one of them.

Q: When are the Raiders going to pull the plug on some of the underperforming players, especially on the defensive. I’d like to see David Irving and Vic Beasley over Maliek Collins and Daniel Ross. — @brwong24

Beasley is an edge player, Irving more of a base end. Irving is hurt at the moment and the Raiders are in the process of determining if Beasley can help. He did absolutely nothing in Tennessee. Those who saw Beasley regularly said it was startling he was such a non-factor. Collins and Ross are strictly tackles and you’re right, they’ve been underwhelming. Don’t know how much more we’ll see of Ross. The more Johnathan Hankins and Maurice Hurst the better, with Clelin Ferrell doing some work inside when he gets back. Chris Smith used to be an end, but he’s done better than Collins and Ross inside.

Q: Did the Raiders get all the bad out of their season against Atlanta?  I feel as nervous as a fan of a 1 seed vs a 16 seed. While unlikely, a loss would be utterly embarrassing. Do the Jets have any chance on Sunday? — Eric Kirby _(email)

I’m sure you’d love for me to tell you the Jets have no chance. But it’s the NFL, and more importantly, it’s the Raiders. I don’t think they’ll lose, but for as long as I’ve covered them since 1995, the spectacular flameout can’t be dismissed out of hand.

Q: Broncos had a better game with no quarterback. We got humiliated by a 3-7 team with an interim head coach who Gruden mentored. At what point does Gruden resign for his failures? He won’t but he should. Raiders fans are loyal, at what point we say “enough is enough” to Mark Davis? — @GuodKnowledge

Denver completed one pass for 13 yards. New Orleans also had a makeshift quarterback in Taysom Hill and realized they could just sit on Denver. I saw it happen all the time with the 2006 Raiders. Their offense was so bad teams with a 10-point lead would start running in to the line and going to a four-minute drill. By the end of the season, their defensive stats didn’t look half bad because of it. As for your frustrations about Gruden and Davis deserving your loyalty, that’s up to the individual. It was a bad, bad loss. I get it.

Q: Raiders finish 8-8. Do you agree? _ @Silverstatesfb

I’m thinking 9-7 but then I’m an optimistic guy (my wife snickers in the background).

Carl Nassib (94) signed a three-year contract worth $8.3 million per year and has 1 1/2 sacks. Getty Images

Q: Why do our high priced free agents never work out year after year ? We bring them in and nothing, zero, nada. I just don’t get it and am truthfully sick of it. — @TroyChopormero

Because free agency is fool’s gold. Teams hold on to players they truly want to keep. They find a way. Rodney Hudson and Kelechi Osemele were exceptions. Not sure why the Chiefs let Hudson out of their sight. Baltimore let Osemele go because they were already on the hook for Marshal Yanda. The Green Bay Packers for years under Ted Thompson wouldn’t even play the free agency game. Curious to see if the Raiders back off in free agency after this year for reasons other than cash on hand or cap space. Instead, draft and develop and then look for undervalued players (Nelson Agholor, Devontae Booker).

Q: What are the excuses for that high school football team performance against the Falcons? This team has been breaking my heart for 35 years!  Mike McKean (email)

They really don’t have any. By COVID-19 standards, it was a relatively normal practice week. There weren’t players out all week who played on game day. They got off to a bad start, blocked poorly and an offense that has been taking the lead had an awful day. If it continues, they’ve got a real problem. It’s important that they play clean football in terms of turnovers and bad penalties. Do that and beating a 0-11 team should be a foregone conclusion.

Q: If the Raiders don’t make the playoffs is Paul Guenther gone? Is Derek Carr gone? — @helpfight81

The defense has been better of late with the exception of the Chiefs game. And that was the Chiefs, so the Raiders have that in common with everyone else. They weren’t awful against Atlanta. If the offense had held up its end it could have been a winning effort. So I think the “can Guenther” faction may be out of luck. I addressed Carr earlier. If he’s awful and they have a losing record, he’ll be revisited. If he plays well and they get to nine wins, I don’t see Gruden starting over with a new quarterback.

Q: What is it about Mo Hurst that Jon Gruden doesn’t like? With Maliek Collins failing to make the impact we hoped I’m wondering why Hurst isn’t getting more reps? Also, did you know Collins is the lowest graded interior defender out of the 130 that PFF has graded?  — @Albydamn

Wasn’t aware of the PFF grade on Collins. I don’t’ consider PFF the Bible by any means but Collins has indeed been invisible. A one-year deal the Raiders hoped would light a fire under Collins to get a bigger deal hasn’t worked as they hoped. As for Hurst, he’s had COVID-19 and he’s been hurt. And I also think the Raiders defensive coaches feel he’s at his best with limited snaps because he’s not a long-armed powerful player as much as he’s quick and tenacious. The theory would be 20 to 25 real good snaps as opposed to 40 where he wears down and isn’t as effective. Not sure they’re right, but I believe that’s the thinking behind it.

Q: I had a question in regard to rivalry games (Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers etc.) How does Gruden and this staff instill that rivalry in a younger generation that hasn’t seen a competitive Raiders rivalry? Is it watching old film or burning Broncos flags? Kind of interesting… — @mddetalgolf

Gruden is big on film and props, although I doubt if he’s burning flags. But sadly, I don’t think this generation of players will ever be as in to the rivalries as they were in the 1960s and 1970s. Gruden will get some Raiders legends to talk about the old AFC West days from time to time. I wonder how many players even listen.

Time to panic? Or we bounce back? — @beerking302

As you can tell from some of the questions, the panic has already begun. And if you’ve been a Raiders fan for the last 25 years, it’s hard not to have the “here we go again” mindset. You’ve seen it so often. If they don’t bounce back against 0-11, just wait until the next mailbag if you want to see real panic.

Q: Why are the Ravens not getting a pick taken from them with all (their) COVID-19 positives — @joedaddy3031

In theory, teams aren’t being penalized because players get sick. They’re getting penalized because they disregarded protocols put in place to prevent the spread of the virus. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Denver pay if it’s proven their quarterbacks were violating mask rules.

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