| | By John Clayton
ESPN.com
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. -- Like the fine wines produced in Napa Valley, the Raiders are ripe
for success. Too ripe. They have not made the playoffs since 1993. Their last
winning season was 1994. If the overdue Raiders were any more ripe, they'd
turn to vinegar.
|  | | Raiders coach Jon Gruden knows the score this season: He must win, or risk being dumped. |
"Even though I thought we were good last year, there is no question
about it -- everybody's job is on the line, including mine," Pro Bowl
quarterback Rich Gannon said. "If you can't win and can't get it done,
there are always going to be changes no matter what the circumstances are.
Eight-and-eight is not good enough for this football team."
Training in the Napa Valley, the Raiders feel the heat. Jon Gruden,
a rising coaching star at the age of 36, might need a trip to the playoffs to keep
his job. His intense sideline demeanor and tireless work ethic have
developed a hard-working, disciplined team. But the Raiders' commitment to excellence isn't to
8-8.
"For Jon's sake, it's very important that we move on and be a
better team, be a playoff team," wide receiver Tim Brown said. "To be 9-7
or 10-6 and still be at home is not a good situation. We have to get in the
playoffs this year."
Al Davis can stare out on the practice field each day and see
promise. Pressured by second-round pick Jerry Porter, wide receiver James
Jett is having his best camp. The once thin offensive line has enough bulk to bench
guards Barry Sims and Gennaro DiNapoli, who combined for 19 starts last year.
Grady Jackson looks promising as Russell Maryland's replacement at nose
tackle.
"This is the first time in three or four years we've had the same
quarterback coming back," Brown said. "That may sound like a small thing,
but Rodney Peete came in here, calls the snap count and everybody jumps
offsides hearing his voice. We're much more comfortable right now."
The comfort level comes from Gruden keeping the Raiders focused on
what they can and cannot do. Offensively, they can run the ball. Napoleon
Kaufman is one of the best outside threats in the game. Gruden calls Tyrone
Wheatley one of the game's best off-tackle runners.
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Recent Raider history
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Jon Gruden is the Raiders' fifth head coach since 1988. He and Raiders Hall of Fame tackle Art Shell (1989-94) were the only ones to last more than two seasons, and only Shell was able to lead the Raiders to the playoffs during that time (1990-91, 1993). Joe Bugel lasted only one season, Mike White was fired after two seasons and Mike Shanahan was dismissed after 20 games. Here is how Gruden's first two seasons stack up against those of his four most recent predecessors:
Jon Gruden ('98-99): 16-16
Joe Bugel ('97): 4-12
Mike White ('95-96): 15-17
Art Shell ('89-90): 19-9*
Mike Shanahan ('88-89): 8-12*
*Shanahan was replaced by Shell after four games in 1989.
— Rico Longoria
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As a unit, the Raiders ranked third in the league in rushing
offense, averaging 130 yards a game. And Gruden sees improvement because of
the late-season emergence of tight end Rickey Dudley, who is doing right in
the final year of his contract.
"Dudley's the strongest guy on our team, and he is capable of being
a dominating blocker," Gruden said. "Everybody talks about his catches and
how he could be like Shannon Sharpe. We'd like him to make his catches and
he was a huge factor for us in the red zone. But we think he's continued to
emerge as a top-flight blocker."
A year ago, the Raiders worried about Dudley's hands. He dropped too
many passes during his first three seasons. Working with Gannon and becoming
more focused, Dudley caught eight touchdowns and 26 passes during the final
eight games. Gruden says he's the most important player in the offense.
"A lot of our running plays come to the tight end side, and we've
had a couple of 1,000-yard rushers since I've been here," Dudley said.
"That's important because Tyrone is tremendous and when he runs off tackle,
it's going to take three or four guys to stop him."
Though no one wanted to admit it, the Raiders, as a franchise, were
at a crossroads at the end of last season. Tim Brown and guard Steve
Wisniewski, the two remaining institutions on this team, could have voided
their contracts and left through free agency. Wisniewski couldn't picture
himself in any colors other than silver and black.
Brown studied the chance to move home and play for the Cowboys or
join up-and-coming AFC power Indianapolis. He chose instead to stay with the
Raiders for a 13th season and beyond.
"I don't think you can talk to a team we played at the end of the
year who didn't say that they were glad the Raiders didn't make the
playoffs," Brown said. "I think this team is set. We came back at the end
of the season, trailing by 17 points to Kansas City and beat them even
though we didn't have six starters."
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“ |
I don't think you can talk to a team we
played at the end of the year who didn't say that they were glad the Raiders didn't
make the playoffs. I think this team is set. ” |
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— Tim Brown, Raiders receiver |
That season-ending victory spawned excitement. A record 57 players
participated regularly in the team's offseason conditioning program. The
Raiders had great success recruiting low-price veterans such as defensive
end Regan Upshaw, linebackers Williams Thomas and Elijah Alexander, safeties Marquez Pope and Je'Rod Cherry, Peete and others.
"When I saw the talent on this team, it definitely made you want to
come here," Thomas said. "It's going to be just a matter of being smart on
the field and making things happen. We can take this as far as we want to
go."
Players sound as though one playoff game is not enough. Maybe it
isn't, but the team that boasts a "Just win, baby" attitude has forgotten what
it's like to be in the postseason. There is a definite sense of urgency.
"Last year, we had a good balance of youth and veteran
leadership," defensive tackle Darrell Russell said. "I think we have
replaced some veterans with some young players who are going to be more
athletic and have more speed and quickness. I think we can be better."
Gruden worries. It is his job to worry.
"We lost James Harris, who started 32 games as our base defensive
end; Richard Harvey, who started 32 games at strong side linebacker; Anthony
Newman, who started 30 games at safety; and Eric Turner died," Gruden said.
"Russell Maryland is no longer there at nose tackle. There are a lot of
things in the middle of the defense that we have to address. But it looks
good on paper. Still, we have to go tighten it up and get it done."
Being a paper tiger doesn't get it done for the Raiders anymore.
John Clayton is the senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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