Gruden can write scripts, but unable to improvise so far

WMIAMI GARDENS, Fla. HEN he sticks to the script, Jon Gruden has proven over the first three weeks of this NFL season to be Laurence Olivier, prepared and versatile, creative and confident, a virtual Henry the V calling plays.

But then the other guys catch their breath, and it becomes time to adjust and improvise and ad-lib some things.

In such moments, Gruden isn’t reminding anyone of Robin Williams.

Ten years later, the Raiders’ head coach, upon returning to the sidelines, is having a devil of a time finding consistency in his play-calling after the opening drive — or at least relaying what he wants from his quarterback — a truth that badly hurt the Raiders in a 2820 loss to Miami on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.

On a sweltering afternoon that again saw the Raiders’ offense make folly of its opponent on an initial series — four plays, 75 yards, Derek Carr-to-jordy Nelson from 12 yards out — look only to the team’s most critical one to understand this latest defeat. It was then that Gruden and Carr, the men

GRANEY

Beauty, there was Beast. The offense stalled often in the red zone, and the defense allowed wide receiver Albert Wilson to throw a 52-yard touchdown and catch a 74-yard score in the fourth quarter of a 28-20 loss.

The Raiders led 17-7 in the third quarter. They’ve been outscored 37-3 in the fourth this season, including 14-3 Sunday. They are winless in three games.

Fast starts. Slow finishes. Rinse, repeat.

“I’ve been part of years where finishing was easy, right, and the beginnings were the problem,” said quarterback Derek Carr, whose 156 passing yards in the first quarter were a career high. “This is just what we have to deal with right now. I think we need to finish our practices better, finish our lifts better, finish meetings better, finish everything better because clearly we’re doing everything better at the beginning.

“We can finish in all phases better, and I think that’s what’s going to put us over the hump. It’s no secret. We’re running the same plays. We’re getting the same looks and all of those things. I think the little things we need to finish better.”

Carr and Jordy Nelson opened with a clinic.

They connected on a 61-yard pass on the second play from scrimmage and a 12-yard touchdown on the fourth snap. After the defense forced a three-andout, Nelson had a 66-yard reception to set up first-andgoal from the 8-yard line.

Someday, this could be where the Raiders execute.

They worked to the 1-yard line, but fullback Keith Smith was stuffed on a fourth-down carry up the middle. Carr threw an interception on the first play of the next drive; wide receiver Amari Cooper didn’t notice the deep pass in the air. The two other Raiders drives that half were a three-andout and 16-play series that stalled at the 9-yard line for a field goal.

“We’ve got to make sure we keep our foot on their necks and finish,” tight end Jared Cook said.

Field conditions Sunday were formidable.

It was 90 degrees at kickoff. With the humidity, the heat index reached 99 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Wide receiver Dwayne Harris exited in the second half to receive intravenous fluids in response to muscle cramping. After halftime, fans appeared in no rush to return to seats in the sun.

Here, the Raiders ran hot and cold.

They managed two touchdowns on five trips inside the Dolphins’ 20-yard line. On the last visit, Carr threw an end zone interception, a pass he heaved while defensive end Cameron Wake slammed into his right ribs. Two plays later, Wilson caught a shovel pass and sprinted untouched for 74 yards.

The Raiders’ inconsistent execution this month may be remembered someday as the price for something better, as the growing pains to a new offense and defense that Gruden and defensive coordinator Paul Guenther installed this offseson, respectively.

On Sunday, it was just another uneven afternoon. A tale as old as time.

Miami at New England (-7½), 10 a.m. Sunday; Browns at Raiders (-2½), 1:05 p.m. Sunday.

Contact reporter Michael Gehlken at mgehlken@ reviewjournal.com. Follow @Gehlkennfl on Twitter.

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