Gruden stays course as critics pile on

ALAMEDA — Jon Gruden isn’t oblivious to public opinion.

“Can I sense outside negativity piling on who, me?,” Gruden said Monday at his weekly press conference. “I mean, it’s justifiable. I have a pretty good idea of what this business is all about. But I’m also realistic. I’m also very optimistic.”

So while the Raiders have sputtered to an 0-3 start with the Cleveland Browns coming to town Sunday, their head coach believes he’s looking at a potentially a good team, competitive through three quarters against opposition with a combined record of 8-1.

The latest loss came 28-20 to the Miami Dolphins, a team which doesn’t necessarily have a big talent advantage but a 3-0 record.

In the bottom-line world of the NFL, talk of being competitive brings mostly snickers and derision. It’s win or lose, and the losers hear about it.

To Gruden, being competitive means learning how to walk before you can run, or in this case, how to compete before you can win. And there have been plenty of non-competitive games for the Raiders over the last 14 years with one winning season.

Holes are springing faster with the Raiders faster than they can plug the leaks. They move the ball but don’t score enough. They fail in the red zone. Their special teams are supplying horrible field position. The defense isn’t supplying enough of a pass rush or tunovers, and the Raiders are giving up huge yardage on jet sweeps.

Yet the Raiders have led at halftime in three straight games, and entered three fourth quarters with a legitimate chance to win . . . only to be outscored 37-3.

Gruden cited specific plays and instances of mistakes that led to defeat, the importance of correcting them, then offered a golf analogy in which he stressed poise and confidence.

“I’ve caddied for John Daly and I’ve caddied for some of the best,” Gruden said “Some of these guys get on the 15th or 16th hole and they’re in great shape, but the fairways get a little tighter. You swing a little faster. You try a little harder. It doesn’t work out.

“We’ve got to take a deep breath and look forward to the moment. We have to apply the pressure, not to say we feel the pressure . . . I think sometimes we have some guys trying to do too much. That’s something we have to solve quickly.”

The often-reported (but never confirmed) 10-year, $100 million contract has placed a target on Gruden’s back, and the Khalil Mack trade brought with it thousands of arrows happily supplied by local, national and social media.