Gruden in good humor after Raiders stink it up
ALAMEDA >> After losing his first game in nearly 10 years, Jon Gruden used a little levity Tuesday to ease the tension.
In addressing a question about the second-half struggles of quarterback Derek Carr, Gruden interjected at the first of his weekly dayafter-game press conferences, “I heard a skunk got loose in our tunnel. I think that’s what screwed us up a little bit.”
True enough, the skunk part anyway. Anyone who made the postgame trek to the field was doing so covering their noses. But the late Pepe Le Pew (word was the skunk met his demise) had little to do with the Raiders’ problems in a 33-13 season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams had a lot to do with it, with the Raiders contributing mightily to their own demise with their own mistakes.
Foremost among them were three interceptions by quarterback Derek Carr, including two in a tentative second half. On the first one, Carr changed his mind about throwing one out of bounds and instead lofted a pop fly to linebacker Cory Littleton.
The second one came when Jared Cook “sat down” in a route while Carr expected him to keep running. Marcus Peters turned that one into a 50-yard touchdown return for the Rams’ final touchdown.
Gruden conceded some “uncharacteristic” plays from his quarterback, but there was nothing approximating a scathing critique.
“I don’t have any doubts that Derek Carr is going to be great and I can’t wait to get started and get ready for the Denver Broncos,” Gruden said.
Other topics addressed by Gruden following his first defeat since Dec. 28, 2008, a 31-24 loss to the Raiders in his last game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
• Tight end Jared Cook was the focal point of the Raiders passing attack against the Rams.
Three targets and one catch for Amari Cooper, the man Gruden said would be a focal point of the offense. A 16-yard reception was called back on a holding penalty. Cooper took a secondary role as the Raiders game planned around Cook and Jalen Richard in the passing game.
The Raiders will do more to get Cooper involved, perhaps by playing him more in the slot. Considering the quality of Denver’s cornerbacks, it’s no slam dunk. Cooper has six catches for 48 yards in three games in Denver.
“It’s easier said than done when you have (Bradley) Roby and Chris Harris and a fierce pass rush that doesn’t let you drop back and let these routes develop,” Gruden said. “You have to be really crative in how you can get guys the ball deep. We’ll have to try and get Amari going.”
Perhaps a clear-out deep threat such as Martavis Bryant, who reportedly was back in the building Tuesday, would help free Cooper.
• Bryant, the wide receiver acquired for a third-round draft pick and released at the cutdown to 53 players, was at the facility and talking to the club about a possible return, according to an NFL Network report.
Bryant, according to Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie and Gruden, was released for competitive reasons and not because of a reported yearlong looming suspension for violation of the NFL’s policy on substance abuse.
As recently as Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Bryant was facing a yearlong suspension from the league.
• Rookie left tackle Kolton Miller and right tackle Donald Penn held their own.
“The pass protection against that outfit was good,” Gruden said. “They gave us a lot of different looks, a lot of different blitzes. They have some formidable people inside. Hard to block. We had some good looks in the passing game. Wish we could have got more out of it.”
• With nine catches for 180 yards, Cook found plenty of room to operate against the Rams’ middle while it did its best to put the clamps on Cooper and Jordy Nelson.
“I don’t get caught up in the yards and all the fantasy stuff, honestly,” Gruden said. “The way he competed for every one of those yards, running through tackles, diving for another foot, diving for another yards. That’s what I love about him.”
The same goes for Marshawn Lynch on his 10-yard touchdown run and an 11-yard catch by Seth Roberts that he caught behind the stake and willed his way for a first down.
• Rookie tackles Maurice Hurst (42 snaps) and P.J. Hall (32) got plenty of work, as did end Arden Key (32) without generating much of a push. The hope is at some point these three players as a group can help compensate for the trade of Khalil Mack in terms of improving the team pass rush.
Gruden said the rookies need to improve, and that the Rams, with the threat of running back Todd Gurley and their propensity for jet sweeps and misdirection, give a lot of “eye candy” for young players to deal with.
“All three of those guys have to roll their firsts up, keep fighting,” Gruden said.
Veteran Bruce Irvin played 31 of 63 snaps to keep him fresh. He had the Raiders’ lone sack — forcing a fumble the Rams recovered — but was not a consistent threat off the edge.
• Gareon Conley was solid in his first game, missing a single series. Rashaan Melvin had an early pass breakup but had a 37-yard pass interference penalty. Veteran Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie later had a 50-yard flag. Both were on deep throws to Raiders-killer Brandin Cooks.
Gruden said Melvin has to “play the ball in flight better” and seemed more enthused about RodgersCromartie.
“Had a couple of really good tackles, broke on the ball well,” Gruden said. “I think he’s picking up the system and he’s going to earn the right to be on the field more if he picks it up.”
• Nose tackle Justin Ellis had an ankle injury that necessitated Frostee Rucker getting time at nose tackle. Hall has an ankle injury. Lynch left the game feeling sick after the first drive but returned. Longsnapper Andrew DePaola, however, is out for the year with a torn ACL. The Raiders, Gruden said, have players coming in for tryouts.