Raiders: Can Antonio Brown, revamped offense carry team?
At Raiders practices this spring, it was not uncommon to see new receiver Antonio Brown run a route in team drills and then direct a few words at a defensive back on his way back to the line.
“It’s definitely constructive,” cornerback Daryl Worley said. “We know that this offseason he actually did a little bit of study on us, just getting ready for practice and stuff like that.”
Yes, Worley clarified: Brown, traded to Oakland in March, studied his own cornerbacks in order to give feedback in offseason workouts.
As the Raiders reconvene this week for training camp, many of the key story lines surrounding them converge in the personage of Brown, a fourtime AllPro, who is sure to be one of the most popular figures on the field in Napa (and on this year’s episodes of HBO’s “Hard Knocks”).
Consider that:
He’s a centerpiece of an offense that is probably going to have to score quite often.
The Raiders set a franchise record for points allowed last year, yet many of their big offseason moves — trading for Brown, signing receiver Tyrell Williams and tackle Trent Brown, drafting running back Josh Jacobs — involved adding to an offense that ranked 28th in points per game.
Brown unquestionably should become Derek Carr’s top target — in fact, take him away and the Raiders’ reconstructed passing game, with Williams (41 receptions, 653 yards last season) as the No. 2 receiver, no clearcut No. 3 and unproven Darren Waller replacing Jared Cook as the top passcatching tight end, looks a lot less formidable.
Carr eclipsed 4,000 passing yards for the first time last season with Cook (896 yards) as his leading receiver, poor protection and no real deep threat after the trade of Amari Cooper to Dallas. Brown averaged 1,524 receiving yards and 171 targets in his last six seasons with the Steelers. For Oakland, he easily could match those targets while opening up things for other receivers.
The Raiders expect improvement by a defense that allowed a leaguehigh 29.2 points per game in 2018. But bettering their own 18.1pointspergame average falls to head coach Jon Gruden, Carr and an offense with Brown as its most established playmaker.
Antonio Brown is one of 45 players at camp who has been added since the end of last season.
After overhauling the roster in his first season, Gruden continued the makeover this spring. The additions included 24 rookies, highpriced acquisitions like the Browns and safety Lamarcus Joyner, and players trying to reestablish themselves on what general manager Mike Mayock called “proveit deals,” such as Brandon Marshall, Vontaze Burfict and Richie Incognito.
Will the resulting mix combine or combust?
Last year, defensive tackle Maurice Hurst said, constant turnover made it difficult to build trust and chemistry. Hurst said in June he already feels better about this year’s dynamic.
“I think we have some toughness to us,” Hurst said. “I think we have some talent that we didn’t have last year. I think it’s a really exciting time to be a Raider and develop with these guys.”
The new roster includes strong personalities. Brown is coming off a dramatic — and quite public — exit from Pittsburgh. Burfict has a history of unsportsmanlike plays. Incognito is suspended for the first two games of the season because of legal troubles over the past year.
Burfict, in June, said he believes the onfield product can work.
“We can be great,” Burfict said. “We’ve just got to put the pieces to the puzzle. I feel like this team is very competitive. And everybody feeds off each other’s energy.” Antonio Brown is definitely going to Las Vegas.
This spring, Gruden was asked about the challenge for NFL regimes in navigating a move like the Raiders’ impending one to Las Vegas.
“We’re just assembling our regime,” Gruden said. “Mayock just got off the plane. We hired some really credible, proven, bigtime scouts and executives. And we’re excited about the future. We also have a great responsibility to finish what has been a great run here in Oakland.”
Brown, signed to a restructured threeyear contract, is expected to be among the players who bridge the move. So are the socalled “foundation players” the Raiders added in April’s draft. Drafting and developing players, Gruden has said, is a key to building a team “the right way.”
What progress can be made this season? During last year’s 412 finish, Gruden’s tone shifted to urging fans to be patient. At June’s minicamp, Gruden spoke reservedly when asked how a roster with Brown and other additions compared to the previous year’s offseason.
“We’re a better team on paper,” Gruden said. “We’re faster, we collected some really good players. But we’ve got a lot to prove. And time will tell.”
“We can be great . ... I feel like this team is very competitive. And everybody feeds off each other’s energy.” Vontaze Burfict, Raiders linebacker