Raiders celebrate win over Chiefs and bye week with daily testing and no vacations
It used to be you could count on a handful of Raiders getting in a couple of practice days and then heading to Las Vegas for some rest and recreation during the bye week.
Now they’re already in Las Vegas, and they can’t leave.
So much for blowing off a little steam after a big win over the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
As agreed to by the NFL and the NFL Players Union on Oct. 6, the Raiders will continue to enforce their “virtual” bubble and players will be at the facility at least once each day even if they’re not practicing.
“There’s a lot of protocols, and ( general manager) Mike Mayock and our staff keep me abreast of all those,” coach Jon Gruden said Monday at his weekly teleconference. “They have
to come in every day and be tested. That’s mandatory by the league and by the players union. None of the coaches are allowed to leave town either. You’ve got to be in town and tested every day.”
The Raiders will hold an outdoor practice Wednesday, mostly for younger players as well as quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Nathan Peterman, and work on fundamentals. Players will be encouraged to use restraint and caution during their free time, presumably at a safe social distance from the Las Vegas strip.
“We’re going to challenge our guys to be smart, wear the proper face shields wherever they go,” Gruden said. “Be very careful. Because we would like to keep this group together and see what we can get done the rest of the season.”
With that in mind, some analysis of Gruden’s day-after thoughts about the Chiefs win and what’s ahead for the 3-2 Raiders: RUGGS SCRATCHING THE SURFACE >> Rookie wide receiver Henry Ruggs III made a highlight-film quality contested catch of 46 yards from Derek Carr to set up a field goal and then a 72-yard bolt of lightning for a touchdown. And he’s just getting started, having played just one healthy half of football in Week 1.
“We haven’t had a healthy Henry Ruggs, really, for a full game until (Sunday),” Gruden said. “Hopefully that’s a sign of good things to come. We’re just learning about Ruggs. We’re just getting him into the offense.”
Ruggs isn’t some sprinter racing under rainbows. I found it impressive in his postgame teleconference he talked about “attacking” the ball as it was in the air — going to get it rather than waiting for it to drop into his waiting arms. FERRELL’S BIG DAY >> Take a close look at the pressure on Patrick Mahomes on the 47-yard interception return by Jeff Heath. He had defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell in his face, and Gruden said it wasn’t the only play Ferrell made all day even if the game book had him with three tackles and one pass defensed.
“The statistics don’t always show what a player does,” Gruden said. “I thought he had 13 or 14 factor plays that really helped us win this game. He played inside, he played outside. He showed the ability to convert his speed rush to power. He showed good chase and pursuit. Great energy. This was his best game as a Raider, especially in the second half.”
Also cited were practice squad promotions Datone Jones (27 snaps) and Chris Smith (19), the latter a career defensive end who played inside at tackle at 6-foot-1 and 266 pounds. HELP FOR JACOBS >> Gruden has been resistant to doing too much substituting for running back Josh Jacobs, considering him an everydown, bell cow back. It appears Devontae Booker, who had 62 yards on seven carries and has been one of the real pleasant surprises on the roster, has Gruden more willing to make sure Jacobs gets a breather now and again.
“We’ve got to get more Booker,” Gruden said. “Two reasons. No 1, we’ve got to rest Jacobs a little bit more and secondly Booker is a good back. You’ll see a little bit more of Booker the next 10 or 12 weeks.”
CARR’S SNEAKY SIDE >> Carr was 22 of 31 for 346 yards and three touchdowns, including the 59-yard strike to Agholor, a 5-yard pass to Darren Waller and the 72yard pass to Ruggs. He converted a third-and-18 pass to Hunter Renfrow for 42 yards and generally outplayed Mahomes, who is on anyone’s short list with Seattle’s Russell Wilson and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers as the top quarterback in the NFL.
What gave Gruden the most joy? Seeing Carr twice convert fourth-and-1 quarterback sneaks.
“I think he’s walking around here now. He’s got all kinds of bruises and tape on him,” Gruden said. “I’m proud of those two quarterback sneaks as much as any of the plays.”
HEATH’S CONTRIBUTION >> Signed as an unrestricted free agent from Dallas, Heath had just three, eight, 19 and three snaps on defense in the first four games before getting 30 snaps against the Chiefs. Heath has also been a core special teams player.
“I’d like to get him on the field more. I think you’ll see him more and more play on certain situations,” Gruden said. “He’s got great speed, he’s got very good range. He’s got ball skills. He’s a good tackler. He’s a great special teams player.” HEALING THE WOUNDED >> Gruden said he’s not a big fan of the bye week normally, but he’s willing to make an exception this year to give players some time to heal up before play resumes Oct. 25 at Allegiant Stadium against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It will give extra time to right tackle Trent Brown, who was an immediate factor playing all 70 snaps against the Chiefs. Left guard Richie Incognito is eligible to return from injured reserve after missing three games with an Achillies’, meaning the Raiders could conceivably have their starting offensive line intact or the first time since the first three snaps of the season against Carolina.
Wide receiver Bryan Edwards (ankle) and defensive tackle Maliek Collins (shoulder) were inactive against the Chiefs and will be monitored. Cornerback Damon Arnette (thumb) and defensive tackle Daniel Ross (ankle) each have one more game to sit out before they can come off injured reserve.