After a successful run as a head coach and offensive play caller that ended in 2008, Jon Gruden became a popular figure as a broadcaster for ESPN. In 2018, he came back into coaching and returned to the Oakland Raiders, where his head coaching career started. His hiring was highly controversial, partly because he was awarded a 10 year 100 million dollar contract and partly because many around the game thought that the NFL has passed him by.
While 2018 was a rough year for Jon and the Raiders, 2019 was a better year. They were a game short of a wildcard berth, and QB Derek Carr yards per attempt went from 7.3 in 2018 to 7.9 in 2019. Also, Carr’s completion percentage was never above 63.8 before Gruden came back to Oakland. Since, Carr has posted impressive completion percentages of 68.9 in 2018 and 70.4 last year.
Gruden is famous for the west coast offense. It features a timing and rhythm pass game. Many were skeptical that he would keep the QB under center and make him execute 5 and 7 step drops. Well, that is not the case. Gruden has adapted his offense to the current NFL, featuring RPO’s and quick game concepts out of tight and condensed splits. That is why Carr’s completion percentage is so high.
In 2019, Gruden paid big fast wideout Tyrell Williams to be his X receiver. He also found gem TE Darren Waller who is 6’6 and 255 lbs but runs 4.5. He is a unicorn that is a matchup nightmare wherever he lines up. They drafted Josh Jacobs, a true bell cow back, that can run with power and has great vision.
Gruden does a great job fitting his scheme to his QB and his players. A concept Gruden likes to run often is stick. Here is a basic stick RPO. The quick run fake holds the mike linebacker.
Gruden has the tight end run to the flat, which holds the curl flat defender. That leaves a void for slot receiver Hunter Renfrow to sit down and catch a stick route. This RPO putsch Mike in conflict and makes him late to cover the stick route, which results in an easy completion.
Gruden did a great job throughout 2019 scheming plays for his players. Here is a great one for Waller. Oakland aligns in a weak I pistol formation. The Packers are playing split safety coverage. Due to the formation, the safeties play closer to the LOS.
Gruden runs a variation of 4 verticals. He uses the back offset to the left on a seam, route. The safety to that side is in a bind, leaving the middle of the field wide open for Waller on a hash route.
Gruden loves using tight splits on 3rd downs. Tight splits give receivers more room to work. On third down most defense will play press Cover 1. By using tight splits, Gruden forces defensive backs to back off in coverage, allowing his receivers free releases off the line.
Renfrow runs a quick slant by setting up the corner outside, before breaking to the inside. The corner is playing off man, due to the tight split. Renfrow possesses short area quickness, which Gruden features on plays like this.
Gruden aligns Williams as the #3 receiver on third down. Williams runs a deep crossing route against man coverage. Williams uses his big body to box out the corner and get in front of him to make the catch. Again, another example of Gruden scheming up plays that highlights his receivers’ strengths.
In the ground game, Gruden uses a diverse ground game. he mostly runs the wide zone, but mixes in duo and some other gap scheme runs. Jacobs is a versatile back that can run between the tackles but also has the speed to get to the edge on outsize zone and crack toss plays.
Against the Texans, Jacobs has a great feel for defensive fronts. When the tight end motions across and the linebacker comes with him, it is an indicator that the defense is in man coverage. Jacobs sees #41 reading him, so Jacobs takes a step inside, before taking the ball out to the edge. That allows #83 to seal him, and Jacobs is able to break a big gain outside.
Tremendous job here by Jacobs to set up his blocks and understand what the defense is doing. Jacobs also flashes his speed to turn the corner and create big gains in the ground gme. With the multiple all-pros that Oakland has on their o-line, Jacobs is able to execute any run scheme.
Gruden’s offense operated at a pretty high level in 2019, considering the injuries they sustained. They finished 11th in yards. Gruden did a lot to scheme up plays for his best weapons; Waller, Williams and Renfrow. If this offense is able to add a big time receiver, this offense can take off in 2020.
Talkin Ball 