Raiders mailbag: The readers take over on what’s wrong with their team, with Jon Gruden, Mark Davis and all things defense topping the list

Threw a bit of a change-up for this week’s mailbag, asking readers their first priority when it comes to fixing the Raiders after another late-season skid that finds them out of the playoffs.

The response was so considerable in terms of Twitter and email  I couldn’t begin to list them all. Since many had similar themes, I’ll address some of those ideas and list some of the responses below each item. Responses will be edited for clarity and decorum.

Here goes:

All things Jon Gruden

When coach Jon Gruden says “it’s on me” fans have taken that to heart after three seasons and an 18-29 record after Mark Davis hired him to replace Jack Del Rio. Lots of “Gruden should be fired” sentiment. If not, then he should give up all personnel-selection to general manager Mike Mayock, and surrender play-calling duties.

For what it’s worth, don’t hold your breath on Gruden being fired, being demoted in terms of personnel or giving up play-calling duties. Your best hope would be a bitter split with Mark Davis over those issues which would cause him to walk away and I don’t see that happening either.

Keep in mind at worst this team will either finish .500 or two games under .500. They may be treading water but it’s a long way from drowning.

Fire Gruden — Paul Pichette (email)

Gruden has no power with personnel decisions, including hiring an innovative defensive coordinator. That or fire Gruden. — @BadHombre1929

Play calling really sucks, first down Josh Jacobs in the middle. No fakes. In Red Zone is a total disaster — @Alejandroposa

Gruden needs no throw out his whole playbook for plays in red zone. It’s atrocious. — @hucklebarey

Gruden — @markcar53407924

Ownership

I’m sure Davis is upset about another fade. But he has yet to see the stadium of his dreams filled with fans, and I actually think it’s kind of cool he didn’t attend home games if the fans couldn’t. The question is how much the lack of revenue is putting Davis in an untenable situation until the money begins to flow again in terms of fans in the seats.

One reader (@Demockery3) floated the name Larry Ellison.

Davis would have to be damn near destitute to sell now. He’s still got his stadium, the coach he always wanted, and can point to the pandemic as a reason for a do-over in 2021.

Mark sells the team and the new owner fires Jon overhyped and overpaid Gruden — @DR6294625

Get a new owner — @wstrojan

Mark Davis needs to step in and give Mayock personnel control, including choosing the DC. — @Colinmehigan

New ownership/coach — @Oaksportsguy

Strip Jon Gruden of executive powers and hire a proper GM — @Ansolo6

Mark Davis has to decide whether he wants to buy out Gruden and replace him with a coach who will hold players accountable. — @Paulinwaban

One thing I miss about Al (Davis) is the urgency to win. The current mentality has none because there’s no accountability due to an owners infatuation with a head coach and its past. — Jose Torres (email)

Defensive indifference

To many, the problem with the Raiders is simply fixing one side of the ball. The Raiders are 5-2 when the defense holds opponents under 30 points (counting New England with 36 points as an under-30 loss with 36 because of a touchdown scored on a Derek Carr fumble)

Staying with the status quo and Rod Marinelli would not be well received. Wade Phillips (currently unemployed) gets a lot of support for being the Raiders’ coordinator, with the names Lovie Smith (unemployed), Jim Leonhard (Wisconsin), Raheem Morris (Atlanta interim head coach), Aaron Glenn (New Orleans secondary coch), Jerod Mayo (Patriots linebackers coach)  and Derrick Ansley (Tennessee co-defensive coordinator and Raiders assistant in 2018) among those mentioned.

The Raiders went from scoring 19.6 points per game (24th) to 26.8 (11th) yet will have either a one-game improvement or the same record.

The pass rush, a ball-hawking safety and a fresh approach were stressed.

It’s the defense, starting with the pass rush and coaching. Say what you want about the offense, but with a defense that’s even league average this is a playoff team. That has to be top priority. — @AndrewGubler

Sign Ndamukong Suh and Leonard Williams for $11 million a piece. That’ll fix this DL and 60% of this defenses problem- And draft Zaven Collins the linebacker from Tulsa in Round 1 — Edward Rice (email)

Start with hiring a DC that understands today’s high flying offenses and that can build a D that can at least contain and hold leads. The offense is good enough if it has a decent D to complement it. — @Zymruge13

Linebackers. It’s a shame cause I was in on Cory Littleton but he isn’t the thumper you need to set the tone for a hard nosed defense. LB’s always slip to mid first round, they must draft the best MLB. Coulda had Patrick Queen or Kenneth Murray — Darrin Dallorso (email)

Defensive backs, specially a FS. Linebackers. Another defensive tackle. It’s time for a full house clean on the D. And get a capable DC. If the defense was average, the Raiders could have 10 or 11 wins. — @Invader_Dib_

Additional concerns

I’ll address these individually with a quick response:

The first move is hire a Bill Polian, Ozzie Newsome-type President of football operations to oversee Jon Gruden, Mike Mayock, personnel decisions. And to bring stability n structure to the front office — @WalterFrisbey

If they were to do this, you can bet it will be someone Gruden approves of. Who’s available? Bruce Allen, anybody?

Hire a defensive coach that can (1) teach & motivate players to ball out every down. Be aggressive with play calling. I want man to man coverage w/our corners’ deep in WR necks while snatching balls outta the air & blitzing all day long — @tamieaster

Gregg Williams is available, even if he doesn’t necessarily play man coverage all day long.

When was the last time someone from the Raiders organization was considered for a HC or GM opening because they brought something new to the table? — Ali Guler (email)

That’s a good point, but keep in mind Al Davis ran things forever, who gave way to Reggie McKenzie, who gave way to Mike Mayock. Mayock was an out of the box hire and McKenzie is a candidate to be G.M. in Atlanta. McKenzie tried to hire a young gun in Dennis Allen, but had to strip the roster first and gave him no talent.

Scouting and drafting. We seem to reach for picks and none seem to contribute as quickly as the position in which they are drafted. Our free agent signings, save for Waller and Algohor, in the last few years have been equally non-productive — @ssuddeth

Considering what the Raiders actually got out of the 2020 draft and free agency classes, it’s remarkable they can finish at .500 with a win on Sunday.  I’m less and less enamored with free agency every year.

Better Coaching – situational football — @borbinski

Never a better example of that than Saturday night. Gruden put the team in the exact situation he coveted at the end, only to have players apparently unaware of the situation give it away in one play.

Covid-19, no fans, relocated to a new City!! I’m willing to give them a pass this season for that — @UKMillario

Who said there were no eternal optimists?

Does it really matter? We’ll be asking this same question again in another 5, 10, and 20 years, as we have for the last several decades — @Travisbrown100

@Travisbrown100, meet @UKMillario. Meet in the middle somewhere.

Re-sign Nelson Agohlar should be a priority this off season — @thesybb

They still can’t believe it in Philadelphia. A lot will depend on how willing Agholor is willing to work with the Raiders in terms of having considerable cash up front. That could be a problem in the no-fans pandemic year.

QB –@LVRaider81

There’s a faction of fans that will never be on board with Derek Carr. Perfectly natural with just one winning record. But inadequacies in other areas have pushed him down the list in terms of being Raiders’ Public Enemy No. 1.