Oakland Raiders: Similarities Between Lane Kiffin and Jon Gruden

There are a lot of controversies to our drafting. Some say our run defense was the worst part of our game. Why didn't we take Dorsey? Some liked the high-flying Darren McFadden, probably the best talent of the draft. 

I'm here to tell you things I believe could be on the horizon for success again, like the Raiders in the first part of the decade.

Between 2000 and 2002, the Oakland Raiders were winning, getting to the playoffs and made even a trip to the Super Bowl.  So, what was the identity of the team in those years?

Gruden was all about the run, and we had a nice talent in Napoleon Kaufman. Oakland had a QB who was mobile and used a West Coast offense.  Our defense consisted of two great corners and some good safety work.  Now it is true we had two great WRs in Jerry Rice and Tim Brown, but the deep ball wasn't necessarily our focus. It was the run game. 

Now let's fast forward to this year.  What do we have now: two great corners, very good safeties, a mobile QB and now probably some of the best running back talent in the league.  The only thing we need to find is those good WRs.  but we have a lot of good prospects.

Kiffin is devoted to run first, that's why he acquired Tom Cable and Knapp.  Its a run-first team to set up play action, and occasionally the deep ball. 

The big myth about JaMarcus Russell is he's just got a great arm. Really? That's it?  He's mobile, even more than Gannon, one of the best arms in the league, but he is good with the short game too.  Now of course, he's had the best work ethic of any Raider this off-season rivaling Peyton's when he first came out. 

When just quickly thinking what the Raiders makeup is this year, you would say the running game with Darren McFadden and two great corners with good safeties.  I mean, we don't think about the great passing game.

When the Raiders faced the Ravens in the 2000 playoffs, the Raiders were No. 1 in rushing.  The only trouble was the Ravens were No. 1 against the run. So the logical strategy is to pass against them, but Gruden was too conservative.  It  wasn't until the 2002 playoff run that the Raiders became the No. 1 passing attack with still a good running game. 

So what is the same about this year versus the 2000 Raiders?  I'll leave that up to you. It's pretty easy to see the similarities.  But one thing I like in our favor, is that we have a QB who has far more potential than Gannon did. He can run left and throw back to the right, which the hardest throw to make.  He is taller, bigger, more mobile with far better arm.

The cool thing about JaMarcus is he can flick the ball in there like others have to do winding up, and if he recognizes his capabilities can be ever so dangerous in the short game.  But our game is run first, and now we have set a course to being great at that. 

The passing will follow, and so will the success.  The only concern is that this story doesn't end like the Gruden era, as I believe Kiffin can be better in one aspect, he's not so conservative. 

So for all those opposed to Darren McFadden and not supposedly addressing the defensive line, as it was with those Gruden Raiders, let me say this. When you're scoring, the others have to keep up, and where does that lead, to our strength the pass D, just like it was with Gruden.  So is the defensive line what you remember about those Gruden Raiders?