godeep811
04-21-2009, 08:13 PM
Views of Gruden, who appears very complimentary of da Raiders;
Gruden's view of the draft
Tom FitzGerald, Chronicle Staff Writer
(04-21) 19:27 PDT -- From four seasons of experience, Jon Gruden knows the Raiders keep their cards pressed tightly against their chests when it comes to the NFL draft.
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"It's a secretive place because Al (Davis) makes the call," Gruden said Tuesday. "You have a group of scouts who have worked there forever, but, ultimately, Al makes the call. The great thing is (the Raiders) aren't afraid to take chances. I've always admired that about him."
The former Raiders coach (1998-2001) works as an analyst for the NFL Network since being fired by the Buccaneers after last season. He and network colleague Steve Mariucci, the ex-49ers coach, chewed over this weekend's draft in a conference call.
Gruden thinks the Raiders' first pick, the seventh overall, should be a wide receiver. He thought they would be "staring real hard" at Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree or Missouri's Jeremy Maclin, whom he likened to the Patriots' Joey Galloway.
JaMarcus Russell's "ability to throw a football is rare," Gruden said. "But (Johnnie Lee) Higgins was the top wide receiver with (only) 22 catches. That's unheard of."
He pointed out the Dolphins had three wide receivers with at least 54.
A recurring question in the conference call dealt with players who have failed drug tests or have had issues with the law. An example was Sebastian Janikowski, whom the Raiders took with the 17th pick in 2000, Gruden's third year. The kicker was in trouble with the law so often at Florida State that Raiders tackle Lincoln Kennedy said, "When I heard all that, I knew he was a Raider."
The Raiders considered him the best kicker entering the NFL since Morten Andersen in 1982, Gruden said. "We had gone 8-8 the two years before that, and we lost a lot of games because of field goals," he said.
Janikowski, a native of Poland, faced a threat of deportation when he was charged with trying to bribe a police officer who had arrested one of his friends outside a Tallahassee nightclub. He was acquitted but not until two months after the draft.
Gruden indicated the Raiders thought Janikowski was a risk worth taking, and the kicker is now their all-time leading scorer.
According to Mariucci, the Raiders' signing of 39-year-old Jeff Garcia will put pressure on Russell "to study like crazy. They have a veteran guy who's ready to step in."
Gruden countered that they should be patient with Russell. "I don't know how you evaluate JaMarcus unless you surround him with veteran talent," he said.
Raiders coach Tom Cable said last week that Garcia's signing doesn't threaten Russell's status, and he has con- veyed that to Russell. "JaMarcus is a pretty smart kid, so he understands that ... and has embraced it," Cable said.
Gruden's view of the draft
Tom FitzGerald, Chronicle Staff Writer
(04-21) 19:27 PDT -- From four seasons of experience, Jon Gruden knows the Raiders keep their cards pressed tightly against their chests when it comes to the NFL draft.
More Sports
* Gruden's view of the draft 04.21.09
* Baseball, football should join tennis on replay 04.21.09
* Morning huddle 04.21.09
* Americans runners come close, only to fade against competition 04.21.09
"It's a secretive place because Al (Davis) makes the call," Gruden said Tuesday. "You have a group of scouts who have worked there forever, but, ultimately, Al makes the call. The great thing is (the Raiders) aren't afraid to take chances. I've always admired that about him."
The former Raiders coach (1998-2001) works as an analyst for the NFL Network since being fired by the Buccaneers after last season. He and network colleague Steve Mariucci, the ex-49ers coach, chewed over this weekend's draft in a conference call.
Gruden thinks the Raiders' first pick, the seventh overall, should be a wide receiver. He thought they would be "staring real hard" at Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree or Missouri's Jeremy Maclin, whom he likened to the Patriots' Joey Galloway.
JaMarcus Russell's "ability to throw a football is rare," Gruden said. "But (Johnnie Lee) Higgins was the top wide receiver with (only) 22 catches. That's unheard of."
He pointed out the Dolphins had three wide receivers with at least 54.
A recurring question in the conference call dealt with players who have failed drug tests or have had issues with the law. An example was Sebastian Janikowski, whom the Raiders took with the 17th pick in 2000, Gruden's third year. The kicker was in trouble with the law so often at Florida State that Raiders tackle Lincoln Kennedy said, "When I heard all that, I knew he was a Raider."
The Raiders considered him the best kicker entering the NFL since Morten Andersen in 1982, Gruden said. "We had gone 8-8 the two years before that, and we lost a lot of games because of field goals," he said.
Janikowski, a native of Poland, faced a threat of deportation when he was charged with trying to bribe a police officer who had arrested one of his friends outside a Tallahassee nightclub. He was acquitted but not until two months after the draft.
Gruden indicated the Raiders thought Janikowski was a risk worth taking, and the kicker is now their all-time leading scorer.
According to Mariucci, the Raiders' signing of 39-year-old Jeff Garcia will put pressure on Russell "to study like crazy. They have a veteran guy who's ready to step in."
Gruden countered that they should be patient with Russell. "I don't know how you evaluate JaMarcus unless you surround him with veteran talent," he said.
Raiders coach Tom Cable said last week that Garcia's signing doesn't threaten Russell's status, and he has con- veyed that to Russell. "JaMarcus is a pretty smart kid, so he understands that ... and has embraced it," Cable said.