Head coach Jon Gruden is infamous for not being able to develop a rookie quarterback. That has to change if the Las Vegas Raiders want to have a bite at having success on a constant basis.
One of the reasons why critics are against the idea of drafting a quarterback is the fact Gruden has had less than stellar results when he’s worked with young signal-callers. The sample is dim, but not encouraging at all: Chris Simms, Bruce Gradkowski and Josh Johnson.
Raiders Blog: Jon Gruden has been unsuccessful at developing QBs
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It could be said that Gruden’s offense is complex and difficult to learn, but if that’s the case, the coach is at fault, not whoever is at the helm. The best play designers in the NFL adjust their game plan to suit their playmakers’ strengths, not the other way around.
Also, let’s not all act as if Gruden’s system is the holy grail of offensive prowess. He hasn’t had a top quarterback under his tutelage besides Rich Gannon and hasn’t been able to produce a steady offensive attack. It can be also said his scheme isn’t about scoring points rather a focus on ball control, but that’s irrelevant as the ultimate goal is to win games and that hasn’t happened a lot during his second tenure with the Raiders.
Going back to molding a quarterback, Andy Reid has successfully done it throughout his career with the Packers, Eagles, and the Chiefs. He got the most out of both Alex Smith and Donovan McNabb. He was in Green Bay during Brett Favre’s early development and was able to finally win a championship with his Magnus Opus, Patrick Mahomes. Reid showed he can develop quarterbacks thru adjusting his system to fit his signal-callers playing style.
If the Raiders don’t want to fall behind in the AFC West, Gruden needs to take cues from Reid and find a way to maximize his quarterback’s talent. Otherwise, the Silver and Black have to settle on watching other teams continuously contend.
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