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Better with age Veteran Raiders look to be headed in the right direction
Updated: Monday January 15, 2001 10:52 PM
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -- All season long, Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden extolled his players to keep their eyes on the bull's eye. While they didn't quite hit it, they were closer than they'd been in a decade. The Raiders had their best year since 1990, won all but one of their regular- season home games and claimed the AFC West title. And after the top-seeded Tennessee Titans lost to Baltimore, Oakland even had the home field for the title game. This time, it didn't do them any good, and the Ravens are going to the Super Bowl. "What more is there to say?" veteran receiver Tim Brown said the morning after the defeat, solemnly leaving at the Raiders' training facility as a handful of the most faithful fans lingered for autographs. The Raiders could say plenty about their season. After two consecutive 8-8 seasons, third-year coach Gruden rallied a group of seasoned veterans, castoffs and promising youngsters to a 13-5 finish. "I like the chemistry that we have," Gruden said. "And I like the results we got on a consistent basis." Gruden, who often arrived at Raiders' headquarters before 4 a.m. and never left before dark, shared his workaholic habits with quarterback Rich Gannon. Gannon, who had toiled as a backup for years before landing a starting job with the Raiders last season, stoically ran the offense, racking up more than 3,000 yards passing for the second straight season. He spread the ball around, hitting at least seven different receivers each game and finishing with a career-high 29 passing touchdowns. His favorite target remained Brown, who had a career-high 11 touchdown catches, but James Jett and newcomer Andre Rison got their fair share. The 35-year-old Gannon injured his shoulder in the game against the Ravens, and his immediate future as a Pro Bowl starter was in question. But Gannon's job for next season is solid, Gruden said. "I think he's got a lot of football left in him," Gruden said. Rison, who was cut by the Kansas City Chiefs in the preseason and picked up by the Raiders a week later, was known for his enthusiasm on the field and in the locker room. Although he was only signed for a year, he often said he'd like to return to Oakland. Jett and tight end Rickey Dudley both become free agents in the offseason. The Raiders' strength on offense was their rush, which averaged a league-high 154.4 yards. Called "The Committee," the Raiders running backs were led by Tyrone Wheatley, who rushed for a career-high 1,096 yards and 10 touchdowns. Gannon finished second on the team in rushing with 529 yards and four touchdowns, ranking him second in the AFC among scrambling quarterbacks. "It's hard to come that close," tight end Jeremy Brigham said Monday. "I tried not to think about it, but the Super Bowl was in the back of my mind." While the Raiders' defensive line played erratically, the backfield excelled with corners Eric Allen and former Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson. Allen, the oldest Raider, returned from a torn ACL two seasons ago to become the first NFL player to run back three interceptions for touchdowns in two different seasons. He had six interceptions overall. Allen has said he may retire, but Gruden expected him to take a few weeks off before making a decision. "He'll do what's right for him," Gruden said. The Raiders saw their greatest improvement on special teams. The squad featured kicker Sebastian Janikowski and punter Shane Lechler, both draft picks, and new coach Bob Casullo. Janikowski, out of Florida State, was under the microscope from the start. The only kicker taken in the first round of the draft for 21 years had some legal trouble in Florida. He hit just seven of his first 13 field goals, and came down with cellulitis, a bacterial infection in the foot. He recovered for the second half, making 19 of his last 23 attempts. And he converted every extra point this season. Lechler, a fifth-round pick out of Texas A&M, was the real surprise. He was the only rookie named to the All-Pro Team, and led the league with a 38-yard net punting average. "We had a good year with those guys. We finished strong," Casullo said. "So no regrets." Gruden, who has exercised his option for two more seasons with the Raiders, said he spoke briefly with enigmatic team owner Al Davis after the loss to the Ravens. Both men were disappointed. "We also shook hands and realized we did accomplish some good things," Gruden said.
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