FanPost

Still a 3 year rebuild.

When Gruden was hired at the beginning of last year, we all hoped that he was going to be a 'quick fix' to a terrible 2017 season. We were told he came out of retirement to work with players like Mack, Carr and Cooper. He was excited about the roster and what he could do with it.

That's what he said in his first pressers anyway. We thought he could turn the team back to what it was in 2016, or at least what we thought it was.

Training camp came and it was a far different reality. By the start of the season, Mack was traded, almost every Reggie draft pick was cut. The roster was gutted and replaced by a weak draft class and a bunch of vet scrubs. By the trade deadline, Cooper was a Cowboy.

Gruden's new tone was 'we know what we have to do, we have a long way to go'. That's coach speak for 'Rebuild'.

That was 15 months ago.

Since then Mayock was hired as GM. We had a very good draft class. We were on Hard Knocks. We had the AB fiasco. We had another 9 road game schedule including an almost unheard of 5 straight road games. One of which was in London.

Through all that, by mid November the Raiders were 6-4 and suddenly the talk of the NFL. They were the leagues biggest surprise. Carr was having his best year since 2016, Jacobs is a lock for OROY. We had a cream puff game against the Jets and a 'favorable' schedule down the stretch - and inside track on a wild card spot - and wait for it, even a chance at the AFC West title that the Chiefs have owned for what seems like forever.

The Raiders were a legit playoff contender. On paper they still are.

But since that narrow Bengals home win it has all come crashing down. Hard.

Carr is back to his normal self. The Defense is a train wreck. Jacobs is hurt and the running game is simply average. Injuries are piling up everywhere. Excuses are everywhere.

The 2019 Raiders look a whole like the 2018 Raiders. And the 2017 Raiders.

It's been ugly to watch. They have given up more points in the last 3 games then they ever have in their history. The Raiders are back to a laughing stock after thought in the NFL. They will almost certainly finish with a losing record for the third straight season. Everything is now back in question. Players, coaches, scheme. Even Gruden himself.

In other words, we're right back to the 'Rebuild' conversation.

Truth of the matter is the roster still needs a ton of upgrades and the hope is by 2021, after a three year rebuild, the Raiders will be a 'finished product' and can actually compete for true playoff relevancy.

Gruden's plan all along. We're going to have to wait and see if it's going to work.

Las Vegas here we come.