FAB 2. Gruden Q&A, Previewing Bucs vs. Raiders

The Buccaneers travel to Las Vegas to play a Raiders team – hopefully on Sunday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. – that has been recently struck by COVID-19. The Raiders placed safety Johnathan Abram and offensive tackle Trent Brown on the COVID-19 reserve list, and had to send the entire starting offensive line home from practice on Wednesday and Thursday due to contract tracing with them being exposed to Brown.

With the fear that the game might have to be postponed, the NFL moved the Bucs vs. Raiders game out of prime time football on ESPN Sunday Night Football, and the league might have to push the game to Monday or Tuesday. The Tampa Bay media had a chance to talk to former Bucs head coach and current Raiders head coach Jon Gruden on Wednesday to preview the match-up, just as news broke about Brown’s positive COVID-19 test.

Raiders HC Jon Gruden – Photo by: USA Today

Hey Jon, it’s Rick Stroud. I didn’t plan on asking you this, but the news of the day is that you had to send Trent Brown home. How tough has it been dealing with this COVID-19 thing and where are you at right now?
“Hey, Rick. How are you? I think it’s been a real challenge for everybody. We’ve been victimized here the last couple of weeks with Maurice Hurst and Damon Arnette, now Trent Brown – and then we had to send all five of the starting linemen home. None of them practiced today. We’re just listening to the advice of the NFL and doing the best we can to adapt and I think that’s the best we can do right now.”

This is your first year in Vegas, and I know that you can’t have fans there, but what has been the city’s reaction to the Raiders there and what has been your experience so far?
“I really haven’t had any experience other than coming to work and going home. We kind of live in a bubble, as you know. I haven’t been outside to really make any friends. We haven’t really been able to get out in the streets and unite with people. It’s been tough on us that way, and disappointing obviously – but there will be time for that. We’ve got to concentrate on one day at a time, and hopefully they develop a cure for this virus and finally we can get our fans and team together.”

Raiders head coach Jon Gruden and Scott Reynolds

Jon, this is Scott Reynolds from PewterReport.com You’ve had such a storied career with both the Bucs franchise and the Raiders franchise, what is it going to be like personally for you to go up against your former team?
“Hey, Scott. How’s it going? I don’t know about all that. There’s a lot of water under the bridge. I’m a lot older now. I just look forward to trying to get our fourth win. I have a lot of respect from where I came from obviously, and I appreciate the opportunity I had in Tampa, and obviously the Bucs are playing great. It’s going to be a real challenge for us and I’m just focusing on the challenge ahead, and that’s trying to find a way to win.”

If I could ask a real quick follow up, you’ve seen some great defense certainly in your days in Tampa, how good is this Bucs defense playing right now?
“Well, we always use the great offenses and the great thermometer to tell us how good we are. You know? The hotter we got against great quarterbacks the better I knew we were. When you can put on film like that against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, you’re one hell of a defense. I think that solidifies them as a great defensive football team. That is really hard to do and not many teams have been able to lay down a performance like that. That being said, we’re looking forward to the challenge and hopefully we get some healthy linemen to do that.”

Coach, Leo Haggerty in Tampa. You were able to beat the Kansas City Chiefs which not a lot of people thought anybody was going to do. Do you see any similarities between the Chiefs offense and the Buccaneers offense?
“Hey, Leo. Not really. They are both really good offenses – balanced offenses, especially in Tampa. They can really run the football. That’s really one of the unsung things that I think people are not talking about – this running game. Their ability to run the football, throw screen passes and create big plays with [Mike] Evans, this receiving corps and this tight end is a big problem for us. They can do a lot of things well and that’s the hardest thing to defend.”

Former Clemson G John Simpson – Photo by: Getty Images

Coach, a quick follow-up. You’ve become a place for Clemson grads to come. How good are these guys doing for you?
“Yeah, we like Coach [Dabo] Swinney down there at Clemson. Travon Mullen is playing better for us. Cle Ferrell has been a solid player for us. Tanner Muse is on injured reserve. John Simpson has started a couple of games at left guard. Hunter Renfroe is a quality receiver. They know how to practice. They know how to prepare. They know how to win, and that’s something that we needed in this franchise. Those guys are five great young men. You’d like them if you met them.”

Greg Auman with The Athletic. Jon, I’d just like to ask you about Bruce Arians. I know you’ve encountered him some as a broadcaster and a coach kind of going through production meetings. Just wanted to ask you what your relationship with him is like and what you like about him as a coach.
“I’ve always liked him. My dad knows him a little bit as well. I’ve always liked him, even back when he was at Temple. He’s a fun guy to be around. I think he’d be a fun guy to play for. Obviously, he’s a good coach – a really good offensive coach. He’s coached some of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. He’s a great competitor, and I’m looking forward to seeing him on Sunday.”

Raiders OT Trent Brown – Photo by: USA Today

Jon, how big of a confidence booster was that win against the Chiefs, and can you roll it over for it Sunday night?
“Hey, I recognize that voice. How’s it going, Ira [Kaufman]? Big confidence-builder for us any time you get a good win. We’ve been playing good football. We’ve had a tough schedule. We played well against New Orleans. We did some good things against New England on a short week. Buffalo, I think we were in that game and we had some calls go against us that were really disappointing. It’s a confidence-builder, but like I said, Trent Brown and the offensive line not being here today is a tough blow, but we’ll have to play our best football game to beat Tampa. I know that.”

Jon, what makes Todd Bowles so unique as a D-coordinator?
“You just like to look at the defense’s play. He’s got a very thick playbook when it comes to playing defense. They can play a base defense with an under front, they can jam the front, they can play multiple nickel fronts – all kind of different blitzes. And they can play blitz coverages with man-to-man, zone. They’ll drop JPP (Jason Pierre-Paul). They’ll drop defensive ends and blitz safeties. It’s a heck of a scheme, and it’s organized, which is what I like. They don’t give up big plays and they do a really good job game-planning opponents specifically. We probably won’t see some of the things we saw against Green Bay, but we might. That’s what I like about it. They really keep you on your heels. He’s got these guys playing hard, and obviously, these guys emphasize tackling. You have to give Jason Licht credit too now. He’s drafted a couple of linebackers that are not very forgiving. If you do get through there, they make the tackle, and it’s a credit to those two young guys – [Devin] White and [Lavonte] David. They’re playing great football.”

Raiders coach Jon Gruden – Photo by: Trevor Sikkema/PR

Hey Coach, Jenna Laine with ESPN. I know a few weeks ago you revisited the “Tuck Rule” game (Oakland at New England in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game in the 2001 season) and had some quotes about that. How often do you think about that when you are getting ready to face a guy like Tom Brady?
“I don’t think about it. Would you think about if you were me (laughs)? Right? I think they spelled the rule wrong, personally, but that’s just my opinion (laughs). Look forward to seeing you guys, and hope we can connect again one of these days. Good luck to all you guys and stay safe.”