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In their first season in Las Vegas, the Raiders took another step forward under Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock, but missed the playoffs for the fourth year in a row, stumbling in the stretch, losing five of their last seven games. and ending 8. -8.
As product on the pitch improved, Mayock said he would have liked to see more from his rookie class.
“I was disappointed with the productivity of our rookies, I’ll be the first person to admit it,” the Raiders general manager said, via the team’s official website. “You can find excuses, you can have a conversation why. Henry Ruggs, I think that’s who he is, I’m not disappointed with Henry; I think Henry needs to be better. We knew how fast he’s going, but he needs to get stronger, and he needs to get in and out of his breaks better. You have to feel him coming out of more of his breaks for him to level up, and I think he will, but we have a long-term view on Henry Ruggs.
“(Damon) Arnette was the other first round. In training camp before the injury he was playing really well. We were really excited about Damon Arnette. He’s instinctive, tough and fast, but concussions, a broken hand, COVID – he I have to take care of business in the offseason. Nutrition, strength trainer, consistency of a daily program. “
The Raiders had seven picks in the 2020 draft: wide receiver Henry Ruggs III, cornerback Damon Arnette, running back Lynn Bowden, WR Bryan Edwards, linebacker Tanner Muse, guard John Simpson and CB Amik Robertson.
Vegas quickly bailed out Bowden and traded him to Miami before the start of the season. Muse suffered a foot injury and didn’t play a cinch. Simpson played about as well as expected for a rookie mid-round offensive lineman on one-time service. Robertson played eight games, winning four tackles and no defended. Edwards has played 12 games with three starts, catching just 11 assists for 193 yards and a touhcdown. Arnette has appeared in just nine games (seven starts), winning 25 tackles and two assists defended. And Ruggs had 26 catches for 452 yards and two scores in 12 games.
It’s clear that injuries played a role, but no member of the 2020 class has had a big influence on the season. End-of-season fading, when rookies become difference-makers or hit a wall, could be a direct result of younger players not coming to the fore in the season.
Mayock knows that the 2021 picks must strike for Vegas to take the next step. Getting upgrades in year two from 2020 rookies would also be a big boon.
The GM is specifically committed to improving defense this season, the first year with new coordinator Gus Bradley.
“Well you have to start on defense,” Mayock said in a separate interview with The Athletic. “And, to be honest with you, those are the three levels. We need to accelerate the quarterback better; we need to play better at linebacker and our young defensive backs need to be more cohesive and play better. You can find excuses. , which I don’t want to do. We have a very young defensive backfield. It was a COVID year. I think we had a lot of injuries. John Abram hasn’t practiced much all year. Our first – the round pick Arnette has had a few concussions and COVID. We just never got to make it from the back. Some of these guys got drafted high and they need to play better. “
Mayock’s message is clear: The Raiders need more of their young players in 2021 or they’ll be out of the playoffs again.
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