Where are the Raiders headed?

Jon Gruden is gone, the cascade of inflammatory and offensive emails sealing his fate as he resigned as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night, in the fourth season of his 10-year, $100 million contract.

The shocking development, five games into the 2021 season, leaves more questions than answers as the team, which got off to a 3-0 start, is currently on a two-game losing streak and heads to Denver over the weekend.Questions? We have answers…we think we do.

Why is Rich Bisaccia the interim head coach instead of Gus Bradley or Tom Cable?
Technically, because Bisaccia was the associate head coach, he was next in line. Plus, he’s one of the most respected special teams coaches in the league – if not the most – and he dominates the locker room like no one else. His booming voice is followed on the field in more ways than one. Bradley, meanwhile, needs to continue to focus on defense. He’s improved tremendously in his first year as defensive coordinator, so why mess up what he’s good at? Let’s leave it at that.

Cable has previous head coaching experience, with the Raiders no less, but he has his hands full with a revamped and ever-changing offensive line. Keep an eye on Greg Olson, however, as he was more of a quarterbacks coach than a true offensive coordinator under Gruden, but now he should be the primary playmaker.

Who should be on the short list for head coach?
For more than one reason, Mark Davis should have Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy on his agenda. Not only could the Raiders steal an offensive coordinator from a division rival, but such a hire would also signal that the Raiders are serious about a commitment to diversity. Especially in the wake of Gruden’s emails that had racial, homophobic and misogynistic overtones.

Then there’s Stanford coach David Shaw, who was a Raiders assistant from 1998-2001 under Gruden. Of course, if the Raiders move forward under Bisaccia, or the offense straightens up with Olson calling the plays, it would also merit consideration. Davis likes tradition and history when it comes to the only franchise he knows.

How much does Gruden’s departure set the franchise back?
How about, too much? After all, he signed a 10-year contract when he was hired. Gruden was hired after what Davis called “a seven-year dance” and, until last week, had the best safety in the NFL. The move to Las Vegas, though consummated before Gruden agreed to return, aligned with his return to the sidelines.

Gruden’s face dominated the city’s advertisements as Allegiant Stadium was being built to tempt prospective buyers for season-long tickets. The stadium sits at the corner of Al Davis Way and Dean Martin Drive, but the franchise is at a crossroads. And since Gruden resigned, you have to wonder if the Raiders are committed for the $60 million-plus left on his contract.

How does this affect quarterback Derek Carr, who had the best start of his career in the first three games?

Upon his return to the Raiders in 2018, Gruden changed his frenetic coaching style to accommodate Carr’s sensibilities, and Carr has responded in kind, improving each year under Gruden’s tutelage. But a volatile but productive relationship like the one Gruden had with Rich Gannon at the turn of the century? Not by a long shot.

Carr had a tough time when wide receiver Antonio Brown blew up the Raiders in 2019, so it will be interesting how he responds now with Gruden’s departure. However, he has a longer relationship with Olson, who was his offensive coordinator with the Raiders as a rookie in 2014. The impact of Gruden’s abrupt departure will either push him to become more of a leader and face of the franchise with more freedom on the field, or Carr – who reportedly isn’t interested in negotiating a contract extension during the season – will simply play with nothing to gain. And with Gruden, their biggest defender inside the building, out, how much longer will Carr be a Raider?

Will Mike Mayock take control of the player personnel?

Who else would it be? Look, Mayock is the general manager, hired with Gruden’s approval, but Mayock also acknowledged that Gruden had the final decision on roster moves. This frees up Mayock, who was definitely on the hot seat (whether fairly or unfairly) after so many apparent failures in the draft so far, Clelin Ferrell, drafted with the fourth overall pick in the 2019 draft, was only involved in 11 defensive plays in Sunday’s loss to the Chicago Bears. Mayock will either build or destroy his own legacy going forward, and Davis may not have the stomach to completely overhaul management. Again.