Oakland Raiders: A Few Questions That Must Be Answered This Offseason

Does Locker Room Chemistry Matter?

Ask this question to ten different people, and you’ll likely get ten different answers. Some people think a tight bond in the locker room is essential. Believe it can make all the difference in the world.

Other people think that it’s overrated, and that a locker room that isn’t necessarily completely cohesive can work. Their argument is that these guys are professionals, and as long as they show up, put in the work, and give max effort, everything will work out in the end.

There’s no quantifiable way to validate either perspective about chemistry and bond in the locker room.

But, look at these past two seasons and form your own opinion.

In 2016, Oakland’s locker room was tight. The guys all seemed to be pretty well cohesive and bonded as a team. There were no reports of locker room rifts. No suggestions of cancers on the team. Nothing like that.

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The team went 12-4 and made the playoffs.

In 2017, new pieces like Cordarrelle Patterson, Marshawn Lynch, and Jared Cook were added and the vibe around this team changed dramatically. Now that the season is over, we’re seeing word trickling out about distractions in the locker room. Cancers and malcontents on the team. Even Derek Carr, the last guy who would throw anybody under the bus has commented on the worsened culture in the locker room.

The team went 6-10 and missed the playoffs by a country mile.

Coincidence? Maybe. But, maybe not.

With some reports floating around that have called out players like Lynch, Cook, and Michael Crabtree, among others, as being partly responsible for the worsening culture in Oakland’s locker room – and in light of the night and day seasons of 2016 & 2017, the questions about chemistry and locker room culture seem – relevant.

If some of those named players truly are malcontents and locker room cancers, will HC Jon Gruden show them the door, regardless of their impact on the field?

It’s a valid question, and it will be interesting to see how it’s addressed by the new coaching regime.