Oakland Raiders: Five reasons they could miss the playoffs in 2018

Oakland Raiders HC Jon Gruden has been busy revamping the roster with the goal of making the playoffs – here are a few reasons they might fall short.

Oakland Raiders HC Jon Gruden has hit the ground running as he retools this roster, honing and shaping it in his image. Gruden is busy adding (and subtracting) players who fit a certain mold (or don’t), and can do things the way he wants them done.

Gone are players who have been big contributors like Michael Crabtree and Marquette King, while older players like Jordy Nelson and Leon Hall have been brought in to take their spots because they fit that Gruden mold and/or have familiarity with the new systems he’ll be installing.

The transformation from Del Rio’s Raiders squad to Gruden’s has been – dramatic.

In the wake of so much turnover and upheaval though, the question becomes, can this newly assembled team, under the stewardship of Gruden, do what they failed to do last season – make a run to the postseason?

And maybe, equally as important, can this team, as he is constructing it, do what they haven’t done since Gruden’s last tenure – win a division title?

For any of that to happen, one thing is for certain – Gruden is going to absolutely get more out of both his veterans and his younger guys, than Del Rio and his staff ever seemed to get. The Raiders are also going to have to do a better job of drafting those younger players than they’ve done in the last few seasons.

They’ve got lots of talent, but they still need more. And as the team transitions into the Gruden Era Pt. II, there will be some bumps in the road. Will they be able to overcome them this season?

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

If they do wind up missing the postseason this year though, here are just a few possible reasons why…