Jon Gruden Sounds Off On Analytics, CBA Restrictions, Catch Rule

INDIANAPOLIS — Analytically progressive Oakland Raiders fans might be feeling nervous after head coach Jon Gruden delivered an early-morning news conference at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine.

Gruden, who worked as a color analyst for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” from 2009 to last season, was asked about GPS devices placed on players in practice to track their workload. Gruden, who hasn’t been an NFL head coach since the 2008 season, intends to stay old school.

“Are you talking about the analytics, the GPS, all the modern technology? Man, I’m trying to throw the game back to 1998,” Gruden said at the Indiana Convention Center. “Really, as a broadcaster, I went around and observed every team and asked a lot of questions, took a look at the facilities, see how they’re doing business. There’s a stack of analytical data that people don’t even know how to read it. It’s one thing to have the data. It’s another thing to know how to read the damn thing. So, I’m not going to rely on GPSs and all of the modern technology. I will certainly have some people who are professional help me from that regard, but I still think doing things the old-fashioned way is a good way, and we’re going to lean that way.”

Gruden also spoke passionately about the NFL’s latest collective bargaining agreement that prevents players from speaking to coaches until the offseason workout program starts in April. That’s tough for a new head coach like Gruden, who has to make decisions in free agency without knowing precisely what he has on his roster.

“It’s a lot different because you’re not allowed to have any interaction with the players,” Gruden said. “I’ve always complained about that since the new CBA came in place. A lot of players would come to see me in Tampa to get their football fix. So, you’re not allowed to have contact with these guys, but what’s most discouraging to me is we’ve got to make some decisions on our roster, on salaries, on players and their futures, and you can’t even meet them. I don’t know these guys. I’ve never coached them. I’ve never met half of them. That’s been very difficult for me, and I’ve been emotional about it at times.”

Gruden is happy to hear the NFL plans to clarify its catch rule, and it seems like he wants some changes to be made to pass interference penalties. There have been rumors the NFL will discuss changing pass interference to a 15-yard penalty rather than a spot foul.

“I got a lot of thoughts on that, but I don’t know if I want to get involved. I’m not on the (NFL competition) committee,” Gruden said. “I do know the catch needs to be cleaned up. And interference, should it be challengeable? If it’s a 51-yard penalty, can I challenge that? That was my argument when I was coaching. I’ll bet the NFL’s glad to have me back because I’ll be raising hell about all of these issues. I’ve got enough problems. I don’t need to worry about the catch or DPI right now. I gotta try to find some players to help us win.”