Jon Gruden Reflects on Difficult Training Camp

Jon Gruden reflects on the difficulty and new hurdles the Las Vegas Raiders face during the 2020 NFL Training Camp.

Henderson, Nev. -- There is no room for excuses in the NFL, especially when your Las Vegas Raiders have the mantra of "Just Win Baby."

But it isn't an excuse, to tell the truth, and Coach Jon Gruden tried to explain the difficulty of the 2020 NFL Training Camp that is like no other.

 

"Well, it was one adjustment, you have to adapt day after day after day," Gruden said. "No. 1, to the weather. We were supposed to be in Napa, California, where we're accustomed to certain weather. Being in a desert is different. We practiced at 7:30 a.m. I don't know any team in the history of the NFL that has practiced at 7:30 a.m. to beat the heat. Normally we have 90 players at the start of camp, we started training camp with 80."

Gruden went on to add about the impact when it comes to injury.

"When you get eight or nine guys hurt, you got to really be careful," Gruden said. "You had no preseason games, so there was no downtime for some of the veteran players to get off their legs."

While that might not seem like much, the coach attempted to put it into contrast with the past.

"In years past they've had three days off during a week with travel, with a preseason game and a day off," Gruden said. "So, it's been one adaptation after another."

But there is one key ingredient lost in the pandemic. It is a big one that Gruden doesn't want people to overlook.

"We had no spring practice, so we had to fast-track a lot of these players, and we didn't even know a lot of these guys," Gruden said. "It was the first time I met Cory Littleton, was when he walked in in his uniform with a helmet on the first day."

But despite the frustration, it didn't take long for the optimist in Jon Gruden to come out. That is what makes him a great coach.

"So, we made great progress," Gruden concluded. "I'm really proud of the coaches. I'm really proud of our veteran players and we have some emerging young guys that I think this franchise will be proud about.""

Tell us what you think in the comment section below and please make sure you like our Facebook Page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.

Want the latest breaking Las Vegas Raiders news delivered straight to your email for FREE? Sign up for the DAILY Raiders Nation newsletter when you CLICK THE FOLLOW button on the main page. Don't miss any of the latest up to the second updates for your Las Vegas Raiders when you follow on Twitter @HondoCarpenter