Since Jon Gruden made his return to the Raiders organization two years ago, one thing has remained consistent – expect the unexpected.
In a move that shocked fans in Raider Nation and observers league-wide, Raiders defensive line coach Brentson Buckner reportedly was let go on Tuesday. Former Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Rod Marinelli is reported to replace him immediately.
While the team hasn’t publicly announced his dismissal, Buckner Tweeted a thank you to coach Gruden and Raiders fans late this morning.
Buckner rose to prominence early in his brief stint with the team due to his presence on the HBO series Hard Knocks, which the Raiders appeared in for the 2019 season. His deep and passionate voice, and the constant call for responsibility and focus from his young defensive line, endeared him to the Raiders faithful who saw his passion.
Buckner’s passion for the game, and for reaching young people, served him and the Raiders well. After a horrific 2018 season where the Raiders only managed 13 sacks, in 2019 they notched 32 and saw the play of rookies Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell improve throughout the year.
Most impressive was the improvement on the Raiders defensive front against the run. Oakland was ranked 32nd against the run in 2018 and finished 2019 ranked 8th.