Jon Gruden had an extra day to prepare for his weekly Monday video conference with reporters this week because the Raiders played on Saturday.
It was still not enough time for him to get over what happened at the end of that wild game.
“They have 19 seconds left with no time limit on the 25 yard line,” said Gruden of the Dolphins. “For us not to leave the field with a victory, it is a pity, it is a shame and it is a reflection only for me. We have to do a much better job than that. “
Gruden is still comfortable with his decision to hit a knee on the third drop within the 1-yard line to delay the time before the Dolphins had a final shot in the final seconds.
The decision made the Raiders a big favorite to win the game at the time, but a lost defensive mission combined with a mask penalty put the Dolphins in a position to win the game in a basket.
“I’m sorry because we lost the game on the most horrible move I’ve ever been associated with,” said Gruden. “We study analysis. People think we don’t study analysis, but we study analysis. The analysis says it was a big move. That is why the analysis also knows nothing. But I’m kidding.
He added: “No, I have no regrets”.
Despite the late collapse and adjustment difficulties after the Dolphins switched from Tua Tagovailoa’s defenders to Ryan Fitzpatrick, Gruden credited interim defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli for putting together a solid game plan in his first week of preparation.
“I think everyone noticed (a difference in defense),” said Gruden. “We didn’t have many mistakes. The guys were confident and sure of themselves. It wasn’t perfect and I don’t want to look like I’m criticizing Paul Guenther either, but we didn’t do much in defense. We played a lot.
“The disappointing thing is that we played well enough to win that football game. It all comes down to a bad move and it still sticks to my gut the wrong way now. “
Carr working perfectly
Gruden was pleased with the way Derek Carr played on Saturday, despite the quarterback having suffered a groin injury in the previous game.
There were no setbacks physically, so Gruden expects Carr to start in the final against Denver on Sunday.
“I thought he reacted to many different things and played the ball really well,” said Gruden. “I threw the ball on the field with precision and made a big bomb for (Nelson) Agholor to put us in front. Then he brought us to the field again to win the game. Derek will start and end the season as we predicted. “
Gruden did not rule out making a few plays for reserve defender Marcus Mariota, who played well two weeks ago in his only game of the season.
He said there are pros and cons to using a backup like Mariota in a variety of special packages over the course of a game.
“You can keep the defense off balance,” he said. “But I think that when we put Marcus as a defender, most coaches are very smart. I think they know that the plays can be different.
“He is not the only double threat quarterback playing in the NFL. I think it can be a different defense. You can see some different looks. There are many things, obviously, but those are the two main things. “
Injury report
Striker Clelin Ferrell is unlikely to play on Sunday as he continues to deal with a shoulder injury.
Gruden almost didn’t rule it out, but he admitted that he would be surprised if Ferrell managed to get back on the field.
He hopes to have defenders Daryl Worley and Erik Harris back on the reserve list / COVID-19, along with defensive coach Jim O’Neil and assistant Taver Johnson.
Linebackers Nick Kwiatkoski and Nicholas Morrow should be able to return at the end of the week and can play on Sunday as long as they have complied with the protocols.
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