Raiders running back Josh Jacobs notes how ‘calm’ sideline was in first game without Jon Gruden

Noticeable difference in demeanor of leadership

Last week, in the immediate aftermath of the sudden resignation of head coach Jon Gruden, several Las Vegas Raiders expressed sadness because they liked playing for the exuberant coach.

Yet, after the Raiders won 34-24 against the Denver Broncos on the road to snap a two-game losing streak in Gruden’s final games with the team, starting running back Josh Jacobs made some eye-opening comments while talking to the media on Wednesday. According to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN, Jacobs said there was no “anxiety” on the sideline in Denver, which was led by interim head coach Rich Bisaccia. Jacobs also noted no one was “cussing” at players or “going crazy at the refs.”

Here is the complete quote by Jacobs via ESPN:

Jacobs, of course, didn’t mention Gruden in the quote. But who else would he be talking about? As we all know, Gruden was famous for going wild on the sideline and for often ripping into officials.

Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

It will be interesting to see as the season goes on whether the absence of Gruden’s explosive energy will help or hinder the team. For now, it seemed like it was a refreshing change for one player at least.