New Raiders coach Dennis Allen was fielding questions after practice Tuesday when a reporter asked him if instilling more discipline was one of his goals.
“Well, we have to,” Allen said. “The definition of insanity’s doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
“So we’ve got to do something different. We’ve got to change, and if we don’t change we’ll see the same results. So that’s the message that we’ve preached, and we’re going to continue preaching that till the end of the season.”
The Raiders haven’t made the playoffs since 2002 when they reached the Super Bowl under Bill Callahan but lost to Tampa Bay. Since then they’ve gone 45-99 and haven’t finished above .500 a single season.
Penalties and mental mistakes have often been at the root of the Raiders’ problems for years. Last year they set NFL single-season records for total penalties (163) and penalty yards (1,358). They’ve led the league in total penalties 17 times, more than any other team.
When he was hired by Mark Davis, son of the late Al Davis, as general manager in early January, Reggie McKenzie stressed the need for a new more disciplined mindset. Allen continued that drumbeat after being hired.
After the first training camp practice, Allen pounded home his desire to build a “tough, smart, disciplined football team” in Oakland. “That’s the way you’re going to win in this league, and that’s the way we’re going to play,” he said.
When players reported to training camp in Napa, they noticed changes even before their first training camp practice.
“They’re real strict on discipline now as far as showing up to meetings (on time). They’re even making us check in for lunches and dinners now,” SS Tyvon Branch said.
Running back Darren McFadden said “tightening down” off the field should “translate” into a more disciplined team during games. “Just knowing where to be and where to be at the right time and being there on time, that’s one main thing for us.”
On the practice field, Allen has run no-nonsense, high-tempo practices. Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly said he’s had to work harder “by farrrrrrr” in practice under Allen than any of his previous coaches in Oakland.
“It’s definitely different how things are run,” Kelly said. “With (Al Davis), he had been in place for so long, he had stuff just how he wanted. With the new GM and coach Allen, they’re going in a different direction. Just get in line and do what they ask you to do.
Fullback Marcel Reece said there’s a different “feeling” in camp this year.
“The way that we’re playing right now, the way that we’re practicing right now, just going about meetings, everyone has immense focus on just the game and learning and doing everything we have to do to win,” Reece said.
The first real test will come Monday night when the Raiders open the exhibition season at home against the Cowboys.
So far during camp, the Raiders appear to be cutting down on the glaring pre-snap penalties. Kelly said that not a day goes by that Allen doesn’t remind him not to anticipate the snap count and jump off sides.
“To win in the National Football League you’ve got to learn how to not beat yourself. That’s one of the things that causes you to lose football games,” Allen said. “It’s my job to get them to understand that, and then, at the end of the day, it’s the players’ jobs to make sure they get it corrected.”
Follow Raiders reporter Eric Gilmore on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLOAK.
