Kiffin flashback to Gruden

ALAMEDA -- In that complex and contrary organ known as Al Davis' mind, Raiders coach Lane Kiffin bears practically no resemblance to one of his predecessors, Jon Gruden.

"They are different," the Raiders owner said at a press conference on Aug. 1. "Entirely different in my opinion."

Davis was overlooking some obvious similarities. Gruden was 34 years old, the youngest coach in the NFL, when he took the Raiders' job in 1998; Kiffin was even younger when he accepted the post at 31. You wouldn't mistake the two physically, but both wear their sandy blonde hair short. Both are offensive masterminds who revel in diagramming plays on the white board.

And while the Kiffin whom reporters watched in April and May, when the Raiders opened mini-camps to the media, bore little resemblance to the Gruden they remembered from 2001, the new coach seems to have slowly taken on the characteristics of the former boss. He walks the practice field with a perceptible swagger, barking out encouragement, half-serious slights and mood-lightening jokes in a piercing rasp.

"Sometimes his voice sounds just like him," said left tackle Barry Sims, who played under Gruden for three seasons. "I almost have flashbacks. It sounds like early in my career."

The likeness is no accident. Gruden's defensive coordinator in Tampa Bay is Lane Kiffin's father, Monte Kiffin, the long-time NFL assistant. While coaching at USC, Lane spent an inordinate amount of time hanging around the Buccaneers' facilities. Gruden let him sit in on group installation and quarterback meetings, and Kiffin no doubt saw how Gruden carried himself on the practice field.

Kiffin's voice was heard only sporadically during the Raiders' spring practices. That changed in training camp, when he fired constant salvos of chatter. Of course, reporters weren't allowed to watch every offseason practice, so it isn't clear how much the coach's demeanor changed.

"I think it's your imagination," Sims said.

Others, however, agree that Kiffin has become more vocal. But perhaps that's natural for a coach who came to Oakland knowing practically nobody, and had to work to establish rapport with his players.

Considering his exposure to Gruden, though, it's fair to ask if Kiffin's edgy persona is authentic, or whether he manufactures excitement to get the most out of his team. Most of the veterans say it really makes no difference.

"Doesn't matter," wide receiver Jerry Porter said. "I don't think it matters at all. It's contagious. I mean, if you fake it, you might infect somebody else with it."

Defensive tackle Warren Sapp spent two seasons with Gruden at Tampa Bay, and together they won a Super Bowl title (beating the Raiders) after the 2002 season. Sapp seems to admire Gruden as a coach, but harbors no delusions about his people skills.

"Gruden had a pretty good way of succeeding, but then you got to listen to him after two years and it became fake," he said.

"That doesn't always wash with guys. Because some guys take your message and put it literally. Gruden will tell you he loves you to your face and walk behind the door and say you're a piece of ---- to somebody else."

Kiffin, too, has showed little reluctance to scold a player publicly. In fact, he rarely praised anyone during training camp without adding an example of something he needed to work on.

Wide receiver Mike Williams, who was recruited by Kiffin out of high school and played for him at USC, has emerged as one of his whipping boys. Kiffin obviously thought highly enough of Williams to pull the strings on a draft-day trade with Detroit, but has made numerous pointed remarks about the receiver's weight or tendency to drop passes. Still, Kiffin's harsh tone doesn't seem to bother Williams.

"Some people aren't used to it," he said. "But I think for the most part it's honest and it's fair. He's kind of like one of those guys, 'OK, this is what you've done. Now that doesn't matter. What are you gonna do next?' It'll be December and if my name comes up, he'll be like, 'He's still fighting to make the team.' That's just how he is."

Sounds awful familiar to anyone who played under Gruden. And so does the practice-field enthusiasm, a trait that helped take the Raiders to consecutive playoff appearances in 2000-01, and set the groundwork for a Super Bowl appearance.

"I think it creates a bond, like the team has its bond," Sims said.

"You're a lot more willing to lay it on the line for the guy next to you when you love him, versus when everyone's going against each other. I'm excited about this season, a lot more than I have been in the past. I think a lot of guys feel that way."

You can reach Staff Writer Phil Barber at 526-8672 or phil.barber@pressdemocrat.com.