Jon Gruden says Raiders need Marshawn Lynch back ‘better and stronger’

The Oakland Raiders are making some drastic changes with head coach Jon Gruden now back in the Bay Area. One of those changes may be parting ways with veteran running back Marshawn Lynch after only one season in Oakland.

Apparently, Lynch is one of the many starters on the team in danger of losing their job if Gruden feels as if they’re better off without them. Gruden recently spoke with Lynch and let him know what he wants from him in order to remain with the Raiders moving forward, via S.L. Price of Sports Illustrated.

“We’ve got to get him in, ah, better and stronger, through the season. . . .”

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Gruden also talked about Lynch not being in shape until later in the 2017 NFL season. The new Raiders head coach won’t stand for that as he wants all or nothing from Lynch.

“We’re not going to have that,” Gruden says. “No. I said to him: ‘I need Marshawn Lynch. I don’t need this part-time Lynch, I need full-time Lynch.”

However, whether Lynch comes back in shape and ready to perform at a high level remains to be seen. One thing is for certain, however. Gruden won’t accept anything less than Lynch’s best in his second season with the Raiders or there may end up being another feature back brought in to fill the void left by the Oakland native.

At this point, the Raiders are expected to be a force to be reckoned with in the AFC after taking a step back last season, but only time will tell if Gruden can lead them back to title contention.