ALAMEDA – Rashaan Melvin made five straight starts this season, playing significant snaps in those contests. Raiders coaches told the veteran cornerback Saturday in London his role would decrease significantly against the Seattle Seahawks.
He and Gareon Conley were benched for Daryl Worley and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
The new starters played most every snap. Melvin was in for seven, only while Rodgers-Cromartie was being examined by trainers. He gave up a 10-yard touchdown catch in that short span, during a 27-3 whooping at Wembley Stadium.
Melvin wasn't happy about the result or the playing time afterward. The well-traveled cornerback is also being asked to use new techniques in coverage and hasn't adjusted well.
That frustration led to these two tweets.
Frustrated and upset. I'm tired of it! 😤😤— Rashaan Melvin (@Rmelvin30) October 15, 2018
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I'm done trying to change my style. It's not me. Back to what I know and what got me here!! ✌🏾😤😤 #22— Rashaan Melvin (@Rmelvin30) October 15, 2018
The posts were well circulated, and eventually brought to head coach Jon Gruden's attention.
"I haven't talked to him yet, no. I'm sure I will. I know (defensive coordinator) Paul Guenther did," Gruden said in a Tuesday press conference. "I heard there was a Twitter report out there. Melvin is on his seventh team, I think. He's had different techniques. Maybe he's confused, I don't know. I'll talk to him. But he has to play better. He's in a competitive situation. Perhaps he's frustrated, and I can't blame him."
Melvin's frustration is clear. He declined comment earlier Tuesday, before Gruden spoke with the press, but he entered this season with high hopes.
He wanted to inarguably prove himself a No. 1 cornerback, and earn the money associated with such distinction. Melvin thought it might come after a career year in Indianapolis, but the free agent was not generous. He ended up signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Raiders hoping a good year would secure the multi-year deal he hoped to get this spring.
Getting benched and performing below expectation won't help Melvin's pride or his pocketbook. That has caused some frustration vented in public.
Gruden backed off the hard line some later in his press conference, addressing Melvin's frustration in a more political manner.
"He handled adversity and sometimes in an emotional way. But Melvin is a good kid," Gruden said. "He's a good kid. He's given us some good snaps. He's just in a competitive situation, and we're trying to help him improve."
