HENDERSON, Nev. — After a disappointing first half of the season, Raiders coach Antonio Pierce expressed his frustration on Monday morning using strong language to capture the essence of the team’s struggles. With a bye week to reflect, Pierce is now focused on instilling a sense of optimism as they move into the latter part of the season, which consists of eight more games.
In an effort to revitalize the team’s performance, Pierce made significant changes to the coaching staff on Sunday night, dismissing offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello, and offensive line coach James Cregg. He plans to take a couple of days to determine who will take on these responsibilities going forward.
This situation is reminiscent of the previous year around this time when owner Mark Davis terminated coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler after a 3-5 record, following a 26-14 defeat to the Lions in a Monday night game. Pierce stepped in as the interim coach then, leading the team to a 5-4 finish, which helped him secure the full-time position.
Currently, however, the Raiders find themselves in a dire situation with a record of 2-7, riding a five-game losing streak, and coming off a significant 41-24 loss to Cincinnati. “It’s somewhat ironic that I took over around this time last season and we managed to play better football towards the end,” Pierce commented. “I need to find a way to reignite that same energy in this group. We must ensure that when we return to the facility next week, we are motivated and ready to fight for a victory in Miami.”
A pressing concern remains the feasibility of turning the team around before the season concludes. The search for a franchise quarterback continues, as Pierce considers moving on from Gardner Minshew in favor of Desmond Ridder, though neither option appears to decisively address the team’s needs. Aidan O’Connell is also sidelined due to a broken thumb, further complicating the quarterback situation.
Moreover, the team’s running game ranks as the least effective in the league, averaging only 76.9 yards per game, and the absence of a true No. 1 receiver has hindered offensive growth. Adding to the woes, injuries have ravaged the offensive line, leaving the team in a precarious position.
Defensively, the Raiders anticipated being competitive, yet they are allowing an average of 27.9 points per game, positioning them among the worst in the league, alongside teams with a combined record of 7-19.
This situation raises an important question: should the team make an effort to salvage the season’s second half? An increase in losses could lead to a higher draft position, which is crucial for an organization desperately in need of a future star quarterback. A focus on long-term strategy could prove beneficial, even if it places Pierce’s job security in jeopardy.
Pierce remains hopeful that the recent coaching changes will pave the way for improvement. With a week to prepare for the Dolphins, he is taking this time to contemplate the next steps he needs to implement to facilitate a turnaround.
“The alignment of decisions I made seems timely,” noted Pierce. “I didn’t enter each week planning to make changes. I genuinely believed in Luke’s capability to turn things around, but once I sensed we needed a shift, I acted.”
Looking at the positives, while Jakobi Meyers may not have been the intended No. 1 receiver, he is stepping up in the absence of Davante Adams, who has moved to the Jets. Meyers recorded eight receptions for 105 yards against Cincinnati, totaling 14 catches for 157 yards and a touchdown since Adams’ departure.
On the other hand, there are significant areas in need of enhancement. Pierce must thoroughly evaluate the entire roster during the bye week. Conversely, the special teams have retained high performance, with Daniel Carlson converting 16 of 18 field goals, including four from over 50 yards. Additionally, punter AJ Cole leads the league with an average of 53.4 yards per punt, and his net average ranks fifth at 44.3 yards.
Unfortunately, the running game continues to be a significant burden, placing undue pressure on the quarterbacks to propel offense, especially when they lack a star playmaker. Injuries have not helped the situation. The offensive line has suffered various ankle injuries, with key players including Cody Whitehair, Kolton Miller, and Andrus Peat being sidelined, alongside cornerback Nate Hobbs and tight end Harrison Bryant. Center Andre James also missed the game due to an ankle issue.
A striking statistic is that the Raiders are one of ten teams in NFL history to be down by double digits in each of their first nine games, drawing parallels with the 1986 Colts and Packers.
Looking ahead, the Raiders will face the Dolphins on November 17, hoping to capitalize on the extra preparation time and emerge with a revived sense of purpose.