Another Sunday. Another loss for the Las Vegas Raiders.
There were the usual blunders. Penalties. Miscommunications in coverage. The stuff that poorly run teams do.
The offense showed signs of life if life doesn’t include big plays. Did Las Vegas look more competent with Scott Turner and Daddy Norv Turner? Absolutely.
But in today’s NFL, the passing game is the equivalent of “three yards and a cloud of dust.”
The bright spot was the Raiders finally weaponizing Brock Bowers. Bowers had 13 catches on 16 targets. However, this didn’t help open the field for enough shock plays to make a difference, and the Raiders need them because the running game isn’t going to show this season, no matter what Antonio Pierce says.
For what’s next for the 2-8 Raiders?
Las Vegas is heading for one of the top picks in the upcoming NFL Draft. They will undoubtedly take a quarterback. The organization is not incompetent enough to pick any other position.
First, the organization needs to see the coaching staff prove they can manage a young quarterback’s development.
That’s why the move to Desmond Ridder is warranted. There isn’t one good reason to continue with Gardner Minshew. It doesn’t help the organization or the coaching staff.
Let’s see what the coaching staff can do with a young, former first-round pick. Look at Pierce and his staff’s process and procedures to help Ridder improve in practice. Look at how the game plan develops for a young quarterback during the week.
Mark Davis has swung and missed on two of the most critical positions: general manager and head coach.
The Raiders are still determining if Antonio Pierce and Tom Telesco are right for what it will take to make Las Vegas a legitimate contender over the next three seasons.
The current leadership thought pairing Minshew with Luke Getsy was a good idea, so there’s no room to give them the benefit of the doubt.
That’s why it’s the right time for Davis, who is part of the problem, to evaluate the staff, and it starts with putting Ridder under center.
