Latest news with #AntonioPierce
Washington Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Raiders coordinator Patrick Graham embraces learning from Pete Carroll's defensive expertise
HENDERSON, Nev. — Pete Carroll, like Antonio Pierce just a year prior, retained Patrick Graham as the Raiders' defensive coordinator even after both took over the program and largely cleaned house. Keeping Graham was a testament to the respect both coaches have for the job he has done in Las Vegas.
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Raiders coordinator Patrick Graham embraces learning from Pete Carroll's defensive expertise
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Pete Carroll, like Antonio Pierce just a year prior, retained Patrick Graham as the Raiders' defensive coordinator even after both took over the program and largely cleaned house. Keeping Graham was a testament to the respect both coaches have for the job he has done in Las Vegas. The defense was Graham's to run as he saw fit under Pierce and Josh McDaniels before him, but how much autonomy he will have under Carroll is something to watch. Carroll is a defensive-minded head coach known for creating the famed Legion of Boom in Seattle that was pivotal to the Seahawks making back-to-back Super Bowls and winning one in a 43-8 blowout over Denver. 'Any time you get a chance to work with someone with that experience, that level of success, I couldn't be happier ... just in terms of to bounce ideas off of him and hear different ways of doing things,' Graham said after practice Wednesday. 'It's been really beneficial for my growth, if I'm being selfish. It's just something really good and positive for me. The track record, I mean, why wouldn't you listen? It's been great.' The Raiders likely are far from those great Seahawks defenses, but led by end Maxx Crosby, they aren't devoid of talent. This was a top-10 defense just two years ago, allowing 19.5 points per game. Even more was expected last year before that side of the ball was decimated by injuries beginning in training camp when pass rusher Malcolm Koonce suffered a season-ending torn ACL. Las Vegas gave up nearly an additional touchdown per game, dropping to a tie for 25th with Cincinnati. But even during those struggles, the Graham-led makeshift defense found a way to hold six consecutive opponents to fewer than 20 points during one stretch in the season's second half. Now the challenge is fitting in new players after watching key components such as linebackers Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo and defensive backs Nate Hobbs and Tre'von Moehrig leave in free agency. There also is major concern about the rehabilitation setback of defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, whose return from a broken foot creates a noticeable shadow over the unit. That's why the 46-year-old Graham — who interviewed for Jacksonville's head coaching job in January — didn't make a big deal about the continuity his presence means to the team as the Raiders go through organized team activities. 'Each season is so different,' Graham said. 'You take a step back, look at and evaluate yourself, like, 'What did I do, what can I do better, what was good?' Then you look at the defense and see what was good, what was bad. Then you've got to look within the league and see what the trends are. Because if you don't stay ahead of it, you can get in trouble.' No matter the changes, be with the coaches or the players, Graham understands the importance of communication. It's something new Raiders linebacker Elandon Roberts quickly came to appreciate. 'When he talks, I'm just kind of zoned in on it,' Roberts said. 'I've spent a lot of time with PG. We only get a certain amount of time in the building, and shoot, I'm trying to pull up on PG at his house. 'I'm telling you, PG is the type of guy he wakes up in the morning, he thinks about football. He can be eating something, he's thinking about football.' Graham and Roberts kept missing each other until now. Graham was on New England's staff from 2009-15 and Roberts played for the Patriots from 2016-19. Then Graham was Miami's defensive coordinator in 2019 and Roberts played for the Dolphins from 2020-22. 'He was running from me,' Roberts said jokingly. 'I get out here and said, 'It's about time.'' And this is the time for teams, the Raiders included, to be optimistic. Many of the post-practice media questions reflected that mindset. Games will be played soon enough, and then Graham will know what kind of defense he has. There also should be more clarity on how he Carroll will work together. Graham was asked about Carroll multiple times, so it's clear that storyline isn't going away any time soon. 'You can see the energy he has and the ability to teach the position and coach the whole team,' Graham said. 'This has been really a great situation for myself, for the players, the coaches. We're watching a master teacher working at his craft and seeing it live and in person. This is really beneficial for us.' ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Raiders Select 1,400 Yard WR in Latest Mock Draft
The Las Vegas Raiders struggled to find their footing on offense last season under head coach Antonio Pierce and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. While a majority of their issues could be traced back to inadequate quarterback play, they failed to run the ball effectively and had a shortage of wide receiver options outside of Jakobi Meyers. On Thursday, ESPN's Matt Miller released a mock draft in which the Raiders address their need for a top-tier pass-catcher. In his prediction, Las Vegas used the No. 6 pick on Tetairoa McMillan, a wide receiver from the University of Arizona who earned All-American honors during his third and final season with the Wildcats. Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillanMike Watters-Imagn Images McMillan, despite erratic quarterback play, put up incredible numbers for the Wildcats. In his final two seasons, he totaled 174 catches for 2,721 yards and 18 touchdowns, which made him a consensus All-American in 2024. He also led the Big 12 in receiving yards during his final year, beating out players like Travis Hunter and Jaylin Noel. Advertisement He has a large frame, standing at 6-foot-4 and 219 pounds, which has people drawing comparisons between him and players like Mike Evans or Tee Higgins. McMillan would provide instant help for Geno Smith and the offense as a true No. 1 wide receiver alongside elite weapons like Meyers and Brock Bowers. Related: Raiders Showing Interest in Reunion With Former Pro Bowl WR Related: Raiders Projected to Reunite Duo of Former Ohio State Players With Chip Kelly Related: Josh Jacobs Didn't Hesitate to Name Most Underrated Raiders Teammate
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Las Vegas Raiders 2025 NFL offseason: Pete Carroll ready to reset franchise with Geno Smith
2024 season: 4-13, fourth in AFC West, missed playoffs Overview: It was a rough season for the Raiders, their first and only full one under head coach Antonio Pierce. While they won two of their last three games, the Raiders lost 10 straight at one point and missed the playoffs for a third straight campaign. They struggled to find any consistency, especially at quarterback. They rotated between Gardner Minshew II, Aidan O'Connell and Desmond Ridder due to injuries and overall poor play. The Raiders fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy after just nine games, too, along with two other position coaches in November. To make matters worse, the Raiders started winning at the end of the season. While this may be a good sign for the franchise — gaining a bit of positive momentum into the offseason is rarely a bad thing — it moved the Raiders out of position to land what would be their first No. 1 overall draft pick since 2007. Considering the team's needs (we'll get to that later), that finish could make this offseason significantly more difficult in Las Vegas. The team made a very solid hire in Pete Carroll to replace Pierce at head coach. If anybody is going to bring steady, veteran leadership to the franchise, it's Carroll. He'll have a familiar face at quarterback after the Raiders traded for veteran Geno Smith, who started for Carroll in Seattle in 2022 and 2023, and the stability at that position could be huge. The Raiders also have a franchise cornerstone on defense to build around after agreeing to a record-breaking three-year, $106.5 million extension for pass rusher Maxx Crosby. Ranking: 4th A new team facility received high marks across the board, as did owner Mark Davis. Players didn't always feel previous head coach Antonio Pierce was efficient with their time, but Pete Carroll is the man in charge now. Here's how it broke down from the NFLPA and where the Raiders rank: S Marcus EppsRB Ameer AbdullahCB Nate HobbsDT Adam ButlerDT John JenkinsLB Robert SpillaneLB Divine DeabloS Tre'von Moehrig Who's in/out: The Raiders should work to keep Moehrig this offseason. The former TCU star had 104 tackles, a career-high, and two interceptions last season. He has been a top-15 safety in the league in interceptions, forced incompletion rate, tackles for loss or no gain and defensive stops over the past two seasons, according to Pro Football Focus. For a defense losing a good chunk of its starters, Moehrig is an easy guy to keep around. Running backWide receiverOffensive line Outside of the defensive holes the team is facing, the Raiders averaged a league-worst 79.8 yards per game on the ground last season, so a veteran running back would go a long way if they don't want to pick up a marquee rookie in the draft. A proven wide receiver target would help, too, and would support tight end Brock Bowers. And, of course, an extra lineman or two never huts. Yes. The Raiders enter the offseason with an estimated $96 million in cap space, which is second in the league behind only the New England Patriots. QB Gardner Minshew II (cut)C Andre James Why they might be gone: Minshew, despite starting for a good chuck of last season, is out the door, which will save the team about $6.3 million on cap space. With the Raiders likely moving on to a new quarterback, there was no reason to keep him around. James lost his starting job to rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson last season, and the team could save more than $3 million if they drop the veteran after June 1. 1st round: No. 62nd round: No. 373rd round: No. 683rd round (from Jets): No. 734th round5th round6th round6th round (compensatory)6th round (compensatory)7th round Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State Too rich for pick No. 6 overall? Maybe, but the Raiders' ground game was terrible after letting Josh Jacobs leave in free agency. And while offensive line help is always a good thing, especially with new quarterback Geno Smith having dealt with so much pass rush pressure in Seattle in recent seasons, another way to mitigate that is a stronger run game. Nobody possesses more upside in the backfield than Jeanty in this draft class. The Heisman Trophy runner-up is the fourth-ranked overall player on Yahoo Sports NFL Draft experts Nate Tice and Charles McDonald's consensus big board, and everything you want in a back — speed, burst, toughness between the tackles, balance, vision, pass protection, seriously you name it — you'll find in Jeanty. Imagine an offense with Smith, Brock Bowers, further investment in the O-line and wide receiver room, and then Jeanty. That's solid. Adding Geno Smith Las Vegas' fantasy outlook continues to hinge on getting a capable quarterback, and now they appear to have one. Fantasy managers have been begging Las Vegas to get Brock Bowers a QB. Bowers has top-10 overall fantasy upside, but his 112 catches as a rookie resulted in a modest five touchdowns. The Raiders upgrading at quarterback moves the needle. —Dalton Del Don
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Las Vegas Raiders 2025 NFL offseason, NFLPA report card: Pete Carroll ready to reset franchise with new QB
2024 season: 4-13, fourth in AFC West, missed playoffs Overview: It was a rough season for the Raiders, their first and only full one under head coach Antonio Pierce. While they won two of their last three games, the Raiders lost 10 straight at one point and missed the playoffs for a third straight campaign. They struggled to find any consistency, especially at quarterback. They rotated between Gardner Minshew II, Aidan O'Connell and Desmond Ridder due to injuries and overall poor play. The Raiders fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy after just nine games, too, along with two other position coaches in November. To make matters worse, the Raiders started winning at the end of the season. While this may be a good sign for the franchise — gaining a bit of positive momentum into the offseason is rarely a bad thing — it moved the Raiders out of position to land what would be their first No. 1 overall draft pick since 2007. Considering the team's needs (we'll get to that later), that finish could make this offseason significantly more difficult in Las Vegas. The team made a very solid hire in Pete Carroll to replace Pierce at head coach. If anybody is going to bring steady, veteran leadership to the franchise, it's Carroll. Ranking: 4th A new team facility received high marks across the board, as did owner Mark Davis. Players didn't always feel previous head coach Antonio Pierce was efficient with their time, but Pete Carroll is the man in charge now. Here's how it broke down from the NFLPA and where the Raiders rank: S Marcus EppsRB Ameer AbdullahCB Nate HobbsDT Adam ButlerDT John JenkinsLB Robert SpillaneLB Divine DeabloS Tre'von Moehrig Who's in/out: The Raiders should work to keep Moehrig this offseason. The former TCU star had 104 tackles, a career-high, and two interceptions last season. He has been a top-15 safety in the league in interceptions, forced incompletion rate, tackles for loss or no gain and defensive stops over the past two seasons, according to Pro Football Focus. For a defense losing a good chunk of its starters, Moehrig is an easy guy to keep around. QuarterbackRunning backWide receiverOffensive line Why the holes? Outside of the defensive holes the team is facing, the Raiders need to spend a bit to give their new quarterback a solid supporting cast so he can succeed right away. The Raiders averaged a league-worst 79.8 yards per game on the ground last season, so a veteran running back would go a long way if they don't want to pick up a marquee rookie in the draft. A proven wide receiver target would help, too, and would support tight end Brock Bowers. And, of course, an extra lineman or two never huts. Yes. The Raiders enter the offseason with an estimated $95 million in cap space, which is second in the league behind only the New England Patriots. QB Gardner Minshew IIC Andre James Why they might be gone: Both of these would be easy cuts for the Raiders, and would save them a significant amount of money. Minshew, despite starting for a good chuck of last season, signed a two-year deal with the team and has a $14 million salary-cap number next season. With the Raiders likely moving on to a new quarterback, there's no reason to keep him around. James lost his starting job to rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson last season, and the team could save more than $3 million if they drop the veteran after June 1. 1st round: No. 62nd round: No. 373rd round: No. 683rd round (from Jets): No. 734th round5th round6th round6th round (compensatory)6th round (compensatory)7th round Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado The Raiders have to select a new franchise quarterback with their first pick. There's no real other option here. The team hasn't had a proper leader at the position since Derek Carr left, and it's almost impossible to build a successful team without a consistent presence leading the offense. And who better to do that than Sanders? The Colorado star threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns last season while reviving the Buffaloes program alongside his dad, Deion, and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Sanders is a high-level, accurate passer who has delivered at the college level. While he won't be perfect right away, the potential is absolutely there. The Raiders need a good long-term franchise QB to bring stability to the franchise, and Sanders is that guy. Addressing quarterback Las Vegas' fantasy outlook continues to hinge on getting a capable quarterback, as it remains the team's top position of need. The Raiders could make a move in the draft or through free agency, but fantasy managers are begging Las Vegas to get Brock Bowers a QB. Bowers has top-10 overall fantasy upside, but his 112 catches as a rookie resulted in a modest five touchdowns. The Raiders upgrading at quarterback would move the needle. —Dalton Del Don
