Latest news with #PeteCarroll
New York Times
14 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
Pete Carroll, Raiders beefing up investment in (and reliance on) football analytics
There's no denying Pete Carroll's 14-year tenure with the Seattle Seahawks was wildly successful. But like any head coach, he had his faults that drew the ire of the fan base. One of his most criticized traits was his tendency to play conservatively. In the modern era, as analytics have become a bigger part of teams' decision-making processes, they've gotten more pass-happy and aggressive in their fourth-down decision-making. The Seahawks, however, often lagged behind. That began to change late in Carroll's time there, but Seattle's investment in analytics — and Carroll's openness to incorporating them — remained measured compared to other teams. Advertisement Carroll was fired following the 2023 season, and he spent 2024 out of coaching. And while his status as the oldest coach in NFL history (74) might suggest he'd be set in his ways, he changed his tune on analytics after he was hired as the Las Vegas Raiders' coach earlier this offseason. 'There's patterns to the game that I (began to see) differently,' Carroll said in February. 'A lot of it was the analytic outlook of it. When you're in the midst of all of these seasons and every week, as you're just so frantically going about planning for the next game, you don't get the chance to have that perspective and slow your mind down.' The Raiders' personnel moves this offseason have shown that wasn't just coachspeak from Carroll. They retained staffers who worked with analytics, including VP of football research and development David Christoff, director of football systems Brad Goldsberry and coordinator of player personnel research and strategy Walt King, and made several additions. In February, the Raiders hired senior vice president of football operations Mark Thewes to help lead their analytics efforts. Thewes previously oversaw the Denver Broncos' analytics department. Since bringing on Thewes, the Raiders have hired head coach research specialist Ryan Paganetti, senior manager of football strategy Kunal Singh and manager of football data science and engineering Andrew Fedele. The revamped ownership group, which has expanded beyond controlling owner Mark Davis to include minority owner Tom Brady and others, has invested the necessary resources to enhance the staffing and technology required to run a functional analytics department. General manager John Spytek already frequently used analytics in his previous role as assistant GM of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but this level of investment is new for Carroll. Advertisement 'He's totally receptive,' Thewes said last month when asked about Carroll's willingness to integrate analytics. 'He challenges us to come up with new ways to challenge his ways of thinking. … We're trying to organize the data in a way that is supportive to the decision-making process.' Carroll intends to lean on those resources to blend his old-school principles with a new-school approach. 'I'm really excited to convey those things that we take a look at differently than I have before,' Carroll said. 'So, I have a really strong philosophy about how we do things and why we do what we do, but yet, if you're competing, then you have to be dynamic enough to continue to grow and expand.' In today's episode of the Just Win podcast, @FB_FilmAnalysis and I broke down the latest from #Raiders OTAs 🔗⤵️ — Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) May 30, 2025 As part of the 2011 NFL collective bargaining agreement, players agreed to allow the league to track their on-field locations and health metrics. That opened the door for the creation of Next Gen Stats, a collection of data gathered by the NFL to create advanced statistics. By 2017, every team had NGS data collection. It was around then that NFL teams began to invest more in analytics to find ways to use the data to their benefit. For the coaching staff, analytics are typically used to formulate a plan for fourth-down decision-making, identify ideal run-pass splits and predict an opposing team's tendencies based on its past behavior. In the front office, the numbers can be used to conduct player modeling, create athletic scores, estimate the contract value of players based on age, position and other factors, predict compensatory draft picks and gauge value in prospective trades. The Raiders' technology department is tasked with organizing the data necessary to make those decisions. From there, the analytical side of the equation is about making predictive conclusions. Advertisement 'Part of our job is to be able to consider large amounts of information from many different sources, synthesize that information, and then make it presentable to the decision-makers in personnel and coaching,' Christoff said. 'We want to simplify complex decisions, guard against inefficiencies and identify hidden advantages. The analytics piece is complementary to the hard work done by the rest of our football staff, with the goal of maximizing the time and information available to us.' Analytics is often viewed as a complex subject, but it's the team's job to make it simple. 'Our goal is to cut through the noise,' Singh said, 'and spotlight the key details that matter most when making big decisions.' Nowadays, most NFL teams have their own in-house data systems. The Los Angeles Rams, for example, created a system called 'JAARS' for their various staff members to access. Thewes is in the process of helping create a similar scouting system for the Raiders. It'll be built to contain draft prospect write-ups, the team's draft board, free-agency information, background checks, game film, medical reports, basic stats, analytics and more. Naturally, that system being useful moving forward is dependent on the work of the Raiders' scouting department. 'There's a bunch of different ways that you can use numbers,' Thewes said. 'But at the end of the day, you have to have really good scouts, as well.' For Raiders fans, the most visible representation of the team's use of analytics will be Carroll's game management. When it comes to supporting that process, Paganetti, in particular, will play a crucial role. 'He's going to be working with me directly,' Carroll said, 'as well as the offensive and defensive staffs. He's got a great background. This world of analysis is something that really continues to grow.' Advertisement As Carroll mentioned, Paganetti has a varied background. The Dartmouth grad was a scouting intern with the Dallas Cowboys in 2013 and an assistant coach at Belmont Hill School (Mass.) from 2012-2014. In 2015, he was hired as an analyst by then-Philadelphia Eagles head coach and current Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Kelly was fired by the Eagles in 2015, but Paganetti stayed in Philadelphia through the 2020 season and ended his tenure there with the title of assistant linebackers coach/game management. He was hired by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022 and spent this past season as their director of football analytics. The combined experience of working as a scout, coach and analytics staffer appealed to Carroll. 'Ryan understands everything,' Carroll said. 'He's been in it long enough that he brings a connection to the past, which I really like, and he can make sense of what we used to look at and how we look at things now.' Paganetti will focus on game management and help work analytics into the overall coaching staff's planning processes. 'Ryan has a tremendous, rich history of learning how to deal with the analytics part of it, but yet football as well,' Carroll said. 'He won't be familiar with the kinds of questions I'll ask him, but he'll be ready to handle the answers.' On the personnel and scouting side, the analytics department gleaned valuable insight from how the Raiders handled free agency and the draft. They're still relatively early in the process, but the internal hope is that the added emphasis on analytics will benefit the Raiders both during the season and in the offseason. 'We're trying to get us all coming from different places, really, on the same page,' Thewes said, 'in how we can learn and observe this first year and then build on it in future years. But as we go through the entire 12-month calendar year, I think we're only going to get better in Year 2 and 3 and beyond.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
2025 Rookie Stat Prediction: Ashton Jeanty
The Las Vegas Raiders made a tempo setting move when they took Memphis running back Ashton Jeanty at the top end of round one in the 2025 NFL Draft. A Heisman finalist and one of the best players in the country, Jeanty is a slam dunk for a team wanting to forge a new identity under head coach Pete Carroll. With Las Vegas boasting a new quarterback in Geno Smith who can put up the deep ball as well as anyone in the league, Jeanty should have plenty of opportunity with teams unable to load the box against him. Given Jeanty should be the easily number one back on the team, and that he should be the tempo setting engine that makes the offense move, he should see plenty of action throughout the season and be one of the leagues most productive backs. Given his skillset and the amount of opportunity he will get, expect Jeanty to be the heavy favorite for 'Offensive Rookie of the Year' as he should be one of the top producers at his position. Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Prediction: 1,300 rush yards, 550 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: 2025 Rookie Stat Prediction: Ashton Jeanty
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Geno Smith and Pete Carroll reunion in Vegas has the Raiders hoping for repeat success
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The Raiders were stretching before practice Thursday when coach Pete Carroll wandered over to quarterback Geno Smith. As the two chatted for about a minute as Smith continued to go through his stretches, it was a clear reminder of the strong relationship the two built in Seattle — and what that could mean now that they are reunited in Las Vegas. 'I think Coach Carroll is extremely relatable,' Smith said. 'I think he understands that guys have got to be themselves in order to be their best selves. He's a fun person to be around. You see just how positive he always is, he's always got a bright smile, he's always laughing, joking around. It's not him above the team or anyone above the team. It's everyone together, collectively.' The Raiders hope the success the two had together with the Seahawks translates to their new home. Carroll took Seattle to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances — winning once with Russell Wilson at quarterback. Later, Carroll resurrected Smith's career by signing him in 2019 as the backup. Smith, a second-round pick in 2019 by the Jets, had lost his starting job with New York and spent one season each as a backup with the New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers. Smith took over as Seattle's starter in 2022 and led the league by completing 69.8% of his passes while throwing for 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He was selected as the NFL's AP Comeback Player of the Year. The Seahawks posted winning records all three years with Smith as the starter, but his career there reached a crossroads after last season. The two parties failed to reach a contract agreement, leading to the March 7 trade in which the Raiders gave up a third-round draft pick. That means Smith is starting over again. 'There's not a lot of guys that would have shown that resiliency,' offensive coordinator Chip Kelly said. 'There's not a lot of guys that would have persevered through all of that. ... He's so relatable to everybody in this program because he's kind of lived that life. 'The fact that he has done it and come out and to be the way he is now is really a testament to him.' Smith said his up-and-down NFL career has helped him 'cherish it a little bit more.' The Raiders are putting their hopes and money — they signed Smith to a two-year, $75 million extension that takes it through the 2027 season — that he can help make the franchise at least competitive again. Three AFC West teams made the playoffs last season. The Raiders, who went 4-13, were the only ones taking early vacations, meaning hopes of ending a playoff victory drought that dates to the 2003 season would continue. Smith also has the burden of trying to win in a division with fellow quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Bo Nix. But Smith also takes over an offense that includes tight end Brock Bowers, wide receiver Jakobi Meyers and running back Ashton Jeanty. Bowers comes off a rookie season in which he was named an AP All-Pro after catching 112 passes for 1,194 yards. Meyers, who took over as the top receiver after Davante Adams was traded to the Jets, broke the 1,000-yard barrier for the first time. Jeanty was drafted sixth overall this year out of Boise State after finishing second in the Heisman Trophy balloting. 'Winning is something that we want to do right now,' Smith said. 'Just seeing the direction everything's going and how hard these guys are working and just how bad everyone wants to win, I'm fortunate to be a part of this thing. I just want to continue to build it, to continue for this thing to grow. The sky's the limit for this team, this organization. I can't wait to see how it all comes together.' At 34, Smith provides a veteran presence at sports' ultimate leadership position, and Kelly said he even has impacted how the coaches go about their business. 'He's just been emblematic of what a leader should be, by his habits and by the way he brings himself every day,' Carroll said. 'He's the first guy out here, he's the last guy to leave.' Meyers noted that time commitment as well. 'By having Geno, it kind of brings a sense of stability,' Meyers said. 'He knows what he's doing. He shows up the same every day, his personality stays the same every day. I haven't seen him have a bad day yet. So I can't have bad days if the leader has no bad days.' ___ AP NFL:
New York Times
7 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Pete Carroll has a ‘type' when it comes to defensive backs; this rookie ‘fits the mold'
HENDERSON, Nev. — If you know Pete Carroll, then you know how the Las Vegas Raiders coach prefers his defensive backs: tall, long and fast. The 'Legend of Boom' secondary that helped Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks win Super Bowl XLVIII was full of cornerbacks and safeties who fit that archetype. The core members were safety Kam Chancellor (6-foot-3, 225 pounds), cornerback Richard Sherman (6-3, 195), cornerback Brandon Browner (6-4, 221), cornerback Byron Maxwell (6-1, 207), nickelback Walter Thurmond III (5-11, 190) and safety Earl Thomas (5-10, 202 pounds). And while Thomas was on the small side for a safety, he more than made up for it with his freakish athleticism, elite speed and fearless physicality. Advertisement Of course, having attractive physical attributes doesn't guarantee anything. There are tall, long and fast defensive backs available in the draft every year. What sets Carroll apart is knowing what to do with those players once he gets them. 'He is elite at finding the traits in a player, what they can do, and then featuring them in that spot,' Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn said earlier this month. 'He finds out the things that you can be truly excellent at, and then he works the hell out of it.' Quinn was the Seahawks' defensive coordinator in 2013 and 2014 — for both of Carroll's Super Bowl appearances in Seattle. They had an embarrassment of riches on defense, but they wouldn't have reached the heights they did if the coaching staff hadn't maximized their capabilities. That was knowledge that Carroll had accumulated over nearly two decades of experience as a defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator. 'It's not to say like I only can have safeties that are this or I can only have corners that are this,' Quinn said. 'It was really about finding out the things that they can do and then (asking) how would we feature them in a certain way, much like offensive players do. Like, this guy is really good in the slot: Let's put him in there because he can win on option routes and break somebody's leverage off. … You say, 'This player with unique traits, how do we feature them?'' Naturally, it took time for Carroll to build that secondary. When he was hired by the Seahawks in 2011, they were coming off a season in which they finished 27th in the league in pass defense. Turning that around — and sustaining it for most of his 14-year tenure — took both an exceptional eye for talent and the ability to help it grow. 'Some guys just say they want them to be big, fast and strong, all that kind of good stuff, but he's detailed in knowing exactly what he's trying to get out of it,' Seahawks defensive backs coach Karl Scott, who worked with Carroll from 2022 to 2023, said recently. 'And then, honestly, what type of person is he dealing with? Not good guy/bad guy, but is that person comfortable being themselves? Do they know who they are? … The guys who are not afraid to be who they are, those are the guys he falls in love with.' When Carroll took the Raiders job this offseason, he inherited a secondary that was better — they were 15th in pass defense in 2024 — but still nothing special. As he worked alongside general manager John Spytek to improve the unit, a familiar theme emerged in the types of players they retained and added. Advertisement In free agency, they re-signed Isaiah Pola-Mao (6-4, 205) to start at free safety. They picked up Jeremy Chinn (6-3, 220) to start at strong safety. They also took a flier on Eric Stokes (6-1, 194) to compete for a role at outside cornerback. In the draft, Carroll and Spytek rolled the dice on cornerback Darien Porter in the third round. He's 6-3, 195, and ran a 4.3-second 40-yard dash but was only a one-year starter at Iowa State. That was largely because, like Sherman, he transitioned from receiver to corner in college. Porter has a lot of potential, but he also needs to refine his fundamentals and technique. Sherman had plenty of the same question marks, which is why he fell to the fifth round in the 2011 draft. While it's a bit ambitious to compare Porter to a likely Hall of Famer, no one had those expectations for Sherman when he was drafted, either. Given his track record, it's no surprise Carroll is confident in his ability to get the most out of players like Porter. Causing a storm in the secondary 🌀 Get to know our newest cornerback, Darien Porter ⬇️ — Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) April 26, 2025 'We've always looked for guys that are really fast and guys that are really long and tall because of the style of the way we coach them,' Carroll said. 'Darien, he's a lot like Richard Sherman was. … There's a lot of similarities in the makeup of these two kids. Richard's history is pretty bright, so I have really high expectations for how this works out with Darien. He kind of fits the mold.' With the Seahawks, Carroll installed a Cover 3-based coverage scheme along with defensive coordinators Gus Bradley (2011-12) and Quinn. That called for a middle-of-the-field safety who was capable of flying from sideline to sideline and a versatile box safety who could also line up in the slot. The final piece of the equation was lanky, athletic, physical cornerbacks who could disrupt receivers at the line of scrimmage and play press-man coverage, but also drop into a variety of zones. Advertisement Carroll found safeties Chancellor and Thomas and a nickelback in Thurmond in the 2010 draft, but the Seahawks went into the 2011 offseason lacking difference-makers at outside cornerback. First came the signing of Browner, who'd gone undrafted in 2005 and had played in the Canadian Football League from 2006 to 2010. Then the Seahawks added Sherman and Maxwell on Day 3 of the 2011 draft. Although Browner started every game that season, Sherman and Maxwell were fourth and fifth on the cornerback depth chart, respectively. The coaching staff knew Sherman, in particular, had special ball skills, but he was still early in the process of learning the nuances of the position. During practices early in the season, his progress accelerated. 'He was remarkable,' Quinn said. 'The best of the best players who've developed also have a good self-awareness of the things they want to work on. Richard's like a classic example of that. He didn't have years of playing corner, but he had years of catching the ball. … He was exceptional at working on things at the line of scrimmage like technique and the footwork. … And it's doing those types of skills over and over again.' After Marcus Trufant and Thurmond were placed on season-ending injured reserve after Week 7, Sherman got his shot as a starter. He'd go on to start every game for the next five seasons, making four All-Pro teams, but it all started with his work ethic. 'Richard Sherman is one of the most competitive people I've been around,' Quinn said. 'He just is an absolute dawg of a competitor. That type of attitude is what it takes to develop. When you're trying to become great at something, you have to put in the time, and you have to do extra, and you have to get feedback. You have to be willing to accept that feedback.' And when it came to giving that feedback, Carroll was as good as anybody. Advertisement 'Pete was exceptional at the smallest of details,' Quinn said. 'Look where your hand is. Watch where this could be. Get more extension this way. And if you have that type of teaching combined with that type of work ethic and resilience, then you've got a chance for somebody to turn out exceptional.' But it wasn't always smooth sailing. Carroll made the playoffs in nine of his first 11 seasons with the Seahawks, but 2021 was a down year. The team finished 7-10 and missed the playoffs. And while the defense was solid overall, the secondary was awful, finishing 31st in the league in passing defense. It was clear the unit needed help. The Seahawks landed an answer that offseason in Tariq Woolen. The cornerback out of Texas-San Antonio was 6-4, 210 pounds, ran a blazing 4.26-second 40-yard dash and had upper-echelon athleticism, but he still fell to the fifth round. In a case of déjà vu, Woolen had spent his first three seasons at UTSA at receiver before transitioning to cornerback. And just like Sherman, he had two years at corner under his belt, but was still raw. 'When you talk about the measurables and the testing and all that stuff, he was on the upper side of the quadrant,' Scott said of Woolen. 'You usually don't see a guy with his size, length, height. And then, obviously, you talk about his all-world speed. The physical traits were there. When you meet Tariq, he's a guy who's himself. He knows who he is. He's aware that his physical abilities are pretty unique. He was pretty new to the position, but I thought we all had in our mind that he had enough tools naturally given to him that we could help him with the other side of the game that he was still learning or developing.' The Seahawks proved to be right, as Woolen started all 17 games and made the Pro Bowl in 2022. Porter, who also transitioned to cornerback, is Carroll's next case study. 'They're both tall, long guys, but I think athletically, (I'm more like) Tariq than Richard Sherman,' Porter said. 'I'm just looking to take all the coaching I can to get to the level of those guys.' Besides having alluring physical traits, the Raiders were also high on Porter's mental makeup. He was raised in a military family, earned academic honors at Iowa State and was praised by Cyclones coach Matt Campbell for his character. While Porter has plenty to work on, the Raiders have no doubts about his desire. He'll have to compete with Stokes, Jakorian Bennett and Decamerion Richardson for playing time, and he's likely to start the season on the bench. Advertisement 'We've been doing it for a long time, and so there's a real style to it and a real technique and skill to it that we share with these guys,' Carroll said. 'And if they have the right makeup that we're looking for, then we can bring them along quickly.' Carroll has done this before, and the Raiders are betting he can do it again. (Top photos: Ethan Miller and Candice Ward / Getty Images)
Associated Press
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Raiders DE Maxx Crosby's return: 'It's the best feeling on the planet'
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Quarterbacks usually don't like Maxx Crosby to be this close to them. However one of the NFL's fiercest pass rushers made sure this was a friendly visit when he went over to the Raiders' QBs at Wednesday's practice. The quarterbacks were just as happy as anyone to have Crosby back on the field even if the first regular-season game was still nearly four months away. Crosby, who hadn't missed a start in the four previous seasons, played through an ankle injury he sustained last year in Week 2 at Baltimore and wasn't the same until finally shutting it down in mid-December to undergo surgery. 'Maxx looks great,' Las Vegas coach Pete Carroll said. 'He's going full speed.' Taking part in organized team activities was another major step for Crosby, who began the rehabilitation process in December. 'It's just been incredible being out there with my teammates, being able to just fully be myself, not hesitate on any type of cut and just cut it loose,' Crosby said. 'It's the best feeling on the planet. I'm having so much fun out here, just being 100% and no hesitation.' Crosby's loss wasn't the only one for the defensive line. Tackle Christian Wilkins, signed last offseason to a four-year, $110 million contract, broke his foot in Week 5 and is still trying to come back from that injury. End Malcolm Koonce, who missed all of the season because of a torn ACL, is closer to a full return, but still is not practicing. Koonce, who signed a one-year, $12 million contract in March, said he expects to return soon. 'We're in the training room seeing games and seeing bad things play out and stuff like that. ... It just didn't feel good for anybody,' Koonce said of the injuries to the line. Their injuries made a bad season for the Raiders even worse, their 4-13 record leading to a house cleaning in which coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco were fired. In came Carroll and GM John Spytek, and many of the questions this week regarded the energy that the 73-year-old coach has brought to the building, which overlooks that much of the reason Pierce was hired last year had to do with his player-friendly style. Still, there is no question Carroll brings a passion that people more than 40 years his junior can't match. One of the few being Crosby. 'I mean he's finishing 50 yards every single time,' tight end Brock Bowers said. 'I'm trying to win every single rep and he does a really good job doing that.' That high-octane attitude is why Crosby went from a fourth-round draft pick out of Eastern Michigan in 2019 to quickly become a dominant pass rusher. His 52 sacks between that season and 2023 were the league's fifth-highest total. He also led the NFL in tackles for loss with 22 in 2022 and 23 a year later. Then came last season and the early season injury against the Ravens. Crosby tried to play through the pain as he often did with other injuries, but this one was different. The player who seldom came off the field didn't play at all two weeks later against Cleveland to end his 86-game playing streak. 'Last year was definitely one of the hardest years of my life in general — so many things going on, battling injuries, not being able to be myself at times, I felt like,' Crosby said. 'There's no excuses. It's tough. It's part of the game, and that's what comes with it.' Crosby has long said he wants to play for the Raiders his entire career, and the club showed him the feeling is mutual by signing him in March to a three-year extension worth $106.5 million, with $91.5 million guaranteed. That deal takes him through 2029. It was a record contract for a non-quarterback that since has been surpassed by three other players, according to including ends Myles Garrett of Cleveland and Danielle Hunter of Houston. Cincinnati wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is the other player. In trying to meet the expectations of the new deal, Crosby will be playing for his third head coach in three years. Crosby has been onboard since Carroll's hiring and was at the coach's introductory news conference in January. Carroll even made the point at the presser to talk directly to Crosby. 'It's a breath of fresh air,' Crosby said. 'We've been having so much fun and getting better every single day, working our (butts) off. It's been a hell of a journey so far.' ___ AP NFL:
