In terms of the Las Vegas Raiders, it appears like there’s a breath of contemporary air emanating from the group as of late.
It fired then-head coach Josh McDaniels halfway by final season after one and a half lackluster seasons, and it changed him with Antonio Pierce, a linebackers coach who had restricted teaching expertise within the NFL.
The Raiders even have one other younger, rising coach in Patrick Graham, who has been their defensive coordinator since 2022.
Cornerback Jack Jones praised Graham when requested a few pick-six he had in opposition to the Chargers final season, and ESPN’s Mina Kimes tweeted that Graham might change into a head teaching candidate in a 12 months if the Raiders’ protection does nicely.
Jones credit Patrick Graham for placing him within the place to make the play. A man I feel might get some HC buzz subsequent 12 months if the protection retains it up. 👀 https://t.co/eSIBYgCeca
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) August 7, 2024
By all accounts, Las Vegas’ gamers are very pleased with Pierce as their head coach and have plenty of belief in him, which suggests Graham could need to go elsewhere if he needs to change into a head coach.
The Raiders’ protection hasn’t precisely been stellar throughout his tenure as their defensive coordinator, regardless of having studs reminiscent of Jones and Professional Bowl defensive finish Maxx Crosby.
Nonetheless, as soon as Pierce took over, it did present some enchancment.
In Pierce’s 9 video games on the helm, the Raiders held their opponents to twenty or fewer factors six occasions, one thing they did simply thrice of their first eight video games of the season.
They do have an enormous query mark on the quarterback spot, but when they embrace profitable with protection, maybe they will do higher than the 8-9 document that they had final 12 months.
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