Las Vegas Raiders; Davante Adams

Davante Adams Is Pissed Off For Greatness, But Are The Raiders?

Winning is supposed to cure everything, but the Las Vegas Raiders’ No. 1 wide receiver has a gripe. It’s the same issue he’s been vocalizing since Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Silver and Black aren’t playing well enough on offense, and Davante Adams is not contributing enough without the ball.

Davante Adams Mirrors The Successful Mindsets Of These Legendary Figures

Success is both an action and a mindset—one that can be achieved through an excess of discipline, sacrifice, and focus. All focus isn’t created equal, and putting the cart before the horse never works. However, anyone who has ever achieved greatness will tell you this: It is lonely at the top.

Few possess the ability to be great mentally and physically, as indicated by some of these motivational quotes.

  • “Winners act like winners before they are winners. The culture precedes positive results. It doesn’t get tacked on as an afterthought on your way to the victory stand. Champions behave like champions before they are champions; they have a winning standard of performance before they’re winners.” -Bill Walsh
  • “They said you had to take what the defense gave you. No, we are going to take what we want.” -Al Davis
  • “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.” – Vince Lombardi
  • “You don’t adjust; you just dominate.” -Al Davis
  • “Never be comfortable with just enough.” -Ray Lewis
  • “I’m p***** off for greatness. Because if you ain’t pissed off for Greatness, that means you’re ok with being mediocre.” -Ray Lewis
  • “Be clear in your own mind as to what you stand for. And then stand up for it.” -Bill Walsh

Adams has a fire in his belly for greatness, a shared mentality he identified in Maxx Crosby and Aaron Rodgers. Mediocrity is out of the question; anything short of this lofty standard simply isn’t acceptable. He wants so desperately to contribute more to the success of the offense. Using Adams as a decoy, the offense has yet to produce 20 points in a game. The All-Pro wideout has proven that he can make plays if you just give him a chance.

Is It The Diva Or The Fire That Burns Brightest?

Let’s get a few things straight before misinterpreting and taking Adams’ stance out of context. The former Packer is a lot of things, but a diva is not one of them. As a wide receiver, he cannot directly possess the ball or touch it without it being distributed to him. Teams choose to double- and triple-cover him because he is capable of scoring any time that he touches the football. In fact, it doesn’t matter how many defenders are around him.

Head coach Josh McDaniels shares Dominic Toretto’s belief that it doesn’t matter if you win by an inch or a mile. Technically, this is correct. However, the great ones aren’t content with one-point victories when they are capable of dominating. Keeping with an honest assessment, McDaniels is 9-14 as the leader of the Silver and Black. Some might even say he is so desperate for wins that he will take them any way he can. You should never apologize for a victory in the NFL. But at some point, the team has to catch fire offensively.

The Raiders’ offense has been inconsistent as a whole, despite its individual pieces being elite.

The Tale Of The 2023 Raiders: Grinding Out Wins vs. Blowing Teams Out

Now that we’re all up to speed on what was said and by whom, let’s get to the issue at hand. In 2021, when the Raiders made the playoffs under a miraculous run, it was said their success wasn’t sustainable. This was due to the improbability of nearly every bounce having to go their way. Fast forward to Week 7 of the 2023 season; the same thought process holds true.

Relying on the defense to close games out when the offense is ineffective will not cut it. Right now, the defense is standing on its head and elevating its standard of play. Against the New England Patriots, a team previously outscored 72-3 in the last two games, the Raiders offense was a ghastly 16.6 percent (or 1/6) in red zone scoring. That forced the defense to close out the game in a walk-off fashion.

Week 6 was supposed to be a get-right game. Instead, the Raiders eeked out another victory and used arguably their best player as a successful decoy. Davante Adams must be incredibly frustrated because he is telling the quarterback, the play-caller, the coach, and the media he can not be “Him” without the football.

Davante Adams Needs More Looks — And He Needs Them Now

Even if he’s doubled or tripled, the 30-year-old star is still open. All you have to do is throw him the ball. While we can be sure this admission may rub some teammates the wrong way, it doesn’t change the fact that he is right.

As the Raiders enter the softer portion of their schedule, it would be refreshing to see them start blowing teams out. Help from Josh McDaniels’ offense is necessary to do so.

*Top Photo: Harry How/Getty Images

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6 thoughts on “Davante Adams Is Pissed Off For Greatness, But Are The Raiders?”

  1. (by GTHANG)

    Adams should be glad he’s not getting targeted by Garoppolo. Those weak, late hospital balls Jimmy throws are going to get him hurt. When Hoyer comes in and looks like a competent NFL QB compared to the starter, you know things are bad.

    The Raiders should trade Adams for Chris Olave. Both receivers need a change of scenery, and the deal works for both teams.

  2. Allen L Williams

    Between the offensive line’s inability to get a push in the running game and Jimmy Gs underwhelming performance, I’m not expecting anything to change any time soon on that side of the ball.

  3. Just win can’t help it if you have a coach that thinks he’s ego is bigger than the team cuz they have really good players but for some reason it looks like he’s trying to put them as the Patriots he should be trying for belichick’s job ???

  4. They need a coach like Jim harbaugh he did bring the 49ers to the super bowl and he is a proven coach a lot better Josh McDonald who looks like he needs a Big Mac ?? with the talent he has they should be up there winning he’s just a crappy couch he’s a good offensive coordinator but beyond that he’s not a good coach and Dick LeBeau prove that when he tried to coach a team and found out he was a better defensive coordinator than a coach look what he did for the Steelers defense they were a big threat now if you can get a coach like that I’d be winners

  5. Al Davis would be ashamed of his son the way he’s running that team no wonder Tom Brady wants in

  6. With Devante its all about the fire that burns.
    There is NO selfishness in that. He did his job very well in GB and has done so here too. Its not too often he cant beat the coverage and get open.
    Jimmy chokesalot just cant get the ball to him. I am hoping that changes tomorrow with Brian being the QB. Having Devante, Renfro and two great rookies plus JJ Brian should feel like a kid in a candy store tomorrow.

    As for Devante its all about being the best. NOT ego, just being the best at what he does. He cant be that if you cant get the ball to him.

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