So far, Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis has shown no signs of moving on from general manager Dave Ziegler or head coach Josh McDaniels. However, with the team dropping to 3-4 and a tough remaining schedule, could that tune change in Vegas? Better yet — would the addition of Jim Harbaugh be enough to take Raider Nation off of life support?
The Raiders Must Move On From Josh McDaniels — Now!
First, let’s highlight why moving on from McDaniels is the correct thing to do — this won’t take long. Since arriving in Sin City, the former Bill Belichick protege harped about “doing things the right way.” Shoot, he even sold me on that false bill of goods, albeit only momentarily.
McDaniels, with the help of Ziegler, gutted a playoff roster under the guise of “bringing in their own guys” to run the system more effectively. We won’t touch on the misstep of Chandler Jones out of respect for Jones himself, but that signing was the first of many that didn’t pan out.
The new front office also traded multiple high-end draft picks for All-Pro wideout Davante Adams. Coming off a postseason berth, it made sense to add Adams to the fold. A few other retread veterans made their way to Vegas as well, but all of these moves were for naught, with the Raiders limping to a 6-11 record in 2022.
Derek Carr, the nine-year starter for the Silver and Black, was jettisoned to free agency a few days after the season. Undoubtedly, one of the very reasons the team acquired Adams was to pair him with his college teammate. Seen as the scapegoat by many, including McDaniels, Carr caught the brunt of the backlash for the regression across the board.
Scapegoat After Scapegoat; When Is It Finally McDaniels’ Fault?
Jimmy Garoppolo, the “proven winner”, was said to be the answer behind center. In the offseason, I penned a piece about Jimmy G vs. Derek Carr — I’m sure many of you remember. Strictly from an X’s and O’s standpoint, Garoppolo was a considerable upgrade for McDaniels’ scheme. But one thing I failed to take into account: Is McDaniels’ scheme actually any good?
So far in 2023, the answer is a resounding no. The offense has yet to get over the 20-point mark, as the defense needed a safety to log the only 20+ point game of the year. Garoppolo deserves plenty of the blame, as the supposedly reliable quarterback has turned the ball over at will. And his long track record of injuries followed him from San Francisco, as many predicted.
Bringing in Jimmy G was fine on the surface. His inability to take care of the football, coupled with multiple different injuries, has caused a disjointed feel to the offense. And guess what else? It gives Josh McDaniels yet another scapegoat for his incompetence.
We have already seen McDaniels throw Aidan O’Connell under the bus after an admittedly shaky debut vs. the Chargers. Accountability is not a strong suit of this current regime, and they show it more and more with each passing week.
Even guys like Davante Adams, Maxx Crosby, and Josh Jacobs have voiced their concerns with the state of the franchise. Jacobs is assuredly gone in the offseason after agreeing to a modified one-year deal prior to the regular season. And although Adams will not be moved before the Oct. 31 trade deadline, his future in Vegas is just as murky.
Could Jim Harbaugh Be The Answer In Vegas?
So, what can Mark Davis do to salvage things before they spin completely out of control? Is there something that can be done to guarantee Maxx Crosby doesn’t become the next unhappy voice in the locker room? I believe there is, but you’ll have to bear with me as I lay it out.
Jim Harbaugh is what I consider the polar opposite of Josh McDaniels. Harbaugh, through all his faults, has always had the voice to lead a group of men. He spent several years as a quarterback in the NFL, including an AFC Championship appearance with the Indianapolis Colts. Simply put, Harbaugh’s football brilliance is stamped and respected by any player.
McDaniels, on the other hand, is more of a “rah-rah” type of leader. He loves to speak about accountability and improving day in and day out, but too often, his words fall flat. They feel hollow, uninspired, or outright fake at times. If fans can see through that BS, I assure you football players can sniff it out quickly.
That is why I believe McDaniels has struggled to get his message across in Denver and Vegas. It’s why Tom Brady would have a verbal spat or two with McDaniels nearly every week when the duo was together in New England. Players do not believe him or his “car insurance salesman” pitches.
Authenticity: Selling Raider Nation On Harbaugh
But Harbaugh? He demands instant respect. Sure, his falling out with the Niners is well-publicized — it was an ugly breakup. It also must be mentioned that Michigan is at the center of an extensive cheating allegation from the NCAA. Harbaugh isn’t perfect, but he is one thing McDaniels will never be: Authentic.
In four seasons as the head coach in San Francisco, Harbaugh never had a losing campaign. In total, he went 44-19-1, including one trip to the Super Bowl, where he would lose to his brother, John, and the Baltimore Ravens. For comparison, McDaniels is 20-32, and odds are, this is the last time a franchise gives him the keys to the car.
Jim Harbaugh isn’t some sort of “holy savior”; I won’t claim that. But he is the exact type of culture fit the Raiders need to reverse course. If the franchise keeps following Josh McDaniels’ lead, Raider Nation will begin sharpening their pitchforks — if they haven’t started already.
No more of this “Patriot Way” garbage. The fans gave it a chance. The players gave it a chance. Mark Davis gave it a chance. Now, it is time to do what is right and take this current regime behind the barn. Pull the plug on this disastrous chapter of Raiders football and give the fan base a reason for optimism going forward.
*Top Photo: Adam Bow/Icon Sports Wire via Getty Images