The Las Vegas Raiders decided on Halloween night to fire head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler. While the Silver and Black has the interim covered, the bigger question is, what’s next?
Antonio Pierce is the Raiders interim head coach. Meanwhile, Champ Kelly is the interim general manager. However, what many might ask is, what’s the long-term solution? For Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd, Las Vegas isn’t a team; a new regime needs to come in and rebuild.
Meanwhile, Davante Adams isn’t thinking about the future. The veteran wide receiver spoke about the firings. Still, based on his remarks, the team might be attempting to salvage the 2023 season.
Let’s get into the latest regarding the changes going on with the Raiders, because there’s plenty to talk about.
Colin Cowherd: The Raiders job isn’t a total rebuild
Raiders owner Mark Davis has a decision on his hands over the next few months. Who will take over Ziegler and make Las Vegas a contender in the AFC? Nonetheless, whoever comes in, Cowherd believes that the Silver and Black have building blocks that a total rebuild isn’t required.
Cowherd listed off the quality players that the Raiders have in critical positions for a general manager coming into the organization. As a result, whoever is the future architect of the team, they’ll need to get the head coaching and quarterback fixed.
“So, I’ve been saying this for two years now,” Cowherd said on Thursday’s edition of “The Herd with Colin Cowherd.” “Rookie tight end Notre Dame [Michael Mayer], Josh Jacobs, Kolton Miller, Hunter Renfrow, Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, [and] Maxx Crosby—those are key positions. You can’t tell me this is a total rebuild.
“I didn’t love their [2023 first-round pick]. The defensive edge [Tyree Wilson] worries me a little bit. Could he be a rotational player [and] salvage it? I don’t think it’s a rebuild. I think it’s a coach-quarterback issue.”
Pierce will get the first crack at making his case to stay permanently as the head coach. The former NFL linebacker has the experience of being a former player and earning the squad’s respect. Nonetheless, it will be the wins and losses that determine his fate.
Nonetheless, what do you say, Raiders fans? Do you agree with Cowherd that Las Vegas isn’t a total rebuild situation, or are you on the side that the team does need a teardown? Let us know.
Davante Adams and Co. are not ready to throw the towel on Raiders season…
The new Raiders coach will have his first game on Sunday against the New York Giants, which is a winnable game. As a result, it might explain why Adams and Co. were in a loose mood as the team prepared for Pierce’s first game as Raiders head coach.
Even though the squad has a positive vibe ahead of a crucial game against the Giants, Adams wanted to stress that the team isn’t content with their situation. However, the six-time Pro Bowler notes that change needed to come.
“Don’t get it confused,” Adams said (h/t ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez). “It’s not a celebration that we have a new coach and there’s been changes made. We, obviously, think it was time, one way or the other, it was time for some sort of change. Just to bring a little juice in and revitalize the team a little bit.
“So, I think that’s kind of the mindset we’re having, just trying to have fun and enjoy our time in this building because I think as we speak to each other, it’s been too much of, this has just been feeling like work too much and not having enough fun.”
The Raiders have seen an interim head coach turn their fortunes around. In 2021, Rich Bisaccia navigated the entire Jon Gruden situation and helped the team clinch a playoff spot. Will lightning strike twice, or is that too much wishful thinking?
*Top Photo: Official Raiders YouTube Channel