A lot of people have had strong opinions about how head coach Antonio Pierce and the Las Vegas Raiders approached last week’s game. Still, at least one analyst gave one perspective that makes sense: the Raiders were “mitigating risk.”
Were the Las Vegas Raiders correct in their approach versus the Miami Dolphins?
It’s easy to criticize in-game, and even after the fact, we all know that. Be that as it may, many Raiders fans were calling for the team to go for it prior to the first half ending. All game, it appeared that offensive playcaller Bo Hardegree was sticking to the run, even when it wasn’t working. When you look back at the action, though, maybe Hardegree (and Pierce by extension) was correct in sticking to a conservative approach.
Well, at least one analyst believes so.
Jason Fitz of Yahoo Sports agreed with the decision-making; he went in depth in a recent episode of The Morning Tailgate.
“I kept saying that with about 6 minutes to go in the second quarter, the most important thing we have to remember is that Miami is going to get the first in the second half, so you really have to look at mitigating risk… I actually thought it was a strategy that made sense.”
Fitz is right in terms of what the Dolphins are capable of at any moment. With Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill as its leaders, Mike McDaniel’s offense is among the most potent in the league. Even so, the Raiders did a good job of containing them to just 20 points, a noteworthy accomplishment for Patrick Graham and his boys.
Perhaps that’s why it was a frustrating day for Raider Nation. You had one of the best games that the Raiders defense has played all year, only for the offense to fall short. In the fourth quarter, Pierce did go much more aggressive, passing on field goals. Against the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday, the Raiders coaching staff will need to have these issues sorted out; if not, Andy Reid will coach circles around this group that’s learning on the fly.
*Top Photo: Getty Images
Reuniting Antonio Pierce With Jayden Daniels: A Plausible Raiders Scenario