Since Josh McDaniels was relieved of his duties four weeks ago and interim head coach Antonio Pierce took over, there has been much speculation on who should be the permanent hire. Due to the virtual smorgasbord of candidates to choose from, many people can’t seem to be able to wait to move on from Pierce. We’re here to remind you that seeking a nostalgia act will not lead the Las Vegas Raiders back to greatness.
The Las Vegas Raiders are still stuck in the past, right?
For those who don’t know, a retread is a former player or coach for an organization who comes back. They return to show everyone the proper way that said franchise does things and wins. However, any retread of the Raiders currently alive, except for Tom Flores, are all losers. What I mean by losers are guys who have never won the Super Bowl with the team and/or had a losing record as a coach elsewhere. Or, they have been unsuccessful in reaching the pinnacle of the level they were at.
Why? There is some sort of nostalgia about looking backward. Or possibly a lack of faith in a younger coach and former player who has never been a coordinator at this level taking the big job. A lack of experience could also factor into those feelings of needing a retread. Some of it is a fanatical appreciation for “their guy.”
But owner Mark Davis wants…
Jon Gruden: Former head coach of Oakland and Las Vegas Raiders
This can’t be serious, Jon Gruden. 3.0? In 15 years as a coach, Gruden is 117–112. For the Raiders, he was 60-57 with 33 losses against only 22 wins in his second stint with the team. He won a Super Bowl in Tampa Bay in 2002 with Tony Dungy’s defense, and since that point, he has only won double-digit games in a season once.
Gruden’s aggressiveness left him about the same time his youth did. Under his watch, the nucleus of the roster was formed, and he put together a solid team—albeit while jettisoning previous stalwarts such as Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper.
He would freely admit the game wasn’t the same since coming back. In this era, his play calling has been the quintessential ultra-conservative.
A further snag that bears mentioning is that the stage of his lawsuit against the NFL is heading to the Nevada Supreme Court, which could potentially allow Gruden to expose all the deepest secrets of the NFL’s 650,000+ emails through discovery. At this point, it doesn’t look good for the NFL, and they can’t buy his silence with money.
Jim Harbaugh: Former QBs coach, currently best suited to college despite NFL success
Where Captain Comeback meets, “he can’t win the big one.”
As a coach, Jim Harbaugh has a .714 winning percentage in college but is 2-7 in bowl games. In the professional ranks, he’s got a 64-44 record with a .695 winning percentage, but a more respectable 5-3 record in the playoffs with one Super Bowl appearance.
From a coaching perspective, Harbaugh’s style is similar to Tom Coughlin and Bill Parcells. It’s very aggressive and abrasive, and it often rubs most people all kinds of wrong eventually. Don’t believe me? Ask Richard Sherman or Trent Baalke.
There is no love lost between Richard Sherman and Jim Harbaugh #49ers #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/Q9HFQ37SI6
— Tracy Sandler (@TracyFGSN) December 26, 2019
In college, Harbaugh succeeds at winning the big matchups in the conference or division. It’s true; he can get you to where you want to be, but not over the hump. At Stanford, he beat Pete Carroll’s (pre-death penalty) USC Trojans, and in Michigan, his team has won three straight over its hated rivals, the Ohio State Buckeyes. However, there have been multiple violations within his program. Among those violations were sign-stealing allegations. While cheating may be encouraged on the Raiders, in the NFL especially, it will be punished.
David Shaw: Son of former Raiders defensive coordinator Willie Shaw, former offensive quality control and QBs coach
David Shaw coached at Stanford for 12 years, where the only true job requirement was beating Cal. Not only was he able to do that, but he also amassed a 96-54 record with a .625 winning percentage and went 5-3 in bowl games. Additionally, winning the PAC-12 conference three times and being nominated conference coach of the year four years—impressive to say the least, no?
Hearing a name to keep an eye on when @Raiders go through HC search process: Former Stanford HC (and former Raiders assistant coach) David Shaw.
— Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) November 28, 2023
All of that is exemplary until you look at the fact that he had five double-digit winning seasons in 12 years. Four of those seasons were with Andrew Luck and later Christian McCaffrey on the roster. In three of those years, both were Heisman candidates. His style of run first, run second, and throw to the tight end is marginally better than Bo Hardegree’s version of Josh McDaniels’s offense.
Antonio Pierce has done more in four weeks than anyone has in decades…
In four weeks, Pierce has been able to completely change the culture of the Raiders. Week in and week out, they look like a modern professional football team capable of blowing out bad teams and beating the best teams. There is a solid game plan, attention to detail, and, for the first time in decades, a good defense.
The Raiders start fast on offense and put up points early, whether on the road, in the Eastern time zone, or at Allegiant Stadium. Fourth-round draft pick Aidan O’Connell is developing at quarterback in real-time. On top of that, the players are all unanimously backing him and fighting their hearts out on his behalf.
5 weeks to show out for “AP”
What seems to boggle my mind is how many people are ready to move on from Pierce for making mistakes he’s actively trying to grow from. Pierce is a sharp guy, and he is the change-of-pace head coach desperately needed.
For those critiquing his scheme and X’s and O’s, hiring an accomplished offensive coordinator who can maximize the talent on this team may be necessary. An egoless manager who motivates the men is how Dan Campbell has brought the Detroit Lions back into the contending picture. The same can be done for the Raiders.
Breaking it up once again and bringing in another head coach could disrupt the continuity and progress the team has made in the last month. Tearing everything down to the studs and rebuilding isn’t necessary. Managing the roster, reinforcing the trenches on both sides of the ball, and adding key players will take this team further without having to step back.
*Top Photo: Getty Images
Antonio Pierce May Not Be The Right Man For The Raiders Job After All