It’s a new day for the Las Vegas Raiders as the decision to hire Pete Carroll as the next head coach has set in. However, the move itself is seeing some criticism this week, most recently from an FS1 talking head. Let’s just say he’s taking the “Joy” out of this announcement in Sin City.
No matter how you want to spin it, Carroll’s accomplishments far and away exceed those of the other men that interviewed with the Raiders. A former Super Bowl champion, who should’ve won a second one, Carroll brings with him the level of pedigree that the Raiders haven’t possessed since Jon Gruden walked those hallways. You’d think that would garner rave reviews from everyone, but of course, that’s not the case.
Emmanuel Acho, a two-time NFL starter in his own right, surely knows what a great coach looks like. Far removed from his playing days with the Philadelphia Eagles, Acho is one of the top media personalities at Fox Sports 1 these days. When it came to Carroll, Acho didn’t hold back with what could be described as an apprehensive reaction.
“Pete Carroll turns 74 years old in September. How long do you anticipate that he’s going to coach? Pete Carroll is a defensive-minded head coach, at least I would suggest that. But the Seattle Seahawks hadn’t had a top 10 defense since 2016. You’re a defensive-minded head coach, but your defenses the last several years were 25th, 25th, 11th, 15th, 22nd, 11th, and 13th. So the thing you do best, you didn’t do it best.”
Did the Raiders go with the “safe” hire?
Acho did give Carroll his flowers, as well he should, for being one of the most recognizable names in football. His accolades certainly back up that notion. Still, Acho, much like most people who are criticizing the Raiders’ move, pointed to his age. Funny enough, plenty of coaches who came back at advanced ages saw success and weren’t nearly as criticized. Remember when Dick Vermeil came out of retirement to coach the Kansas City Chiefs in 2001?
Also, Patrick Graham will be returning as defensive coordinator under Carroll this season—that should ease some of the worries with the Raiders defense. Graham kept the defensive unit respectable in spite of numerous key injuries that led to last season’s derailment. In other words, Graham wasn’t part of the problem. The real problem has been the organization’s inability to find their quarterback—nothing but “band-aids,” as former head coach Antonio Pierce once referred to them as.
Fortunately for the Raiders, dealing with that albatross will finally fall to Tom Brady, John Spytek, and Caroll himself.
*Top Photo: Getty Images
“The Culture IS The Players,” Says Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Pete Carroll