As NFL free company started, the Las Vegas Raiders’ solely quarterback on the roster was second-year man Aidan O’Connell. However the franchise shortly corrected that by signing veteran Gardner Minshew II to a two-year deal.
No matter who’s introduced in, nonetheless, head coach Pierce has made it clear that O’Connell has earned the appropriate to compete for the beginning spot because of his promising play when taking up as starter final yr. Pierce can also be a fan of what Minshew brings.
In a latest interview, Pierce known as Minshew a ‘wild boy’ whereas noting that the veteran has confirmed that he can get issues accomplished whatever the circumstances, by way of Matthew Schmidt of Yardbarker:
“Aidan did a hell of a job final yr, however like another place on our staff, we need to make that as aggressive as attainable,” Pierce stated by way of the Raiders’ official YouTube account. “One factor about Gardner, as you’ve seen all through his profession, he finds a means. That’s going to make our room higher. He’s been by way of quite a lot of adversity. You need that have, as properly, in there. So, to me, it was a superb match. It’s a tradition match. That’s a wild boy proper there.”
Minshew and his onerous work undoubtedly match the form of tradition Pierce is trying to construct throughout the Raiders group and, as Pierce identified. Moreover, a wholesome competitors is sort of at all times a superb factor and can give the staff and workers extra time to guage what every participant brings to the desk.
Final season with the Indianapolis Colts, Minshew had his longest run as the highest man, finally beginning 13 video games, posting a successful file, and throwing for 3,305 yards and 15 touchdowns. Minshew, O’Connell, and whoever the Raiders herald by way of the draft could have a severe competitors to determine who will probably be below middle on opening night time.
Antonio Pierce: Raiders don’t wanna put ‘band-aid’ on quarterback place
One factor that everybody appears to be on the identical web page about is the truth that the Raiders aren’t on the lookout for a brief stopgap at quarterback however relatively need to discover the participant who will lead the staff for years to come back.
Head coach Antonio Pierce re-iterated this assertion in a latest interview, noting that he hopes whoever the staff drafts turns into the full-time starter whereas including that he doesn’t need to put a band-aid on that place. Pierce believes the followers have seen that sufficient instances already and now it’s time for the Raiders to search out their man and stick to him by way of his growth.