The beginning of the 2024 NFL common season is correct across the nook for the Las Vegas Raiders. Gardner Minshew and firm are set to hit the street this week forward of taking over the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Week 1 in what will probably be a very good measuring stick for each AFC West groups to begin the 2024 marketing campaign.
Though the protection has acquired a whole lot of buzz throughout the NFL offseason and all through coaching camp and preseason, with many anticipating an enormous 12 months from celebrity defensive finish Maxx Crosby, who might find yourself within the working for NFL Defensive Participant of the Yr, the identical can’t be mentioned for the offense.
The Raiders could have some proficient weapons on offense, like celebrity wideout Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, and rookie tight finish Brock Bowers, together with different notable names like Michael Mayer and second-year working again Zamir White, who will probably be trying to show themselves in 2024, however this group will seemingly fall wanting being a high-powered offense to enhance a lockdown protection.
Even head coach Antonio Pierce admits that he doesn’t anticipate the group to be firing on all cylinders offensively, as he doesn’t anticipate this new-look squad being a “juggernaut” on that facet of the soccer by way of Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
“We’re in all probability not going to be, to be trustworthy, a juggernaut offense,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce instructed me. “Would I like to be? Yeah. To take a seat right here and say we’re going to attain 30 factors a sport, that’s not reasonable.”
It might all come all the way down to the quarterback place, with veteran newcomer Minshew barely beating out second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell throughout the preseason. Minshew could also be coming off a Professional Bowl season with the Indianapolis Colts and appears to have a whole lot of respect across the league, however nobody appears to suppose he’ll transfer the needle a lot for the Raiders throughout this upcoming season.
Regardless that Minshew hasn’t thrust the Raiders into the title-contending dialog and would possibly wrestle to steer this group into the NFL playoffs this 12 months, there’s nonetheless hope he can play nicely sufficient to make this group aggressive.
It stays to be seen how the Raiders will fare as they head into this new period with Minshew and Pierce, however till issues begin to crumble, there’s optimism among the many gamers set to put on Silver and Black this season.
Nameless NFL Coach Isn’t Shopping for Minshew Mania
At this level in his NFL enjoying profession, Gardner Minshew is what he’s: a veteran quarterback who is sweet sufficient to win a beginning job within the league however won’t be what is required to steer a group into the playoffs whereas contending for a Tremendous Bowl title.
An nameless offense coach within the league made it clear that no group within the NFL needs Minshew as their starter however admits the veteran journeyman is a fighter and competitor, which the Las Vegas Raiders would possibly be capable of benefit from in 2024.
