Sin City Raiders

Previously, we looked at the strengths of the Las Vegas Raiders going into the season. To summarize, it was a list led by their defensive line, tight ends, wide receivers and most of their offensive line. If those groups are on their game, the Raiders can surprise people this year. But now, we’ll take a look at other areas of the team where, if they can’t carry their own weight, it could be another non-winning year for the Silver and Black.

So, what are the weak links on this 2024 Raider squad going into training camp?

Quarterback(s)

Let’s dive right into the most important position on the football field. Most of the speculation is leaning towards last season’s incumbent Aidan O’Connell being the starter, so let’s start with him.

I liked the selection of AOC in the fourth round a year ago and I give him all sorts of credit for his rookie season. In his debut, he was sacked seven times. One could point to his unawareness in the pocket and lack of mobility. Others can ask why Josh McDaniels didn’t put more protection against Khalil Mack, who made six of those sacks? Also in that game, Davante Adams missed a portion battling injuries. Through all the things that went against the Raiders on that day, they had a chance to tie it and go to overtime, until the rookie threw the game-losing interception.

O’Connell definitely grew from his debut to the season finale. He finished the season showing he can take care of the ball. It has been well-documented that he threw eight touchdowns and zero interceptions over the final four games. However, some things cannot be ignored or forgiven. Like throwing three picks in Miami in a game they lost by one score, or losing 3-0 at home to the Vikings, or not completing a pass after the first quarter in Kansas City. It was a great game for Raider Nation, but we can’t expect two defensive touchdowns per week.

Again, to be a fourth-round rookie who went from being told he’d sit behind Jimmy Garoppolo to being the starter after a coaching change, AOC deserves every break you can think of. But now, we’re in a new season and expectations are higher. And if O’Connell doesn’t show growth going from Year 1 to Year 2, he could swiftly be replaced by his new teammate.

It would be fun to watch Gardner Minshew be the next Raider quarterback to go from journeyman to star in the way of Jim Plunkett and Rich Gannon before him. Actually, Minshew is fun to watch in general with his scrambling ability and character. And he did just finish a season where he filled in for an injured Anthony Richardson to keep the Colts in playoff contention. But there is a reason that he signed for just two years at $25 million in a world where even Daniel Jones is getting $40 million a year.

Both quarterbacks can make a case for themselves. Minshew has more experience in the league and can keep plays alive with his feet. O’Connell has more experience as a Raider having started 10 games in 2023 and being the younger of the two, he brings more upside and long-term potential. Whoever the starting quarterback is, they will have a strong supporting cast of receivers and tight ends to throw to, but the reports out of OTAs were that both passers were struggling to deliver the ball to that supporting cast. With that being the latest news that we have, right now quarterback is a weakness.

Right Tackle

Thayer Munford has been solid since being a seventh-round pick in 2022. He has been a versatile swing-tackle for the Raiders as he stepped in for both Kolton Miller and Jermaine Eluemunor last year. When breaking down his performance last year, his run and pass blocking win rates and sacks-allowed are all better on the left side than right side. Now, Eluemunor is gone and the starting job is there for the taking at right tackle.

Going into the NFL draft, the Raiders were heavily expected to go for Taliese Fuaga from Oregon State. He was available at 13, but the Raiders instead waited until the third-round to draft D.J. Glaze; a tackle from Maryland. The third-round rookie is seen more as a project than an instant starter, so it looks like Munford has the job. But, did he earn it or is he the beneficiary of Eluemunor’s departure and the decision to draft Brock Bowers?

Again, Munford has already had a better career than many other seventh-round picks, so calling him a weakness may be harsh. Maybe a question-mark is more like it. Either way, right-tackle is something to keep an eye on.

Changes in The Run Game

On one hand, it is exciting that Antonio Pierce got to build his own coaching staff for 2024 after working with holdovers from the previous coach to end 2023. After Kliff Kingsbury went to the old USC playbook and gave the Raiders the old Steve Sarkisian treatment, Pierce decided on Luke Getsy to be the new offensive coordinator. The reviews from around the league and the opinions of Raider Nation have been mixed.

The writers over at Silver and Black Pride ran the numbers from Getsy’s work with the Chicago Bears last year and found that if you subtract the rushing yards of Justin Fields, Chicago ranked just 21st in the NFL in rushing. Compared to the Raiders ranking 30th, that is an upgrade but will that deliver the results that Antonio Pierce wants? He wants to run the ball and run it well.

Another new face is offensive line coach Jame Cregg, who was most recently the assistant line coach in San Francisco. Under Getsy and Cregg, the Raiders will be more of a wide-zone running team. Cregg has seen that scheme work brilliantly with the 49ers, but now he will be introducing it to the Raiders’ offensive line.

The Raiders will have a new lead back for the first time since 2019 as Zamir White replaces Josh Jacobs. Meanwhile, Cregg will be introducing the big men to a different scheme as Getsy installs a new playbook. Don’t forget that this team may suffer from below-average quarterback play which would allow defenses to put eight men in the box and focus on the run. White was promising in his small sample size at the end of 2023, but that is a lot that can go wrong.

Now, I did say that from left tackle to right guard the Raiders are strong and they do have solid players in that group. But also on the offensive line, continuity is key and there will be a few changes. How well the group up front reacts to all the changes will be something to watch.

Trade Rumors

Never mind the fact that Davante Adams’ agent just came out and publicly shot down any and all ideas that DA17 could be traded. The media just won’t stop. The baseless rumors on social media that the Raiders and 49ers could swap Adams for Brandon Aiyuk, or that Adams will force his way out of Las Vegas to reunite with Aaron Rodgers and any other idea may not be a weakness for the team, but is sure is annoying as a fan.

Yes, Adams was very frustrated in various clips of “Receiver” as the offense struggled and he wasn’t getting the ball as much as he wanted. But, he did sign-off on the change from Jimmy to AOC; who is in line to start this year. Plus, if a trade were to happen it surely would have happened by now. Being a longtime football fan, you will learn to never say never. If the Raiders are near the bottom of the standings at the trade deadline, who knows? But for now, can everyone just accept the fact that DA17 is a Raider?