When things are trending the way that they have been for the Las Vegas Raiders, it’s only natural for team leaders to speak up and let their voices be heard.
It’s also to be expected that there would be some frustration involved when they do.
With the Raiders currently sliding through a five-game losing skid, star defensive end and team captain Maxx Crosby alongside several teammates were given the opportunity to sound off on Las Vegas’ current situation in an open-floor, players-and-staff meeting.
Per a report from CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, Crosby and his teammates addressed what they viewed as inefficiencies and deficiencies within the organization on a week-to-week basis.
After Monday’s coaches meeting, the team met with the staff and the floor was open for anyone to speak their mind. According to sources present, a few themes emerged. Players had issues with the schedule not being efficient. There was a lack of organization and “wasting time,” and there was a “lack of discipline and accountability.”
One source described the meeting as ending “uncomfortably for all parties.” – Jones, CBS Sports.
As typifies this type of meeting, the hope according to Jones was that the talks result in positive change for the Raiders during the second half of the season.
Ahead of their bye week, head coach Antonio Pierce and the franchise overhauled their offensive staff following the Raiders’ 41-24 loss at Cincinnati.
Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello and offensive line coach James Cregg were all fired after the loss to the Bengals.
Las Vegas brought in former head coach Norv Turner as a senior advisor. Scott Turner, Norv’s son, was elevated from passing game coordinator to interim offensive coordinator and Joe Philbin has taken over as the Raiders’ interim offensive line coach after previously serving as a senior offensive assistant.
Jones noted that this meeting was “nothing like one between the players and head coach from almost exactly a year ago.”
That pre-Halloween meeting saw Raiders players rip then-head coach Josh McDaniels for the way he behaved and how he ran the team. Raiders owner Mark Davis fired McDaniels just a few days later.
Crosby and the Raiders hope to reverse their fortunes as they report back from their bye week on Monday. The Raiders travel to Miami (2-6) on Sunday, Nov. 17 with kickoff set for 10 a.m. PT.