Tag: Aidan O’Connell

Antonio Pierce: Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell needs to become ‘more vocal’ when running the offense

Antonio Pierce: Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell needs to be ‘more vocal’

As the NFL Draft draws near, there is still talk of the Raiders selecting a quarterback in the first round or elsewhere.

The chatter persists despite last year’s starting quarterback, Aidan O’Connell, remaining on the roster. The Raiders also signed free agent Gardner Minshew to a two-year contract worth $15 million guaranteed.

Considering Minshew’s experience, it appears O’Connell could take on a reserve role this season. That becomes more likely if Las Vegas drafts a QB. But O’Connell, who started as a rookie last season, still has an opportunity to compete for the job.

Raiders coach Antonio Pierce told reporters gathered at the 2024 NFL Annual Meeting what O’Connell needs to do to earn his starting gig back.

“What you saw at the end of the season: taking care of the football; managing the game; putting points on the board,” Pierce said. “I would love to see him become more vocal.

“Is he ever going to become a runner? No. Not going to happen. That’s okay. But there are other ways you can do that and move around in the pocket. I think he’s done a great job this offseason, being in the building, staying in the Las Vegas area, and really working on that.”

Pierce closed his comments on O’Connell by reiterating he wants his young QB to speak up to his teammates when necessary.

“One thing I’d love to see him do is be more vocal. You don’t want the quarterback being a church mouse. I don’t need him to be a rah-rah guy either, but when things are wrong I need him to fix it and be vocal about it.”

The new Raiders culture involves players and coaches being themselves. It seems that O’Connell is naturally quiet, even though he had lots of starting experience in college.

At quarterback, that won’t do, especially when it comes to keeping other players on task, as Pierce alluded to.

Pierce displayed incredible confidence in O’Connell last season, inserting him into the starting lineup when Pierce became interim coach. O’Connell responded with a 5-4 record under Pierce. The young QB had some highs and lows — such as being shut out against the Vikings before throwing four touchdowns in a beatdown of the Chargers the following week — but he showed promise.

Now, he must continue to grow as a player as Pierce takes on a full-time coaching role. As O’Connell continues to work at the Raiders practice facility this offseason with the likes of defensive end Maxx Crosby — who, just like Pierce, rarely hesitates to speak his mind — he’s probably in the perfect environment to become more vocal by the start of training camp.

What Condition the Position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at QB ahead of free agency

What Condition Raiders Position is in: Quarterback

With free agency under a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ quarterback position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Returning starter: Aidan O’Connell
Depth: Jimmy Garoppolo, Brian Hoyer, Anthony Brown Jr
Free Agents: None

Garoppolo began the year as the unquestioned starter. Midway through the season everyone was questioning it. And when Antonio Pierce took over, he removed Jimmy G and made rookie Aidan O’Connell the starter the remainder of the season.

Condition: Critical

Notes: O’Connell played decent at times, but didn’t show he can be the long term solution The depth here is an illusion. Jimmy G will be cut this offseason. As will Brian Hoyer.

There is no question quarterback is THE top priority for this team. It was a top priority last offseason, but Josh McDaniels opted to go with a familiar face from his New England days. That backfired spectacularly, putting the Raiders right back where they were.

Look: Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell runs into Derek Carr at Las Vegas sporting event

Look: Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell greets Derek Carr at Las Vegas event

Derek Carr wore No. 4 as he set numerous franchise records during his nine seasons as Raiders quarterback. On Thursday, he crossed paths with the current No. 4 for Las Vegas, quarterback Aidan O’Connell.

They ran into each other at the first home match in team history for the Vegas Thrill, a women’s professional volleyball team. Here they are paying respect to one another as Carr notices O’Connell sitting courtside, courtesy of Logan Reever of 8 News Now.

Judging from their interaction, Carr has no hard feelings about O’Connell taking his number — and eventually the starting quarterback job he used to hold with the Raiders. Carr started for the Saints last season and produced mixed results.

According to Reever, O’Connell’s wife Jael O’Connell is good friends with Maddie Schermerhorn, a star on the Thrill. The Thrill posted a video of Carr and O’Connell as well.

Carr spoke glowingly of Las Vegas when the Raiders moved there in 2020 and bought a home there, so it’s apparent he hasn’t lost his love for the city. It also seems he’s over the rocky ending to his Raiders tenure.

But back to the current No. 4 for the Raiders. Here’s O’Connell enjoying the action at the match.

O’Connell performed admirably after taking over for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo midseason, under the direction of then interim coach Antonio Pierce. Overall, O’Connell posted a 5-5 record as a starter in 2023, his rookie campaign.

New Raiders general manager Tom Telesco will undoubtedly bring in another quarterback or two to compete with O’Connell In 2024. But he’s proven to be a viable option as an NFL signal caller, as a backup at the very least. For now, O’Connell can shake hands with a quarterback he replaced and enjoy some pro volleyball with his loved one as he supports Las Vegas sports.

All 32 NFL QBs (including Panthers’ Bryce Young) ranked by passer rating for the 2023 regular season

32 starting QBs ranked by their 2023 passer ratings

Well, let’s just look back at this like a “Started from the bottom, now we here” meme by next year, shall we?

Here are all 32 NFL quarterbacks, including Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers, ranked by passer rating from the 2023 season:

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah: Raiders GM Tom Telesco knows exactly what a franchise QB looks like

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah: Raiders GM Tom Telesco knows exactly what a franchise QB looks like

It’s no secret that quarterback is the most important position in the NFL. It’s also no revelation that Raiders general manager Tom Telesco will bring a new signal caller to Vegas, despite a solid performance from rookie QB Aidan O’Connell in 2023.

NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah told Amber Theoharis and Eric Allen of the Raiders Podcast Network that while Telesco didn’t draft many quarterbacks during his lengthy tenure as Chargers GM, every team he’s worked for was built from the QB down, so he knows exactly what a franchise QB looks like.

“First of all, he’s been able to identify the most important position, which is the quarterback position,” Jeremiah said. “When he got to the Chargers, Philip Rivers was in place. But then every year doing your homework on quarterbacks and trying to find that next guy; you look where the Raiders are positioned right now, Aidan O’Connell did some nice things last year. [Telesco’s] going to have to decide: is this where you want to move forward here or do you want to try to identify somebody potentially in the draft or free agency?”

Telesco eventually drafted Chargers QB Justin Herbert with the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. That draft was flush with quarterbacks. Herbert was the third signal caller chosen, behind current NFL stars Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa.

Still, Jeremiah says that when you include Telesco’s tenure with the Colts and NFL legend Peyton Manning, Telesco knows exactly what to look for in a franchise QB.

“From his time around Peyton Manning with the Colts to his time around Philip Rivers and then Justin Herbert, he knows what it looks like to find that right quarterback. So that’s where it all starts with team building.”

Jeremiah, who also servs as Chargers color commentator, added that while every GM misses on some draft picks, Telesco has found impact players “at all different positions.” But Jeremiah believes Telesco will attempt to build the Raiders from the QB on down, just as his previous teams were built.

“I think he does have an idea of how to properly build a team. And the teams he’s been with have all been built through the quarterback. So I would think that’s going to be the first order of business,” Jeremiah concluded.

Finding a franchise quarterback won’t be as easy this time around for Telesco. The Raiders currently hold the No. 13 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. He’ll have to trade up to select a franchise QB such as No. 1 prospect Caleb Willimas of USC, Drake Maye of North Carolina, or Jayden Daniels of LSU.

Free agency or the trade market are other options for Telesco. In those scenarios, Teleso may bring in a stop-gap type player or competition for O’Connell.

Looking at Manning, Rivers, and Herbert, there is a touch of variety in their style of play. Manning and Rivers were classic pocket passers while Herbert has some mobility in his repertoire. That could open the door for a player such as Bears QB Justin Fields, should he become available. The Bears own the No. 1 pick in the draft and could select Fields’ replacement.

So while it’s no secret Telesco has to bring a new quarterback, or multiple new quarterbacks, to the Raiders, it’s anyone’s guess how he’ll get it done. His experience will help, but it’s unlikely he’ll find anyone the caliber of Manning, Rivers, or even Herbert. On the other hand, he just might. Raiders owner Mark Davis and Raiders fans will just have to wait and see if Telesco is the QB expert Jeremiah says he is.

Raiders 2023 season awards: Rookie of the Year, MVP, Breakout Player, more

It’s the week for All Pro teams. But while those teams compare players across the league to each other, around these parts we tend to focus on just the Raiders. Which brings us to our 2023 Raiders season awards.

It’s the week for All Pro teams. But while those teams compare players across the league to each other, around these parts we tend to focus on just the Raiders. Which brings us to our 2023 Raiders season awards.

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 18 win over Broncos

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 18 win over Broncos

For the fourth straight season, the Raiders complete the sweep of the Broncos. That’s right, the Las Vegas Raiders have never lost to the Broncos.

Watch: Huge plays by Tre Tucker, Davante Adams give Raiders 17-7 half time lead over Broncos

Watch: Huge plays by Tre Tucker, Davante Adams give Raiders 17-7 half time lead over Broncos

Not every day you get the ball twice in under four minutes, without a turnover, and convert the second one into a touchdown. But that’s what the Raiders did against the Broncos.

The second of the two possessions started with 1:43 left in the second quarter. The second play, Zamir White found a hole up the middle and went for 25 yards. But the Raiders gave it right back when Nik Bonito got the edge around Jermaine Eluemunor to sack Aidan O’Connell for an eight-yard loss.

O’Connell didnt let the sack get him down. He completed consecutive passes to Davante Adams and Austin Hooper and picked up the first down anyway.

Two plays later, Tre Tucker roasted Broncos DB Fabian Moreau and O’Connell aired it out deep for him.

The play went for 47 yards and the Raiders were in business at the Denver 15 with 38 seconds left in the half.

The next play, Davante Adams had a pass go right through his hands that would probably have been a touchdown.

A couple plays later, the Hooper would make the catch to put the Raiders in first and goal. And Adams redeemed himself.

With 11 seconds left, the Broncos knew the Raiders would be trying to throw for the touchdown, so they brought the house. O’Connell backpeddled to buy time and then threw it up for Adams to make the play. And make the play he did.

The touchdown catch put the Raiders up 17-7 at the half over the rival Broncos. And shows the Raiders came to play.

They get the ball to start the second half.

Ranking the Week 16 rookie quarterback performances

Ranking the Week 16 rookie quarterback performances

Another week down, another week to evaluate the performances of the multiple rookie starting quarterbacks in the league. We once again saw a mixed bag from all the rookies.

Let’s take a look at each rookie and rank their Week 16 performances from best to worst:

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 16 win over Chiefs

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 16 win over Chiefs

A month ago the Chiefs boat raced the Raiders in Las Vegas to go 8-3 on the season take a commanding lead in the AFC Playoff race. At that time, it seemed you could chalk up another win for the Chiefs when the Raiders came to Arrowhead on Christmas Day.

Since then things have taken a turn for both teams. The Chiefs have been very beatable and the Raiders defense has been extremely stingy and opportunistic.

These teams collided on that same trajectory and the result was a stunner with the Raiders defense almost singlehandedly taking down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs 20-14.