Tag: Gardner Minshew

Raiders sticking with Gardner Minshew at quarterback vs Browns

Gardner Minshew is still the Raiders starting quarterback this week as the Raiders face Browns.

With two poor performances in the first three games this season, Gardner Minshew’s status as the Raiders starting quarterback seemed a bit tenuous. The day after the team’s ugly loss to the winless Panthers last Sunday, Antonio Pierce wouldn’t say for certain that Minshew would remain the starter as they headed for Week four. Adding that he needed to speak with the team first.

In the interim days, the team’s two star players Davante Adams and Maxx Crosby both took to podcasts and said they would prefer the team stick with Minshew at this point in time. Come Wednesday, Pierce made it official that the team was sticking with Minshew this week when the team welcomes the Cleveland Browns to Las Vegas.

“What I said was, I need to get with the players and evaluate the film, so there’s no issue,” said Pierce. “Gardner Minshew is the quarterback.”

Back when Minshew was named the team’s quarterback over incumbent starter Aidan O’Connell, Pierce said he would give Minshew at least the first quarter of the season before he re-evaluated it. So, this would be in keeping with that. And it also means, the question will arise again next week. And perhaps every week if Minshew continues to struggle.

Ballers for Raiders Week 3 loss to Panthers

Singling out the performances in Raiders Week 3 loss to Panthers

There wasn’t much to sing about if you’re the Raiders in their loss to the Panthers. The 36-22 final score didn’t tell the story at all. The real score was 33-7 which sealed it early in the fourth quarter.

A lopsided score like that suggests a complete collapse on both sides of the ball. They couldn’t run the ball, they couldn’t stop the run. They couldn’t pass the ball, they couldn’t stop the pass.

Andy Dalton was picking them apart through the air and Chuba Hubbard (who?) ran all over them on the ground. Gardner Minshew completed one deep pass and the Raiders still have the worst rushing attack in the NFL dating back like 25 years at least.

Anyway, let’s see about them Ballers, eh?

Baller

WR Tre Tucker

That one deep completion went to Tucker. He got behind the defense and made the long catch 54 yards downfield. It set up the Raiders only touchdown that actually mattered. It tied the game at 7-7 in the first quarter.

When the game essentially was over, he had three catches for 64 yards. But he didn’t just pack it in, he added four more catches to finish with 98 yards and a touchdown.

That’s it. That’s the list.

Continue to the Busters…

Maxx Crosby makes clear his choice for Raiders starting QB

Maxx Crosby makes clear his choice for Raiders starting QB

Monday, after lackluster offensive performance by the Raiders and quarterback Gardner Minshew, head coach Antonio Pierce was asked if Minshew could get benched in favor of former starter Aidan O’Connell, who came in a led a TD drive after the game was out of reach.

Pierce’s response to questions was non-committal, adding that he was going to speak with the team before making a decision.

Well, the leader of the team has spoken and made clear who his choice is.

“Gardner’s our guy. We know that,” Crosby said on SiriusXM’s Let’s Go Podcast. “Obviously we love Aidan. Aidan’s a stud. He helped us win a lot of games last year. But Gardner’s our guy. At the end of the day, I just wanna win. Gardner’s our quarterback, he’s our captain, and he has done a hell of a job so far. I mean, it wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t good enough, but it’s across the board. It’s not just Gardner, it’s not just the o-line, or receiver, whoever it is, it’s a collective group effort.”

It was Crosby who gave Minshew a pep talk in the second half of their come-from-behind win over the Ravens. He told Minshew to get back to playing like he did at Washington State and Minshew went out and did it.

There was none of that magic conjured up in the loss to the Panthers. Outside of one deep ball to Tre Tucker in the first half, the offense did basically nothing. And Minshew threw an interception as well.

It makes sense, however, to not give up on Minshew after such a performance. When Pierce named him the starter, he did so with the plan to give him at least the first quarter of the season. That means through at least next week and perhaps more before he considers pulling the rip cord and bringing in Aidan O’Connell.

O’Connell was the starter last season, but expecting him to be some kind of savior may be asking too much. There are bigger changes that need to occur to get this offense moving. It starts with why the run game is so utterly terrible. That should receive the most immediate urgent attention. Without it, who the quarterback is won’t matter much.

Raiders sticking with Gardner Minshew vs. Browns in Week 4

The Browns will see Minshew for the second time in as many years

The Las Vegas Raiders benched quarterback Gardner Minshew this past week in their loss to the Carolina Panthers, but have decided to stick by him for at least another week as they take on the Cleveland Browns.

In an abysmal 36-22 loss to the previously winless Panthers, Minshew threw for 214 yards, one touchdown, and one interception before he was pulled from the game. Second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell then stepped in and went 9-of-12 passing for 82 yards and a touchdown in relief.

While head coach Antonio Pierce was non-committal on Minshew in his press conference today, NFL Network’s Ian Rappoport has reported that the Raiders are not turning the page just yet. He will be set to take on the top-tier defense that the Browns field looking for a bounce-back performance.

The Browns, however, will be looking for a bounce-back performance of their own as well after an abysmal loss to the New York Giants on Sunday. Who will be the first to bounce back in Week 4?

Antonio Pierce did not rule out QB change for Raiders following ugly loss to Panthers

Antonio Pierce did not rule out QB change for Raiders

As happy as Antonio Pierce was after his team came from behind to beat the Ravens in Baltimore, he was equally furious with their subsequent embarrassing defeat the the Panthers on Sunday.

Late in the game, with little chance of coming back, Pierce took out Minshew and put in Aidan O’Connell. He said it made the change in the hopes of bringing a spark. And, with the backdrop of garbage time, O’Connell drove the team down the field for a touchdown.

The next day, Pierce was non-comital on whether the job remains in the hands of Minshew going forward.

“We got to get with the players and evaluate everything from yesterday first,” said Pierce.

Gardner Minshew was heralded for his play late in the win in Baltimore and his head coach approved. But this is a ‘what have you done for me lately’.

In that regard, Minshew is coming off 22 of 36 for 214 yards, one touchdown and one interception and an 84.5 passer rating. While his potential replacement — and former starter — went 9 of 12 for 82 yards and a touchdown with a passer rating of 120.8.

It may be smart not to make a knee jerk reaction based on one game. And it would be a bit surprising to see Pierce pull the plug on Minshew so quickly. But it’s definitely a situation worth watching closely.

The Raiders will welcome the Cleveland Browns for Week 4 next Sunday.

Raiders ripped in home opener by winless Panthers 36-22

The Raiders fell back to earth hard to get run out of their own building by a bad Panthers team.

These Raiders are nothing if not interesting. Last week they defied the odds to beat the Ravens 26-23 in Baltimore. This week they come home and defy the odds again…losing badly to what was previously a hapless Panthers team.

This wasn’t even really a close one. The Panthers drove right down the field on the opening drive for a touchdown.

The Raiders responded with a three-and-out.

To be fair, the Raiders did eventually score a touchdown to tie it up. The big play was a 54-yard bomb to Tre Tucker and Alexander Mattison finished it off with a touchdown run to tie it at 7-7.

But the scoring stopped for the Raiders after that. Meanwhile the Panthers continued their deluge of scoring. And they did it on the arm of Andy Dalton.

Dalton made several gorgeous, perfect throws, including two touchdown passes — one to Diontae Johnson and the other to Adam Thielan — to put the Panthers up 21-7 at the half.

The Raiders got the ball first in the third quarter, but could do nothing with it. The Panthers got the ball and drove for a field goal.

The ensuing drive, Antonio Pierce made another one of the head scratching decisions to go for it in their own territory. On fourth and one, they attempted a QB keeper and it was stopped for no gain to give the Panthers the ball at the Vegas 37. They added another field goal off the field position alone to make it a 27-7 game.

By this point, the Raiders had converted just two third downs and twice turned the ball over on downs. Only this time the defense wasn’t bailing them out.

Andy Dalton was 22 of 31 for 286 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 131.9 passer rating. That’s 36-year-old backup Andy Dalton. And his top receiver Diontae Johnson had six catches for 108 yards and a TD.

The mostly Raiders crowd was booing loudly as the Raiders offense floundered and the defense was getting gouged by Andy Dalton and the Panthers offense.

They would add another touchdown in the fourth quarter, just for good measure to go up 33-7.

Minshew would throw a garbage time TD and two-point conversion, both to Jakobi Meyers to get into double digits. Then he would throw a garbage interception to CB Mike Jackson at his own 25. They added another field goal to make it a 36-15 game.

Another garbage time TD, this time from Aidan O’Connell to Tre Tucker gave us our final score of 36-22.

Dalton continued his ownage of the Raiders in his career. He became the first QB this season to throw for over 300 yards (319) with three touchdowns in a game. He is now 4-0 in starts over the Raiders, with three different teams.

Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard finished with 114 yards on the ground while averaging 5.4 yards per carry.

The Raiders fall to 1-2 on the season. The Panthers improve to 1-2 on the season.

WATCH: Raiders QB Gardner Minshew with 54-yard bomb to speedster Tre Tucker

Gardner Minshew lauched a gorgeous deep ball to Tre Tucker to help Raiders tie it up with the Panthers in the first quarter.

Things just got interesting in the Raiders home opener against the Panthers. Carolina had scored a touchdown on their opening drive, but the Raiders were unable to answer initially. The defense held, and the Raiders got the ball back at their own three-yard line.

After moving out to the 20-yard-line, Gardner Minshew dropped back and let ‘er rip. Tre Tucker went deep on a post route and Minshew thew a perfect ball right into his arms in stride for a 54-yard completion.

https://twitter.com/Raiders/status/1837953774612369437

Minshew and Tucker connected on a few of these in the preseason so fans were waiting for them to break one off in the regular season.

The Raiders would capitalize on the deep connection too. A few plays later, they punched it in with Alexander Mattison to tie the game at 7-7 to begin the second quarter.

Saints vs. Eagles to feature both starting QBs for the first time since 2018

Injuries under center have haunted both the Saints and Eagles over the years. Week 3 will feature both starting quarterbacks for the first time since Nov. 2018:

The New Orleans Saints have had a decent number of games with the Philadelphia Eagles in recent years, however, many have been marred by quarterback injuries or replacements for one reason or another. That won’t be the case this week with Derek Carr and Jalen Hurts both starting under  center, but poor health at quarterback has hit each team in recent years.

It is somewhat of a weird trend as their last four matchups, including one playoff game, have seen a quarterback who was not the initial starter playing for at least one of the two teams. Andy Dalton, Gardner Minshew II, Trevor Siemian, and Nick Foles are just some of the backups who have to step into a starting role during this series.

Starting off with the most recent matchup, Jan. 2023 (Week 17 of the 2022 season), we saw the normal Saints’ starter in Andy Dalton at the time. However, Jalen Hurts missed the matchup due to a sprained shoulder. This moved Minshew into the lineup and ultimately led to a 20-10 victory for the Saints on the road.

Then we go back to Week 11 of the 2021 season for their next matchup, which was the last matchup Hurts played in against the Saints. But with Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill both injured New Orleans had to turn to Trevor Siemian. This is also the year they had to start Ian Book for one game, which was not so great to say the least. Siemian would go 0-4 in his four starts, including this game which the Saints lost 40-29.

The Week 14 matchup in 2020 between these two teams also featured Jalen Hurts as the Eagles’ starting quarterback, except Drew Brees did not play due to his vast array of injuries; Brees suffered shoulder and foot issues in addition to his 11 broken ribs and collapsed lung. This led to the Saints starting Taysom Hill at quarterback, who actually didn’t do half bad with 291 passing yards and two touchdowns against one interception. Despite this, the Saints lost 24-21.

Then we have the one playoff game in this string of games, which was the 2018 NFC divisional round. This was the season Carson Wentz suffered his vertebral fracture around October, and missed the rest of the season, pushing Nick Foles back into the starting spot after his previous year’s heroics. This time he did not play as great, with only 201 passing yards and an touchdown to two interceptions, one of which being the notable Alshon Jeffrey drop and Marshon Lattimore interception off of it to seal the game.

Ultimately, the last time these two teams played with their normal starting quarterbacks was earlier that 2018 season in Week 11, when the Saints won 48-7 in dominating fashion on the back of 363 passing yards and 4 touchdowns from Drew Brees, as well as 103 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns from Mark Ingram II. Here’s hoping for another landslide on Sunday.

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Raiders offensive attack is breaking NFL brains

Raiders offensive attack is breaking NFL brains

All offseasson Antonio Pierce talked about the Raiders being a run first team. About establishing the ground game and winning in the trenches. And I think he honestly believed that was how this team was going to function.

Pierce told no tales that weren’t true about the identity of his team. They were going to rely on the strength of their defense with the goal on offense to make teams respect their ground game and build the offense around that.

Unfortunately that ground game has been non-existent. In fact, it’s been less than non-existent. It’s been a net negative for the offense.

https://twitter.com/austingayle_/status/1835517362751033490

As Austin Gayle points out, the Raiders EPA per rush number of -0.64 is the worst since at least the turn of the century. And yet, somehow, they are coming off a win. Against a tough Ravens team at that. Make it make sense.

These poor rushing numbers doomed them in the season opener. They scored just ten points in the game, and only got one first down on the ground all game long.

The team pumped up Gardner Minshew’s 75% completions, but they didn’t mention his palty 4.5 air yards per completion (worst in the NFL among starters week one).

Week two in Baltimore began in much the same way. The Raiders couldn’t get anything going on the ground — a total of FOUR YARDS on the ground on SEVEN CARRIES — and had scored just six points.

Then something miraculous happened. Not only did they pretty much abandon the rush (combined two carries on their two touchdown drives), but Minshew began throwing passes down field. And the offense sprung to life, with the Raiders rattling off four scoring drives for a total of 20 points in the second half to pull out the win.

This clearly took the Ravens by surprise, but they aren’t alone.

https://twitter.com/adamlevitan/status/1836428989688086631

While 25 teams over the first two weeks are putting the ball in the air less than expected, the Raiders are one of just seven teams who are passing it more than expected. They are second in the league is pass rate over expectation behind only the Bengals.

The thing about it is, they simply have no choice. The offensive line is getting almost no push and the backs are running into brick walls. Meanwhile they have weapons like Davante Adams, Brock Bowers, and Jakobi Meyers and would be foolish to not utilize them.

From the looks of it, the Chargers and Ravens had so little respect for Gardner Minshew’s arm that they just loaded up to take the ground game away. And they say, they forced Minshew to beat them. One Harbaugh brother had success with that approach. The other Harbaugh brother got burnt.

So, the question is whether this is something the Raiders can sustain. Or will the rest of the NFL start collecting tape and catching on? And with that, will the ground game actually open up a bit as teams are forced to respect the pass a bit more?

Hard to say whether last week’s stunning offensive explosion will be a flare up or continue to burn. We’ll all just have to watch and see.

Ballers for Raiders Week 2 win vs Ravens

Ballers for Raiders Week 2 win vs Ravens

What a game. Through much of this game it was looking like a replay of the season opener against the Chargers. Where the Raiders defense keeps it close while the offense flails and ultimately sees the opposing team put things together late to win it.

Even early into the fourth quarter, it still had that feel. The Ravens drove for a field goal to end the first half and a touchdown to begin the third quarter to make it a ten-point game. Meanwhile it was most of the way through the third quarter and the Raiders still hadn’t gotten in the end zone and were down by ten.

Then suddenly they turned it on and scored three straight times while the defense allowed one score and they pulled off the upset.

There were so many heroes, it was hard to pick a Top Baller this week. But I managed.

Ballers

LB Robert Spillane

To be the biggest playmaker in a game full of playmakers is quite an accomplishment.

He led the team with ten combined tackles (eight solo) and nearly all of them were huge plays. The first Ravens drive featured two Spillane run stuffs for a net two yards and the third down tackle on a catch short of the sticks.

Spillane stalled another drive in the second quarter by tracking Lamar Jackson on a rollout to the right sideline to keep containment and force him to make a bad pass incomplete.

The Ravens got in the endzone on their first drive of the third quarter. But Spillane did his part to try and keep that from happening when he stuffed a run at the line on first and goal. The next drive, he intercepted a Lamar Jackson pass off a deflection to give the Raiders another shot with great field position. They took advantage of it to drive for their first touchdown, making that turnover crucial to the outcome.

The Raiders would pull within seven points midway through the fourth quarter, putting it in the hands of the defense to give them a shot to tie it up. They did the job too, with Spillane batted down Jackson’s pass on third down to send the Ravens offense away with a three-and-out.

After the offense drove for a game-tying touchdown, the defense came out to try and keep the Ravens from driving for the game winner. Spillane followed up a big sack by Maxx Crosby with a run stuff for no gain. The Ravens couldn’t make up the third and long, giving the Raiders a chance to win it in regulation. And they did just that.

DE Maxx Crosby

He was his usual holy terror self, which is not always the easiest thing to do against a multifaceted quarterback like Lamar Jackson.

Crsoby had a run stuff on the Ravens’ first play from scrimmage and a sack on the fourth play. Then he had a run tackle for loss on the second possession, leading to a three-and-out. So, yeah, it was shaping up to be a long day keeping the Condor contained.

First play of the second quarter was another Crosby run stuff for a loss, leading to another three-and-out. He added a batted pass on the next drive.

After the Raiders tied it up at 23-23 midway through the fourth, Crosby came flying up the gut right into to Jackson’s face for a nine-yard sack. That sealed the Ravens’ fate.

QB Gardner Minshew, WR Davante Adams, TE Brock Bowers

We pick up the action in the third quarter. That’s when the Raiders offense started to get things rolling. The first big completion went for 25 yards to Brock Bowers to put them in scoring range. But ultimately the Raiders could go for it on the 4th and short and fail, with Minshew’s pass for Davante a bit short and Adams unable to make the catch around a defender. But it was a sign of things to come.

The Raiders defense would take the ball back and the offense returned to mount another drive. The big play saw Minshew stand tall in the pocket as he waited for something to open up and then Bowers came back to his QB to make the catch inside the five and put the Raiders in first and goal at the one. They punched it in on the next play.

Next possession they were on the move again. It featured consecutive connections with Adams for 26 yards and 30 yards. The 26-yarder came on a perfect pass from Minshew, throwing it before Adams had even made his break, so he turned the find the ball right there. The 30-yard catch was especially impressive, with Adams leaning out of bounds, dragging his toes.

That drive ended in a field goal, which meant a touchdown was needed to tie it up. First play of the Raiders next drive, had well placed ball from Minshew with Davante’s notorious late hands ensuring the defender had no shot at it up the left sideline for 29 yards. Bowers got hte next first own on a 15-yard grab. Then Bowers would convert on third down with an 11-yard catch to put the Raiders in first and goal at the nine. Adams was interfered with to put it at the one. Where Minshew had a masterful read option where he pulled it back and threw it over the defense to Adams for the game-tying touchdown.

CB Nate Hobbs, CB Jack Jones, CB Jakorian Bennett

Just like the above trio, I just couldn’t separate these guys. Bennett showed up first with a huge pass breakup on a deep ball attempt up the left sideline in the second quarter. This forced a 56-yard field goal attempt which Justin Tucker missed wide.

The next drive began with a coverage incompletion by Jones. Bennett would also force an incompletion on the drive with tight coverage. And finally, Jones made the tackle short of the first down to force the Ravens to settled for a field goal.

The third quarter saw Bennett break up another pass. This time Spillane was there to intercept it off the deflection. The takeaway led to the Raiders getting their first touchdown of the day.

With the Raiders making a push, and within a score, Jones helped that effort by stopping Lamar Jackson for a loss on a scramble. Jones would then effectively end the game with a pass breakup on a deep attempt up the right sideline that looked for a moment to be a catch that would have been enough for the Ravens to tie it up. Clutch.

Nate Hobbs just simply locked it up on the day, giving up just one catch for 13 yards.

K Daniel Carlson

He was 4-for-4 on the day with field goals from 53 and 51 yards. That’s doing his job.

Busters coming soon…