Will that change impact Antonio Pierce, Tom Telesco or both?
As tough as it is to hear, there are league sources who believe based on their own high-level back-table conversations that the #Raiders are currently entertaining the idea of getting a new head coach, while general manager Tom Telesco is simultaneously separating himself behind the scenes.
No official determination has been made, but the 15-9 loss to the Atlanta Falcons capping a 10-game losing streak before a national audience on MNF didn’t help this increasing notion.
In just my own observations of owner Mark Davis at the Owners Meetings leading into this season compared to the sessions in Dallas, TX last week, Davis’ demeanor and spirit walking through the lobby were noticeably different to me. He was less gregarious and organically engaging and appeared to have a lot weighing on his mind, at the very least. These insights aren’t conclusive, just noteworthy.
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Pierce Under The Microscope
The current state of the Raiders result feels like leaps and bounds from the euphoria experienced late last season after a victory over the Chiefs under Pierce’s interim tag which also punctuated the departure of Josh McDaniels.
The players seem to connect more with Pierce, and rightfully so. Relatability has always been one of Pierce’s strengths — as a former player who can read the room and break down the game at the players’ level.
But this season seems to be showing, what I know Pierce already knows, along with so many other coaches, is that you can’t win consistently without the quarterback position being settled.
Davante Adams Drama…
Additionally, any drama around your star players is hard to mend, especially when the situation is destined to unravel. Davante Adams’ initial attraction to playing for the Raiders, was playing with Derek Carr. Once Carr’s tenure ended under the McDaniels and Dave Ziegler regime, and it became evident bridge options like Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell weren’t increasing hope and inspiration in practice or on the field—what was anyone realistically expecting.
Adams’ departure, a player with that type of gravitas, was undoubtedly going to impact the team and anyone leading it.
In that essence, not only was Pierce doomed to experience more adversity than success, but it may be even unjust to a degree with Davis reportedly admitting that there’s still no “mandate” for Telesco to draft a better quarterback early in the upcoming draft, while acknowledging his club still needs to resolve the position.
That lack of clarity around the most important person on the field, who touches the ball every possession serves no one—including the other 52 players on the active roster.
However, Davis’ dichotomous language may be an indication of his intended deference to Tom Brady on many matters, as Brady recently became part of the team’s ownership group.
The Tom Brady Effect
With all of Brady’s accolades and charms, who isn’t going to listen to Brady’s opinion and take it into heavy consideration?
This further crystallizes the point, that as the Raiders are destined to pick at the top of next year’s draft, it’s becoming harder and harder to believe that they’ll want to start a whole new phase, under Brady’s thumbprint and a shiny new quarterback, with big reminders of this current season—whether that pertains to Pierce and Telesco, or just one over the other remains to be seen.
That being said, it takes tremendous patience and wisdom to withstand the storms of adversity without bailing before skies clear. We’ve seen the Detroit Lions benefit from staying the course after starting 3-13 in Dan Campbell’s first season.
The only thing that may likely salvage this situation is Brady advising Davis not to jump ship too early.
I’ve been around long enough to know, everything is still fluid, until it’s official.
But at this moment, the forecast is unfortunately very gloomy.
