Raiders Have Taken the Steps to Prep O'Connell for KC
Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Aidan O'Connell has seen some tough teams so far in his first NFL season, but none like he will see with the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
A year ago at this time, O'Connell was gearing up for a regular season finale against the University of Indiana. A year later, he is preparing to face the NFL's defending Super Bowl champions.
Fortunately for the rookie quarterback, the Raiders feel they have effectively prepared O'Connell for Sunday's big game.
"We're really trying to do a lot with him in practice with competition and good-on-good and just have him feel that pressure and that speed around him," said Raiders Interim Head Coach Antonio Pierce when he addressed the media Friday. "But then obviously, like a day like today -- Friday -- you want to get it right. But I think he's done a good job of really studying himself, self-scouting.
"Bo [Hardegree], Fred [Walker], those guys -- Scott Turner -- have done a good job on the offensive side of the ball prepping him for the good, the bad and the ugly. And we just got to continue to roll with him."
Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Aidan O'Connell will make just his fifth NFL start on Sunday.
© Sam Navarro | 2023 Nov 19
Hardegree said as far as preparation goes, O'Connell has had to follow the same general guidelines he's been following in his other four starts.
"I mean, every week, it presents its own set of challenges," the Raiders' Offensive Coordinator said. And just him just sticking to his core rules and operating within the ... offense and the scouting report and just taking what we do in practice to the game [is O'Connell's approach]."
Hardegree, of course, has worked with O'Connell since the offseason, as he was formerly the team's quarterbacks coach.
O'Connell has thrown for a total of 946 yards and three touchdowns so far this season. Sunday will be his fifth NFL start and his sixth game.
The Raiders drafted O'Connell with the 135th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Silver and Black return home this week to celebrate Thanksgiving and take on their AFC West rival, the Kansas City Chiefs, on Sunday, November 26, at 4:25 p.m. EST/1:25 p.m. PST.
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