Pierce Explains Vision for 2024 Raiders Identity

An NFL team can have as many talented players as possible.

However, they will come up short in reaching their goals if they do not have a strong vision, culture or identity.

Thankfully for the Las Vegas Raiders, Coach Antonio Pierce established all three traits in his interim stint in 2023.

The Raiders went 5-4 in the games Pierce coached. While the victories were impressive, the way the team fought relentlessly when he took over earned him the permanent head coaching position.

Now, the Raiders are aiming for the postseason in 2024. Pierce hopes the team will carry the identity they formed into this upcoming season to make the playoffs.

Pierce explained what he wants the Raiders’ identity to be on the latest episode of defensive end Maxx Crosby’s podcast, "The Rush with Maxx Crosby."

“Our resume is on the grass and is on the film,” Pierce said. “When we watch that, it should be that of a team that’s physical, playing with extreme effort, passionate, a love for the game, playing for one another, and there’s different ways to be physical. We can’t knock each other’s heads off anymore. That ain’t it. But you heard Maxx say it: ‘Heavy hands.’ Be heavy-handed. Bless them.

“We bless the souls of our opponents. I tell the guys like this, and they know I keep it real simple: It should look right, it should sound right, and it should smell right.”

Pierce elaborated on that, saying when the team closes their eyes or covers their ears, they should still be able to feel and experience that success.

“The reality is, we aren’t going to win every game," Pierce said. "It doesn’t happen. Only one team has ever done it. But what we can do is control how we play the game. That we give everything we've got. Sometimes, the ball might bounce, we might get a call against us, a guy might drop a ball. We’re never going to blame it on that player because we had other opportunities to win the game.”

“But if you can be proud of what you see each and every week, when you come to the game, you know I tell them: ‘We’re in Vegas. We are the No. 1 show in Vegas. It ain’t Usher. It’s the Raiders.”

To watch the entire podcast episode with Pierce and Crosby, click here.

From February 27 to March 4, 2024, the NFL Scouting Combine will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.

The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 13 overall pick.

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