Answering Your Las Vegas Raiders Questions, Emails 2.0
DETROIT, Mich.--The Las Vegas Raiders (3-4) are headed here to take on the Detroit Lions (5-2) on Monday Night Football, so we will answer some of the questions and e-mails from Raider Nation.
Hondo, there are reports of the Raiders having a team meeting on Thursday. Do you know anything about it? Is it an accurate report? --Michael G.
Yes, I am aware and will talk about it on Tuesday.
Why doesn't Josh (McDaniels) rotate Aidan (O'Connell) during the game? All teams have to do is stack the box to defeat (Jimmy) Garappolo. During the Bears game we should have been blitzing the safeties off the edge. Our defense and offense is easily predictable. -- Terrence H.
Josh McDaniels feels that Jimmy Garoppolo gives the team the best opportunity to win and win now. There is no conspiracy, just a philosophy that the coach believes in.
Hondo, Why did (Darren) Waller have to move on? Also, a few weeks ago, in an Insiders podcast, you said that an article would be coming out with comments/analysis by NFL people about what’s wrong with the Raiders’ offense. I have not seen it. Could you please point me to it? --Bill Bruno
Darren is a good guy, but there was frustration, which I reported on extensively, as did others, with his teammates feeling that he could have returned (a few times) from injury before he did. That is one thing that doesn't weather well in a locker room. When teammates feel that a player can play, and he doesn't, whether they are right or wrong, it doesn't settle well. Darren's teammates liked him, but that issue bothered multiple teammates immensely.
That article was published about the Las Vegas Raiders offensive woes. You can read it when you click right here.
Hey Hondo, I wonder, with the San Francisco 49ers quarterback situation, if they would want Jimmy G back. He knows the system already and has performed much better in that scheme than in McDaniels' scheme. --Justin V.
There is zero trade interest from any NFL team regarding Jimmy Garoppolo. I assumed that, but I talked with three NFL Executives who confirmed that.
Uncle Hondo, are any Raiders getting interest in the NFL trade talks? --Terry P.
Davante Adams and Maxx Crosby have gotten voluminous amounts of interest, but the Raiders have no desire, and rightfully so, to trade either one. Unless someone is willing to do something stupid, they are going nowhere. There are a few others who I wouldn't rule out being moved.
Why is quarterback Brian Hoyer on the roster? Josh started (Jarrett) Stidham for Derek Carr, yet let him walk and signed an injury-prone Jimmy G. Was this a money issue? --Sam M.
Brian Hoyer is on the roster because Josh McDaniels wants his experience here to back up Jimmy Garoppolo and mentor Aidan O'Connell. Additionally, Jarrett would not be the starter and felt the opportunity was better elsewhere, and they wanted Brian in Las Vegas.
I was wondering why there aren't any ex-Raider players on the coaching staff. Once a Raider, always a Raider, but not seeing any coaching opportunities. --Thank you, David B.
There aren't any Raiders because Josh McDaniels didn't hire any. It is as simple as that. A good NFL owner hires a leader and stays out of telling that leader what to do. Any coach would bristle at being told who he had to hire. If the Raiders could keep a coach for a long-term stint, I am sure that would change.
If you have a Las Vegas Raiders question you would like answered, please email us at SpartanNationMail@yahoo.com and put Raiders Q/A in the subject line.
The Silver and Black will stay on the road to take on the Detroit Lions on Monday night, Oct. 30, at 8:15 p.m. EDT/5:15 p.m. PDT.
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