Exclusive: NFL Team Executives Thoughts on the Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders (1-1) are returning home to host the Pittsburgh Steelers in their 2023 NFL home opener on Sunday Night.
Ahead of that game, we contacted multiple NFL team executives and players to get their assessment of the State of the Silver and Black franchise.
Please remember that this is their objective opinion of the team, and we used the comments of two of the executives.
As usual, we protect their identity so they can speak freely on the franchise.
On the Raiders offense:
Executive No. 1: “You can’t have Hunter Renfrow not involved. You just can’t. Josh (McDaniels) has an entire system for getting rid of the ball quickly, and with teams moving so many guys up to make it clear that Josh Jacobs won’t beat them, Jimmy (Garoppolo) is making his reads and, under duress, he, like most quarterbacks, doesn’t make great decisions. Teams are daring the Raiders to beat them with Jimmy. You can do that, he is a good quarterback, but they have to protect, and he has to see it. They haven’t given up any sacks, which speaks volumes. I don’t think it is really one thing based on our early scouting reports. I think it is a guy here, a guy there. It doesn’t seem to be a dumpster fire like I am sure Raider fans are reacting. You lost at Buffalo; who wouldn’t this year? They are really good.”
Executive No. 2: “No one, and that includes us, is going to let the Raiders just run (Josh) Jacobs up our a**. What sticks out is that the scheme hasn’t been bad, it has been different guys making mistakes. Offensive linemen missing on blocks or not holding them, and Jimmy, when he doesn’t have time, making some bad reads. It has been a team struggle, but hell, who won’t struggle against Buffalo? There is a ton of talent, but they have to, against good defenses, punish people for leaving some good wideouts open. Jesus Christ, how doesn’t Jimmy not see Hunter? Occasionally? Of course, but watch the games; it has been a lot. That has to have Josh (McDaniels) irate.”
On the Raiders defense:
Executive No. 2: “I am sorry, but the Chandler Jones fiasco has been a real death blow. He wasn’t playing great, how many defensive linemen over 30 do, but he was playing with effort. To have lost him before the season and having to carry him on the roster is brutal. (Tyree) Wilson is a machine, but we all knew he was raw coming out. I think he can be special, but Jesus Christ, the kid missed so much time, and he doesn’t have time. Raiders need something now. I never understood letting Yannick Ngakoue go for Jones. You let a prime DE in his twenties go for a guy in his thirties, and I think Yannick was better? That’s on the Raiders. That move was a Patriot-type move; you get a guy you know because you know him. I know that move shocked many people around the league, and it was a bad move. I think the new MIKE (Robert Spillane) and (Marcus) Epps, the safety from Philly, have been good, and Maxx (Crosby) is a freak, but teams are not going to let Maxx spank you’re a** all day. You have to stop Maxx, and last week, they wore out with that offense doing nothing, I think the TOP (Time of Possession) was 2-1 for the Bills. No D can sustain that. They are young and better, but no one in this league wins with an offense that isn’t helping the defense.”
Executive No. 1: “The first rule in facing the Raiders' defense is that you have to know where Maxx Crosby is at all times. The only reason some fans don’t give him respect is because of the team he is on. Around the league, everyone respects him. Double him, and triple him, look at the Broncos and Bills game, even hold him, but he still makes his presence known. I think that defense is better, but you can’t sustain how they played for the first 40-45 percent of the game without any help from the offense. They are young and all, but no defense can do much without an offense contributing, like the Bills game. (Tyree) Wilson is a kid who can be really special, but they are paying a huge price with Jones out. I have no idea what is going on as far as inside information, but I have a pretty good idea, and that is disappointing for the organization. The Jones move made no sense at all when they signed him. What they had and what they got wasn’t logical to me, but he was a Patriot, and to them, that is valuable. Wilson isn’t ready; not sure anyone in the NFL thought he would be in week two, but welcome to the next-man-up league, and here they go. If Josh (McDaniels) gets that offense humming, and I think he will, that defense should be fine. They aren’t going to be great just yet, but they will be, and I think they are better.”
Final Thoughts to Raider Nation that Seems to be in a Full Panic?
Executive No. 1: “I think Raiders' fans take a lot of criticism, but let’s be honest, they are passionate, and they care. I can tell you there are a lot of teams that would trade fan bases. That said, it has been two games. the Raiders are better than last year, and they are .500 and in first place in the AFC West. They are so rabid for a winner, that sometimes they go to the dark side (no pun intended) so fast. Judge this team afterward; they aren’t a playoff team this year, and see how the chips fall. I 100 percent believe the Raiders are better, but not a playoff team.”
Executive No. 2: “S**t, the Raider Fans have always been unhappy with anything other than a Super Bowl win. Their organization made them that way with Just Win Baby. I believe the Raiders are better, but you won on the road to a division rival that is significantly better and got you’re a** handed to you by a team that should be competing for the Super Bowl and will be handing a lot of teams their a**. Just because they are better doesn’t mean they are a playoff team. Judge them at the end of the year, but it is preposterous to f***ing jump ship after two games, and you are 1-1. The Raiders, for a long time, didn’t draft for s**t. That is why you have Marcus Peters and so many free agents. It ain’t an excuse; picking Chandler of Yannick was not good, but let’s also not pretend that they weren’t dealt a roster that wasn’t great for the future.”
The Silver and Black return home to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Sept. 24, at 8:20 p.m. EDT/5:20 p.m. PDT.
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