The Las Vegas Raiders are in the process of replacing former head coach Josh McDaniels, and the players appear to be in much better spirits. Owner Mark Davis intended to give the coach more time to construct the team properly, but things were deteriorating and the environment was toxic.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, McDaniels was fired for personal reasons rather than football reasons.
“After asking around, I get the sense that people skills and culture were primary issues — and ones that essentially plagued McDaniels in two coaching stops,” Fowler wrote in a blog published on November 8. “At a team meeting, players aired their grievances, and owner Mark Davis was well aware of some of the frustrations.”
“In certain circumstances, players felt overworked. According to one source, the administration set the tone that if the lights were turned on in the building, everybody should be working. While that may sound like a wonderful football cliché for dedication to the business, the retro Patriots-style mentality can be troublesome for mature men with families.”
Nobody can accuse McDaniels of not working hard, but his biggest flaw appears to be how he went about working hard.
“The sense around the building was that McDaniels just kept insisting they trust him and that it would turn around eventually if they stuck to his plan,” Graziano wrote in his opinion piece. “‘Players know,’ one individual close to the incident informed me. And if all you ever say to them is, ‘I know better,’ you’ll lose them very quickly.’
“I’ve been told that McDaniels’ management style in Las Vegas was a little more empathetic than it was in Denver ten years ago, and that the general vibe around the building was less contentious.” But the club was plainly not making any progress, and in the end, McDaniels’ insistence that if they just kept doing what they were doing, he would be proven right didn’t make sense to the players or, ultimately, ownership.”
McDaniels’ biggest issue was that the Raiders were not making progress in his second season as head coach. When the process isn’t producing any outcomes, it’s difficult for the owner to trust it.
Antonio Pierce lacks the coaching knowledge and expertise that Josh McDaniels possesses. However, his demeanour has thus far resonated with Raiders players. That could be enough to earn him the full-time head coaching job in the future.
“I do believe Pierce has a shot at the full-time gig, depending on how the next two months go,” Fowler stated in an email. “It wasn’t a particularly strong shot, but it was a shot nonetheless.” We witnessed how the previous interim coach, Rich Bisaccia, energised the Raiders on their path to the playoffs in 2021, and perhaps Pierce can do the same.”
