HENDERSON. Nev. — Although Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce mentioned Wednesday he’s snug with Luke Getsy because the group’s offensive coordinator and playcaller, Pierce additionally acknowledged that one thing has to vary forward of this weekend’s matchup with the Bengals (3-5) in Cincinnati.
Particularly after the Raiders, who’re simply 2-6 on the season and mired of their first four-game dropping streak since 2019, averaged lower than 2.0 yards per carry for the second time this season in Sunday’s 27-20 loss to Kansas Metropolis, magnified by two offensive alternatives contained in the Chiefs’ 5-yard line which resulted in simply three factors.
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“It has to get higher,” Pierce mentioned in his weekly information convention. “There was quite a lot of alternatives for us to attain factors and make alternatives and yeah, that is on the playcall. However then additionally, like I instructed our workers and I instructed our gamers, it is simple to … level the finger at Luke or myself. However the O-line play, quarterbacks, the working backs, turnovers and missed blocks, missed execution on performs, alignments, the small print, all these issues must get cleaned up.
“So yeah, it does begin with the coordinator; he is bought to be the one which takes the autumn for that and will get many of the blame. However it’s collective.”
With Getsy because the Raiders’ first-year offensive coordinator, Las Vegas ranks twenty eighth within the NFL in complete offense. It’s No. 18 in passing and No. 31 in speeding. The Raiders’ common of 18.0 factors per sport is twenty sixth within the NFL.
To deal with potential playcalling points, Pierce had Getsy transfer from the sector to the press field throughout video games earlier than the Raiders’ loss on the Los Angeles Rams two weeks in the past.
“We’ll play it by ear, week-to-week,” Getsy mentioned earlier than the Chiefs sport. “I am snug each methods. I believe it was quite a lot of good that got here from being up there, and I believe there’s quite a lot of good from being on the sector. So, I am good both approach.”
Accidents and ineffectiveness have plagued the Raiders, who benched beginning quarterback Gardner Minshew for Aidan O’Connell earlier than O’Connell suffered a damaged thumb on his proper (passing) hand in his second begin. Las Vegas went again to Minshew whereas additionally signing Desmond Ridder off the Arizona Cardinals’ apply squad final week. Minshew has dedicated 11 turnovers himself, and the Raiders are tied for final within the NFL with a minus-13 turnover differential.
Minshew leaned extra into the dearth of execution because the wrongdoer.
“Most performs, you’ve an opportunity when you do it proper,” Minshew mentioned. “There’s alternatives there to do it and we did not do it. So on the finish of the day, we have to take a look at ourselves – everyone’s bought to say, ‘How can I do my job higher?’
“And I believe we’re doing that. I be ok with how we’re approaching this week, that angle of the blokes, our angle, the coaches, I believe everyone’s coming in, placing their work hat on, able to get again after it.”
The Raiders have additionally had 4 totally different beginning offensive traces in eight video games and a fifth is perhaps so as towards Cincinnati after middle Andre James injured an ankle towards the Chiefs and rookie left guard Jackson Powers-Johnson slid over. Plus, Las Vegas has reimagined the extensive receiver room within the wake of the Davante Adams commerce and tight finish Michael Mayer has been gone for private causes since after Week 3.
At working again, Zamir White started the season because the starter, however a groin situation sidelined him for 2 video games, and free agent pickup Alexander Mattison — who rushed for 15 yards on 14 carries towards the Chiefs — is averaging a career-low 3.2 yards per carry. They’re confounding numbers contemplating Getsy had guided the Bears to the league’s first-ranked speeding assault in 2022 and the second-ranked unit in 2023.
