HENDERSON, Nev. — Now that head coach Antonio Pierce lastly put any hypothesis to relaxation and named Gardner Minshew the Las Vegas Raiders’ beginning quarterback, what is going to the offense seem like with Minshew on the helm?
Given Minshew’s scrambling ability set and talent to increase performs, count on loads of held-breath moments, alongside run-heavy units with a number of tight ends in rookie Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer. Loads of play-action arrange by feeding working again Zamir White. And quick and intermediate strikes to wideouts Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers as new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy continues set up of his model of the West Coast offense.
With the occasional deep ball.
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Hey, the vertical recreation is within the Raiders’ DNA. Or did you miss Minshew’s 48-yard toss to speedy receiver Tre Tucker in Saturday evening’s exhibition in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys?
Then there’s Minshew’s not-so-analytical traits.
“His character is infectious, his power is infectious, his management is infectious,” Pierce stated.
So, what might stand some on-field enchancment?
“Footwork within the pocket, staying on script,” Pierce stated. “There may be some magic about him when he does break the pocket and does his factor, however there’s loads of occasions the place if the primary [or] second learn is there, we have got to let it rip. So, he understands that. And extra importantly, caring for the soccer.”
In different phrases, Minshewmania has taken on a neon glow and is ready to run wild in Sin Metropolis.
However how lengthy will its residency final in a city with a voracious urge for food for glitz and glamour, however not a lot endurance for, effectively, restricted payoffs? Raiders followers have been clamoring for a quarterback to tuck and run since Derek Carr suffered a damaged proper fibula within the penultimate recreation of the 2016 season.
“I am tremendous optimistic about what we’re going to have the ability to do as a crew this 12 months,” Minshew stated earlier than being named starter, “and simply wanting ahead to this 12 months, on the whole.”
Within the preseason opener on the Minnesota Vikings, Minshew got here off the bench and picked aside the protection with these quick and midrange passes whereas conserving the Vikings trustworthy along with his legs.
Towards the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday evening, the 6-foot-1, 225-pound Minshew began and was extra scattershot. As a result of whereas he did have that stunning deep ball to Tucker, Minshew additionally misfired a number of occasions.
All through the offseason competitors with second-year returner Aidan O’Connell, who’s extra of the prototypical pocket passer at 6-foot-3, 210 kilos, longtime Raiders observers might relate to a pseudo-2006 battle between the extra cellular Marques Tuiasosopo and the extra statuesque Andrew Walter.
And that didn’t excite many, if any, strolling the streets of Silver and Blackdom.
Minshew, in two preseason video games, handed for 212 yards and a landing in finishing 16 of 33 makes an attempt. He additionally had 12 yards speeding on two makes an attempt.
O’Connell was a mixed 21-29 for 172 yards and a TD but in addition had a pick-six and took a sack.
Given Pierce’s relationship and belief in O’Connell, whom he elevated to starter upon his promotion to interim coach on Nov. 1, will probably be fascinating to see how a lot rope Minshew is given.
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There is a cause Pierce, when asserting the choice, referred to Minshew giving the Raiders the most effective shot at beginning quick within the “first quarter” of the season.
“Nicely, I do all the things in sections,” Pierce stated. “I imply, you are going to take a look at the entire season, however we need to get off to a quick begin, proper? We have two video games on the street, two at house. That is the primary quarter of the season for us.”
The Raiders open on the Los Angeles Chargers earlier than enjoying on the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. Las Vegas then performs host to the Carolina Panthers after which the Cleveland Browns.
So if issues are going sideways for the Raiders that early within the season, Pierce would haven’t any qualms once more rolling with O’Connell, whom he known as his “BFF” final season.
Nonetheless, the selection was made with the Raiders anticipating a quick begin by Minshew.
3 times in his five-year profession has Minshew began at the very least eight video games in a single season. And he has gotten off to a comparatively quick begin within the first 4 begins of these respective seasons, passing for a mixed 3,216 yards with 21 TDs and 9 INTs whereas finishing 64.9% of his passes in these 12 video games. He has additionally run the ball 38 occasions for 220 yards however has been sacked 38 occasions.
Extrapolate these early-season numbers to a 17-game schedule and Minshew initiatives to 4,556 passing yards, 30 TD passes and 13 INTs with 312 speeding yards and 54 sacks.
Nonetheless, his groups have been simply 4-8 in these video games.
The wild card in all of that is Adams, a three-time first-team All-Professional who has but to construct chemistry with Minshew and appeared to be leaning towards O’Connell, referencing his accuracy in camp.
Contemplate: Adams “signed off” on the Raiders transferring on from Jimmy Garoppolo final season in favor of O’Connell and constructed a rapport with the then-rookie. However then Adams was out and in of OTAs earlier than attending the three-day obligatory minicamp. He additionally missed the ultimate 5 practices of coaching camp in Costa Mesa, California, in addition to the exhibition in opposition to the Vikings for the start of his son earlier than rejoining the crew in Las Vegas for 2 practices.
However after saying he most popular to not play in any respect within the preseason, and earlier than Pierce stated all wholesome starters would go well with up in opposition to Dallas, Adams sat out Saturday’s recreation in opposition to the Cowboys as Pierce stated Adams was “sore” after an “awkward motion” in apply. In brief, Adams, who acknowledged a “few reps might assist,” has not had a lot time with Minshew since he arrived however stated in camp “conversations” have been additionally necessary.
“And that is sort of how [Aaron Rodgers] and I used to work [in Green Bay],” Adams stated. “It wasn’t simply concerning the reps that we had in apply, nevertheless it was concerning the communication, the movie that we watched collectively and simply going off of time and the various things like that that have been equally as necessary as getting these on-the-field work.”
Pierce additionally stated no starters would play within the Raiders’ exhibition finale Friday evening in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers, so, no recreation reps available there, both.
Adams, although, is effectively versed in Getsy’s scheme from their time collectively in Inexperienced Bay. So that they have that going for them, proper?
“I do not assume something here’s a completed product,” Pierce stated, “however based mostly off of the place we need to go within the first quarter of the season, we really feel like Gardner offers us the most effective alternative.”
