The Las Vegas Raiders now sit at 2-6 following their 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. A run to the playoffs is looking more and more farfetched by the week and it isn’t just players who are coming under fire, but also some of the coaches as well.
Head coach Antonio Pierce was the choice of many after how well the Raiders ended last season once he took over, but a coach also has to choose the right assistants and that is coming into question now. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy is garnering a lot of criticism, with the Raiders currently ranking 26th in points and 28th in yards, but some believe a couple of big-name assistants are apparently not pulling their weight as well.
According to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda, there is a belief from some within the Raiders that assistants Marvin Lewis and Rob Ryan have checked out and are just with the Raiders to get paid:
“The criticism of assistant coaches is not just directed at [Luke] Getsy but also extends to Marvin Lewis and Rob Ryan.
“Ryan, a once-celebrated defensive coordinator, is listed as the teams ‘Senior Defensive Assistant.’ Lewis, formerly the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals from 2003 to 2015 who also coached with Pierce at Arizona State, is listed as Assistant Head Coach. Detractors close to the situation tell me both Ryan and Lewis have checked out and are basically just in Las Vegas to collect checks.”
Bringing on experienced coaches like Lewis and Ryan makes a ton of sense for a first-time head coach like Pierce. There are certain things Pierce has not gone through and they are two assistants who can help the Raiders coach navigate these situations when they pop up.
But that is only the case if they are engaged and contributing, which some inside the Raiders apparently feel like is the case. When a team is losing like the Raiders are, a lot of frustrations begin to come out, and the only way to turn things around is to get on the winning track.
Antonio Pierce says Raiders Aren’t a Good Team
With the Raiders struggling so far in this 2024 season, some have wondered whether they wouldn’t be better off tanking for the rest of the season. But Antonio Pierce says that has not, nor will it be in the franchise’s plans.
Prior to Sunday’s contest, Pierce spoke about the current state of the team, saying he didn’t expect their record to be what it is and that a lot of other teams are dealing with the same issues as the Raiders. The coach added that they are not tanking and are trying to be the best they can, but simply aren’t a good team right now.
