Raiders Opinion: The Long Game

As the Las Vegas Raiders announced the signing of Head Coach Josh McDaniels, a variety of emotions emerged. The initial realization after the signing was that interim head coach Rich Bisaccia’s run had come to an end. Bisaccia was highly respected in the locker room, not only as a coach but as a human. Many players vouched for him to shed the interim tag and receive the head coaching job, including Derek Carr, just minutes after the team’s playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Player’s Choice

At the time of the signing, the team voiced their support for Bisaccia. Many regard him as a father figure. It was a bit shocking to watch the Raiders move on, despite all the turmoil he had pulled the team through. On the other hand, the Raiders players have not made many comments regarding the hiring of McDaniels. Running back Josh Jacobs tweeted and quickly deleted an emoji portraying discomfort while players across the league seemed to echo his feelings.

History Repeated?

Seattle Seahawks free safety Quandre Diggs tweeted “They just don’t learn I see” after the news dropped. Diggs had been a Detroit Lion during Matt Patricia’s abhorrent reign as head coach but was traded for a fifth-round pick as Patricia rid the team of his loudest doubter. The connection between McDaniels and Patricia is simple: The Patriot Way. Assistant coaches of Bill Belichick tend to get looked on more fondly than just any other assistant due to the success the Patriots have had over the years. But, being an assistant for the Patriots under Belichick has only proved that the man that initially hired them knows how to win.

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Adjustment Trouble

When Belichick assistants get head coaching jobs, the general consensus is that Belichick must show them everything he knows.  Therefore, this coach will also know how to win for two decades. Coaches tied to “The Patriot Way” are Bill O’Brien (one of the few Belichick prodigies with a winning coaching record), Patricia, Jim Schwartz, and Eric Mangini. Should McDaniels not be able to walk what he talks, he will be yet another piece of evidence that there is no “Patriot Way”. Just a “Belichick Way” if you will, and even that may not pass down to his offspring.

A New Hope

All things considered, McDaniels is not a bad pick to break the streak, as he has been highly regarded around the league, and frequently finds his name thrown around head coaching vacancies. His one stint in Denver may have lasted less than two seasons, but owner John Elway may be a bit at fault for tearing the team down during McDaniels’ tenure. The Raiders have their coach and their GM, and now the real future-shaping decisions can begin to be made.