Answering your Las Vegas Raiders questions: how to win?
HENDERSON, Nev.–The Las Vegas Raiders have one of the most passionate fan bases in all of professional sports.
We strive each week to respond to the emails and questions you send us. So let’s get straight to this week’s mailbag:
Hondo -The Raiders need a number 2 at this point. Waller’s hamstring injury is unknown and Renfrow is fighting from a concussion. Would the Raiders trade for the Pats’ Agholor? He knows the offense from last year with McDaniels and knows Carr. Many Thanks. Eric Moore
No, they’re thrilled with Mack Hollins and Hunter Renfrow is doing well with his recovery.
Some of you had comments that didn’t need an answer. Here are some of the cleaner ones:
It seems that Josh McDaniels is overly aggressive at times but overly conservative at other times. It makes me think about him and raises a lot of questions. For example, in the Chiefs game, where Jacob hits the rock so well, why not use him on the 3rd and a pass instead of the low percentage to Adams, who was ruled incomplete, and then especially on the 4th with a lower percentage deeper pass to Adams/Renfro was that a disaster? peter adams
How much longer are we Raider fans going to watch McDaniels lose to a team that was a playoff team last year? Mark Davis needs to stop allowing bad coaches to coach a good team. Don’t be AL Davis!!! Vidal Marquez
Hondo, I love how you handle this column and its emotionality. The topic of ‘learning how to win’ is something that the COACHES need to do. Game planning seems fine, but game time and half time adjustments are just horrendous. This is why so many of us have so little faith in Josh McGenius and his staff. Excellent preparation is undermined by incompetence on match day. The coaches lose us games. -Michael Barnes
Hondo: Josh McDaniels’ “This team needs to learn how to finish games” routine is getting old. Most of the great players on this team are from last year and have several years of experience. If that doesn’t matter, why do all the coaches, announcers and analysts talk about years of experience all the time? His statement seems like a weak excuse. They made the damn playoffs last year and won a few close games! Maybe it’s Josh who needs to learn how to train to finish games and win. The Cardinals collapse, the 2-point call and other wrong decisions are at his expense. This team should be at least 3-2. Rick Barone Raider fan in the CLE
Hondo, great job. I don’t believe in all that “learning to win” gibberish that McDaniels keeps throwing up. The core of the team consists of players who have contributed to victory in football. So here’s my question: Does the team really need to “learn how to win” or does McDaniels need to learn? Keep it up. Ricardo Ruelas
I STILL BELIEVE IN THIS TEAM. PEOPLE MAY THINK I AM CRAZY BUT I ACTED THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY ON YOU TO WIN THE DIVISION AND THE SUPER BOWL. I DON’T SHOOT IT. Best Regards, Doug Rigg
Hondo, when will the Raiders spend the money on the OL? This is our weakest point. Carr needs protection. And get rid of Eluemunor, he’s only good for penalties. Commitment to Excellence Aushi Metcalf
They’re willing to take a trade for a long-term fix, but they’re playing the long game rather than a quick fix that becomes an anchor.
Do the coaching staff feel their players are unable to tighten receivers and perhaps get intercepted occasionally? Norvel McDonald
Patrick Graham’s system puts his CBs on an island, and they’ve done a lot of it. I don’t think they think they have inadequate players, I think the feeling is that injuries and a lack of execution from the players hurt them.
Scroll to Next
Hello sir, my question is for the team/coach. Will they be able to improve their tackling? In my opinion, tackling is a problem alongside simple mistakes on the field. Sincerely, Billy Stewart
I agree to address issues. I spoke to DC Patrick Graham about this today, and here’s the transcript:
Q: The NFL has made player safety changes in training camp and even midweek practice isn’t as physical as it used to be, but when you look at the team struggling with tackles like they did against Kansas City have done how can you fix it when you? Are you not as physical as you used to be?
Coach Graham: “Through practice. I mean that’s part of what we need to do in terms of innovation, things change over time. We need to find ways to practice tackling and make sure we bring them as close to real situations as possible. So that’s down to the leadership of our head coach, special teams and defensive coaches who are all going into it and just trying to work on the angles as much as possible. Again, you might not get the physical contact part, but there are ways to simulate that, be it through some of the sled work we use to just get back to basics with that. But tackling is often about the angles, closing at the right angle now, chasing the ball, those are the main things to focus on when you can’t really do it live.”
Q: If you’ve got guys in the right place and they just missed a tackle, it’s not your fault. These are professionals who get paid to do it. Is that perhaps one of the most frustrating parts of the job when you know you’ve called the right play, the player is right there?
Coach Graham: “I’m in charge of defence, under the direction and guidance of our head coach and that’s on me. That will never change. I know the players that have self-imposed at times and stuff, but it’s my job to prepare to stop what we need to stop and it’s my job to get them to execute the way how you need to do it. So that doesn’t change my answer. Appreciate the feeling, but it’s always on me.
How will this “poor” start affect this team’s resolve to keep the faith and push forward? I see a lot of good things and they could easily have a 1-4 to 5-0 record. Thanks Monty Hilton
I can tell you that, and I speak from decades of experience. I’ve never seen a team with such high expectations, who started so badly, didn’t turn on each other, until this team. I still feel like this team is recovering, they believe in each other and the anger is directed at themselves.
What’s going on with defensive end rotation? Do the coaches lack confidence in Koonce and Bower? Jones was ineffective until the Chiefs game and Ferrell is not a pass rusher. Mad Maxx was great but could get even better if he rests more during games. Will Leong
I think your question is legitimate. Chandler Jones, I think the last two games have been good. But here’s what Patrick Graham thinks of Chandler Jones: “Again, how we take it, it’s really about influencing the quarterback. And I know you hate to hear it when we say it. But it’s really like that and I’m not complaining about it. But the sacks will come when the sacks come. I mean, the thing is, we’re trying to influence the quarterback first, and the sacks are really a by-product of that. And they will come when they come. And sometimes they come in bundles. I’ve been part of teams when it’s low, low, low, and then all of a sudden they come in heaps. Again it’s a combination of things. How is the situation in the game? A combination of reporting and rushing and just putting things together. And then I would say this, we always talk about being fluid with the pass rush. There has to be a part of them that grows together and benefits from each other, and that’s part of it too. But Chandler played in the Run Game Pass Game. I was happy with what Chandler is doing.”
If you have a question about your Silver and Black, email us at [email protected] with Raiders Q/A/ in the subject line.
The Raiders return in Week 7 when they host the Houston Texans. This game begins at 1:05 p.m. PDT and can be seen on CBS.
Watch Silver and Black live when you get yours Raiders tickets from SI Tickets HERE
Please make sure to give us your thoughts if you like ours Facebook Page IF YOU CLICK HERE.
Do you want to talk about it? Want to give your opinion on all things Las Vegas Raiders? Maybe you want to talk about other sports unrelated to silver and black? We’ve got your back. Join our 100% FREE Message Board, a brand new option, by CLICK HERE.