Observations From Josh McDaniels’ Words After Raiders Shutout Loss
Observations From Josh McDaniels’ Words After Raiders Shutout Loss
What is the state of the Raiders’ locker room under Josh McDaniels?
The way the Raiders respond in the next couple of games, starting in Jacksonville, is going to give us the answer to that question. The team as a whole has looked flat, unprepared, and just plain out of sorts. The narrative of “two halves” was actually broken, but not in a good way. Rather, the team didn’t show up for either half.
The fact is that the season has largely been underwhelming as a whole. The expectations placed on this Raiders team (whether by fans or the media) probably raised the bar for a team that wasn’t ready. By the same token, McDaniels remains adamant that such struggles aren’t exclusive to the Silver and Black, a remark that also infuriated many fans.
"“Again, yes, as disappointing as yesterday was, we’ve had some signs of progress here and really just trying to stay consistent as much as we can here. We learn from the things we don’t do well, and hopefully we can improve and get better. Like I said, it’s not unique to us. We’re not the only team that loses games. And again, as hard as yesterday was, hopefully we’ll be able to learn the lessons from that and be better.”"
The truth is, that locker room likely hasn’t been the most enjoyable place in the last 48 hours. Many harsh truths and criticisms were likely dished out, and nothing less should be expected. McDaniels believes that direct and open communication works best for his team, citing that accountability remains a focal point for his team.
At the end of the day, what really matters is whether the players will respond to McDaniels as the season hangs in the balance this Sunday.