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Was the new Raiders regime OK with losing in 2022 all along?

By Keith Ricci

HENDERSON, NEVADA - JULY 27: (L-R) Owner and managing general partner Mark Davis, head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler of the Las Vegas Raiders talk during the team's first fully padded practice during training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on July 27, 2022 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
HENDERSON, NEVADA - JULY 27: (L-R) Owner and managing general partner Mark Davis, head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler of the Las Vegas Raiders talk during the team's first fully padded practice during training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on July 27, 2022 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 05: Running back Josh Jacobs #28 and interim head coach/special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia of the Las Vegas Raiders walk on the field during warmups before a game against the Washington Football Team at Allegiant Stadium on December 5, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Washington Football Team defeated the Raiders 17-15. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 05: Running back Josh Jacobs #28 and interim head coach/special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia of the Las Vegas Raiders walk on the field during warmups before a game against the Washington Football Team at Allegiant Stadium on December 5, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Washington Football Team defeated the Raiders 17-15. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Was the new Raiders regime OK with losing in 2022 all along?

New vs Old

Sure, the Raiders wanted to be a winning team this season. But I think Davis hired them knowing it wasn’t a continuation of the 2021 team and that McDaniels would need more than just the first year of his four-year contract to get to “the next level”.

I don’t believe keeping McDaniels right now is about Davis’ pride. He has always been authentic and straightforward when speaking with media and fans, never afraid to admit when he’s wrong and fix the problem. He would fire McDaniels today, but I think his plan was always to let this play out.

As I mentioned, McDaniels and Ziegler are the exact opposites of the prior Gruden/Bisaccia/Mayock regime. The new duo is very analytical and strictly business – X’s and O’s before anything else – with a coaching staff known for elaborate schemes. They aren’t asking how your family is doing, they’re asking about that play you made in practice yesterday. This style attracts win-hungry owners but is a massive change in culture for retained players.

The prior regime was charismatic with incredible leadership skills, which was much more their strength than their drafting and game planning. They were the perfect leaders for any locker room, but especially one that included two recovering addicts and the first active NFL player to publicly come out as gay. They created a comfortable environment. The locker room was once a closely knit brotherhood, but it’s now divided and depleted, either because of the constant losing or because the new regime is less personable. Probably both.

I’ve been watching football for a long time and I’ve never seen an outpouring of love for a fired coach like the Raiders players towards Rich Bisaccia when he was relieved of his job in January. It was really something. Raider Nation felt the same way. Mike Mayock nailed it when he said he was the “best leader of men” back in October 2021.

After his final game as head coach, Bisaccia hand-wrote a personal note to each player, a gesture that spoke volumes to his relationship with them.

When Bisaccia returns to Allegiant Stadium in 2023 with the Packers, there will be an incredible ovation for him from players and fans. So going from that to the current situation is a massive change in the environment. Again, I’m not giving my opinion of which coaching style is good or bad, I’m simply stating the fact that a change like this is impactful on people.

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