Pierce: Raiders should ‘clear up’ offensive points

HENDERSON. Nev. — Although Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce mentioned Wednesday he’s comfy with Luke Getsy because the crew’s offensive coordinator and playcaller, Pierce additionally acknowledged that one thing has to alter forward of this weekend’s matchup with the Bengals (3-5) in Cincinnati.

Particularly after the Raiders, who’re simply 2-6 on the season and mired of their first four-game shedding streak since 2019, averaged lower than 2.0 yards per carry for the second time this season in Sunday’s 27-20 loss to Kansas Metropolis, magnified by two offensive alternatives contained in the Chiefs’ 5-yard line which resulted in simply three factors.

“It has to get higher,” Pierce mentioned in his weekly information convention. “There was numerous alternatives for us to attain factors and make alternatives and yeah, that is on the playcall. However then additionally, like I informed our workers and I informed our gamers, it is easy to … level the finger at Luke or myself. However the O-line play, quarterbacks, the operating backs, turnovers and missed blocks, missed execution on performs, alignments, the main points, all these issues should get cleaned up.

“So yeah, it does begin with the coordinator; he is received to be the one which takes the autumn for that and will get a lot of the blame. However it’s collective.”

With Getsy because the Raiders’ first-year offensive coordinator, Las Vegas ranks twenty eighth within the NFL in complete offense. It’s No. 18 in passing and No. 31 in dashing. The Raiders’ common of 18.0 factors per sport is twenty sixth within the NFL.

To handle potential playcalling points, Pierce had Getsy transfer from the sphere to the press field throughout video games earlier than the Raiders’ loss on the Los Angeles Rams two weeks in the past.

“We’ll play it by ear, week-to-week,” Getsy mentioned earlier than the Chiefs sport. “I am comfy each methods. I feel it was numerous good that got here from being up there, and I feel there’s numerous good from being on the sphere. So, I am good both manner.”

Accidents and ineffectiveness have plagued the Raiders, who benched beginning quarterback Gardner Minshew for Aidan O’Connell earlier than O’Connell suffered a damaged thumb on his proper (passing) hand in his second begin. Las Vegas went again to Minshew whereas additionally signing Desmond Ridder off the Arizona Cardinals’ follow squad final week. Minshew has dedicated 11 turnovers himself, and the Raiders are tied for final within the NFL with a minus-13 turnover differential.

Minshew leaned extra into the shortage of execution because the offender.

“Most performs, you’ve gotten an opportunity when you do it proper,” Minshew mentioned. “There’s alternatives there to do it and we did not do it. So on the finish of the day, we have got to take a look at ourselves – all people’s received to say, ‘How can I do my job higher?’

“And I feel we’re doing that. I be ok with how we’re approaching this week, that perspective of the fellows, our perspective, the coaches, I feel all people’s coming in, placing their work hat on, able to get again after it.”

The Raiders have additionally had 4 totally different beginning offensive strains in eight video games and a fifth is likely to be so as in opposition to Cincinnati after middle Andre James injured an ankle in opposition to the Chiefs and rookie left guard Jackson Powers-Johnson slid over. Plus, Las Vegas has reimagined the huge receiver room within the wake of the Davante Adams commerce and tight finish Michael Mayer has been gone for private causes since after Week 3.

At operating again, Zamir White started the season because the starter, however a groin situation sidelined him for 2 video games, and free agent pickup Alexander Mattison — who rushed for 15 yards on 14 carries in opposition to the Chiefs — is averaging a career-low 3.2 yards per carry. They’re confounding numbers contemplating Getsy had guided the Bears to the league’s first-ranked dashing assault in 2022 and the second-ranked unit in 2023.