Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce has made it a point to establish a culture and identity; now it’s paying off for the Silver and Black.
Last year, Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby was calling Gardner Minshew a “lil a** boy.” Against the Baltimore Ravens on the road with the offense on the ropes, he told him, “We got your back.” From that point on, the Raiders offense turned it around and got on the defense’s level.
Leadership
According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, leadership is defined as the act of leading a group of people or an organization.
Leadership is more than just a word or workplace strategy. It’s helping the team overcome adversity and rally toward achieving a common goal. Six quarters into the season, the Raiders Minshew lead offense had scored a total of 16 points. After giving up four turnovers and three by Minshew, the offense wasn’t off to a hot start.
Rather than get frustrated and continue dumping on Minshew and the offense, Crosby stopped and lifted him up. You can visually see the look on Minshew’s face change as the words of encouragement and affirmation lift his spirits.
“Minshew Mania” is laid back and getting on track
From that point on, the defense got off the field with a missed field goal and essentially wiped out the possessional advantage from the turnover. Minshew played his relaxed brand of football, scrambling and throwing on the move. Minshew discovered Brock Bowers (the Raiders’ prized first round pick earlier this year) and possessed the self-assurance to launch his breakthrough. No. 15 linked up with the rookie to the tune of nine catches for 98 yards.
Taking it a step further, he got in rhythm with wide receiver Davante Adams for nine catches, 110 yards, and a touchdown. Impressive as that may be, there were other opportunities that Adams dropped. No. 17 missed two other opportunities, one in the endzone on a short back shoulder throw and another on an underneath slant.
Adams, on the other hand, may be the toe drag swag of the week, hitting the Michael Jackson ‘Smooth Criminal lean’ to catch a football on a comeback for a big first down conversion.
Minshew would finish the game with an efficient 30 completions on 38 attempts for 276 yards, one touchdown, and an interception. He then rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter, scoring on four consecutive possessions to secure the lead. Demonstrating his leadership qualities to both teammates and coaches was a significant accomplishment.
Giving this Raiders win its proper respect
It is a must to credit the Ravens defense where it is due. Playing on the road against a very competitive Ravens defense is no small feat. The Ravens defense held the Raiders offense to 43 total yards, with only four rushing yards and first downs in the first half. Additionally, the unit tallied six tackles for loss, three sacks, and an interception in that half.
Keying on the guard and tapping the center on the leg before snapping the ball gives the defense an advantage. In nearly every play of the first half, the Ravens’ defensive line was outpacing the Raiders’ offensive line at the point of attack. This made the run game nonexistent and the passing game largely stagnant.
Togetherness and the forging of culture and brotherhood in the offseason contributed to a quality win.
