Ultimate season used to be excellent sufficient the Raiders requested Antonio Pierce to stick after the Los Angeles Chargers went to sudden method to protected Jim Harbaugh as their new head trainer.
Pierce, the period in-between for the general two months final season, faces Harbaugh and the Chargers within the regular-season opener Sunday in a recreation every group hopes to make use of as a commentary.
Pierce put his workforce at the “Beat L.A.” project greater than two weeks in the past because of the original scenario of dealing with a group for the primary time with a trainer imported from the varsity ranks and myriad adjustments to the present schemes.
“Simply to stay pounding away on movie and return so far as we will be able to. And you do not need to chase ghosts, proper? You do not return and take a look at the 2011 season with Harbaugh, however possibly you do,” Pierce mentioned. “And the ones two gents had been round every different, him and (offensive coordinator) Greg Roman. So, with any little tidbits we will be able to do, we’ve got an attractive excellent workforce upstairs that does a really perfect process of breaking down movie. After which, concentrate, on the day, you must make the changes, and the avid gamers have as a way to adapt to it.”
The Chargers input the Harbaugh training technology with franchise quarterback Justin Herbert returning as the center piece of the offense, after he recovered from contemporary plantar fasciitis problems. The solid of characters round him? There are adjustments all over.
Long gone are offensive veterans like vast receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and operating again Austin Ekeler. Extensive receiver Joshua Palmer is Herbert’s go-to man now, whilst 2023 first-round pick out Quentin Johnston and rookie Ladd McConkey glance to make their mark. J.Ok. Dobbins and Gus Edwards take over at operating again.
Extensive receiver DJ Chark Jr. (hip), used to be the one Chargers participant lacking from observe Wednesday, whilst cornerback Tarheeb Nonetheless (hip) used to be restricted.
Identified for his quirks — already the use of start, aircraft takeoff and first-day-of college metaphors — Harbaugh merely needs the Chargers to concentrate on the fundamentals.
“Simply wish to stay construction,” Harbaugh mentioned. “Simply the theory of seeing if we will be able to be higher these days than we had been the day before today, higher the next day to come than we had been these days. Simply that so-simple-it-might-just-work means. Preserving guys wholesome, proceeding to get larger and more potent.”
By no means one to turn his hand — or his intensity chart — Harbaugh gave away little or no within the preseason. Contemporary off a countrywide championship at Michigan, he returns to the NFL after he guided the San Francisco 49ers to a 44-19-1 file and one Tremendous Bowl berth from 2011-14. He accredited the be offering, reportedly $16 million in keeping with yr on a five-year deal valued at $80 million.
The Chargers will put force on opposing quarterbacks with a couple of elite edge rushers in Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. Bosa has struggled with accidents and broke his left hand only a month in the past however is ready to play Sunday. Mack enters off a 17-sack season, fourth very best within the league.
“If anything else, it used to be day without work the frame, much less pressure on my legs and let some issues heal up,” Bosa mentioned about lacking just about 4 weeks of observe time. “Now I am feeling in a position to move.”
The Raiders head into the opener and not using a playoff victories since enjoying within the Tremendous Bowl following the 2002 season.
Pierce took over as head trainer on an period in-between foundation final season and guided the Raiders to a 5-4 end. Pierce formally used to be anointed the placement within the offseason and has named Gardner Minshew II as quarterback for the opener over Aidan O’Connell.
“Gardner provides us the most productive alternative to get off to a quick get started,” Pierce mentioned.
Pierce mentioned this recreation is not about him getting the process in Las Vegas or returning house to his Los Angeles roots this week.
“We are looking to get our first divisional win towards a truly excellent opponent, who is going to be motivated, neatly coached, bodily, difficult. I imply, we were given to convey our laborious hats,” he mentioned.
The Raiders had been one in all seven groups in 2023 that averaged not up to 300 yards in keeping with recreation at 289.5 and had been twenty third with 19.5 issues in keeping with recreation. On protection, a skilled entrance 4 is led by means of defensive finish Maxx Crosby (14.5 sacks in 2023).
Crosby is the participant that Herbert is considering maximum when he breaks the huddle.
“We understand how gifted he’s, we understand how gifted that group is. That protection truly flies round, makes a large number of performs,” Herbert mentioned of Crosby.
Underneath new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, the Raiders will glance to fortify on a median of 90.7 speeding yards in keeping with recreation that used to be thirtieth within the NFL final season. With Josh Jacobs now with the Inexperienced Bay Packers, Zamir White takes over because the lead again (451 yards, one TD in 2023).
“I at all times say, Week 1, the hole week of the playoffs and the Tremendous Bowl, the ones are other speeds of soccer and that presentations up with the more youthful guys,” mentioned Pierce. “Confidently, we’ve got prepped them in the best way we get ready and observe.”
The Raiders had been totally represented at Wednesday’s observe with tight finish Brock Bowers (foot), linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (knee) and cornerback Decamerion Richardson (hamstring) all restricted.
–Box Degree Media
