When Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said the team was going to win “a bunch” of games this year, I don’t think he had a 3-14 record in mind.
Las Vegas obviously didn’t win a lot of games, and it cost Carroll his job after just one season. But why did it go so wrong for Carroll and the Raiders?
There were several reasons why this season was a disaster. For starters, Carroll’s huge promise for the playoffs in his first year with a rebuilding team that is still far from contention raised eyebrows early.
The team hit the ground running, knocking off the eventual second-seeded New England Patriots in Week 1. The star of that game? Quarterback Geno Smith, who threw for 362 yards in his debut game as a Raider. Unfortunately, that would be the last time Smith would be celebrated in a winning effort.
The Raiders lost 14 of their next 16 games and secured the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft. During that long stretch of losing, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and special teams coordinator Tom McMahon were fired.
The offense scored the least points per game (14.2) and the defense allowed the eighth-most points per game (25.4). Add in how ineffective the special teams unit was before and after McMahon, it was not a recipe for success.
While this team has a lot to fix moving forward, the biggest need is clear: quarterback.
“The Raiders haven't drafted a quarterback in the first round since JaMarcus Russell in 2007,” ESPN’s Ryan McFadden wrote Sunday. “That could very well change in April. The decision to bring in Geno Smith with the expectation that he could deliver instant success didn't work. He threw a league-high 17 interceptions, and at 35, he is not getting any younger. If the Raiders are serious about building for the future -- or in general manager John Spytek's words, "sustained success" -- that means bringing in a young quarterback.”
The Raiders may be interested in several QB prospects, but the clear favorite to go No. 1 is Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza was phenomenal this season and is a leader who can be Las Vegas’ franchise quarterback for years to come.
“Mendoza's poise, toughness and accuracy stood out in his lone season with the Hoosiers, as he won the Heisman Trophy while leading them to a 14-0 record,” ESPN’s Jordan Reid wrote Tuesday. “With tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty, the Raiders have building blocks on offense that would help Mendoza thrive right away.”
His 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame reminds me of Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, and you can see some Allen when you watch Mendoza. He’s quick with his legs and isn’t afraid to leave the pocket. He can sling it with the best of them and will have All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers and exciting running back Ashton Jeanty to work with.
If the Raiders can hire the right head coach, this team will be fun to watch for a long time.