After a less-than-stellar competition, the Las Vegas Raiders have named a starting quarterback. Gardner Minshew is the leading man for Antonio Pierce’s squad.
Aidan O’Connell was the Raiders’ starting quarterback in 2023 and will serve as the backup. Minshew came over in free agency after a tenure with the Indianapolis Colts. During his time there, he eliminated the Las Vegas Raiders from playoff contention near the end of the 2023 NFL season.
Energy and Experience Won the Day
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In his press conference detailing what won Minshew the job, Pierce was honest in his assessment. “We feel like Gardner gives us the best opportunity to get off to a fast start, and that’s who we’re going with.” He also stated about Minshew that what they saw in practice was important.
Minshew’s energy, leadership, and personality were also huge factors. Minshew has a lot more experience than O’Connell does, which also helped, as he’s been in situations like this in both Jacksonville and Indianapolis. With Minshew under center, the Las Vegas Raiders are hopeful they can challenge the Kansas City Chiefs.
Both Quarterbacks Underwhelmed
In the battle for the starting job, the one thing for sure is that both quarterbacks didn’t play well. In particular, last night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys was a massive struggle for both quarterbacks. Minshew threw several questionable passes, while O’Connell threw a pick-six against third-stringers.
For the preseason, Minshew was 16-33 for 212 yards and one touchdown. O’Connell was 21-29 for 172 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. That’s pretty even as far as it goes statistically, but what set it apart was that Minshew averaged 6.4 yards per attempt while O’Connell only averaged 5.9 yards per attempt.
What Minshew Brings to The Offense
The biggest thing that Minshew will bring to the Las Vegas Raiders is his energy. His incredible persona has led to the phrase “Minshew Mania” and garnered him a fanbase. He has been an overwhelming fan favorite since his days at Washington State.
His pregame speech before the Cowboys game was a massive example of his leadership ability. His mobility and willingness to extend the play can hopefully add a bit of excitement to the offense. He’s also very well known for his extreme willingness to take chances, even to the detriment of turning the football over.
Pierce Hopes To Get Off to Quick Start
Pierce repeatedly expressed his hope that the team would get off to a fast start after a great offseason. He hopes that Minshew will be the guy who can get the Las Vegas Raiders some big wins early in the season. Given the team’s schedule, a fast start might not be easy for them.
The Las Vegas Raiders open the season on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens. Those will not be easy games to win, and they will be underdogs in most games. The Las Vegas Raiders haven’t won a regular-season game in Los Angeles since 2020.
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