Raiders Lose 4th Straight; Is Antonio Pierce's Job on the Line?
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Luke Straub:What's up, Raider Nation? Welcome to The RIPP where we celebrate the greatness of the Raiders on the Las Vegas strip. That's right! It's the Raiders in Paradise podcast. Luke Straub and Larry Marbley in the house. Raider
Luke Straub:Larry Marbley in the house. And the Raiders, as we know, man, they lost 4 straight Raider Nation. And, things ain't great right now. 26. Many many fans calling for coach Pierce to even be fired or some calling for that, and everyone's upset, clearly.
Luke Straub:We're upset. You know, and and as far as this Chiefs game, Larry, you know, I think that it exceeded our expectations, which were clearly low, but a lot of whack things happened in that game, and and that kinda you know, that was a bummer, dude. And a little bit of a microcosm for the season, but just a little. I mean, man, it's it was just it was just not it was just another bad Sunday. 4 straight.
Larry Marbley:4 straight. Tough to take. Very tough to take. Yeah. Very tough to take the way it's very tough to take in the way that we lost that, Luke, Raider Nation.
Luke Straub:Man. The way that Ball at the 3 yard line. 3.
Larry Marbley:I'm just quiet on that one. I there's always so much we can relate. I mean
Luke Straub:I mean, that for me I mean, there's a I mean, come on. That that for me was just, like, yeah, the 3rd quarter, you know, that incredible field position, that drive after that was after an interception by the Raiders. And then earlier, the drive before that, you know, the Raiders got the ball, like, the 28 or the 25 or something.
Larry Marbley:Okay.
Luke Straub:You know, and there's you know, more things went wrong in the game. You know? I mean, coach coach Pierce is getting getting, criticized for his game management decisions, you know, and and that's that's I understand that. We've criticized him on The RIPP for his game management. Some more of that popped up.
Luke Straub:Running games continues to be awful. It was just dreadful, man. Like, you know, Alexander Madison had I think he had, like, 15 carries and 15 yards, something like that, or 14 and something. Just god awful. And the Raiders were still 20 to 13 midway through Q4.
Luke Straub:Edmond Shue fumbles it. We could all smell that one coming in. Yeah. I really bad Sunday, man. And, 4 straight.
Luke Straub:So where where you at in coach Pierce, Larry? I mean, I know he's or any comments about the game or or what what do you think?
Larry Marbley:It's a tough one to really determine, but I feel like I feel like I like coach Pierce, but some changes around him are gonna have to be made.
Luke Straub:Yeah. Yeah. And we're gonna have to wait probably a while for those being week Yeah. 8. I think it's week 8.
Luke Straub:Yeah.
Larry Marbley:Yeah. Yeah.
Luke Straub:Yeah. Yeah.
Larry Marbley:You know, AP is going to throughout this year is going to have to have to have our Raiders, you know, play competitive. They cannot be getting blown out. Yeah. And and, boy, you know, we saw, honestly, again, exceeding our ex exceeding my expectations against KC, just we were on them. We were and really and really, Luke, it's another week where the offense gets rolling hot.
Larry Marbley:Yeah. It's another week. It's another week, Luke, where on script for the offense, even without Davonta Adams, a superstar wide receiver, going against this tough KC defense, one of the best at football. At some point, people can say it's even leading their defense right now with with Mahomes and the injuries. Mhmm.
Larry Marbley:The Raiders what? Minchew 849? 1st For
Luke Straub:I don't know.
Larry Marbley:Yeah. He
Luke Straub:was yeah. I mean, the the the Raiders went down 7 and scored 10 straight points. You know, their first their first two scoring drives, you know, were yeah. First two drives are scoring drives.
Larry Marbley:Against the Super Bowl champions who've won all these games in a row, and the Raiders offense looks in the you know, and the beginning looks solid way more than I've ever I thought. Halftime, where you're in the game, and Q3, you get the turnovers, you need to win the game. Okay? You get the turnovers, you need to win the game.
Luke Straub:Yep. You do. Chiefs try to hand the Raiders a game there. I mean, it was it was the Raiders for the taking. At least to take at least to take a commanding lead and and give yourself a great shot to win.
Larry Marbley:Yes. It's
Luke Straub:really sad and pathetic, man. And, you know, after that that first drive that started at, like, the 28 or the 25, I I honestly can't recall. Yeah. But, you know, they clawed their way to, like, a first and goal at the 4, and they couldn't punch it in. And then as we know after the interception, yeah, 1st and goal to 3, couldn't punch it in 3 straight runs to, like, a guy who's notoriously bad on the goal line, Alexander Madison.
Luke Straub:Yeah. You know, like, it it is rough, man. Like, those they get started hot, and the adjustments are really nowhere to be found. I mean, Brock Bowers started hot with the team, and he and Yep. And he faded.
Luke Straub:And, you know, the thing, like, you know, Luke gets you is under fire for for many good reasons. You know, mostly when you put out, like, when you put Thayer Munford out, out wide. And, also Larry reports from Tashawn Reed that Maxwell Crosby also played some full back in that game. So things are real out of whack to use a saying we like on the wrist.
Larry Marbley:I stopped pouring my beer, like literally the board, the beer drips stopped while you were talking.
Luke Straub:Yeah, bro. I mean, so it's just real, real wacky. And, you know, but the thing that really for me is like, Like, I can overlook some of that stuff, no matter how stupid it is, you know, like, I, I just, whatever, that's just me, but what I can't, I mean, of course, you know, you rather at work And and, you know, Max Crosby, between the 2, discretions there by Getze. I mean, you can't really do that. I mean, I just ask Max Crosby.
Luke Straub:You know, injury wise, you can't really do that. But the thing that really you is the the Chiefs blitz, and it was like, ah, Chiefs blitz. Oh, no. We're we're done. Bury us.
Luke Straub:Kick the dirt on us. We we can't handle it. How do you are you not ready for that?
Larry Marbley:Thank you, Luke. Thank you. Preach. Preach.
Luke Straub:That's that's to me. I mean, that's because, like, dude, now you could put there a month without wide all day. Like, if you if if you can just keep scoring points like you did, you know, on the first two two drives, you know, I don't care. But, man, do you keep I mean, the spec with the spagnola spag spagnolo, That that that son that that son of a gun? Like, I mean, he's I don't keep track of other defensive coordinators.
Luke Straub:I'll admit. Like, I really don't. But he's one of those guys that everybody knows that blitzes. Everybody knows that. So that was pretty sad.
Larry Marbley:I love it. I love when Luke goes, ah,
Luke Straub:I love it.
Larry Marbley:I'm sorry. Because because because when you watch the game, Blazer Nation, you see Min Shu, he goes back to pass. He doesn't even go back to pass. The blitz is on. He goes to run.
Larry Marbley:That's that's what it is. That's what
Luke Straub:happened on the fumble. That's what happened on the on the 4th and goal after Mary's interception. It's like, ah.
Larry Marbley:I love it. I have
Luke Straub:to do it. That was it. Oh my god. You know, scary season. Right?
Luke Straub:That's what happened. That's what happened, man. It was really, really rough to see. And, you know, like, as far as the run game, dog, I mean, I I can come to no other conclusion that that it's just everything is wrong with that, like, as far as personnel. Like, I don't I I can't I don't know what else it it it could be, man.
Luke Straub:Like, either that or they do do what?
Larry Marbley:Come on. What? Can we stop can we stop and say, can we yo. You might have you might have to put a a lash or 2 in on your boy. Your boy, Andre James, is getting eaten up.
Larry Marbley:I don't know. I don't know the stats.
Luke Straub:Well, yeah. I mean, it's it's it's because everyone yeah. I mean, it's because he got he got hurt and and, Jack, you know, JPJ went in there. Jackson Powers Johnson went in there and, looked good. Like, yeah.
Luke Straub:I mean, it was so stupid. Like, he he was JPJ was supposed to be the best center coming out of the draft. So, yeah, I mean, people are finally realizing that maybe Andre James really sucks, which is gratifying, but it's not great because, like, he sucks. That's the worst part. And, you know, it's like, he's like, his numbers are, like, decent Raider Nation and and Larry, but, like, but it's like he it just he just has he's so inconsistent.
Luke Straub:Just he has catastrophically bad snaps where he looks like he's barely even there. And it's it's honestly, it puts it puts the Raiders skill players in danger. That's my honest opinion.
Larry Marbley:Oh, good job.
Luke Straub:You know?
Larry Marbley:So Thank you. I
Luke Straub:don't like that. So yeah. You know? I mean so, there are pieces. I think besides the 2 rookies that the Raiders drafted, I have to assume those guys are are are a good fit for the scheme.
Luke Straub:But, I mean, running back, it's got it's just all wrong. There's nobody there. Madison, you know, I don't he's done some things. He's but
Larry Marbley:not not not much. What? He says because you could get.
Luke Straub:Yeah. He had, like, he had, like, a 80 or 90 yard rushing game one time, and that was cool. It was against, like, the I don't know who. I forget. Was it against the Rams, maybe?
Luke Straub:I don't know. But it was it doesn't matter. Raiders don't have a 100 yard rusher this year. I mean, run game is just beyond awful. And and that and let me pivot back to AP for a second because that I think is what's really killing coach Pierce.
Luke Straub:Like 100%. You could talk about the quarterback, which I do a lot. You know, give give this man a quarterback, please. And, of course, that's not gonna happen for a while. Right.
Luke Straub:Except that the Desmond Raider surprises the whole world. And any any aliens if they're watching, they'd be surprised. But, alright. But, yeah. It that's you know, the run the lack of a run game is just a serious killer to everything.
Luke Straub:Everything. And and and it's it's arguably made worse. I mean, I think it may be not even arguable. It's probably made worse by the fact that coach Pierce has not given up on it. He's just he's just running the football, dog.
Larry Marbley:Yep. Yep. I I agree. It makes it worse. It makes it look worse.
Larry Marbley:You would think that the Raiders will go out there and throw first. You would think the numbers would tell you and that the success rate. And I almost kinda think that that's why you're seeing the quote, unquote gimmick plays a lot more than we should than what we should be seeing.
Luke Straub:Yeah. Makes sense.
Larry Marbley:Because the run game because the run game is so is so ass is you know, you're seeing you're seeing things like double reverses, things that you hardly see very many NFL teams do. Because you know why? They don't have to. You wanna know why? Because they got a fucking running game.
Luke Straub:Yep. No. I like that. That brings me to that. You know, we we should should probably mention, like, you know, that drive.
Luke Straub:I think I already briefly mentioned it. That drive at
Larry Marbley:Yeah.
Luke Straub:End of the fur end of the first half. You know? And this is this is what reminds me of that, Larry. Like, you're talking about these gimmick plays. You know, Raiders had scored on their first two drives.
Luke Straub:You know, Chiefs scored. I think I must they they must have been ahead by that time or whatever it was. I don't know what the score was, but it was close game. And the Raiders just basically took the ball. They had, like, about 2 minutes left, and and they just they they they played it safe and coach Pierce.
Luke Straub:And this is like I'm about to I'm about to back coach coach Pierce up in a minute. But, you know, this is the kind of stuff that, dude, serious growing pains, serious inexperience, serious issues with some of his decisions, where he said at the end of the first half, he thought it was more important to run clock than score than score. Yeah. And, yeah, that's just not really it. You know?
Luke Straub:I mean, I definitely understand that his his offense is not the Chiefs offense, which zip down the field, like, at the end of the first half very easily. Like, I know coach Pierce doesn't have an offense where you can, like, just put out there and be like, yeah. Let's go. Let's go for it and and feel good about scoring. But you gotta try.
Luke Straub:You gotta try. You gotta try more than running clock. And, you know, the the first play was like a sweep to Jacoby Myers, and it just stuffed. And this and then the second play was an actual run play to Amir Abdul who needs to get more snaps. This is ridiculous.
Luke Straub:Let me see let me see some of that Nebraska action. Let's go. Let's pretend it's Lawrence Phillips. Let's go. But, you know alright.
Luke Straub:But, yeah. Then and then I think it was, yeah. Then they they actually passed on 3rd down. But, yeah, you know, like, when you the that was the play they called. I think it's like like a default type play, Larry.
Luke Straub:Like, yeah. Like, some kind of sweep, some kind of whatever. The double reverse, like you said, wild, where they're like, okay. We need to run a play that, like, could actually gain some yards, but it's, like, not a pass. And then they're and that's that's really what they're going to.
Luke Straub:A lot a lot. More than those wide receiver passes, lately anyway, I think. You know, even when they when they do try those, I think those are pretty well scouted up. You know, they're getting battered down. So that's that's that's an issue, man.
Luke Straub:Like, you know, but, like, let me let me defend. Before we get to coach Pierce a little bit more in-depth, let me let me attempt to defend Luke Getze just just in one small way, just in one small way. And this is the same defense for coach Pierce in part. Like, get this man at quarterback. And a little bit of backstory as we know, like, Justin Fields, who is I would like on the roster, real talk, Like, you know, gets his quarterback with the bears.
Luke Straub:Yeah. He got bench for Russell Wilson. Okay? He had every single opportunity in the world. He was actually winning football games.
Luke Straub:Right? They he had a well, they had a winning record, I think, with Justin Fields. And he's just not a very good quarterback. And that's who Luke gets he had before when he sucked. Now he has Minshew, and he sucks.
Luke Straub:And he sucks. I get it. But he's sucking with with with quarterbacks who who also suck. So that's my defense of of of Luke Getsy. Now there's there's so many things that that are not good.
Luke Straub:Like I said, the blitz is inexcusable, the lack of preparation for that, and you have to blame them somewhat for, the lack of execution in the run game. I mean, I assume, or I don't know who the off line coach works close with get CI assume like that that's awful, but but most, but mostly, yeah, just you gotta be prepared for for people that change the game plan mid game, and it's just this that is the that is the most damning thing about him. But I just had to throw that out there, Larry. I couldn't help but but his quarterbacks.
Larry Marbley:That's fine. Hey. We all gotta do something because let me say you, that's that's about you're being nice. Because you're trying
Luke Straub:to keep it real. I was trying to keep it real, man. I mean, look look look look at this guy. And I I mentioned this on the phone. Like like, me personally, like, I don't judge offensive coordinators too harshly when they don't got, like, a full cupboard.
Luke Straub:You know? When they don't got, like you look at the roster and it's like, who who could who could do something with this? And there there are some clearly, you know, but
Larry Marbley:That's where I come in. And if I don't wanna black truck you off, but I believe a coordinator you get off at the corner, you get a scheme. I believe you need a scheme, and you had 7 plays at the 4 yard line. You 4 of those plays were the most doo doo ass plays I think I've ever seen.
Luke Straub:Yeah. That was
Larry Marbley:probably one of the worst plays I've ever seen. That was probably the worst goal line stand call I've ever seen ever. Ever. Ever.
Luke Straub:You're right. Okay. I I don't necessarily disagree too much, but I, you know, how much blame does the offensive line get for that? How much blame does a personnel get for that? Because, like, I have to assume if, like, 1 guy made, like, a good block or didn't miss a block, like, there was no blocking going on there.
Luke Straub:I mean, right? Like, so I mean, I don't know, man. I just don't think the guy's got a full full set set of of kitchen knives or whatever the hell you wanna I wanna go with. You know, like, yeah, it was terrible, like but, like, seriously, dog, you're at you're at the 3, and you you you run 3 times, and, yeah, it was shit play calling. But on the other hand, like, do we suck do the line suck that bad?
Luke Straub:I I guess I mean, I think the answer is yes, clearly, which is, like, really unbelievable to me. But yeah. No. I mean, it's it's it's hard to defend, but I just did. I mean, you know, it's like you got it's just it's just one man against it just, 5 men against 5 men at that point, and they they got their ass kicked, man.
Luke Straub:Like, and and, you know, Luke gets you should probably know that, I guess, and and and call a pass. On the other hand, coach Pierce is reportedly pushing the run, and, like, a lot of it has to do. We have to assume with coach Pierce saying run the football. So, I need to see better than from Luke Getze, but but I'm not I just don't have enough information to say he he he really is the worst ever or what have you. Yep.
Luke Straub:But he's close, man. He's close. I mean, I don't know. Like, I he he needs you know? Raiders need to be, like, planning for to get a new new officer coordinator.
Luke Straub:I mean, just because, you know, like I said, my lowest common dom denominator is that blitz thing. That's where I that's where the that that that cuts through all the bullshit, if you will, that I am, all the bullshit Band Aids that I'm trying to throw out there because, you know, I I try to keep it real as we do on this podcast, you know, but that have not been prepared for the blitz, that cuts through a lot of that. So they they need to have some contingency plans going now and seeing looking at who else will be available for sure, man.
Larry Marbley:Minimum. And we all know that at the end of this season, if coach Pierce if AP is able to stay, someone's gonna be the Paul Paul guy. Mhmm. Someone's gonna be the Paul.
Luke Straub:Thank you, Chris Carter. Was it Michael Irvin or Chris Carter? I forget. We'll go Chris Carter. Yeah.
Luke Straub:The Paul guy. You gotta get yourself a Paul guy.
Larry Marbley:I mean, you gotta you have to have a fall guy. And let me tell you, if you wanna keep your job going 4 or 5 wins, you gotta have a fall guy. You gotta That's just the way it works.
Luke Straub:Yeah. If you
Larry Marbley:don't have a fall guy, everybody's getting fired.
Luke Straub:Yep. Yep.
Larry Marbley:So you better have a fall guy. Looks like looks like I have a looks like we have a leading candidate for that fall guy, Luke.
Luke Straub:Yeah. I think so. I think so, Doug. You know, coach Pierce. We move on to coach Pierce.
Luke Straub:Like, okay. So I wanna read something from The Athletic, this article after the game by Deshaun Reed. And, basically, points out that, you know, Mark Davis was was as we can recall, was so sure about hiring Pierce that they didn't really conduct a real coaching search, you especially because Harbaugh was not interested, it appeared. But, I think for certain. Right?
Luke Straub:Yeah. Harbaugh was not interested or or or rather he was so interested in the chargers. It was that was a wrap. But, Tashawn Reed writes, Davis knew, however, that Pierce was light on experience. He had just a decade of coaching experience under his belt and would certainly endure coach, growing pains.
Luke Straub:That has come to fruition, read rights. And then here's a quote from Mark Davis earlier this month. He's a young head coach. He's learning how to be a head coach. He's surrounding himself with a lot of good people.
Luke Straub:He's just gotta grow into the job. It's his 1st year, really. What he did last year was phenomenal. We'll be okay. We've gotta clean some things up, end quote.
Luke Straub:So, I mean, growing pains. Right? I mean, that's it's kinda like that is what was expected. So first of all, like, a quick comment on this quote. I think coach Pierce over surrounded himself.
Luke Straub:And, Larry, you've been saying this, and I think in in this way or some way, he kinda like over surrounded himself with the old heads dog.
Larry Marbley:Yeah. He
Luke Straub:just it seemed like he's too over reliant on that. Like, look, coach Pierce, I love you, bro. Like, I mean, I really, you know, I I I love what I've seen from you as a coach as a whole, on the Raiders specifically. But, dude, you're not calling plays, dog. You gotta get better at that stuff.
Luke Straub:You know? So the timeouts at the end of the Chiefs game was kind of a head scratcher. I I didn't really care because, like, too much, but, like, because of the the 3rd quarter field position as I thought and and Minch's fumble, I thought that was you know, what are you gonna how are you gonna win a game when you can't you can't punch it in from the 4 and punch it in from the 3? But those time up to the end of the game were were really, really weird. And, yeah.
Luke Straub:And then like in the comment I said earlier about wanting to run time more than score. So, yeah, I mean, I don't know. I could over surrender himself with the whole heads dog and, but I think that coach Pierce is, like, basically, like like, got a lot of potential as a coach. And I'm as the reasons I I liked him back then are still the reasons I like him now. And, I just think we gotta get this guy quarterback and see what happens, man.
Luke Straub:I'm totally down, but he's gotta get better. He's gotta get better.
Larry Marbley:Yeah. I mean, he was, like, definitely surprised me in the way that he faced the Chiefs. I was definitely expecting something totally different. I'm definitely excited that I wanna see the Raiders are competitive in all these games. He has to improve, and he has to win some of these games.
Larry Marbley:He can't go on a 8 or 9, 10 game losing streak. He has to start winning some of these games. So
Luke Straub:Yeah. Yeah.
Larry Marbley:The Raiders have to improve week week in week out. And and the Raiders are gonna have to show consistency and always and they're gonna have to be in these games. They can't be getting blown out. They have to be competitive. They have to be competitive, and they have to be in these games.
Larry Marbley:Let
Luke Straub:me But
Larry Marbley:if they're not Yeah. Then then then we could have another situation. But it sounds like with that quote. It sounds like with that quote right now that as long as he does those things and he improves, he will be okay into the next season. That's what it sounds like.
Luke Straub:Yeah. I think so. And, you know, there's always you know, if the if the season goes off the rails and the team stops playing for him, then it then it could be over, of of course. But Right. Let me let me let me back this up a little bit.
Luke Straub:Let me let me let me back back the lens up a little bit on the season and just ask a question. Ask myself, ask Larry, and and radio nation, you can think about this a little bit. What were your mind Larry's expectations for this season coming in? Like, what did you what did we expect the Raiders to do? Like, realistically, and here's what I expected.
Luke Straub:I expected, naively, I guess. I don't know. But I expected to see a team that would, you know, hover around 500. That would, you know, fight and claw and scrap and have a good defense and and really honestly not be that good, but, like, be in games. Have that grit.
Luke Straub:You know? I'm like I'm like I was like, shit. The Raiders won ball games with Connell. Like, no disrespect, but he's a rookie. You know?
Luke Straub:What what have you 4th round pick, or whatever he was. So, like, yeah, I just wanna I just wanna reset that because, like, you know, all this call or I've seen a few calls for peers to be fired and gets you to be fired, and I I get that for sure. But, honestly, like, that's I had to be honest with myself, and that's what I was expecting, Larry. I mean, I wasn't expecting much.
Larry Marbley:Well, I mean, I think that we were expecting I think we were expecting playoffs Mhmm. Or not playoffs. I think we were definitely expecting a top 10 defense because we definitely had a podcast talking about the defense.
Luke Straub:We're expecting the top 10 defense. They're number 11 at last at last check. And and as far as the playoffs go, you're not far off with that. We were talking and and just when you're in the mix, when you're even, like, 7 to 9 late in the season, like, you're gonna be on the hunts, like, leaderboard or, like, whatever.
Larry Marbley:Right.
Luke Straub:So, like, just to be, like, in that conversation at least, but, you know, I just figured that that's what was gonna happen. But now that it appears it's not gonna happen because, you know, the Raiders just lost 4 straight, Like and, you know, I I, you know, we can talk about how whatever. I mean, O'Connell probably should have started this year. Right, Larry? I mean, that was really ridiculous.
Luke Straub:Right. You know? But Right. But now that that that shit didn't happen, in large part because of Minh Choo's, turnovers lead lead the league. Oh.
Luke Straub:Hasn't even played every game or what or started
Larry Marbley:every game. Yeah. So You know how
Luke Straub:many Yeah.
Larry Marbley:Jesus Christ. You gave all those snap you gave all those snaps to that fucker in the fucking
Luke Straub:That kind of torpedo, that kind of really tanked the season, I guess.
Larry Marbley:I really fucking tanked the season.
Luke Straub:All those turnovers dog. You know, 5 what he had 4 turnovers and when game we lost Raiders lost by 5. You know, the Rams. So and, you know, the Broncos game was, you know, had that had that about to go up 173 had that. So, you know, one bad decision and, you know, and and who's who's to know?
Luke Straub:Like, O'Connell, like I already said, he is what he is. He's not Joe Montana, Joe Montana, either one. So we don't know. But I I got a feeling like you just subtract all those turnovers, and, you know, I know O'Connor wouldn't have as many. We I think we all know that.
Luke Straub:So but for whatever reason, look, it's not gonna be the kind of season I ex I expected. And you know what? I I'm fucking okay with that. Like, it's it really sucks. It sucks.
Luke Straub:And and, you know, it it dunk of course. But, hey, I got Brock Bowers to watch. I got Max Crosby to watch. And, hopefully, a quarterback in the draft, drafted in the top five that we can watch coach Pierce coach in the future. And that's where I'm at, Larry.
Luke Straub:You know me. I I am not that guy maybe ever. But, you know, looking at, like, the Raiders history of coaches, and I can go I can go over it in a second if you wanna you just torture ourselves. But, like, I'm ready. I'm just ready to do, like, you know, the NFL equivalent of tanking.
Luke Straub:You know? You can't tank because people are gonna get injured, but just you you're not you know, you just you know, I wanna see Telesco going out there and making any big moves. You know what I mean? So I'm embracing that, Larry. Your thoughts.
Larry Marbley:Yeah. I it just I don't think you can tank.
Luke Straub:Yeah.
Larry Marbley:I don't know if you I don't think you can tank. I don't think you can tank.
Luke Straub:Well, okay. So tank in your opinion, what is tanking? Because it's a pretty, like, nebulous term, like, I mean right? To some extent?
Larry Marbley:I, Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No.
Larry Marbley:No. No. You're you're you're playing, but you're playing, but you don't really care if you win or not. Really, it's like it's it's like you're gonna do things where you don't care. I don't think they have I don't think
Luke Straub:You could argue they're doing that already.
Larry Marbley:You can argue they're doing that already? I don't think so. I don't think they can't.
Luke Straub:See, for me for me, tanking is not that because you you have to prepare to win the game when you're in the game. I'm talking about, you know, front office maneuvers, you know, like, I mean, you you you're not gonna be like, the Raiders could make a trade. Like, some other team just traded for a receiver today. You know, another team traded for a left tackle today. You know, the Raiders, I I heard a report today that the Patriots are looking to be buyers.
Luke Straub:You know, I'm talking so and which is ridiculous, but, like, you know, good luck. But but that's that's what I'm talking about. I'm talking about, hey.
Larry Marbley:Tell Right. You know? And I also hear that, but I also hear that Telesco likes to stack picks in the draft exit. He doesn't like to trade his draft picks away.
Luke Straub:Good.
Larry Marbley:And and and from what that we've seen, from what he hit on Bowers
Luke Straub:Bowers and 2 linemen, dawg.
Larry Marbley:Like, I kinda don't mind him keeping those picks.
Luke Straub:Me either.
Larry Marbley:And I kinda don't mind them making a trade. I but at the same time, I feel like AP is going out here to win. I don't think AP is not going out here to lose. Oh, he's not. There's no way he
Luke Straub:is, Larry. No. There's no way. That that that's why I say this tanking thing. It's got, like, a real, like I mean, there's no there's no okay.
Luke Straub:We can need to call something else. Like, because really there's no tank in in the NFL, like, by what you're saying. Like, I agree. Like and I like I mentioned at the top, if you really are tanking, like, someone's gonna get hurt. Like, you can't you can't play football, like, 80% speed.
Luke Straub:You gotta, like you're gonna get your your head knocked off. So there's no really no tanking in that sense. Like, on Sunday, you know, boom. You know, the rest but I'm just saying, like, there's no reason to, like, really add to the roster. Let's just keep what we got and see what happens.
Luke Straub:You know?
Larry Marbley:Right. Right. That yes. Yes. And I think that, AP has to win some games, and he has to show some improvement.
Luke Straub:Yeah. He's gotta he's gotta pick up a few dubs and and mostly just, like, not get blown out anymore, I mean, in my opinion.
Larry Marbley:Right. Right. And and and, yes. Yes. And hopefully not in Tom Brady's opinion.
Larry Marbley:Uh-huh. Just joking, but not really.
Luke Straub:We can address that. I mean, Tom Brady, like, it it it appears that, like, it'd be it appears there's gonna be a little bit of a lull in in how much impact he has on the Raiders simply because it's his 1st year as a broadcaster. But as Larry and I mentioned, in one of our conversations, like, it's only gonna take 5 minutes or 10 minutes, say, of Tom Brady on the phone with mister Mark Davis, to to to to levy his influence on the Raiders. So who knows how that's gonna happen? But, yeah, I don't see it's just speculation.
Luke Straub:I don't see Brady coming in
Larry Marbley:Do anything right now.
Luke Straub:And and doing anything right now. Or or as I think about it, you know, how much is how much is Mark Davis? Like, Mark Davis wants input on, like, a quarterback, but Mark Davis put his nuts on the line yet again for another coach, not as much as he put his nuts on the line for Gruden or for make make make whatever. Oh. Make make make make small mac.
Luke Straub:But but, yeah, I don't know if Mark Davis is really gonna be, like, cool with that. Like, oh, my hand picked coach, and here's Tom Brady, 5%, you know, whatever. Tom Brady, minority owner and tells me to to shit can my guy. Maybe he'd be like, okay. Cool, Tom.
Luke Straub:Let's do it, Tom. But I don't know. I don't know. You know, I think I'm not we just literally don't know how that's gonna go. So I'm glad you brought that up, but it's something that's something to look for.
Luke Straub:But yeah. No. That coach Pierce, like, if if the Raiders just get that effort that they had against the Chiefs and coach Pierce can, like, clean up some of his game day mistakes, like, those need to get cleaned up. Because, like, right now, it ain't really mattering too much. Like, in my game story on Sunday, like, I I can't you know, I I I couldn't get over the other reasons the Raiders lost.
Luke Straub:And and, sure, it was weird. He took the time outs and this and that. But, you know, it's not it's not a huge deal right now, I have to say. But it's gonna if the Raiders get where they are gonna get where they wanna go with coach Pierce, like, yo, you you no more of that. No more I mean, go do everything you can to game manage and and just keep that Chiefs style effort up with the team.
Luke Straub:And, and, you know, if you do that, I think I think you're gonna pick up a few ball games here and there, and and and he'll be back. I'm not I'm really not worried about him being back unless as we know, unless the season compals falls completely 100% apart, then they have to talk about it. Yep.
Larry Marbley:Yeah. Great.
Luke Straub:Yeah, man. Yep. Anything else, Larry? I don't know. We got we're kind of, like, kind of a let's talk quarterback real quick.
Luke Straub:You know, let's, like, so Desmond Ritter, we mentioned that drive where the Raiders started at, like, the Chiefs 28 or what have you, you know, in the Q3. I mean, that was a stupid ridiculous drive. There was, like, 2 false starts in JPJ, and, plus, Desmond Ritter got on the field. That was hella dumb. Almost as dumb as number 77 out there out wide.
Luke Straub:Like, you throw in Desmond Ritter out there for one play, and it looked like they were trying to run the ball. Anyways, what I'm saying is we're all looking for when or if Ritter's gonna get a chance. Like, he was on the team for, like, a week. He already got on the field even though it was just one play that didn't work or didn't even go, didn't even snap. But, I mean, I'm ready to see him after the buy.
Luke Straub:I mean, what do you think, Larry, before the buy? What what do you think? I mean, I'm I I think it's almost a foregone conclusion we'll see him get a shot.
Larry Marbley:Yeah. He'll get a shot. He'll get a shot just because he'll get a shot to see how much he I I think he'll get a shot because Gardner Minshew just told me he's leading the fucking NFL in turnovers. So, yeah, he's gonna get a shot. Yeah.
Luke Straub:He's gonna get
Larry Marbley:a shot. He's gonna get a shot. And he's gonna get a shot right now because he's gonna get a shot in between him and Aidan. So when Aidan comes back, we'll see what happens. But in the meantime, we'll we'll he'll get a shot.
Larry Marbley:He'll probably get a shot during the bi week so we can learn learn the playbook a little bit more better.
Luke Straub:I agree. And then his conventional wisdom, Vic Taffer said the same thing. But I'm almost gonna say the same thing about after the bi week. But here here's here's kinda where I'm at. Why wait?
Luke Straub:That's where I'm at. I'm like, why wait? Like, why wait?
Larry Marbley:Like Well, my only question is why wait is because this this dude's just came in off the practice squad off somewhere else, homie, like, oh, we could go. That's why.
Luke Straub:Yo. I saw a bake. We all saw Baker Mayfield beat us with, like, with, like, with, like, a plane with a plane ride full of plays. He learned to play, look on a plane. And then what's and this offense is just been trashed.
Luke Straub:And, there's there's no, like, I I really, like, we we we shot on Luke Getsy a lot and rightfully so. And this is my opportunity to shit on the quarterback play, which we already have done a little bit, but I really wanna lay a a nice nice nice nice steamer on them. Because, like, why wait? Like, cool, Garntim and Shoe, like, you're able to script plays and run scripted plays and it's good. But, you know, you're you're like Larry said, just not taken off in the pocket right away when the blitz comes.
Luke Straub:I mean, either there's no plan or you can't execute the plan or both. I suspect it's a little bit of both.
Larry Marbley:You're a turnover machine.
Luke Straub:And he's a turnover machine straight up. So I I need to look at,
Larry Marbley:The worst times too. I swear to god. It's the worst times, Rainer Nation. Right?
Luke Straub:Motherfucker had it.
Larry Marbley:Like, you worst need it. Yeah. Like, you're down by 7. You just didn't score for us at a 7 play to touchdown. I'm sorry.
Larry Marbley:I'm talking about for the I'm not up for us right now. Yeah. Are you out there and fumbled the ball in the 4th like that?
Luke Straub:Yeah. Terrible. I mean, the man the man had a had a throw fumble. He had, you know, he overthrew Brock Bowers by, like, a fucking by an extra buck Brock Bowers, like, and I gave him against what was at the Broncos on the goal line. Let me look at how many fumbles this motherfucker Ritter's got.
Luke Straub:So he's got he's got 12 interceptions in his career. I don't know why I don't see the fumbles on here. That's too bad. I'm not seeing any we all find it one second. That's the passing numbers.
Luke Straub:This is worth this is worth waiting for here. We'll see. Fumbles. Looks like 3. Oh, he's low.
Luke Straub:He's had a lot of fumbles.
Larry Marbley:Gosh.
Luke Straub:He's had a he's had a lot of fumbles.
Larry Marbley:It's killing me.
Luke Straub:Yeah. But he's had he's had some time to think about it, though. If this is correct, it appears he had 12 fumbles last year. That's a lot.
Larry Marbley:My jaw's dropped. That's why I haven't commented.
Luke Straub:Yeah. And that's the number of times fumbled both lost and recovered by his his own team. So that's not all lost fumbles, but fumbles nonetheless. So that's not good. Still, I am less on my y wait tip, but I'm still on y wait.
Luke Straub:I don't care. Why? But, of course, we'll probably all see him after the buy. So we'll just go with that. So, Larry, anything else, man?
Luke Straub:I think I'm about ready to wrap this up, dude. I mean, for me it's like let me just reiterate like coach Pierce like for me he is like a prospect for me he's and I know it's not correct it doesn't really it's apples and oranges and what somewhat but looking at his playing career he's an undrafted dude that came in, you know, got cut, had to learn, had to go back to it, and worked his way into being what he became, which was a Super Bowl champion, starter leader on a Super Bowl champion. Like, that's what I foresee happening or really hope happens. And, you know, coach Pierce has gotta put in some work. He's gonna have to put in some work because he needs work.
Luke Straub:He is like that prospect in basketball, like the rough around the edges that don't know I mean, well, you know, that it's, you know, maybe whatever. You know what I'm saying? Rough around the edges will say. It needs needs to learn the finer points of of of the craft. That's what I'm hoping for, and I'm more than willing to give him the time he needs, but we need to see improvement.
Luke Straub:And I'm expecting it.
Larry Marbley:I totally agree. 100%.
Luke Straub:Oh, man. Let's go, man. Please. Anything else, Larry? I think that we can probably wrap this up, I think, dog.
Luke Straub:Yeah. Thanks to the Raider Nation for, for listening. You know, we're we're doing these podcasts kind of, randomly almost. So, anyways, yeah, thanks for thanks for all thanks to all our listeners. Thanks for thanks for, being loyal, loyal listeners to the rip.
Luke Straub:Anyways, Larry, the floor is floor is yours and, and send us on out when you're good and ready.
Larry Marbley:Oh, thank you. Yes. I definitely wanna say continue with that theme, Luke. I like to say shout out to all the followers and shout out to all the people that listen to the podcast. You know, I, you know, I got some great, you know, feedback from some friends of mine, you know, some work colleagues, you know.
Larry Marbley:So, you know, they were checking it out and, you know, I I just wanna give a I just wanna give a shout out to everybody that's, you know, just listening. You know, shout out to them and, you know, and because without them, we wouldn't be doing it. And just, you know, that's pretty much what we're doing. You know? So that's that's pretty much what we're doing.
Larry Marbley:And we get to a lot we get to, you know, get off let off a little steam and Mhmm. We're talking to little people, talking to some people. It's like we get to tell, you know, kinda a little reiterate what they're what they're feeling, you know, what they've been thinking.
Luke Straub:Right.
Larry Marbley:So it's it's, you know, it's good all the way around. So with that, I wanna say thank you again all. Thank you all for your feedback.
Luke Straub:Thank you all for everything. Shout out shout out Larry's work, homies.
Larry Marbley:Shout him out. Shout him out. Gotta give him love. And like I said and with that, I gotta say, Raiders, win lose your tie, Raiders till we die.
Luke Straub:That is the dang deal. We are the Raiders in Paradise podcast. Thank you so much for listening. We will be back soon. Go Raiders.
Larry Marbley:Go Raiders.
