5 Las Vegas Raiders With the Most to Prove in 2023
The Las Vegas Raiders are gearing up for the 2023 season, and there's a lot to prove this time around. Last season, they only mustered a 6-11 record and failed to make the playoffs. Between their miserable year and several players signing big-money deals to stay with the team, it's time for the Raiders to prove their worth.
Here, we're pointing out the five Las Vegas Raiders with the most to prove this season.
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Source. YouTube[/caption]
Josh McDaniels needs to make a statement in 2023 or risk losing his second coaching job in a decade. He's already in hot water for his disastrous 6-11 record last season, and the team is most likely at their breaking point with him. The former Patriots Assistant Coach either needs to make gains or risk losing his job to someone who will.
Now, McDaniels does deserve credit for his reliance on Joshua Jacobs last season. Few decisions of his worked out, but using Jacobs to keep drives alive definitely did. He just needs to improve the defense and find a quarterback that actually moves the ball down the field.
McDaniel's biggest problem is blowing leads late in the game. In the first two quarters, it seemed like the Raiders had the game won, and then a series of bad events changed everything. The loss against the Indianapolis Colts and Jeff Saturday last season is a perfect example.
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Source. YouTube[/caption]
The Las Vegas Raiders' defense needs to make a statement in 2023 to reach the NFL playoffs. Unfortunately, they have had one of the worst defenses in the league, which seriously hurt them. Their 2022 record might have looked much different without problems on this side of the ball.
A perfect example is their November 6 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. While Las Vegas ended the first half with a 20-10 and what looked like an easy win, that didn't happen. Instead, the Jaguars scored 17 unanswered points to beat the Raiders by seven.
Of course, the lack of offense contributed to this loss, but the defense just imploded.
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Source. YouTube.[/caption]
Micheal Mayer has all the momentum in the world heading into the 2023 season, and it's just a matter of what he does with it. He is constantly cited as a first-round starter, which is pretty exciting. His size, speed, and catching ability might just give Jimmy Garoppolo another reliable receiver when he needs it.
On the other hand, Mayer has a lot of competition when it comes to passing options. These include Jakobi Mayers, Davantae Adams, Hunter Renfrow, and Austin Hooper. The Raiders have also been turning to Joshua Jacobs more in the passing game, meaning Mayer will have to prove himself rather quickly.
Related: Which Las Vegas sports team rules Facebook?
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Source. YouTube[/caption]
Joshua Jacobs is now officially signed to a one-year franchise tag deal worth $12 million. The league's leading rusher now must turn his attention to backing up his new contract on the field or risk being back in the same situation next year.
This doesn't mean Jacobs needs to set the rushing record again, but he needs to prove his worth. He can do this by continuing to do the most with the handoffs he is given and improving his catching game. He also needs to continue his trend of averaging 4 yards a carry.
Jacobs wants to be with the Raiders long-term, but the organization seems not to feel the same way. That's the only way his one-year franchise tag deal makes sense.
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Sources.Facebook[/caption]
Jimmy Garoppolo has passed his preseason physical, competed in preseason action, and is now ready to captain the ship for the 2023 schedule. The Las Vegas Raiders signed the former San Francisco 49ers over the offseason to a three-year contract in hopes of finally making it over the playoff hump.
Now it's up to Garoppolo to prove his worth and bring positive results for the Raiders. That will be difficult with his injury history and turnover issues, but maybe Josh McDaniels can coach him. If not, he'll likely be benched in favor of Brian Hoyer or Aidan O'Connel before the end of the year.
Next: How Kyle Busch became the most hated man in NASCAR
Here, we're pointing out the five Las Vegas Raiders with the most to prove this season.
#5 Josh McDaniels, head coach
[caption id="attachment_37645" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
Source. YouTube[/caption]Josh McDaniels needs to make a statement in 2023 or risk losing his second coaching job in a decade. He's already in hot water for his disastrous 6-11 record last season, and the team is most likely at their breaking point with him. The former Patriots Assistant Coach either needs to make gains or risk losing his job to someone who will.
Now, McDaniels does deserve credit for his reliance on Joshua Jacobs last season. Few decisions of his worked out, but using Jacobs to keep drives alive definitely did. He just needs to improve the defense and find a quarterback that actually moves the ball down the field.
McDaniel's biggest problem is blowing leads late in the game. In the first two quarters, it seemed like the Raiders had the game won, and then a series of bad events changed everything. The loss against the Indianapolis Colts and Jeff Saturday last season is a perfect example.
#4 The entire Las Vegas Raiders' defense
[caption id="attachment_37644" align="alignnone" width="900"]
Source. YouTube[/caption]The Las Vegas Raiders' defense needs to make a statement in 2023 to reach the NFL playoffs. Unfortunately, they have had one of the worst defenses in the league, which seriously hurt them. Their 2022 record might have looked much different without problems on this side of the ball.
A perfect example is their November 6 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. While Las Vegas ended the first half with a 20-10 and what looked like an easy win, that didn't happen. Instead, the Jaguars scored 17 unanswered points to beat the Raiders by seven.
Of course, the lack of offense contributed to this loss, but the defense just imploded.
#3 Michael Mayer, tight end
[caption id="attachment_37643" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
Source. YouTube.[/caption]Micheal Mayer has all the momentum in the world heading into the 2023 season, and it's just a matter of what he does with it. He is constantly cited as a first-round starter, which is pretty exciting. His size, speed, and catching ability might just give Jimmy Garoppolo another reliable receiver when he needs it.
On the other hand, Mayer has a lot of competition when it comes to passing options. These include Jakobi Mayers, Davantae Adams, Hunter Renfrow, and Austin Hooper. The Raiders have also been turning to Joshua Jacobs more in the passing game, meaning Mayer will have to prove himself rather quickly.
Related: Which Las Vegas sports team rules Facebook?
#2 Joshua Jacobs, running back
[caption id="attachment_37642" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
Source. YouTube[/caption]Joshua Jacobs is now officially signed to a one-year franchise tag deal worth $12 million. The league's leading rusher now must turn his attention to backing up his new contract on the field or risk being back in the same situation next year.
This doesn't mean Jacobs needs to set the rushing record again, but he needs to prove his worth. He can do this by continuing to do the most with the handoffs he is given and improving his catching game. He also needs to continue his trend of averaging 4 yards a carry.
Jacobs wants to be with the Raiders long-term, but the organization seems not to feel the same way. That's the only way his one-year franchise tag deal makes sense.
#1 Jimmy Garoppolo, quarterback
[caption id="attachment_34932" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
Sources.Facebook[/caption]Jimmy Garoppolo has passed his preseason physical, competed in preseason action, and is now ready to captain the ship for the 2023 schedule. The Las Vegas Raiders signed the former San Francisco 49ers over the offseason to a three-year contract in hopes of finally making it over the playoff hump.
Now it's up to Garoppolo to prove his worth and bring positive results for the Raiders. That will be difficult with his injury history and turnover issues, but maybe Josh McDaniels can coach him. If not, he'll likely be benched in favor of Brian Hoyer or Aidan O'Connel before the end of the year.
Next: How Kyle Busch became the most hated man in NASCAR