Josh McDaniels Archives - The Blackhole Network

What Happened To Chandler Jones?

Jacob Reynolds1 year ago1 year ago02 mins

The situation with Chandler Jones and the Las Vegas Raiders continues to go on, mostly behind closed doors. Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels has made it clear to reporters that it is a private matter and that he will not comment on the situation. But Chandler Jones on the other hand is more than willing to speak out on social media. Earlier today, Jones, who the Raiders signed to a 3 year, 51 million year deal last off-season, tweeted a letter to fans stating that he was taken by the Las Vegas Fire Department and injected with an unknown substance. We currently do not know Chandler Jones mental state, but we can only hope that he gets the help he needs. https://www.tmz.com/photos/image_png_20230926_7464e757c1114209af75768241390ac8/ Jones was placed on the non-football illness list last week by the Raiders and was inactive for the first two games. Jones wrote that he called Ziegler “6 to 7 times asking for help and I wondered if he had me put in here, but he never answered.” He said he left voicemails with Dave Ziegler and is trying to figure out why the Las Vegas Raiders won’t allow him in the facility or to be a part of the team. 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Linkedin 0 Pinterest 0 Email

Raiders Offense Struggles In Loss To Steelers

Joe Gonzalez1 year ago1 year ago03 mins

The stars were out in Las Vegas as the Pittsburgh Steelers came to town to face the silver and black. This was the first time the Steelers had played against the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, as the Las Vegas crowd was flooded with terrible towels and booed the Raiders throughout the game. Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was on the sideline with the Las Vegas Raiders and lit the Al Davis torch before kickoff against the Steelers. Davante Adams was targeted early and often, scoring early in the 1st quarter on a 4th and short 32-yard touchdown pass. The Steelers would answer back quickly, scoring on a 72-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III on the very next drive. Adams would end the night with 13 catches for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns, once again showing his dominance, but in a losing effort. From there, the Raiders offense would stall, once again not being able to establish the run, as Josh Jacobs finished the game with only 62 yards on 17 carries and 0 touchdowns. Jacobs has averaged 2.4 yards per carry in 2023 and has a total of 108 yards through the first three games of the season. Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels said, “ the running game is a function of a lot of people doing their job well. And we’re not there yet”. McDaniels and the Raider’s game plan seems to consist of getting the ball to Davante Adams as much as possible, but with Jimmy Garoppolo’s lack of ability to throw the deep ball, and a still less-than-average defense on the other side of the ball, that won’t be a winning formula for the Raiders this season. 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Linkedin 0 Pinterest 0 Email

Aidan O’Connell Looks To Make An Impact

Jacob Reynolds1 year ago1 year ago05 mins

The Raiders were expected to select a quarterback high in the draft by many analysts and fans. Since the departure of Derek Carr, the Raider’s all-time passer, the franchise is looking for a long-term solution at quarterback for the first time since 2014 when Carr was drafted. Head coach Josh Mcdaniels and general manager Dave Zeigler went a different direction, selecting Texas Tech edge rusher Tyree Wilson in the first round instead. The Raiders Draft Projections Las Vegas would select a quarterback in the 4th round when they selected Aidan O’Connell out of Purdue University. Not as many fans studied O’Connell because most experts thought the silver and black would select a better-known quarterback such as Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, and Hendon Hooker. Analysts and media personalities didn’t make much of the pick, that is until the Raiders said that they have their next Tom Brady. Fans can’t expect any quarterback to compare to considerably the best player of all time, but his release and playing style do seem similar. Aidan O’Connell Stays Humble The factors that go into a quarterback’s success are abundant. Aidan O’Connell had an at-home virtual interview with members of the media where he mentions that the resources at Purdue University contributed to his success. There is one noticeable difference that Aidan O’Connell has from Tom Brady when he came out of the University of Michigan. He is extremely humble. Brady famously walked up to Robert Kraft and told him “You’ll never regret picking me”. O’Connell seems almost embarrassed about how good he is. He attributes his success to his friends and family members. He said, “They would make me feel like I’m the best quarterback in the world, even though I wasn’t”. This is a sharp contrast to Tom Brady and his demeanor coming out of college. Can Aidan O’Connell Compete Like Brady? Aidan O’Connell could surprise most people when they watch the film. His quick release and decision making is a big reason why the Raiders traded up in the 4th round to grab him. A less flattering similarity to Brady is O’Connell’s less than impressive physique, which would be considered average at best. But Josh McDaniels thinks that O’Connell has the skills to develop into an NFL quarterback. O’Connell and Brady played and had success in the same college conference and will play for the same coach. They are both late-round draft picks, but the biggest difference is the attitude of both men. Can being humble still convert into winning in the NFL? There will be people keeping track of O’Connell’s career because they wonder the same thing. O’Connell’s teammates speak highly of his leadership skills and he seems to have all the intangibles that every franchise looks for, but teams also want to see that competitive hunger. If O’Connell can bring that to the table then it is up to the Raiders to give him every resource and opportunity he needs to do so. 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Linkedin 0 Pinterest 0 Email

Raiders 2023 Draft Preview

Tim Bryant1 year ago1 year ago013 mins

The 2023 NFL Draft is around the corner and the Las Vegas Raiders sit at pick number 7 behind the Panthers, Texans, Cardinals, Colts, Seahawks, and Lions. The Raiders have a total of 12 picks during the draft, so they have plenty of chances to land key players at positions of need. The top draft needs for Las Vegas since the start of free agency are quarterbacks, offensive linemen, linebackers, defensive line, and defensive backs. Here is a look at the top projected players in each of those positions and how they can potentially help the silver and black. Quarterback Bryce Young (Alabama) Bryce Young is projected to be the first pick in the 2023 NFL draft which means the Raiders would need a miracle to land him and a lot to trade for the talented Young. The Mater Dei High School alumni who later enrolled with Alabama, was named the Gatorade POY after passing for 4,528 yards and 58 touchdowns in 2022 and the Sugar Bowl MVP after the victory over Kansas State. Bryce Young possesses a wide range of intangibles that help distinguish him from some of the more physically gifted quarterbacks in this class. He scored the highest of the quarterbacks in the cognitive assessment that the combine administers, which separates him from the other very talented signal callers. Hendon Hooker (Tennessee) Hooker signed with Virginia Tech after winning two state championships and passing for over 6,000 yards and 55 touchdowns at Dudley High School in North Carolina. He later transferred to Tennessee where he thrived as an elite quarterback. The most crucial question to be answered is whether Hooker can thrive outside of the Tennessee offense. Hooker runs the ball a lot despite his age and an ACL tear which became a talking point in many draft conversations. C.J. Stroud (Ohio State) Even before Stroud threw for 3,878 yards and 47 touchdowns as a senior at Rancho Cucamonga High School in California, he was a five-star recruit and a top 50 overall talent. In all areas of the field, he can make on-frame throws to targets while leading receivers with good placement, which made him the favorite to be the first overall draft pick. The Ohio State quarterbacks draft stock suddenly decreased during the combine after he scored an 18%, the lowest score on the cognitive assessments out of the quarterbacks. Now he is out to prove that he will still be a top tier NFL quarterback despite those who question him. Offensive line Peter Skoronski (Northwestern) The 6’4″offensive line specialist is from Northwestern University. Skoronski spent his college years covering the quarterback’s blindside at tackle, but his body type and skill set required him to switch to guard, where he can play at his best as a pro. He has short arms, but he is broad across the upper and lower body. Skoronski has the run-blocking talent to develop into an instant starter and a top-tier guard if he can figure out his protection anchor. The Raiders struggled early in the 2022 season at interior line and can use help to protect the injury prone Jimmy Gorroppolo. Paris Johnson Jr. (Ohio State) After being voted the Anthony Munoz Offensive Lineman of the Year out of Cincinnati’s Princeton High School, Ohio State fought against other schools to keep the top-10 overall recruit in his home state. During his freshman year, he played in five games as a reserve, including the national title match against Alabama. Johnson’s athleticism and versatility are advantageous, but he may need some fine tuning before he settles in as a pro. Broderick Jones (Georgia) In his first season with the Bulldogs, Jones participated in two games as a reserve. In 2022, he established himself as one of the best in the country, contributing as Georgia’s left tackle and helping the team win back-to-back titles. Jones has a lot of talent and can move well in space to land run blocks. Jones isn’t yet a polished product, but his physical and athletic gifts allow for the projection of a good, dependable starter. Linebacker Trenton Simpson (Clemson) Out of Mallard Creek High School in North Carolina, Simpson was a top-20 recruit overall. Some experts say that he lacks patience, which causes him to become entangled in traffic close to the line, but his aggression will make up for it with experience. He finds the ball carrier on blitzes and is a textbook tackler. Simpson will be a star when he improves at diagnosing plays because players cannot be taught what Trenton Simpson physically brings. Jack Campbell (Iowa) After assisting his Cedar Falls High School squad win Iowa state championships as a junior and senior, Campbell could have played Division I basketball. However, he decided to play for the Hawkeyes football team. As a true freshman, he participated in 11 games as a reserve. Campbell is a versatile player who can tackle well in space and in traffic. He had 125 tackles and 2 interceptions in 2022. Drew Sanders (Alabama) Sanders, a top-ranked high school athlete from Texas’ talent-rich state of Texas and a five-star prospect, was a significant signing for Alabama in 2020. The former five-star signee from Alabama transferred to Arkansas for the 2022 season and posted 103 tackles and 9 and a half sacks with the Razorbacks. Defensive line Jalen Carter (Georgia) After excelling on the football field at Florida’s Apopka High School, Carter became one of the top prospects in the nation. He also played basketball and was on the weightlifting team. His 395-pound bench press placed second in the heavyweight class of the state tournament. Based on his talent, traits, and projection, Carter seems prepared to enter the NFL and establish himself as an effective three-down player with Pro Bowl potential. He was anticipated to be an early first rounder until being involved in a fatal car accident. The Raiders have publicly stated that they will not take Carter at pick number 7, but stranger things have happened. Bryan…

Get To Know The Newest Las Vegas Raiders

Joe Gonzalez1 year ago1 year ago012 mins

The Las Vegas Raiders started the 2023 free-agent period with over $39 million in cap space, which would come in handy for the silver and black. With gaping holes on defense and a farewell to the franchise quarterback, Derek Carr, who has been the starter since 2014, the Raiders had to get to work.Last week, we saw Las Vegas fill some of those vacancies, not only on defense but also snatching San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. This will be a new era for the Raiders franchise under second-year head coach Josh McDaniels. McDaniels has been on the hot seat since mid-season in 2022, with the turning point coming around week 7 when the offense was shut out against the New Orleans Saints. The following two weeks would not be any better, racking up consecutive losses against the Jaguars and the Colts. This led to angry fans within Raider Nation. Spectators would start bringing signs to games expressing their lack of support for Josh McDaniels (for a lack of better words). These fans would be removed from the new black hole in Vegas, and Raider Nation made their opinions known on social media that they are not happy. Without a doubt, this is McDaniels time to prove to Raider Nation that he and general manager Dave Ziegler have a plan that will lead the Raiders to a Super Bowl. Many critics are keeping a close eye on the Raiders this off-season because of the drastic changes that have been made by McDaniels after inheriting the team from former head coach Jon Gruden and interim head coach Rich Bisaccia, who led the team to an unlikely playoff berth in 2021. This will be the year to see what direction the Raiders are headed in for years to come. Here are the 2023 Las Vegas Raiders free agent signings to this point: Jakobi Meyers – WR Meyers signed a three-year season contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. In 2022, Meyers finished as the team’s leading receiver with over 67 catches for 804 yards and six touchdowns. Meyers has 168 receptions for 1,932 yards and nine touchdowns during his career. After his junior season, he entered the 2019 NFL Draft. Meyers’ 92 receptions in 2018 broke Torry Holt’s single-season record for NC State. Marcus Epps – FS On March 16, 2023, Epps signed a two-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. In 2022, Epps reached Super Bowl LVII. In the Super Bowl, Epps recorded six tackles, but the Eagles lost 38-35 to the Kansas City Chiefs. Robert Spillane – MLB Spillane signed a two-year contract with the Raiders on March 16, 2023. He’s taking on a big responsibility in his new role as the middle linebacker, replacing pro-bowler Denzel Perryman. Spillane played middle linebacker for the Steelers since 2019. He previously played for the Tennessee Titans, who signed Spillane as an undrafted free agent in 2018. On March 11, 2022, the Steelers placed a restricted free-agent tender on Spillane, allowing the Raiders to sign him. Phillip Dorsett – WR On March 16, 2023, Dorsett signed a one-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. In the 2015 NFL Draft, Dorsett was 29th overall pick for the Indianapolis Colts. Given that Indianapolis already had depth at wide receiver, including the recently signed Andre Johnson and Duron Carter, the selection of Dorsett surprised many analysts and fans, and it reportedly infuriated several players who felt the team should have focused on a defensive player instead of Dorsett. Dorsett would bounce around the NFL and would play under Josh McDaniels in New England from 2017-2019, having arguably his most consistent seasons of his career. In 2021, Dorsett later signed with the Houston Texans after the Patriots declined his contract option. Brandon Facyson – CB Brandon Facyson is back with the Las Vegas Raiders for his second stint. Signing a one-year contract with the silver and black. Facyson was a consistent defensive back amongst a struggling group for the Raiders in 2021. His 42 solo tackles and 1 interception with the Raiders was his career high before his departure to Indianapolis. OJ Howard – TE The former Alabama Crimson Tide tight end joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2017. He’s racked up 1,882 yards and 17 touchdowns since then. He went on to win his first Super Bowl ring with the Bucs despite not playing the game due to injury as Tampa Bay beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV. Now he will be paired with newly acquired tight end Austin Hooper this coming season. Jordan Willis -DT Willis signed with the Las Vegas Raiders on March 20, 2023 after playing with the 49ers in 2022. Willis also played for the Jets and Bengals before he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers for a sixth-round pick. As a true freshman at Kansas State in 2013, Willis played nine games and had one sack. As a sophomore in 2014, he started all 13 games with 26 tackles and 4.5 sacks. As a senior, he was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year after recording 52 tackles and 11.5 sacks. Jimmy Garoppolo – QB On March 17, 2023, Jimmy G signed a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders for $67.5 million dollars. Garoppolo spent the last six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers where Garoppolo has a 5-2 record and a start in Super Bowl LIV. His biggest criticism has been his ability to stay healthy. Garoppolo played for the Eastern Illinois Panthers from 2010 to 2013. He was named the 2013–14 OVC Male Athlete of the Year and the 2013 College Football Performance FCS National Quarterback of the Year before being drafted by the New England Patriots where he too played for Josh McDaniels. Brian Hoyer – QB Just a few weeks after signing Jimmy G, the Raiders bought on board yet another former Patriot. This time calling on veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer to backup Garoppolo in Las Vegas. The Michigan State alumni…

Is Jimmy G The Right Guy For Las Vegas?

Tim Bryant2 years ago1 year ago03 mins

The Las Vegas Raiders just signed Derek Carrs’ replacement. It’s former New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The two have agreed to terms on a 3-year, 67.5 million dollar contract with 34 million of that money being guaranteed. Jimmy G’s Reunion With HC Josh McDaniels The 31-year-old quarterback was drafted by New England Patriots in 2014, where he worked with Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels. Garoppolo will be returning to a system that he is familiar with, and this could be a huge reason why McDaniels would rather work with his former Patriots quarterback than Derek Carr. We saw the relationship between Carr and McDaniels deteriorate around week 8 after losing to the Jaguars and blowing another double-digit lead. Goroppolo didn’t see much playing time with the Patriots being that he was the backup to Tom Brady, so it will be interesting to see how Josh McDaniels calls plays with Jimmy G starting under center. The Obvious Issues With Garoppolo After Garoppolo’s departure to San Francisco, the 49ers have made two playoff appearances, but injuries have continued to have an impact on his career, having 3 season-ending injuries in the past 5 seasons. The Raiders are still likely to pick a quarterback in the draft to be the future of the franchise. The former backup, Jared Stitham, just signed with the Denver Broncos, so the team will need a serviceable backup if they are to have such an injury-prone starter. Jimmy Garoppolo is a good quarterback and can win games, but he will need to stay healthy to do that. The Raiders will still look to get a young quarterback in the draft and Jimmy G will be the right guy to mentor whoever that may be. 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Linkedin 0 Pinterest 0 Email

Raiders Josh McDaniels Still Confident in Darren Waller, Draft Prospects

Tim Bryant2 years ago2 years ago04 mins

Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels answered questions at the 2023 NFL combine and had some interesting things to say regarding the state of the Raiders since becoming the head coach just last year and how they plan to move forward. At the press conference, McDaniels spoke about Derek Carr, Darren Waller, and what the team is looking for at the combine. He did compliment Derek Carr on his quarterback play this year, but referred to the team having to get better at every position, most notably, quarterback. Visit The Black Hole Network Youtube for more videos Where Do The Raiders Stand At The Combine? McDaniels claims they don’t know who their guy is just yet, so fans are going to have to wait to find out who the Raiders will end up with in the first round. The former Patriots’ offensive coordinator rarely speaks of his plans, but heavy analysis is obviously being directed at quarterback. Anthony Richardson has been said to be an early favorite for the Las Vegas coaching staff, especially since showing up to scout at a Florida Gators game during the 2022 season. If the Raiders can land Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, that would be ideal for the Raiders, but if the Raiders do not trade up to get him, it’s tough to say if he’d still be around at the 7th overall pick. Stroud seems to be the more NFL-ready option at quarterback since Anthony Richardson only started one season for the Gators, with most of his highlights coming by way of scrambles. If The Raiders do not get a quarterback in the first round, you can bet that they will choose to add to their defensive roster after a 2022 season where the Las Vegas defense ranked 26th in points per game and 31st in red zone scoring. Darren Wallers’ Future In Las Vegas One position that Josh McDaniels seems optimistic about was the tight end position, currently filled by Darren Waller. ” He’ll be a big part of what we’re going to do going forward”, McDaniels said of Waller. The 30 year old tight end has had an injury plagued 2022 season but the Raiders staff seem to be all in on Darren Waller. Las Vegas signed an extension that will keep Waller in silver and black through the 2026 season. This past weekend, Waller married Las Vegas Aces guard, Kelsey Plum, so it seems that the local Vegas couple can settle, in Sin City. Visit Raidersbhn.com for more news! All Raiders All The Time 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Linkedin 0 Pinterest 0 Email

Raiders Fate Took a Sharp Turn Since Jon Grudens Departure

Tim Bryant2 years ago1 year ago08 mins

Since moving to Las Vegas In 2020, the Raiders organization and its fans have already had what can be considered one of the strangest eras in the franchise’s history. It was a fresh new start for the team with a storied history, but it has already gotten bumpy for the organization. The Las Vegas Raiders had their head coach Jon Gruden resign after having emails leaked to the press which resulted in him suing the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell, an HR scandal involving working conditions for employees, a young promising star wide receiver going to jail for a car crash that resulted in the death of a young woman and her dog, and a uniquely bad season in 2022 where the Raiders blew a record-breaking amount of double-digit leads. How did the Raiders end up here after being in such a great position before moving to Sin City? Raiders Were On The Right Track After hiring Jon Gruden for his second stint as head coach of the Raiders in 2018, his 10-year, 100 million-dollar deal seemed to give Raiders fans the idea that they finally had stability in the head coaching position, allowing for the team to rebuild around his philosophy. It looked good for the silver and black. With Derek Carr under center, the Raiders seemed to be improving each season under Jon Gruden. Along with general manager Mike Mayock, Gruden was building a team with players like Derek Carr, Josh Jacobs, Hunter Renfro, Darren Waller, and Henry Ruggs III that could execute his west coast style offense. In 2021, a year after a strange inaugural season in Las Vegas when fans were not allowed to attend NFL games due to covid-19, the Raiders started with a 3-0 record after beating the Ravens, Steelers, and Dolphins. Experts were predicting that the Raiders were contenders to go deep into the playoffs and possibly compete for a Super Bowl. Sadly, that’s not what happened in 2021, even though the Raiders were miraculously able to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and only the second playoff appearance since 2002. Derek Carr Was The Leader That Overcame On October 11th, 2021, 5 weeks into the season, Jon Gruden was forced to resign. On November 2nd, 2021 Henry Ruggs III was arrested for a fatal car accident after week 8 of the season. The organization was suddenly on a downward spiral with no clear answer as to how the team will recover from such sudden and unfortunate events. The Raiders would promote special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia to interim head coach. Bisaccia, along with veteran leader Derek Carr would help lead the Raiders to a miraculous playoff appearance, ending a roller-coaster season that started with high expectations. Where Did It Fall Apart? Today, neither Rich Bisaccia nor Derek Carr is part of the Las Vegas Raiders organization. Fans who hoped that 2022 would show signs of improvement under Josh McDaniels were given a brutal reality check after losing games with leads as large as 20 points by halftime. Many fans of Raider Nation seem to think that Josh McDaniels used Derek Carr as a scapegoat after another horrible coaching performance by the former Patriot’s offensive coordinator. Some take the claims even further, saying that Josh McDaniels purposely put Derek Carr in a bad position by calling irrational plays on purpose. These are very serious claims, but when you run a draw on 3rd and 5 and you have Derek Carr pass for a career low in passing attempts against a bad Pittsburgh Steelers passing defense, there is bound to be speculation. Where Do The Raiders Go From Here? 2023 will be a telling year for the Raider’s future. Who will be the next quarterback? Will the Raiders go for a free agent or a young draft pick to compete against Jared Stitham? What will they do about Josh Jacobs contract? What Raider Nation wants to know is, will the team be back to rebuilding mode like 2002 through 2014 before Derek Carr was drafted or will they regain the momentum that Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock had? Only time will tell. Expect Raider fans to pay close attention to what Josh McDaniels and General Manager Dave Zeigler do this off-season. 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Linkedin 0 Pinterest 0 Email

Josh McDaniels