NFL 2024 Season – Las Vegas Raiders Team Preview

Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz and Frank Schwab discuss Las Vegas’ strengths, weaknesses and where the Raiders might go under Antonio Pierce this season. Listen and subscribe to the “Zero Blitz” podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

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Video transcript

The Las Vegas Raiders, a new era for them.

What’s the big thing we should be talking about with the Las Vegas Raiders, your Las Vegas Raiders this season.

So to my beloved Raiders, I think it’s easy to say who is Antonio Pierce, who is the coach?

I thought that’s the big question.

What’s the quarterback battle like?

I thought that’s the big question, but neither of those were the thing for me, because here it is, the roll of it, the quarterback battle unfolds.

I still don’t think they have the quarterback of the future on the roster right now.

So that’s not going to happen, and there’s nothing this year is going to make or break.

API I don’t think so.

For me, when I look at what will really make or break the Raiders’ season this year, the question is: can the defense save the team again?

Because last year there wasn’t a lot of street credibility for this defense coming in for the defensive coordinator or for any other talent other than Max Crosby at the end of the year, there still wasn’t, but there were other guys, Robert Spillane Jack Joe on this defense that played really well. .

And at the end of the year, defense was how the Raiders won games.

Uh, their ability to emulate the charge and the fire and the passion that Max plays with was really incredible.

They go out and spend $100 million on Christian Wilkins.

They have a lot of questions in this defense, Frank, I’m not going to lie about that side issue.

I don’t know what to expect.

What I do know is that the only way for the Raiders to reach mediocrity this year is if their defense is great.

I think there are some really good options on the offensive end, but I don’t think you have a quarterback that can hang with Mahomes and Herbert indefinitely.

This is not real.

So you need this defense to be able to minimize Mahomes and Herbert while your offense fires.

If the Raiders defense takes a step back, the Raiders will win four or five games this year.

If this defense plays throughout the season, as it did, especially after AP took over last year, it could win eight games this year.

And I think that’s why they’re the biggest issue.

Yes.

And I think, uh, digging deeper into this, I think our biggest X-factor this year is Tyree Wilson, uh, the seventh pick of the 2023 draft was supposed to be this, do it all defensive lineman, you know, he was up and like a noob.

I don’t think he stood out much, but he has talent, we know he is a very good player.

Christian Wilkins could draw a lot of attention.

Obviously, Max Crosby can win Defensive Player of the Year.

He’s unbelievable if Tyree Wilson could be that guy, that third star on the defensive line, all of a sudden they have one of the best defensive lines in football and that’s a good place to start if you just want, if you’re a mediocre cast that has a strong point, having a great defensive line is the way to go.

And if Tyree Wilson is that guy, they could have a great defensive line.

Wilkins Crosby Wilson, if he plays up to his draft status, could be very good to keep them in a lot of games and competitive.

And who knows, like Gardner msu, we’ll talk about the Colts in a second.

Gardner Minsch, who also had the Colts in the playoffs last year.

I don’t know if the Raiders are as good as the Colts were last year, but he could be that guy who would be the best bridge quarterback he could find.

So, iii, I agree with you on the Raiders being in playoff contention.

It will be because of their defense.

And more specifically, I think it will be because their defensive line ended up being one of the best in football.

I’ll give you another name, Malcolm Kuntz, who, uh, had a lot of rotation plays instead of Tyree late last year, really exploded.

And here’s the advantage Kuntz and Tyree will have.

There’s not a single team that’s going to sit there and say, you know what, we have to get Tyree Wilson out this week.

No, all that effort goes to Max and Christian Wilkins.

Right.

When you put it all together, all Koontz and Tyree will have to do is win one-on-one matchups.

Really?

I, I agree with you.

This defensive line could be one of the best in the league.

To close