The atmosphere around the Las Vegas Raiders has done a complete 180-degree turn in the last two weeks. The team’s decision to clean house, firing general manager Dave Zeigler, head coach Josh McDaniels and offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi seems to have lit a fire under everyone who remained.
Since that change, the Raiders are 2-0, climbing back to the .500 mark and putting themselves in the thick of the playoff race in the AFC. One of the biggest changes interim head coach Antonio Pierce made was inserting rookie Aidan O’Connell as the team’s starting quarterback, replacing veteran Jimmy Garoppolo.
O’Connell has held his own, putting the team in position to win games, which is his No. 1 job. Against the New York Jets in Week 10, he threw his second touchdown of his career, hitting tight end Michael Mayer.
Mayer, a rookie himself selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame, made a spectacular play reeling in the touchdown. It drew massive praise from O’Connell, who had nothing but positive remarks to say about his tight end.
“Yeah, I think pretty early on Michael has shown us that he’s a special player, even rookie minicamp I remember him just being the super tough guy,” O’Connell said after the Raiders’ win. “I remember him having blisters all over his feet and his socks were full of blood. I think we knew as an offense and as a team we had a really good, young player there.
“He did an awesome job making an awesome play. I kind of just threw it up and let him be a football player and he made an awesome play. It was great protection again by the offensive line too. I held onto the ball there even still a little bit too long, and so kudos to the guys around me for making plays.”
Mayer hasn’t had as many opportunities to produce on the field as people predicted when the Raiders selected him. But, that touchdown against the Jets is a snippet of what he can provide as a receiver. While not the most explosive athlete, he is capable of making highlight reel plays when targeted.
It would not be surprising to see Mayer’s role in the offense continue to grow in the second half of the season. Under new management, this is a rejuvenated group with players receiving opportunities they weren’t under McDaniels.
So far, they are making the most of it. Mayer and the Raiders will be looking to keep the good times rolling when they head on the road for a big-time matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Week 11.
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
