The Las Vegas Raiders have looked like a totally different team since ownership cleaned house ahead of their Week 9 matchup against the New York Giants. General manager Dave Zeigler, head coach Josh McDaniels and offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi were all fired and replaced on an interim basis.
With Antonio Pierce as head coach and Bo Hardegree as offensive coordinator, the Raiders have looked much better. Explosive plays have returned to the offense, which is now helmed by rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell instead of veteran Jimmy Garoppolo.
One of the players who has seen an uptick in usage since the change is rookie tight end Michael Mayer. The second-round pick out of Notre Dame received a ton of praise from O’Connell for an impressive catch he made in Week 10 against the New York Jets that went for a touchdown.
Now, it is star wide receiver Davante Adams who is signing the praises of Mayer. Adams has been impressed with the development of the rookie tight end and believes that the team needs to continue feeding him targets.
“He’s been a big part of our offense, especially over the past few weeks. So, we’ve just got to keep feeding him, and he’s got to keep doing what he’s doing. But it’s very promising from what I’ve seen from him. He asks a lot of questions, and you can tell he’s very detailed, and that’s what you have to have in this offense,” said Adams.
Over the last two games, Mayer has been targeted a total of 10 times, catching seven passes, including his first professional touchdown. The 46 yards he had against the Miami Dolphins last week were the second most in a game this season.
Tight end is the position many people believe to be the toughest to adjust to in the NFL from the NCAA. Mayer has handled that transition, including a coaching change, very well for a rookie.
Expect his usage to continue climbing in the following weeks as the Raiders get further and further away from McDaniels and what he was running. Meyer is one of the players who have benefited from the change the most, as his arrow is pointing upward for the rest of the season.
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