Pierce's Guidance Will Be Critical
Last season, Antonio Pierce was tasked with leading the Las Vegas Raiders' group of linebackers.
This season, he was given a new starting linebacker, Robert Spillane, who joined the Raiders after spending time with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pierce, a hardworking, fiery player, appreciates working with Spillane, who brings similar traits.
"I love his attitude," Pierce said. "He comes to work, pen and paper in hand. Brings his lunch pail to work every day. He doesn't say much. You've just got to watch him on the grass. He embraces the physicality of the game. The ball means something to him. He loves the ball. I appreciate coaching a guy like that. It makes it it easy, makes my job fun."
Pierce has noticed a few changes in linebacker Luke Masterson as he enters his second season.
"I think the game has slowed down for him," Pierce said. "As a rook, he probably didn't expect to play as much as he played. Now that he's done that, he can go back and look at film."
"Year two, he understands the system and he understands the guys around him a lot better and he's continued to grow."
Linebacker Divine Deablo missed multiple games last season but has returned this offseason as an improved version of himself.
"Each day, he's getting better at playing the linebacker position," Pierce said. "Better at communication, better at his assignment alignment and just doing what he's asked. One thing about Deablo is, he does a great job at just absorbing and being a sponge."
Spillane, a new addition at linebacker for the Raiders this season, has enjoyed working with Pierce's and Las Vegas' group of linebackers.
"Yeah, I love working with Antonio [Pierce]," Spillane said. "Coach Pierce has done it for a long time in the league. When you've got somebody like that in your meeting room as the leader of our room, you listen, and you want to soak in all that information.
"He's been to the game that we want to play, and he's won those big-time games being the green dot leader of the defense. So, he has so many great ideas and coaching points, and I just want to soak up everything he can give me."
For a team looking to get the most out of two undrafted free agents at linebacker, Pierce, an undrafted linebacker who went on to win the Super Bowl, is the perfect man for the job.
The Silver and Black open the regular season at the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Sept. 10, at 4:25 p.m. EDT/1:25 p.m. PDT.
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