Answering Your Las Vegas Raiders Questions, Emails

The Las Vegas Raiders are one of the worlds most important professional sports franchises, and we take time each week to answer the questions of a rabid fan base.

HENDERSON, Nev.--The Las Vegas Raiders have one of the most passionate fan bases in the world of professional sports, and today we answer some of their questions and emails.

Hondo, I love your work.  I am curious about something.  I hear many people being very critical of Josh Mcdaniels' staff.  You are critical of some, but not all of them.  If you could tell me which one of the non-coordinators you think is elite, I would appreciate that.  Carmen D.

I think that Josh is blessed with an outstanding staff.  I don't believe all of them are exceptional, but having one or two weak links is impressive on a large staff.  Being critical of Josh McDaniels is low-hanging fruit to a fan base that has not yet embraced him.  To me, that is lazy.  Are all of his staff great, in my opinion?  No, but many of them are.  If I could only pick one, I would say Carmeb Bricillo.  It is funny to hear his offensive linemen talk about him and other position players talk about his relationship with his guys and how much they respect him.  But there are others.  I encourage you to watch a recent interview that I did with Carmen.

Hondo, do you think Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler will be here in 2024?  Monte S.

Yes.

Hondo, I enjoy the depth and knowledge you use to break down the roster.  Not just the star players.  I am curious, as the roster gets down to the last players, what is the biggest reason a player makes it or gets cut?  Ken S.

Special teams.  When you get to the last spots on a roster, I have seen players make a team that wasn't as good as some that got cut but embraced and succeeded at special teams.

Hondo, I saw your interview with Chris Ash, the DB coach.  I was not impressed.  Subsequently, reading some of your Tweets, I don't think you are.  I don't think that you are a person that would let your likes or dislikes impact your opinion.  I think you really like Derek Carr but have been critical.  So what don't you like about his coaching?  William P.

First, let me say that I have covered many people, good at their job, that I didn't like personally.  Additionally, I have been critical of many people that I liked as a person.  

Let me give you one example.  I like Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler both personally and professionally.  If Jimmy Garoppolo gets injured and doesn't play all 17 games in 2023, I will be very critical.  They will have earned it.

I like Derek Carr a lot.  A terrific person and a man I consider my friend.  That didn't keep me from being critical last season.  He has admitted since he left that the Raiders didn't get his best last season.

One thing about journalism is never to make it personal, good or bad.

That said, I am not convinced of Chris Ash as a coach.  For many reasons, and none of them are about his character as a human being.  I am sure he is a great person.  He was an absolute failure at Rutgers, and I know several people that have played for him and coached with him who have shaped that opinion.  It isn't personal, but the people I know who have coached with him, played for him, and the work I saw last season hasn't given me a reason to feel differently.

Hondo, I enjoyed your interview with Jason Simmons.  He struck me as a good coach and detailed.  Am I reading him right?  Tony J.

I do like him.  If you look at 2022, you might not, but some things I have learned from people that have played with him, coached with him, and played for him have sold me.  He is a super coach, and I expect Raider Nation to see a lot from him.

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