Pete Carroll Not Thinking About Job Security Amidst Raiders’ Rough Start
At 2-7, the hope for the Las Vegas Raiders to make a postseason push is all but done. New head coach Pete Carroll spoke before the season about expecting to win right away, but that has not materialized to start this season, and some are wondering whether he is the right person to lead this team.
The Raiders rank 31st in points per game this season, having been held to single-digit points four times already. While Carroll has had great success throughout his coaching career, he is also 74 years old and may not be the ideal choice for a rebuild should the Raiders go that route.
But for his part, Carroll isn’t thinking about any of that as he made it clear during a recent press conference that thoughts on his job security never come into his mind, via
“No, I don’t think like that, I really don’t. I can’t go there. It’s been 20-something years with these last two opportunities coaching, and that hasn’t been in mind at all, so I’m not going to start now.”
Considering that it is something Carroll can’t control, it makes sense that he isn’t thinking about the future, but is simply focused on the task at hand. The Raiders’ struggles are not something he foresaw coming into the season, and he admitted he isn’t taking it very well, but is still pushing his team to improve every week:
“Not very well. It’s been crappy. This is not what I expected to happen, and I didn’t feel that we would be this far behind the start of the season. We’re just trying to keep driving the messages home and trying to get better each week and do some things that we can build from […] But unfortunately it is still what it is and we have to deal with it. I’m not very well versed in being in this situation and I don’t have experience about that and I’m happy to say that. But I don’t like it one bit and it’s been hard.
Carroll’s enthusiasm and energy have not wavered one bit, and there is no doubt he will continue to do everything in his power to turn this Raiders franchise into a winner once again.
Raiders expect guard Jackson Powers-Johnson to be out ‘for a while’
Unfortunately, any run the Raiders make down the stretch of this season will be done without one of their better offensive linemen as second-year guard
Aaron Rodgers’ Wrist Injury Could Stifle Pittsburgh Steelers’ Playoff Hopes
The Pittsburgh Steelers were able to fend off the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11 despite losing quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a wrist injury.
Sunday night, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the initial fear from one source is that Rodgers suffered “a slight break” in his wrist. Rodgers will undergo further testing on Monday to determine the full extent of the injury and how much time will be missed.
Schefter elaborated that it’s shaping up to be backup quarterback Mason Rudolph against the Chicago Bears next week.
Rudolph was 12-of-16 passing for 127 yards and one touchdown in relief of Rodgers. He was able to seal the 34-12 victory against the Bengals and send the Steelers to 6-4.
The Cleveland Browns didn’t do the Steelers any favors when they collapsed against the Baltimore Ravens. But with a 6-4 record, the Steelers are still on top of the 5-5 Ravens and in sole possession of first place in the AFC North.
But if Rodgers is forced to miss significant time, playoff hopes in Pittsburgh could be all but over.
This offseason, the Steelers signed the 41-year-old hoping to upgrade from Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, who both departed in free agency. While Rodgers took his time committing to Pittsburgh formally, the Steelers brought back Rudolph who flamed out in his lone season with the Tennessee Titans. They also drafted Ohio State quarterback Will Howard on Day 3.
Without Rodgers, this Steelers squad barely has a chance. Even though Rudolph is in his sixth season of serving a backup role, he’s been wildly inconsistent when given significant action. The Titans were starving for a solution at quarterback when they turned to him, and he threw nine touchdown passes to nine interceptions.
More importantly, this Steelers offense leaves a ton to be desired.
Running back Jaylen Warren somehow isn’t used enough on a weekly basis. DK Metcalf was a big offseason acquisition who has been inconsistent. But outside of Metcalf? Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson are Pittsburgh’s other pass catching options.
The Steelers have the luxury of playing in a dreadful AFC North, but the Ravens are coming. Lamar Jackson was horrible in Week 11’s win against the Browns, but the Ravens still mustered an impressive win against an elite defense. They’ve won four straight games.
While Rudolph put together a respectable stat line in replacement of Rodgers, everybody knows how bad Cincinnati's defense has been.
The Bears are 7-3 and host the Steelers on Sunday. After that, the Steelers host the Buffalo Bills before traveling to Baltimore. Things are getting serious in Pittsburgh, and they could be without their starting quarterback.
