There has been some buzz in the last few weeks that Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham on his way out after the season, and this week Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter made his strongest statement yet on Graham’s situation.
“I don’t think Patrick will be back,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast.
“I just don’t like the way this franchise has treated him. This franchise has found every which way from Tuesday to lose and he’s a good coach, who’s probably not going to get a head coaching opportunity as long as he stays with a losing franchise.”
“They need to pay him the way they should. He needs to get the respect the way he should. If I’m the Raiders, I am selling out to keep him and if he’s not staying, I am selling out to keep Robbie Leonard as the DC.”
Not a lot is known about what hasn’t gone right between Graham and the Raiders, but it’s pretty well documented that he hasn’t been able to run the defense the way he did a year ago.
Carroll has influenced on the defense and veteran linebacker Devin White acknowledged that dynamic early in the season.
“We’re starting to find out our identity, who we are, because you got Coach Pete and you got Coach [Patrick Graham]. They clashing together, two good defensive-minded guys trying to find our identity and I think that’s what’s going on,” White said in September.
Additionally, if Graham wants to eventually be a head coach in the NFL, the fastest track to making that happen probably isn’t by jumping from one rebuild to another with the Raiders.
x: @raidersbeat
lmao
There are plenty of upgrades. Change is needed there too.
One of the Very Few Good Coaches on this Staff… **** Shame to lose the Best Talent on the Staff… then again… this is Mark Davis’ Raiders. They go out of their way to get rid of the Talent that they have…
Hondo is a moron. I’m fine with the guy but Gus Bradley & the Colts new DC are way better coordinators. In fact that Colts DC was on HC short lists a few years ago. He was notorious for stifling the Queefs while he was at Cincinnati
Anarumo ? Let’s just call him Lou A. is again a HC candidate possibly with NYG.
Got to love how this organization scapegoats everyone but those that are truly responsible for this mess.
Chip Kelly fired when it should have been Brennan Carroll. Now Graham when it should be Pete Carroll.
When is coach Biden going to be held responsible for his incompetence?
Too many Carroll apologists out there. It’s never his or his sons fault but everyone else’s.
Do humanity a favor and swallow your tongue.
Yes because you are the biggest Carroll apologist out there. In your eyes Carroll can do no wrong. Shows how inept your football knowledge is. You were all over the Geno Smith, Pete Carroll bandwagon. You are a Raider troll and still simple.
You have the comprehension level of a three year old. Instead of spewing rhetoric, and believing it, go back and actually read the bulk of what I’ve written. Quick! Before that rhetorical trap door of a mind slams shut.
Truth hurts buddy, nothing to be ashamed of when your hero’s don’t live up to your expectations. Stay simple, peace.
He isn’t that good anyway!
I’ve never liked Graham as defensive coach. But firing of Kelly didn’t fix anything. Pete sticking with Geno and Carroll Jr is the biggest problem of all. There isn’t an offensive play that Kelly could call that would work because Gino is slow minded, hangs on to the ball for too long and by putting his head down was constantly being sacked.
Hondo is a hack and nobody should read “his” thoughts since he doesn’t actually have any. Graham hasn’t had the talent to really work with in Vegas but he did in NY. His defense no matter where he’s been has never been game changing. He’s not Salah, Flores, MacDonald (Sea), Evero, Joseph or any I didn’t think of off the top of my head. Pete doesn’t have many scapegoats left. Brady does. That’s why I could see Pete and Graham gone. Graham wouldn’t have been here this year if TB hired Liam C faster.