“I think I’ll just try to prepare like I’m the starter every day,” O’Connell said after Tuesday’s practice at Allegiant Stadium. “I know that sounds cliche, but that’s what I’m going to try to do. I know, obviously, what it takes to play. I got the great experience of playing last year. So, I’ll just try to support Gardner [Minshew] and be ready to go.
The second-year pro out of Purdue played well enough last year to show his potential.
He may not have won the job, but he has proven himself a valuable QB2 who can step in and play if called upon.
Gardner Minshew
The Raiders are Minshew’s 4th team in his young career. He started his career in Jacksonville before moving to Philadelphia for two years. However, last year in Indy was his best.
He played well enough to earn his first Pro Bowl nod. I understand the Pro Bowl isn’t as prestigious as it was 10 years ago, but it’s still an accomplishment. Pro Bowl QBs don’t grow on trees, after all.
Pierce met with general manager Tom Telesco and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and they decided that Minshew was a better fit for the offense right now. And while many assumed (myself included) that Minshew would have to separate himself during the competition, it was the other way around.
O’Connell, the incumbent, was supposed to take that first snap of the offseason and pull away from the newcomer. But that never happened. It’s fair to say that O’Connell wasn’t as sharp as he was last camp and preseason as a rookie.
Many may point to O’Connell’s brutal pick-six interception against Dallas Cowboys backups in the preseason game Saturday night, but the Raiders charted passes throughout camp practices and Minshew threw more interceptions, so that wasn’t it.
Personally, I think experience played a factor as well. The Raiders finished a disappointing 8–9 last year. With a solid roster, they will be looking to make a playoff push this year. This isn’t a rebuilding team in any sense of the word.
Having a veteran QB attempt to lead them back to the playoffs makes sense.
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