Keefer and the Beats: The Lions rise, the Rams rebound, and the Raiders confound
Oct 17, 2023
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Colton Pouncy, Jourdan Rodrigue, and Tashan Reed join Zak Keefer to discuss their respective NFL teams: the Lions, Rams, and Raiders. They cover topics such as the surprising performance of the Lions, the Rams redefining their approach, maintaining focus as a head coach, insights on the Rams and Sean McVay, and frustrations within the Raiders team.
DeVante Adams is frustrated with the Las Vegas Raiders' lack of success and desires a team that consistently wins and competes at a high level.
The Las Vegas Raiders' offense under head coach Josh McDaniels has been disappointing, ranking low in explosive plays and scoring, which has led to frustration among fans and calls for McDaniels to be fired.
The Las Vegas Raiders' struggles on offense, averaging only 16 points per game and ranking low in explosive plays, have left star players like DeVante Adams questioning their decision to join the team.
Deep dives
DeVante Adams expresses frustration with the Raiders' performance
DeVante Adams, the star receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders, has voiced his frustration with the team's performance. Coming from the Green Bay Packers, Adams expected to compete and win with the Raiders, but the team's struggles and lack of success have left him skeptical. In an interview, Adams mentioned that this isn't what he signed up for. He wants to win, and the Raiders haven't met his expectations. Despite his individual success, Adams desires a team that consistently wins and competes at a high level.
Josh McDaniels and the Offensive Struggles
The Las Vegas Raiders' offensive performance under head coach Josh McDaniels has been disappointing. With an offensive background and success in New England, many expected McDaniels to elevate the team's offense. However, the Raiders rank low in explosive plays and scoring, with only 16 points per game. This lackluster performance has led to frustration among fans and calls for McDaniels to be fired. The offense hasn't lived up to expectations, and the offensive struggles need to be addressed for the Raiders to find success.
The Team's on-field Performance
The Las Vegas Raiders have struggled on offense, averaging only 16 points per game and ranking low in explosive plays. This disappointing performance has led to frustration among fans and players. The team's offense hasn't met expectations, and the lack of success has left star players like DeVante Adams questioning their decision to join the team. The Raiders have work to do to improve their on-field performance and regain confidence from their players and fans.
The Rams are in a setup year after overhauling their defensive roster
The Rams underwent a partial rebuild in the offseason, overhauling their entire defensive roster by bringing in rookies and inexpensive players. The offense was expected to carry the young defense while it developed. The defense, under the coaching of Rahim Morris, has progressed faster than anticipated. However, the offense has experienced some challenges, including injuries to Cooper Kupp and a shift in identity. Despite these hurdles, the team is performing better than expected and is looking at the long-term picture, with a focus on the 2024 or 2025 seasons.
The Raiders are stuck in a directionless position
The Raiders find themselves in a difficult situation, with a lack of direction and inconsistency in their performance. While they currently have a 3-3 record, their wins have come against struggling teams, and overall, they lack the quality to compete at a high level. The decision to trade for Jimmy Garoppolo, who has a history of injuries, has not paid off, and the offense has struggled with limited passing options and a weak running game. The team's performance has led to frustrations among fans, and there is uncertainty about the team's future. It is unclear when or how the Raiders can break free from this cycle of mediocrity and establish a clear path towards improvement.
Any list of best teams in the NFL this season has to include the Detroit Lions. Any list of 3-3 teams, meanwhile, has to include the Rams and Raiders. The list of guests on this week's Keefer and the Beats includes all of The Athletic reporters who cover those teams. Colton Pouncy (Lions), Jourdan Rodrigue (Rams) and Tashan Reed (Raiders) join Zak Keefer on this episode to break down their teams one-third of the way through the season.