Urgent Raiders Issues That Must Be Addressed #5: Stability

HENDERSON, Nev.-The Las Vegas Raiders as a franchise have a myriad of issues that they are facing. This five-part series will look at five issues that can be fixed before a free agent is signed or an NFL Draft pick is turned in.

Today we begin with the fifth biggest issue, and that is stability.  

There is no doubt who the owner is; Mark Davis has made immeasurable improvements since he took over the helm from his legendary father, Al.

But, stability is critically lacking in football operations.

Mark Davis has had two coaches in his tenure who took his franchise to the NFL Playoffs, and both of those men he fired.

In fairness to Davis, no one saw the calamity of the Jon Gruden emails torpedoing that thirst for the stability of focus and direction. Davis gave Gruden an unprecedented ten-year deal.

Davis thought he had finally delivered long-term stability, but the fact is, it wasn't just Gruden.

Whether you like Josh McDaniels or Dave Ziegler, as a franchise, you can't continue firing your leadership team so often that no stability is in place.

That constant flux leads to precious NFL Draft picks being wasted as you change systems and even the personnel evaluating and eventually picking players.

When Davis made it clear earlier this year that McDaniels and Ziegler were safe no matter how the season turned out, much of Raider Nation was enraged.

I 100% support that. Davis made the right call. I have reported relentlessly that Davos was also frustrated, but this franchise needs stability.

Love or hate the Pittsburgh Steelers, they are consistently good because they are consistent. When people foolishly wanted Mike Tomlin fired, the Steelers stayed the course.

For the Las Vegas Raiders to develop sustained success, they must do what the elite franchises do, set a course, and stay the course.

It is no secret the respect that Davis has for the New England Patriots and other successful clubs. If he wants what they have, he has to do what they do.

Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler will not be back in 2024 if 2023 goes like 2022, and I have already reported that. But for Davis, the football side of his building is craving stabilization.

If Davis moves on after 2023, he must set a course for the next regime and stay the course.

It is often said in business that the number one reason for their success and failure is the hiring process.  That rests completely on Mark Davis.

Imagine what could happen if this franchise could get multiple years of drafting with one vision on defense, special teams, and offense.  Not discounting a clarity of focus on the field via coaching and other intangible aspects.s

Davis's combination of a quick trigger and bad fortune has hurt this franchise.

Davis carries immense respect around the NFL for how he handles the off-field matters, but he has a franchise that has sold its rabid fans a mantra of "Just Win Baby," and his fans don't care if the NFL respects him.  His franchise isn't winning.

This franchise cut its teeth on the NFL hating them. Many in Raider Nation embrace that.

Josh McDaniels' highlight of his first year came after the Seahawks game. After another mistake with officiating, he blew off an obvious error by the men in stripes by saying, "We're the Raiders."

Those three words were the season's highlight as to McDaniels and Raider Nation being on the same page.

This franchise has a lot of issues. We will look at four more in this series, but one of the top-five issues is a lack of stability and vision on the football side of this franchise.

I heard a story once that applies to the Raiders, in my opinion.

A man is rushed to the hospital for an ingrown toenail. When the family asks the doctor how he plans to treat it, he says, "He has terminal cancer, we should probably be more concerned about cancer than an ingrown toenail."

All franchises have issues, but it's time for the Raiders to address the dire problems causing trouble and not try to act as if they don't exist.

Today's issue is the stability of vision and long-term direction. Fixing that can only be done by one person: Mark Davis.

The NFL Draft will occur at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo., beginning on Thursday, April 27, and ending with rounds five to seven on Saturday, April 29. ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network will broadcast all seven rounds.

The NFL Scouting Combine is Feb. 28-March 6, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. March 7, 2023, before 4 p.m. EST, is the club's deadline to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. Starting at 12 p.m. EST on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. EST on March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2022 Player Contracts at 4 p.m. EST on March 15.

The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period begins at 4 p.m. EST on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.

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