HENDERSON, Nev. A season that began full of hope in the Raiders organization has quickly descended into an all too familiar place of chaos in Pete Carrolls first (and potentially only) season as the franchises head coach.
The Raiders, like last season, have gotten off to an abysmal 2-8 start under Carroll and general manager Jon Spytek. The pair brought a renewed sense of optimism when they joined minority owner Tom Bradys Raiders braintrust in January, but that signature feeling of failure has yet to be washed from the franchise.
Carroll addressed the Raiders slow start after practice on Wednesday, making it clear that he wasnt expecting his maiden season in Las Vegas to be another year of the same old Raiders futility.
It’s been crappy, and this is not what I expected to happen, Carroll said. I didn’t feel like we would be this far behind at the start of the season. We’re just trying to keep driving the messages home. Trying to get better each week, and do some things that we can build from.
Carroll also emphasized that the Raiders are just a few marginal outcomes away from being in a much better spot as a team. Regardless, this is relatively uncharted territory for Carroll as a coach. He has been fired after one season once before in his career after going 6-10 with the New York Jets in 1994, but even that team started 6-5 before faltering down the stretch.
It’s a kick, it’s a block kick, it’s an OT catch, Carroll said There are four to five games here that could have flipped just like that, just with small margins of better play, better execution, better calls, and all of that. But unfortunately, it still is what it is, isn’t it? 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.
In terms of his current job security, Carroll doesnt allow himself to go down that rabbit hole.
I don’t think like that, I really don’t, Carroll said. That hasn’t been in my mind at all. I’m not going to start that.
Despite the fact that the Raiders are seemingly inventing new ways to lose games this season, Carroll praised the teams communication and shared his belief that a positive break is right around the corner.
I don’t like it one bit, and it’s been hard. (The coaches) are communicating well. The players are communicating well with us, and we’re keeping it together. It’s as if the next opportunity feels like it’s going to turn. As mom said, something good is just about to happen.