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Not all the blame falls on Josh McDaniels in Las Vegas
Not all the blame falls on Josh McDaniels in Las Vegas,Condemning McDaniels is a daily occurrence in Las Vegas, but is the beleaguered coach deserving of the bulk of the blame?

Not all the blame falls on Josh McDaniels in Las Vegas

Condemning Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels is a daily occurrence in Las Vegas, like a Bellagio fountain eruption. But some wonder if all the blame should fall on the beleaguered Raiders’ head coach.  

“I’ll defend the Raiders again… I don’t think it’s a bad team,” said brash Fox Sports host Colin Cowherd. “Look at all the chaos McDaniels had to overcome.” 

“I’ll defend the Raiders again… I don’t think it’s a terrible team.”

— @ColinCowherd pic.twitter.com/6VlykjeeEw

— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) November 15, 2022

The Raiders (2-7) made the playoffs twice in the past 19 seasons, so McDaniels inherited the keys to a clunker, not a well-run organization.
Also, the franchise regularly whiffed in the first round of the NFL Draft. The Raiders have cut four of their first-round picks from the past three drafts. As a result, their depth has diminished. They declined to pick up the fifth-year options on two other first-round picks.

#Raiders first-round picks from 2019-2021:

2021: Alex Leatherwood: Cut
2020: Henry Ruggs III: Cut
2020: Damon Arnette: Cut
2019: Johnathan Abram: Cut
2019: Josh Jacobs: 5th year declined.
2019: Clelin Ferrell: 5th year declined.

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 8, 2022

Several key players are missing, including Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller, who is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.

McDaniels walked into an unstable situation, but he has struggled to eliminate issues from his previous head coaching tenure in Denver. McDaniels’ Bronco defenses were atrocious from 2009-10. In 2010, Denver ranked last in the league, and the team fired McDaniels after a 3-9 start. 

The problem has carried over to Las Vegas, where the defense ranks 28th in yards allowed through nine games.

McDaniels’ inability to cultivate a consistent defense without his mentor, Bill Belichick, creates doubt about his capability to become a proven head coach.

But driving can be difficult when a coach is handed a car without wheels.