The Las Vegas Raiders are facing a sudden change in plans as they prepare to take on the Carolina Panthers this Sunday. The expected matchup against Bryce Young has been swapped out for veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, throwing a curveball at the Raiders’ game plan.
Head coach Antonio Pierce addressed the media during his Wednesday press conference, highlighting the advantage of having former Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis on staff. Lewis, who drafted Dalton in 2011 and coached him for eight seasons, brings a wealth of knowledge and insight into the quarterback’s playing style.
“Experience,” Pierce emphasized when discussing Dalton’s strengths. “The good thing about it, we’ve got a gentleman on our staff who drafted him, knows him very well. We played against Andy actually two years ago as well with New Orleans. So, there’s some familiarity with us. Obviously, what are they going to do scheme wise just in a couple of days? He’s a vet. I’m sure there’s not too much they can’t throw at him and ask him to do, but I do expect him to be a little bit more efficient, I would think, on third down [because that] is what their issues were. But looking at a guy who is experienced, that knows how to move the ball, move the chains and somehow, some way, when he gets on the field he makes plays. So, we’ve got to be savvy and smart there.”
While Lewis’s insight into Dalton’s game is invaluable, Pierce made it clear that they won’t rely solely on their coach’s past relationship with the quarterback. The focus now is on analyzing Dalton’s recent performance and adjusting their game plan accordingly.
“I think what we can do is really get into the mindset, the psyche of the quarterback,” Pierce explained. “I mean, he’s been away for some time. It’s really a scouting report at this point. We’re still trying to figure out what Carolina is going to do offensively with Andy, which might be different or may not be different than they did with Bryce.”
In 2022, Dalton showcased his skills by completing 67 percent of his passes for 2,871 yards, with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His lone start for Carolina last year was also impressive, as he went 34-of-58 for 361 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Raiders have a challenging task ahead of them as they adapt to facing Dalton instead of Young. With the experience and talent of both their coaching staff and players, Las Vegas is ready to rise to the occasion and tackle this unexpected obstacle in their path.
