When Antonio Pierce took over as the Raiders’ interim coach midway through last season, his first big decision was to make rookie Aidan O’Connell the starting quarterback.
Now, as the full-time coach for Las Vegas, Pierce is once again turning to O’Connell as the Raiders face an important stretch in their season, while Gardner Minshew is being benched for the upcoming game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
O’Connell had a record of 5-4 after he became the starter last season. Pierce mentioned on Wednesday that he has noticed the quarterback’s growing confidence and that he is becoming more vocal.
“He has a certain presence about himself,” Pierce said. “I love how he walks around the building, but really what I respect most is when we named Gardner the starter, he was like, ‘All right, I’ll be the best scout-team quarterback possible.’ He was lighting our (behind) up, and every day he gave us the best look.”
O’Connell agreed with that description.
“I think there were things I was naive to last year, things I really didn’t know that I think most people knew,” O’Connell said. “So, as a rookie, you’re just behind the eight ball. You’re trying to steal time any way you can.
So I think having the offseason and now going into the second year, yeah, definitely just feel comfortable being in an organization, what it means day to day, what it looks like to try to get the job done.”
The Raiders went 2-3 while Minshew was starting, and his interception in the second quarter of Sunday’s 34-18 loss to Denver changed the game dramatically.
Las Vegas seemed close to leading 17-3 and taking control, but Minshew overthrew tight end Brock Bowers, leading to a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown by Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II.
Minshew threw another interception in the third quarter and was then replaced by O’Connell, who also struggled, passing for 94 yards with one interception.
