Davante Adams calls for patience with the Raiders offense: ‘Time will tell’ how strong the unit can be
HENDERSON, Nev. — While Davante Adams was one of the few healthy Las Vegas Raiders players to skip the offseason team activities, his absence was not due to any dissatisfaction. The receiver is now much happier than he was during most of his first two years with the team and is fully committed to its direction under head coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco.
For the 11-year veteran, OTA sessions aren’t as critical as they once were. At 31, prioritizing rest has become essential. He started on-field work during mandatory minicamp this week and has performed in regular-season form during the first two practices.
Despite his presence, the Raiders’ offense continues to struggle. Adams, part of underwhelming units for the past two seasons, has maintained a measured reaction.
“The frustration comes in midseason when we haven’t made the progress that we need,” Adams said on Wednesday. “At this point, you’re not a mature or experienced player if you’re getting frustrated in mandatory minicamp. Obviously, I get frustrated every play if it doesn’t work to a certain degree, but it’s not frustration where you’re losing hope in your teammates, yourself, or the team’s potential. It’s more like, ‘I’ve got a standard.’ You’ve got to have realistic expectations now, but always keep your standard.”
While the on-field results have been lacking so far, Adams has successfully assisted his teammates in learning coordinator Luke Getsy’s offense.
Getsy, in his first year with the Raiders, previously coached Adams for seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers. There are many similarities between the Packers’ offenses and Getsy’s system.
“Thankfully, I’ve been in the system for a long time,” Adams said. “So 90 percent of these calls come through, and I know what to do right away without even getting into my playbook. It’s a learning process for everybody getting comfortable with it.”
Adams has already established a solid connection with Getsy and several returning Raiders players. He’s also made an effort to get to know the newcomers, including rookie tight end Brock Bowers. Adams has even given the team’s first-round pick a nickname: “BM,” short for businessman.
“He’s solely focused on football, and I can see it in his eyes,” Adams said. “I definitely understand his dedication. I’ve watched his tape. He’s a big, strong guy who is both focused and driven. The sky’s the limit for him.”
With receivers like Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Michael Gallup, and Jalen Guyton, along with tight ends Bowers and Michael Mayer, the Raiders boast a talented group of pass catchers.
However, as demonstrated last year, talent alone doesn’t ensure a productive offense.
Improvement this fall will require collective progress from Getsy and every offensive position.
“At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter how good we can be,” Adams said. “It’s no secret we’ve got some dangerous weapons on the team as a whole, not to mention the offense. … I guess we’ll see what that potential is.”
Notes
– The Raiders had 86 players participate in Day 2 of mandatory minicamp on Wednesday. Five players missed practice: left tackle Kolton Miller (shoulder), guard Jake Johanning, defensive tackle Matthew Butler, defensive end Elerson Smith, and linebacker Darien Butler. As Miller rehabs from offseason surgery, veteran Andrus Peat has been filling in with the first team at left tackle.
– After Gardner Minshew took most of the snaps with the starters during team drills on Tuesday, it was Aidan O’Connell’s turn to take the majority of the first-team reps on Wednesday. When asked about O’Connell’s development since his rookie season, Adams spoke highly of the young quarterback.
“It’s more about him being comfortable in his own skin now,” Adams said. “He’s embracing who he is. He’s even talking a little smack out there. You’re seeing more of his true self rather than just the rookie trying to do everything by the book. That’s what helps players reach the next level: figuring out who they truly are and coming into their own. As soon as he arrived this offseason, he put on his cleats, strapped them up, and you could tell he was ready to go.”
However, neither O’Connell nor Minshew has particularly stood out during OTAs. Both have struggled with downfield throws, had too many off-target passes, and their timing seems off. It’s still early, but they have a lot of work ahead.
“Neither of those guys is familiar with this offense, so they’re making the most of their reps and learning from their mistakes because there are obviously going to be a lot of them,” Adams said. “It’s the hardest position to play in football. It’s not going to be easy, but they’re continuing to push forward.”
Following the hires of Getsy and offensive line coach James Cregg, the Raiders have transitioned to a wide zone-based blocking scheme on offense. Previously, under former head coach Josh McDaniels, the team utilized a tight zone and gap-based blocking scheme, making this a significant change for the returning offensive linemen.
“Speed off the ball, running on angles, and getting certain footwork right — it’s a completely different teaching approach from what they’re used to,” Cregg said. “Understanding the footwork we’re asking of them and drilling that into them takes time, especially to get it right. We’re still a work in progress on it.”
Cregg has been impressed with the young offensive linemen on the roster.
Dylan Parham has shown increased comfort after moving from left to right guard. Cregg believes Parham’s natural movement skills and footwork are better suited for right guard, which is crucial in a wide zone scheme that demands lateral effectiveness from offensive linemen.
“He’s a very athletic young man,” Cregg said. “He’s got a good, strong lower body, too. He has the strength and quickness we want. … He’s grown quite a bit from last season.”
• Cregg mentioned that he believes Thayer Munford Jr. is more suited for left tackle, but Munford is set to start at right tackle this season. As a third-year player, Munford has made significant progress in this position.
“Especially watching the latter part of last year, he really stood out to me,” Cregg said. “His athleticism fits well there. He’s untapped and still learning. He’s a raw football player, still developing in my opinion, and improving with every practice. He’s natural on the left but can play both directions. Last year, he was able to step in for Kolton when needed. He’s been a pleasant surprise at right tackle.”
• Rookie left guard Jackson Powers-Johnson missed part of OTAs due to a shoulder injury, but he has participated in rookie minicamp and mandatory minicamp. During mandatory minicamp, Cody Whitehair has taken over as the first-team left guard while Powers-Johnson works his way back. If Powers-Johnson remains healthy, he could be productive in his first year.
“He’s actually a really good pass protector,” Cregg said. “He’s participating now, but I wish we had more time with him. We’ll catch up during training camp. He’s a very bright kid, understands the game, and catches on quickly. We just need to get him used to our offense, which takes a lot of reps to master in terms of technique.”
