Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels decided to let players put all their frustrations and opinions on the table in a recent team meeting, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The meeting comes just ahead of a pivotal Week 8 matchup against the Lions in which Las Vegas is attempting to avoid falling into a 3-5 hole after a tough 30-12 loss to the Bears one week prior.
"Coach Josh McDaniels, I'm told, opened the floor in a team meeting on Thursday to players, allowing them to voice all the frustrations that at times have bubbled over publicly during the team's 3-4 start. Guys like Maxx Crosby, Davante Adams, Josh Jacobs all spoke up — but so did players from every area of the roster," Pelissero said on NFL Network's The Insiders.
"And nothing from personnel, to scheme, to culture, to coaching was off limits. I'm told that the meeting was considered by players to be very positive, it was cathartic, they got a lot of things off their chest. A chance to bond a little bit and kind of emotionally reset before a big game Monday night against the Lions."
It's an interesting tidbit from Pelissero and something that was likely needed for a Raiders team fresh off its toughest loss of the season, falling to a Chicago team without starting quarterback Justin Fields. While the Raiders were without starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo last week due to a back injury, he's expected to start Monday night against Detroit.
