Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll has publicly criticised the team's management, two months after being fired following a disastrous 3-14 season. Carroll, who was dismissed as part of a major overhaul by owners including Tom Brady, expressed his frustrations in an interview with ESPN, highlighting recruitment failures that he believes doomed his tenure.
Carroll Points Finger at Raiders' Offensive Line Neglect
In his first comments since the firing, Carroll took aim at the Raiders' decision-makers for not strengthening the offensive line during the offseason and draft. "Our offensive guys up front, from the last couple of years, we got murdered," said the Super Bowl-winning coach. "We needed to upgrade that more than we did. It didn't happen in the Draft, and it didn't happen in the offseason."
Geno Smith's Struggles and Trade to New York Jets
Carroll's criticism comes amid the Raiders' recent trade of quarterback Geno Smith to the New York Jets, a move likely tied to plans to select Indiana star Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in next month's NFL Draft. Smith, who reunited with Carroll in Vegas after their successful stint with the Seattle Seahawks, had a career-worst year, going 2-13 as starter and throwing 17 interceptions.
Carroll shouldered the blame for Smith's poor performance, stating, "He's a phenomenal quarterback, he really is. He had a fantastic offseason and preseason with us, and he comes out in the first game, has a great first game. It was all fitting. It was exactly the right time for us. Then we just faltered and faltered. We didn't do well enough, coaching."
Carroll Reflects on Coaching Failures and Smith's Future
The 74-year-old coach admitted to not preparing Smith adequately for the challenges of the season. "We should've had him better prepared for the things that happened, and that wouldn't have happened," Carroll continued. "I take a lot of responsibility in that. We didn't prepare him well enough in the offseason even though he looked great and we felt we had everything lined up. It was very, very disappointing for us both."
Despite a strong Week 1 performance where Smith threw for 362 yards and a touchdown in a victory over the New England Patriots, a four-game losing streak ensued. Carroll attributed this to the entire offense failing to gel, saying, "He got off to such a miserable start, and it wasn't just him. It was the whole thing. We just didn't function well early on, and he got behind the eight ball right from the beginning."
Carroll's Support for Smith's Move to the Jets
Carroll, who "fell in love" with Smith during their time in Seattle, expressed full support for the quarterback's return to the Jets, where he was originally drafted. "If he figured out [New York] was a good place for him and he wanted to do it, and he was part of the decision, then I couldn't support him more," Carroll said. "I love the guy and want the very best for him. He deserves it. He worked really hard to get where he is."
The Raiders have since replaced Carroll with Klint Kubiak, signalling a fresh start for the team after a tumultuous season marked by poor results and internal criticism.
