Accountability, chemistry are focuses of Raiders’ extended East Coast stay

By Case Keefer (contact)

Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 | 2 a.m.

Derek Carr probably wanted to slink down into his seat and close his eyes when one of the worst interceptions of his career came up in the film room this week.

Instead, the Raiders’ quarterback willingly watched his ill-advised attempt at a no-look pass to slot receiver Hunter Renfrow in between four defenders on a third-and-2 play early in an eventual 24-0 loss to the Saints last week. Carr then turned to Renfrow and issued an apology.

“That’s my fault, man,” Carr told Renfrow.

Carr wasn’t done yet. He also had words for wide receiver Mack Hollins, whom he was looking at as a decoy on the play before throwing to Renfrow but probably could have hit for a completion if he fired the pass quicker.

“Instead of waiting, I’ve got to come to you,” Carr said to Hollins.

The Raiders’ captain and longest-tenured player was trying to set an example, showing it was important for everyone on the roster to take ownership for the team’s poor performance when it was their turn. He said that’s exactly what’s happened during the team’s stay in Sarasota, Fla., this week where they’re preparing for a 10 a.m. game on Sunday at the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Raiders planned to remain on the East Coast for back-to-back road games long before their “embarrassing” loss at the Saints last week, but the circumstances now might make the setup even more beneficial. Ever since the game at New Orleans ended, multiple Las Vegas players have said the opportunity to practice at IMG Academy is a chance to focus more intently on fixing their issues and bond with teammates.

Coach Josh McDaniels is more fixated on the former, as Carr said he laid out ahead of re-watching the Saints’ game as a team on Monday.

“He said, ‘We’re going to challenge each other. We’re going to watch this whole thing. We’re going to correct it and we’re going to be honest,’” Carr recalled in his weekly news conference. “Josh doesn’t ever like cuss people out or yell at them, but he is demanding.”

McDaniels didn’t cite poor practice habits as a contributing factor to the blowout loss, but that doesn’t mean he’s not trying to tighten things up in Sarasota. And the players feel like they’ve responded.

Carr described the first full practice on Wednesday as “all positive.”

“The urgency is there,” wide receiver Davante Adams added in his weekly news conference. “Guys are battling.”

But the real difference has come after practice, according to Carr. At the end of the day while they’re at home in their Henderson headquarters, the Raiders all go their separate ways.

Some of their families are in town to spend time in Sarasota, but Carr said the players are “eating every meal together.”

After the defeat to the Saints, slot receiver Hunter Renfrow compared the stay to when the team went to London his rookie year and, in his mind, became closer. Something similar could happen this week.

“At the end of the day, we’ve got a great locker room, we’ve got great coaches,” edge rusher Maxx Crosby said. “Sometimes it just doesn’t jell right away. We’ve had some bright spots, we’ve had some low spots but we trust each other and just have to keep trying to improve in every way we can.”

The Raiders’ 2-5 start to the season may have all but ruled them out of some of their ultimate goals, including reaching the playoffs, in the minds of many. But the players aren’t looking at it that way.

They have more than half their season to play and have moved past the “low spots” — including getting humiliated by the Saints. Monday’s film session wasn’t easy for any of the players, but they’re not letting it linger.

“Josh said, ‘As soon as this is over, flush it because we’ve got some work to do,’” Carr said. “That’s the balance we have. Josh is really good at setting that time and that boundary and as soon as we get past it, it’s, ‘Let’s freaking go onto the next one.’”

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or