Raiders quarterback: Gardner Minshew, Davante Adams need all the synergy they can create

Starting signal caller getting in-tune with his wide receivers is key ahead of Las Vegas’ opener at Los Angeles Chargers

Gardner Minshew is going to find his inner John Stockton and be a true distributor of the football for the Las Vegas Raiders.

“Couldn’t be more excited. Everyone in this locker room feels how special we can be. My role in this offense is to make good decisions — we have guys that are going to get open. I just have to get them the ball and play point guard,” Minshew said.

The Silver & Black’s starting quarterback couldn’t have put it any better. Like the legendary NBA all-time assists leader, Minshew is slated to dish the ball out in offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s system this coming season. And at the all-important signal caller spot, Minshew is the man with the ball in his hands and the point of contact when Las Vegas decides to go through the air.

“My role in the offense is going to be making good decisions and keeping guys on track to make explosive plays,” Minshew noted. “It’s about fine-tuning things and getting comfortable and understanding how everyone sees the game. It will be good for all our skill guys to go get some extra work.”

That comfort and synergy with the weapons at his disposal is mission critical for Minshew and the rest of the Raiders offense — without question.

Arguably the biggest weapon at his disposal is the one that commands plenty of attention: Elite wide receiver Davante Adams. The 31-year-old wideout remains one of the game’s best route runners and has sticky hands to boot as he led Las Vegas with 103 catches for 1,144 yards receiving with eight touchdowns.

“(Working more with) Davante is huge,” Minshew said. “We’re going to do some extra throwing and some extra film, getting on the same page. A lot of that comes with reps, but you can also talk through things. He’s a lot of fun to do that with. He has played a lot of ball. I’m going to be leaning on him and picking his brain to try and make him the player he can be.”

Then there’s reliable Jakobi Meyers who finished second on the Raiders in receiving last year with 71 grabs for 801 yards and eight scores (along with two rushing touchdowns) and speedster Tre Tucker, who Minshew showed rapport with on deep strikes during preseason action.

But getting in sync with weapons isn’t relegated to just the wide receivers for Minshew.

The Raiders offense boasts two talented young tight ends in rookie Brock Bowers and second-year talent Michael Mayer (who hauled in 27 passes for 304 yards with two touchdowns). Getsy is slated to use the 12 personnel assignment that sees one running back along with two tight ends and two wide receivers on the field and the duo of Bowers and Mayer are expected to get plenty of usage.

“Go out and get more of a connection on how we run our routes and where we want the ball, things like that,” Raiders second-year tight end Michael Mayer said when asked about Minshew and what work needs to be done. “All those things are crucial. To talk about routes and the defense and coverages. I’m really proud of Gardner. Happy for him. Now, it’s time to dig in and really find that connection between us.”

And we can’t forget about the offensive line, the life blood of any NFL offense. A byproduct of having the quarterback competition between Minshew and second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell is practicing and playing with different personnel groupings and not the sure-fire starting group. Head coach Antonio Pierce is well aware of this and highlighted the importance of Minshew being the leader and working with the first-team unit diligently as the team preps for the Week 1 opener at the Los Angeles Chargers on September 8. And that’s a continuous effort as the Raiders proceed through the 2024 campaign.

“Very important. And not just with Davante, but with our entire offense,” Pierce said. “Kolton Miller as well, our left tackle came back. So, it’s important for chemistry and continuity. Splitting the reps, that’s over with now. It’s Gardner’s show and he needs to be a leader and understand what we’re lacking right now, and what we’re lacking is not playing together throughout the camp like most teams that have a starter from day one.

“So, there’s a lot of work to go there. He’s taking some great steps forward.”