INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- NFL teams have begun another week of the NFL Scouting Combine, looking for players who will help them win championships.
The Combine is a chance for teams to start anew, as the Las Vegas Raiders are at the offensive coordinator position. In February, the Raiders hired Luke Getsy to take over after a stint with the Chicago Bears.
While his time in Chicago was polarizing, Getsy left on good terms, and Coach Matt Eberflus still speaks highly of him. Eberflus brought Getsy onto his staff when he was first hired by the Bears in January of 2022.
Eberflus answered questions on Tuesday at the Combine and spoke about what Getsy will bring as the Raiders’ OC.
“He’ll bring leadership,” Eberflus said. “He’s great in front of the room; great leadership to him. He has a system that he puts in that’s rooted in the run game, play-action game. So, they’re going to be excited to have him.”
The Raiders will have several leaders in their locker room, including Coach Antonio Pierce and Getsy, which can be valuable for a young quarterback like Aidan O’Connell.
Having multiple voices and guiding figures can benefit a player like O’Connell, who will enter his second season in the league, hoping to keep the starting job he took over midway through his rookie year.
While Getsy has worked with a young quarterback before in Justin Fields, O’Connell is a very different quarterback from a play-style perspective and in terms of where he is in his development.
Under Getsy, the Bears ranked 18th in the NFL in points per game at 21.2. As Eberflus said, Getsy’s offensive scheme is predicated on the run game. The Bears finished 2nd in the NFL in rushing attempts in the last two seasons.
This could benefit a young running back like Zamir White, who broke out in his second season with the Raiders. White could see even more touches in 2024 under Getsy, as he will certainly run the football often.
The Raiders will also likely run lots of play-action under Getsy. As Eberflus mentioned, it is one of the most prominent elements of his offense. Fields threw 69 passes in play-action in 2023, while O’Connell threw 66.
As the Raiders push for the postseason in 2024, having a leader like Getsy as an offensive coordinator who can command a locker room may pay dividends.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 13 overall pick.
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