Raiders QB Brian Hoyer reveals first impressions of rookie QB Aidan O'Connell
The Las Vegas Raiders may have made a good decision when they were really hammered for it. The Raiders fan base is one of the league groups that is often split down the middle on decisions their team made. Most fanbases usually agree as a whole on everything – not in Las Vegas.The most recent […]
The Las Vegas Raiders may have made a good decision when they were really hammered for it. The Raiders fan base is one of the league groups that is often split down the middle on decisions their team made. Most fanbases usually agree as a whole on everything – not in Las Vegas.
The most recent thing that split the fan base was the decision not to take a quarterback in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Sure, the guys they were interested in were already gone by the Raiders' pick; however, a lot of people wanted them to trade up. Instead, they waited until the fourth round to take a rookie quarterback.
Not only that, a lot of people don't like who they picked in Aidan O'Connell. It's not anything against him, but he doesn't fit the prototype build of a quarterback in today's league. O'Connell can't move outside the pocket.
However, things are trending in the right direction for O'Connell. What Brian Hoyer, the second-string quarterback as of right now, said about O'Connell will only make you feel a bit better about the selection.
"Yeah, he's done a great job," Hoyer told the media. "I mean, this is not an easy offense to learn, especially as a young guy. I mean, I got to watch Mac Jones run it two years ago, and really that was impressive. And Aidan [O'Connell] is doing a good job too of coming in as a rookie. They throw a lot at you, and then you have to try to retain it.
"So, he's done a really good job of learning it. He's not making a lot of mental mistakes, which early on – I mean, look, when I was a rookie, you're swimming at some point. So, he's done a great job of kind of staying on schedule, and he does a great job. He's throwing the ball really well."
O'Connell, as crazy as it sounds, keeps getting compared to Tom Brady. Now, that isn't fair because Brady is the greatest ever to do it, but at the same time, the similarities are definitely there in their play styles. I'm by no means saying that O'Connell will be remotely close to Brady; however, Brady played for a long time in this league with that play style, not being a mobile quarterback.
If O'Connell can work his tail off, improve his footwork in the pocket, and play inside the system by doing what he is supposed to, nothing crazy, he will be good.
Hoyer has been in the league for a long time. In 15 years, he has been behind Tom Brady and even started some games in the league. He knows what it takes to be a good quarterback and to remain in the NFL. So, he isn't just making stuff up.
This should make the fans feel better. Sure, the Raiders maybe should have taken a different approach still; however, it's done and in the past. Now, you have to think positively.
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Featured Image Via Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
