LAS VEGAS (KTNV – The Las Vegas Raiders concluded their stay in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Wednesday with the team’s last full practice of training camp.
Now the Silver and Black hit the road to begin their preseason with an away game against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday at 1 p.m.
The big question that has plagued the Raiders this offseason and that still has no answer a month before Week 1 is the quarterback position. And that has become the hottest topic in Raider Nation.
The competition between Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew at quarterback will be on full display when the two split snaps in the preseason and each play a quarter in Minneapolis, according to head coach Antonio Pierce.
Before Saturday’s preseason game, Channel 13 sports reporter Nick Walters met with three members of the Black Hole, the Raiders fan base that prides itself on being “the most notorious fans in football,” to find out who they want to see at quarterback.
“Aidan”, Cisco Ortega, nicknamed Cisco Kidsaid. “For me, Aidan has proven himself. He is accurate and can throw long balls. That’s Raider football.”
“I like AOC, I think he has potential, great potential,” said John Vizcarra, nicknamed Johnny V“But I think Minshew is our guy. He’s smart. He knows how to extend plays. He’s got some of that Raider attitude. I’m Team Minshew.”
“AOC, I really appreciate what he has and I have my eye on him,” said Reggie Currie, nickname Raider Reggie“But I’ve always liked Minshew’s character and his attitude. He extends the game to the point where something happens. And when you have the offensive players that we have, that can be a wonderful thing. So I’m Team Minshew.”
Pierce says neither O’Connell nor Minshew have separated themselves yet. Regardless of who wins as the Raiders’ QB1, fans want to see a change after the team has experienced a turnover at the position since 2003, which resulted in an 0-2 postseason record.
“I want to see passion,” Johnny V said. “I want to see someone say, ‘Yeah, we didn’t win and I’m mad!’ I don’t want to hear, ‘This is all on me, I deserve this.’ Throw a helmet, get mad, get ready, I mean, come on! We’re the Raiders and we expect to win.”
“I think it says a lot that these two are competing against each other,” said Cisco Kid. “I think the team itself respects that. I think that will take you far.”
Check out Nick’s entire conversation with Cisco Kid, Johnny V, and Raider Reggie below as they discuss all things Silver and Black in the team’s fifth season in Las Vegas.
