Silver And Black Pride
Tom McMahon’s special teams group in dire need of electricity
With Pete Carroll’s arrival as the new sheriff in town, several aspects of the Las Vegas Raiders coaching staff changed as a result.
One group that remained intact: Special Teams.
Tom McMahon was retained by Carroll as special teams coordinator and his assistants, Kade Rannings and Derius Swinton II are back, too.
While that trio is in charge of a kicking battery of place kicker Daniel Carlson, punter AJ Cole III, and long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer — who are one of the best at their respective positions — there’s a key aspect McMahon and his cohort need to improve upon: Return game.
The 2024 campaign was another season with the same issue — the return units need a spark and electricity to truly contribute to complementary football. The Raiders ranked 15th in punt return yards (264; with the Detroit Lions tops at 479 yards and a touchdown) while finishing 23rd in kick return yards (680; the Cincinnati Bengals led league with 1,133 yards and a score with the Dallas Cowboys next at 1,091 yards and two touchdowns).
Fortunately for McMahon, Rannings, and Swinton, Las Vegas has in-house, free agency, and 2025 NFL Draft options to provide a much-needed jolt. Let’s take a look:
Heading into year three after getting picked in the third round (100th overall) of the 2023 draft, it’s high time this Raiders coaching staff get the most return on investment (ROI) out of the speedy wide receiver. Well-built at 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, the fleet-footed Tucker is the deep threat playmaker at wide receiver, but it’s ample time use that explosiveness in the return game.
He only got eight opportunities to return punts in 2024 (72 yards, long of 21) and didn’t get a chance to return a kickoff. He was a very productive kick return man at Cincinnati (67 returns, 1,670 yards, two touchdowns), so getting Tucker in the mix on special teams in 2025 should be a must-do.
Fumbling issues may have eroded Laube’s participation on offense in 2024 (when your first and only carry in the NFL is a fumble, that happens), but the sixth round pick (208th overall) in the 2024 draft has the collegiate production to be a productive return specialist in the pros.
Returning six kicks in his rookie year for 164 yards, with a long of 59 yards (above), the running back should be given every opportunity to earn return opportunities this offseason. Laube produced at New Hampshire as both kick (2,180 yards and two touchdowns) and punt (426 yards, two touchdowns) returner for the Wildcats.
At age 31, the veteran tailback had his most productive season in Year 10 on offense and special teams. He paced the Raiders in kick return yards (296; long of 68) to go along with 311 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and 261 yards and three scores...
