Chiefs-Raiders 5 questions with the enemy: Will Pete Carroll stick?

On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs face the Las Vegas Raiders. We welcome Matt Holder of Silver and Black Pride — our sister SBNation site covering the Raiders — for Five Questions with the Enemy*.*

1. What do the Raiders need to do this offseason to position themselves for a winning season next year?

To be honest, I don’t think there is a realistic scenario where the Raiders have a winning season next year. Their roster has so many holes that Las Vegas is likely looking at least a two-year rebuild. The organization would have to hit on just about every free-agent signing and top draft pick this offseason — and that’s just unrealistic. Additionally, if the Raiders aim to build a consistent winner, they should prioritize getting younger by focusing more on the draft and signing free agents who are seeking their second NFL contracts, rather than acquiring well-established veterans.

To answer your question, though, it starts with the quarterback situation. Ever since the franchise moved on from Derek Carr, it’s been quarterback roulette in the gambling capital of the world. The team needs stability and a talent upgrade at that position, which is where the No. 1 or 2 overall pick comes in handy.

2. What has been your biggest disappointment with the Raiders this season?

There are a lot of options to choose from, but it’s quarterback Geno Smith.

I never thought the 35-year-old would be the long-term answer behind center, but I did think he would at least help make the team competitive. Along the same lines, I knew Smith was turnover-prone, but I thought that would at least come with some of the high-level throws he made in Seattle. Instead, the Raiders got a quarterback who leads the league in interceptions with 17 and has tossed his fewest amount of ‘big-time throws’ (14) as a full-time starter, per Pro Football Focus.

3. Do you expect the organization to stick with Pete Carroll, or does it feel like one more bad season puts him squarely on the hot seat?

I lean toward the latter. There have already been multiple reports that suggest Carroll is going to be a one-and-done head coach — and as I noted, the Raiders are looking at a multi-year rebuild. Ideally, they’d have a head coach who can see the team throw it and continue building on the culture he’s established. That’s where Carroll’s age becomes a significant factor, since it doesn’t really make sense to keep a guy around who will be 75 years old in September.

Carroll hasn’t said this directly, but he’s indicated that turning the Raiders around has been a bigger undertaking than he thought it was at the beginning of the year. He kicked off training camp by talking about how many times he’s won 10 games during his career and made it clear that was one of his goals. Well, it’s safe to say he fell short of that. So, it wouldn’t...