Associated Press file
Arizona State associate head coach Antonio Pierce before a game against Washington State Saturday, Oct 30, 2021, in Tempe, Ariz.
Friday, June 10, 2022 | 2 a.m.
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The transition to coaching was simple for Antonio Pierce.
In the 12 years since retiring as a Super Bowl champion and one of the better tacklers during the 2000s, Pierce studied the game through a different lens — first as an analyst for ESPN, and then into the coaching ranks at different stops before coming to Las Vegas.
Now, Pierce returns to the NFL as the Raiders’ linebackers coach and spearheads a group that is arguably the strength of the Las Vegas defense.
“Obviously for me, it's a blessing,” Pierce said. “I'm from L.A. So, when I grew up, the Raiders were playing in Los Angeles at the time. So, proud Raider fan here.”
Pierce is former Pro Bowl linebacker for the New York Giants, and a member of the Giants team that defeated the undefeated New England Patriots to win Super Bowl XLII.
Pierce jumped into coaching in 2014 as the head coach of Long Beach Polytechnic High School. Three years later, Pierce was brought to Arizona State and joined coach Herm Edwards’ staff as the Sun Devils’ linebacker coach and eventually co-defensive coordinator with former NFL head coach Marvin Lewis.
“Obviously, coach Edwards played in the league as well. So, when you got two guys like that with I think close to almost 30 years of head coaching experience, that's a wow factor,” Pierce said. “It’s a lot of information and I was fortunate to sit in those meetings with those gentlemen and learn just how to be a coach.”
Pierce isn’t the only former NFL’er that’s joined new coach Josh McDaniels’ staff in Las Vegas. Defensive line coach Frank Okam, who played three seasons with the Houston Texans, has gotten a head start in the coaching ranks. Okam was the defensive line coach last season with the Carolina Panthers after stints in college with Baylor and Rice.
Okam and Pierce have been brought on as key assistants for first-year defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. The Raiders’ front seven, arguably their strongest group, is getting tutelage from two NFL players.
“In this profession it's about who you know, who you can connect with,” Okam said. “Any time you can come to a storied program like the like the Las Vegas Raiders and the Raider name, it's something that could really help you as an individual and something that if you get a chance to do, you just kind of have to jump at it and try to take advantage of it.”
Graham’s defensive scheme — a multiple defense with a 3-4 base — is a test for these young coaches.
Pierce played middle linebacker throughout his playing career. His nine sacks in 124 career games are a sure sign he was never a pass rusher. His job will be made easier with the newly acquired Chandler Jones and the potential trade-off with Maxx Crosby.
The Raiders’ Pro Bowl pass rusher has primarily been a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme, but his skills lend toward being an outside linebacker on the edge.
“Those are really two talented players and what's even better is they are better people,” Okam said. “They offer great leadership to the young guys, players trying to figure out what it means to be a pro. So having them in the locker room and in the meeting room every single day, offering wisdom, offering advice, offering a physical example to the young players has been something that's special.”
The key, Pierce said, is communication, not just amongst players but with coaches, as well. Graham’s system will offer interchangeable looks among the front seven that will keep talking at a constant.
“You got to have your eyes open,” Pierce said. “It's one of those deals where you're in charge of a lot as a middle linebacker, or as a linebacker in general in this defense, and I think the backers overall have really taken on that ownership of the team being that vocal leader.”
It’s helped both to go against the new-look Raiders offense during mandatory minicamp. Pierce said the speed has stood out from watching the other side of the line of scrimmage, and it’s “making us think, it’s keeping us on our toes.”
“Listening and talking to Coach Graham about his philosophy, this league really is a sub defense,” Okam said. “All that really matters is if you got some guys that can rush the passer and some guys that can stop the run. We'll be doing a lot of different things up front and just trying to find the best matchups for us to be successful.”
Danny Webster can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on Twitter at twitter.com/DannyWebster21.
