Raider Nation Résumé: Linebacker Coach Antonio Pierce

Raider Nation Résumé: Linebacker Coach Antonio Pierce

A Sophomore-Year for the McZieg Regime. Sophomore-Year for many players on the
roster. And… a Sophomore-Year for NFL Coaches who are still fresh-&-new to the NFL
Coaching level. One of these Coaches, who is the focal point of the discussion, will be
Linebacker Coach: Antonio Pierce. Given the struggles the Las Vegas Defense had in every
positional group, many excuses and harmful critiques can be made. These criticisms have been
primarily on the Linebacker Room from the start of the NFL Off-Season, to the Present Day. The
head-scratching questions that have been surfacing for the past several months, is how this
restructured Linebacker Room will produce positive results. One of these answers can originate
from the teaching and coaching capabilities of Coach Pierce. How can this be? Let’s study
Antonio Pierce’s Football History.

1998-2001: The College Football Player

1998-2000: San Antonio Mounties

Living in Paramount, California, Antonio Pierce attended the Mountain San Antonio
Community College. Pierce would also join the Community College’s football team, the
“Mounties”, playing for the team for 2 years (Disclaimer: Football Statistics are unable to be
located for this text). After those 2 years, Pierce would transfer to the University of Arizona to
play for the “Wildcats”.

2000-01: Arizona Wildcats

After transferring to the University of Arizona, Antonio Pierce was named as the
Season-Starting Linebacker for the Wildcats. Disappointingly, the Wildcats 2000 Season
resulted in a 5-6 Record, also resulting in a 3-5 Record within the PAC-10 Conference (wasn’t
PAC-12 until 2011). Pierce, however, would have a solid production for his Senior Year.
Antonio Pierce’s College-Football Stats ; 2000-01 College Football Season:
(Disclaimer: Not all College Football Statistics have been recorded in the early 2000s)
● Tackles: 77
○ Tackles For Loss: 10
● Sacks: 3
● Forced Fumbles: 2
● Interceptions: 1
● Kicks Blocked: 1

Pierce’s College production on-field would help him get enough media attention for NFL
Scouts to seek and decipher Pierce’s NFL potential.

2001-10: The NFL Linebacker

2001-05: Washington Redskins

After the 2001 NFL Draft, Antonio Pierce was not drafted by any team. The common
explanations for Pierce’s unpicked status would be due to NFL Front Offices and Scouting
Departments seeing Pierce’s size to be a liability for the Linebacker position. Luckily, the
Washington Redskins (was the original name of the Washington Football Team) signed Pierce
on a 3-Year (UDFA) Contract to see what potential the Rookie-Linebacker has. Fortunately for
Pierce, injuries on the defensive side of the ball would help Pierce have the ability to show
Washington his capabilities as an NFL Rookie.

Antonio Pierce’s NFL Rookie Statistics (2001-02 NFL Season):

● 16 Games ; 8 Starts
● Tackles: 53
○ Solo: 44
○ Tackles For Loss: 2
● Sacks: 1
● Forced Fumbles: 1
● Pass-Breakups: 4

● Interceptions: 1

These numbers would lead to Pierce’s status as an NFL Linebacker be risen to starting
caliber. However, due to Off-field issues and injuries, Pierce would only have 1/23 games.
Thankfully for Pierce, Washington would give him the Season-Starting Middle-Linebacker
position, and Pierce would prove later on how that was not a mistake.

Antonio Pierce’s 2004-05 NFL Season Statistics:

● Tackles: 114
○ Solo Tackles: 87
○ Tackles For Loss: 3
● Sacks: 1
● Forced Fumbles: 1
● Pass-Breakups: 5
● Interceptions: 2
○ Return-Yardage: 94
○ Return-Touchdowns: 1 (This Pick would be against Ken Dorsey ; Bills Modern
OC)
Antonio Pierce would lead Washington’s Defense in both Total and Solo Tackles. While
being the leader of a Top 3 best Defense of the NFL, the Redskins would sadly also rank as the
Top 3 worst Offense, causing the 2004-05 Season result in a 6-10 Record. Once the
disappointing season was over, Washington attempted to offer Pierce a new contract deal.
Pierce declined the offer and joined the New York Giants for the following NFL Season.

2005-10: New York Giants

Heading into what would be the 2nd-half of Antonio Pierce’s NFL Career as a Football
Player, the New York Giants would obtain the best of Pierce’s production while in his Prime. For
the next 4 NFL Seasons, Pierce would be known as the Giants fearsome Pro-Bowling and
Championship Winning Linebacker.

Antonio Pierce’s 2004-09 NFL Seasons Statistics:

● Regular NFL Season (60 Games ; Started All)
○ Tackles: 436
■ Solo Tackles: 337
■ Tackles For Loss: 30
○ Sacks: 6
■ QB-Hits: 10
○ Forced Fumbles: 5 (Recovered 6 + Returned 1 For a Touchdowns)
○ Pass-Breakups: 30
○ Interceptions: 4
■ Return-Yardage: 75

Pierce had been named a Bulldozing Defender, ranking 8th in Total Tackles and 3rd in
Solo Tackles during the 2006 Season. Sadly, due to injury, Pierce was unable to approach the
field during the NFL Playoffs. The following year, however, Pierce would be said to be one of the
main factors of the Giants ability to win the NFC Championship against the Green Bay Packers
(Packers losing NFC Championship Round cliche ; Charles Woodson was on the team during
the time). The Giants would also be the first team to defeat the New England Patriots at the
Super-Bowl. During the Aftermath of the Giants Super-Bowl victory, Pierce would be given
Pro-Bowl Status.

After all the build-ups for a successful Super-Bowl Campaign, Pierce would result in solid
production for the 2008-09 Season (The Giants team itself resulted in a dominating 12-4
season, but lost the WildCard Round). However, fast-forward midway through the 2009-10
Season, Pierce would suffer a Season-Ending Injury. Overall it wouldn’t matter much due to the
Giants going through a quick-rebuild before their next successful Super-Bowl Campaign
(happened during the 2011-12 NFL Season). It was a shame though, Pierce wanted to continue
and if so would’ve been a 2x Super-Bowl Champion. Sadly, the Giants released Pierce during
the 2010 Off-Season.

Later on, ESPN hired Antonio Pierce to become a Defensive NFL Analyst after Pierce
announced his retirement as an NFL Football Player. Pierce wouldn’t mind this type of transition
of his Football Career. Evidence for this would be when Pierce stated on the “Howard Stern
Show” (May, 2008) that he intends to be involved in Football broadcasting once he retires in the
future. Years later, Pierce would be offered to take another type of transaction, this transition
being a Football Coaching Career.

2014-17: The High School Head Coach

15 minutes away from Paramount, California, Antonio Pierce would be hired by the
National Football Powerhouse: Long Beach Polytechnic High School Jackrabbits. The
Jackrabbits are historically written to be one of the most successful teams at the National High
School level. The School has produced well-known NFL Players, examples:
● Receivers
○ Desean Jackson
○ Earl McCullouch
○ Gene Washington
○ Johnny Morris
○ JuJu Smith-Schuster
○ Stephone Paige
○ Tony Hill
● Tight-Ends
○ Marcedes Lewis
● Running-Backs
○ Leonard Russell (HB)
○ Jamize Olawale (FB)
● Defensive-Linemen
○ Jurrell Casey (DE/DT)
● Linebackers
○ Jayon Brown (MLB)
○ Williw McGinest (OLB/DE)
● Defensive Backs
○ Mark Carrier (FS)
○ Marquez Pope (SS)
○ Jack Jones (CB)
Head Coach Antonio Pierce would obtain a team left by successful High School Head
Coach, Raul Lara.

Former Head Coach Raul Lara’s Accomplishments:

● 131-28 Record from 2001-14 (13 Seasons)
● 13 Consecutive Winning-Seasons
● 3x Top 10 National Rank
● 7x Top 5 State Rank
● 8x Top 3 Section Rank

With gigantic shoes to fill, Coach Pierce needed to keep the National Powerhousing
momentum going during his tenure. Luckily for Pierce, his first season as the High School’s
Head Coach resulted in a dominating Football Season. Only losing one regular season game,
the Jackrabbits produced a 9-1 Record (6-0 vs League Teams). The High School would
eventually win the first 2 playoff games, only to then lose the 3rd match. The team had also
resulted in scoring 47pts per game, as well as allowing 17pts per game. Many were excited for
what Head Coach Pierce had in store for the 2015-16 season.

But, the results the following season had left a bad taste in Long Beach’s mouth. For the
first time in 36 Years, the Jackrabbits would not qualify for the playoffs. The results the team
produced was a 4-6 Record (also the first losing season in 36+ years), scoring 33pts per game
and allowing 18pts per game. That seems confusing, doesn’t it? Well, the reason why the

Jackrabbits lost several games was due to being too good at beating teams. 4 out 6 of the
Jackrabbits’ losses were forfeits. The combined score of these 4 games: 134-32 (By average:
34-8).

Coach Pierce made the team make a comeback the next year (2016-17). A 7-3 Regular
Season Record (6-0 vs League Teams). The Jackrabbits returned to the playoffs, losing the first
game though. The team would score 43pts per game and allow 17pts per game. For the
2017-18 Football Season, Coach Pierce helped build an 8-2 Record Team. This team would win
their first playoff matchup, but lose the next. The Jackrabbits had scored 40pts per game and
allow 14pts per game. At the end of December (2017), Antonio Pierce announced his
resignation as the High School Football Head Coach. This resignation would be due to Pierce
being offered to Coach at the College-Level.

2017-22: The College Coach

Antonio Pierce had been hired by friend and former ESPN Analyst Co-Worker, Head
Coach Herm Edwards. Coach Pierce was assigned to coach the Linebacker position for the
Arizona State Sun Devils College Football Team for the 2018-19 NCAA Season (Pierce would
also be assigned the Recruiting Coordinator Position ; means recruiting staff members &

assistant coaches) The Sun Devils would have a 7-6 Record (5-4 vs Conference), qualifying for
the 2018 Las Vegas Bowl, only to lose to Fresno State. An addition to the Season, Pierce’s first
run as a College-Coach would be deemed better than expected.

The same can be said the following year, due to the Linebacker Room causing more
turnovers and shutdown plays. The team overall resulted in a 8-5 Season Record (4-5 vs
Conference). The Sun Devils would face the Florida State Seminoles at the 2019 Sun Bowl,
winning the Bowl-Game in fact. These first two years for Coach Pierce had been stamped as
achievements in progress.
Arizona State Sun Devils’ Linebacker Room 2018-19 & 2019-20 Seasons Statistics:

During the 2020 Off-season, Coach Pierce was promoted to be the Assistant Head
Coach and Co-Defensive Coordinator (alongside Marvin Lewis ; former Cincinnati Bengals
Head Coach from 2003-19 ; 131-122-3 NFL Regular Season Record ; 0-7 NFL Playoff Record).
Now during the year of 2020, at least 99% of the Football Realm should know that sports were
mostly canceled due to the Worldwide Pandemic. The following year, Coach Pierce would be
promoted again as sole Coordinator of the Sun Devils Defense. This would not be a mistake
made by Head Coach Herm Edwards, as the Sun Devil produced an 8-5 Record (6-3 vs
Conference) for the 2021-22 NCAA Season. The team would then lose to the Wisconsin
Badgers at the 2021 Las Vegas Bowl.

Arizona Sun Devils’ Defense’s 2021-22 Season Statistics & Rankings:

(Disclaimer: These Statistics & Rankings are based on Per-Game Stats)

During the 2022 College Off-Season, Pierce would be offered another Coaching job. But
this time, at the NFL-Level, and it is from a team who bleeds nothing but Silver & Black.

2022-Present Day: The NFL Coach

The McZieg Regime hired Antonio Pierce as the new Linebackers Coach for the Las
Vegas Raiders (2022). During this time, Pierce was able to have the Regime gift one of Pierce’s
Sun Devil Linebackers, Darien Butler, a UDFA contract. Fast-Forward to what everyone should
know, and that’s the Raiders facing a horrible losing-season. The Defensive side of the ball went
through too many injuries to count, leading to several UDFAs becoming starters for almost the
entire season. Defensive Coaches such as Coach Pierce could only do so much with what they
were given.

The Las Vegas Raiders’ Linebacker Room 2022-23 Season Statistics:
● Tackles: 308
○ Solo Tackles: 179
○ Tackles For Loss: 19
● Sacks: 1
○ QB-Hits: 8
○ Pressures:
● Forced Fumbles: 0 (Recovered 1)
● Completions/Targets Allowed: 107/129 (82.9%)

○ Passing Yards Allowed: 917 (8.6/CMP)
○ Passing Touchdowns Allowed: 6
● Pass-Breakups: 4
● Interceptions: 2
○ Return-Yardage: 48
● Passer-Rating Allowed: 105.33

Fast-Forward again to the Present-Day, and the Linebacker Room is the only big
question mark within the Raiders’ overall Roster. This will be Coach Pierce’s biggest challenge
yet. A season where breakouts, developments, and productions are most needed to be shown
at an immediate rate. Now having the depth chart arguably deemed to be solid or mediocre,
many wonder what the results will be. There’s hope that Divine Deablo will have a breakout
season. That Robert Spillane was low-risk, high-reward. That Amari Burney was a steal in the
draft. Many more stated speculations can be written, but the hope needs to turn into support for
Coach Pierce. Until seen otherwise, the Linebacker Room is in good hands for from the fore to
unforeseeable future.

Coach Pierce’s Career Win-Loss Record For Every Team Associated With:



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