Darren Waller: Josh McDaniels Brings ‘Clear Defined Attack In The Red Zone’

One area where the Las Vegas Raiders will significantly need to improve if they plan on building off last season’s success is their red zone scoring. Last season the Raiders were near the bottom of the league, scoring touchdowns on just 51.7% of their red zone appearance. For context, the San Francisco 49ers led the NFL with a 66.7% red zone touchdown percentage.

This was actually a regular issue for the Raiders under Jon Gruden, as the team converted just 54.2% of red zone appearances into touchdowns in 2020, 51.8% in 2019, and 53.5% in 2018. And these issues have not gone unnoticed by tight end Darren Waller, the ideal red zone target.

Waller appeared on Bussin With The Boys and praised new head coach Josh McDaniels for having a red zone plan, something he feels was missing in the previous regime, via Raiders Nation Boston:

“A lot of times in the past couple years…there wasn’t a clear defined attack in the red zone…that’s in place with Josh” @BussinWTB pic.twitter.com/VFYZzK6Kgv

— Raider Nation Boston (@RaiderNationBOS) August 11, 2022

“A lot of times in the past couple years where I felt like, I didn’t have like, there wasn’t like a clear defined attack in the red zone or like a plan for me specifically. I felt like it was just kinda like, what the f*** am I doing sometimes. But now I kinda feel like that’s something that’s in place with Josh, and developing just off of this offseason alone. Just kinda asking him about, how did your role in the red zone come about, because that’s a big thing. For me like, there’s no reason my big ass shouldn’t be dominating in the red zone at all times.”

There was obviously some frustration there for Waller, but he is not wrong in that a man of his size should be dominant in red zone situations. With his athleticism at 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, there should be no issues in getting Waller in the right situations to thrive in the red zone.

McDaniels has clearly made an impact in a lot of ways, and Waller sounds excited about what is to come. While Waller did haul in nine touchdowns in 2020, that was sandwiched by two underwhelming years in terms of scoring grabs. Waller had three touchdowns in 2019 and only two last year, which is disappointing even when accounting for his injury issues.

There are plenty of areas where the Raiders can improve, and McDaniels, without a doubt, plans to do so. But one of the biggest is undoubtedly the team’s red zone efficiency, which has frustrated Waller but now looks to be on the turnaround.