In this series, I will review the many changes that the Oakland Raiders have made. In this part, I will look at the additions that the team has made on defense.
Intro:
Not much went well for the Raiders on defense in 2018. The team finished the season ranked 30th in defending the run (an average of 4.7 yards/attempt), 26th in yards allowed, and dead last in points allowed. Veterans Derrick Johnson and Bruce Irvin didn't finish the season with the team, and a mixture of inexperience and lack of talent plagued the unit for most of the year. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther had a rough first year in Oakland, but can't shoulder the entire blame for the teams' performance on that side of the ball. He did have his best player traded away a week before the season began.
So far in 2019, the Raiders have opted to spend most of their free agency money on the offensive side of the ball. Most believe that means that the team will add to the defense through their collection of draft picks. But the team has spent time looking for value in free agency. Let's review what changes the Raiders have made and what players return in 2019...
Defensive End / EDGE:
Everyone knows the story by now. The Raiders traded superstar pass-rusher Khalil Mack to the Bears for draft picks. They would tally just 13 sacks as a team in 2018, the lowest in the league. (For reference - Mack himself had 12.5 sacks for Chicago.) It would be an understatement to say that pass rush is the Raiders' biggest need.
Oakland enters the new year with only one player returning at DE. Arden Key was a 3rd round pick last year and was slated to rotate behind Mack and veteran Bruce Irvin. After Mack's trade, Key was thrust into a starting role. The results were mixed. He finished with just one recorded sack, but did show promise at times. The next step for Key will be to develop a killer instinct and to show that he can produce consistently. In an ideal world, he would not be forced into a starting role immediately.
Hoping to join Arden Key in 2019 will be new additions Josh Mauro and Alex Barrett. Mauro has spent time in Arizona and with the Giants as a rotational piece. Barrett last played in the now-defunct AAF with the San Diego Fleet and spent time on the Lions practice squad last season. Both will probably have an outside chance to make the rotation and will have to play special teams if they are to make the roster.
Certainly the Raiders will add to this position through the draft. Highly touted prospects Nick Bosa and Josh Allen will likely be selected in the Top 5 and both have been connected with the Raiders. If both are gone by the time the Raiders pick, the first round of the draft will likely have plenty other options available. The team could look into Montez Sweat of Mississippi State, Brian Burns from Florida State, Rashan Gary of Michigan, or Clelin Ferrell of Clemson.
____
Defensive Tackle:
Arguably the deepest position on the team, the Raiders will have many options for their defensive tackle rotation in 2019. The team re-signed Jonathan Hankins to a two-year deal after he started 14 games last season. Veteran Justin "Jelly" Ellis is also in line to return with two more years left on his contract. Ellis comes off of a 2018 season which saw him injure his foot in Week 1 and not return from IR until December.
Mo Hurst and PJ Hall were both drafted last season, and both impressed at times. Hurst was perhaps the teams' best defender in 2018 and finished with 4 sacks. Once thought of as a surefire 1st rounder, a heart condition affected Hurst's draft stack and dropped him to the 5th round. PJ Hall really emerged in the second half of the season and showed a very quick burst off of the line.
Alabama standout Quinnen Williams should also be mentioned in this space. Williams is considered one of the best players in the draft and is a popular pick for the Raiders in most mock drafts. There are also rumblings that versatile Ed Oliver from Houston may go a lot higher than some people think and he has visited the Raiders as well. While Oakland seems to have a solid rotation in place at DT already, it is very possible that their top draft choice will be another addition.
____
Linebacker:
Linebacker is another position that Oakland will see significant change at in 2019. Paul Guenther was reunited with one of his former players when the Raiders signed Vontaze Burfict. Burfict adds a physical presence that the Raiders haven't had at the position in some time, but he comes with many questions as well. Throughout his career, Burfict has been the subject of several disciplinary suspensions as well as suffering quite a few concussions. His reputation as a dirty player apparently didn't scare off Gruden from signing the veteran to an incentive-laden one year deal.
Joining Burfict will be former Denver Broncos player Brandon Marshall. Marshall, a Las Vegas native, joins the Raiders after six seasons with a division rival. At his best he is a speedy tackling machine. The questions around Marshall revolve around his recovery from knee injury and his ability to play in coverage. Marshall would likely start on the weak side if Burfict starts at MLB.
Tahir Whitehead led the Raiders in defensive snaps and tackles last season and is penciled in as a starter. Young players Marquel Lee, Jason Cabinda and Nicholas Morrow will also return to compete for snaps and play special teams. Lee started 10 games in 2018 and looks to be the understudy for Burfict in the middle, but Jason Cabinda also impressed when given a chance at the end of last season.
One of Reggie McKenzie's biggest failures as GM of the Raiders was his inability to find or develop starting quality players at linebacker. With three first round picks, could this finally be the year that the Raiders draft a linebacker in the first round?
____
Secondary:
The big addition for Oakland's last line of defense was Lamarcus Joyner, who signed a big contract at the beginning of free agency. Joyner played under the franchise tag last season for the Rams and tallied 78 tackles and an interception. Gruden and Mayock have stated that Joyner will split time between nickel corner and safety with the Raiders.
The team also added former Detroit cornerback Nevin Lawson. Lawson started 46 out of the Lions last 47 games, but has never registered an interception. Lawson will battle with Vance Worley to start opposite of Gareon Conley at corner. Conley showed signs of being the playmaker he was drafted to be last season, and Gruden liked Worley's physicality.
Karl Joseph also returns for his fourth season at safety. Joseph played well down the stretch, but was often the subject of trade rumors. Safety Erik Harris was also re-signed to a two year deal, and has the reputation as a "Gruden Grinder".
____
Outlook:
Even in their last successful season in 2016, the Raiders weren't great on defense. The current iteration of the Raiders looks to follow a similar formula. The hope is that Carr (or whomever is starting at QB) will be able to score enough points to keep the team competitive. Paul Guenther will have another year to implement his system on defense - one that built a fierce unit in his time with Bengals. How they perform will largely depend on what additions they make in the draft and - even then - young players will need time to develop.
If the Raiders hope is to be competing for a playoff spot in 2020, their first year in Las Vegas, then the defense will have to show marked improvement in 2019.
Intro:
Not much went well for the Raiders on defense in 2018. The team finished the season ranked 30th in defending the run (an average of 4.7 yards/attempt), 26th in yards allowed, and dead last in points allowed. Veterans Derrick Johnson and Bruce Irvin didn't finish the season with the team, and a mixture of inexperience and lack of talent plagued the unit for most of the year. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther had a rough first year in Oakland, but can't shoulder the entire blame for the teams' performance on that side of the ball. He did have his best player traded away a week before the season began.
So far in 2019, the Raiders have opted to spend most of their free agency money on the offensive side of the ball. Most believe that means that the team will add to the defense through their collection of draft picks. But the team has spent time looking for value in free agency. Let's review what changes the Raiders have made and what players return in 2019...
Defensive End / EDGE:
 |
| Could Josh Allen be the Raiders pick at #4 overall? |
Hoping to join Arden Key in 2019 will be new additions Josh Mauro and Alex Barrett. Mauro has spent time in Arizona and with the Giants as a rotational piece. Barrett last played in the now-defunct AAF with the San Diego Fleet and spent time on the Lions practice squad last season. Both will probably have an outside chance to make the rotation and will have to play special teams if they are to make the roster.
Certainly the Raiders will add to this position through the draft. Highly touted prospects Nick Bosa and Josh Allen will likely be selected in the Top 5 and both have been connected with the Raiders. If both are gone by the time the Raiders pick, the first round of the draft will likely have plenty other options available. The team could look into Montez Sweat of Mississippi State, Brian Burns from Florida State, Rashan Gary of Michigan, or Clelin Ferrell of Clemson.
____
Defensive Tackle:
Arguably the deepest position on the team, the Raiders will have many options for their defensive tackle rotation in 2019. The team re-signed Jonathan Hankins to a two-year deal after he started 14 games last season. Veteran Justin "Jelly" Ellis is also in line to return with two more years left on his contract. Ellis comes off of a 2018 season which saw him injure his foot in Week 1 and not return from IR until December.
Mo Hurst and PJ Hall were both drafted last season, and both impressed at times. Hurst was perhaps the teams' best defender in 2018 and finished with 4 sacks. Once thought of as a surefire 1st rounder, a heart condition affected Hurst's draft stack and dropped him to the 5th round. PJ Hall really emerged in the second half of the season and showed a very quick burst off of the line.
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62731122/usa_today_11355923.0.jpg) |
| Mo Hurst had an impressive rookie season. (Photo: Carey Edmondson - USA Today Sports) |
____
Linebacker:
Linebacker is another position that Oakland will see significant change at in 2019. Paul Guenther was reunited with one of his former players when the Raiders signed Vontaze Burfict. Burfict adds a physical presence that the Raiders haven't had at the position in some time, but he comes with many questions as well. Throughout his career, Burfict has been the subject of several disciplinary suspensions as well as suffering quite a few concussions. His reputation as a dirty player apparently didn't scare off Gruden from signing the veteran to an incentive-laden one year deal.
Joining Burfict will be former Denver Broncos player Brandon Marshall. Marshall, a Las Vegas native, joins the Raiders after six seasons with a division rival. At his best he is a speedy tackling machine. The questions around Marshall revolve around his recovery from knee injury and his ability to play in coverage. Marshall would likely start on the weak side if Burfict starts at MLB.
Tahir Whitehead led the Raiders in defensive snaps and tackles last season and is penciled in as a starter. Young players Marquel Lee, Jason Cabinda and Nicholas Morrow will also return to compete for snaps and play special teams. Lee started 10 games in 2018 and looks to be the understudy for Burfict in the middle, but Jason Cabinda also impressed when given a chance at the end of last season.
One of Reggie McKenzie's biggest failures as GM of the Raiders was his inability to find or develop starting quality players at linebacker. With three first round picks, could this finally be the year that the Raiders draft a linebacker in the first round?
____
Secondary:
The big addition for Oakland's last line of defense was Lamarcus Joyner, who signed a big contract at the beginning of free agency. Joyner played under the franchise tag last season for the Rams and tallied 78 tackles and an interception. Gruden and Mayock have stated that Joyner will split time between nickel corner and safety with the Raiders.The team also added former Detroit cornerback Nevin Lawson. Lawson started 46 out of the Lions last 47 games, but has never registered an interception. Lawson will battle with Vance Worley to start opposite of Gareon Conley at corner. Conley showed signs of being the playmaker he was drafted to be last season, and Gruden liked Worley's physicality.
Karl Joseph also returns for his fourth season at safety. Joseph played well down the stretch, but was often the subject of trade rumors. Safety Erik Harris was also re-signed to a two year deal, and has the reputation as a "Gruden Grinder".
____
Outlook:
Even in their last successful season in 2016, the Raiders weren't great on defense. The current iteration of the Raiders looks to follow a similar formula. The hope is that Carr (or whomever is starting at QB) will be able to score enough points to keep the team competitive. Paul Guenther will have another year to implement his system on defense - one that built a fierce unit in his time with Bengals. How they perform will largely depend on what additions they make in the draft and - even then - young players will need time to develop.
If the Raiders hope is to be competing for a playoff spot in 2020, their first year in Las Vegas, then the defense will have to show marked improvement in 2019.
Comments
Post a Comment