Oakland Raiders: Defense Remains a Key Issue
By Blu Spikes
December 2, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders head coach Dennis Allen watches action from the sideline against the Cleveland Browns in the third quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Browns defeated the Raiders 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
The Oakland Raiders have almost fallen off the face of the earth.
According to several polls and analysts, this year the Raiders are ranked 32nd in the NFL on defense. The sad part is that the strength of the team is their defense. The old adage is “you win on defense, and score on offense.”
For the last few years, the Raiders have done neither.
The Raiders are not to far removed from being .500 on the season, and they actually did that twice — once in 2010, and again in 2011. Things were looking up, and just when you didn’t see it — BAZINGA — you get smacked with reality and the football gods send a covey of seagulls to crap on your tailgate party.
The football gods haven’t smiled on the Raiders for 11 years now (that’s a lot of seagulls). One reason why is the inconsistency at the head coaching position.
The Raiders have had eight head coaches in 11 years: Allen, Jackson, Cable, Kiffin, Shell, Turner, Callahan, and finally Gruden. What a revolving door — in with the new and out with the…kinda new.
With those eight head coaches came new defensive coordinators as well as more position coaches. All with a different philosophy, a new improved edition of the 4-3, and last but not least, different standards of excellence.
Players had to scratch their heads and ask what was going on, or where are they being traded to. A player like Robert Gallery had five different offensive line coaches. He barely changed his socks more than he changed position coaches. You have to believe that was a part of his downfall, and to an extent, it was.
Players are at the stage in the game where they do NOT need play books as large as the Los Angeles phone book.The KISS philosophy is needed—Keep It Simple Stupid.
Let the players play; the more you give them, the more they have to think instead of react. Sure, everyone wants the great blitz that is the answer to any pass rout and a sure quarterback sack. The great wall defense that doesn’t allow yardage from the running game. Well, that takes time and time is not something the Raiders have a lot of.
Out of the top 15 tacklers on the team from last year, less than half remain:
Philip Wheeler signed with the Dolphins, Rolando McClain retired, Michael Huff is now a Raven, Mike Mitchell went to the Panthers, Pat Lee is now a Lion, Tommy Kelly, a Patriot. Matt Shaughnessy, a Cardinal, Desmond Bryant, a Brown, and Ron Bartell, a Lion.
Eight out of the fifteen top tacklers gone —WTF!
From the original starters on last year’s group, only Lamarr Houston, Miles Burris, and Shawntae Spencer remain on the squad. Eight starters, gone.
Now, change is good when you change to make a difference. Yet, parallel moves on the roster just don’t make sense. From what it look like on paper, that’s what has happened. The only good that has come out of these moves is a cushion with the salary cap.
The one big difference maker is Charles Woodson. What an acquisition, get out the OMG meter and let’s celebrate like it’s 2002!
Yes, he may be a little slower, and not as quick on the break, but the experience, leadership, and mentoring he can do for the young and dumb secondary is priceless.
Now with all this said, the Silver and Black haven’t played a down. The Raiders haven’t won or tied a game this year.
Over time, this defense will provide answers or (hopefully not) more questions. Perhaps, even a few shutouts along the way.