Oakland Raiders: 5 Reasons Fans Can Be Optimistic About 2015

Nov 28, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray (29) is gang tackled by the Oakland Raiders defense in first quarter during a NFL football game on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

A Fast, Aggressive, Attacking Defense

One of the big black marks on the Raiders’ defensive record in 2014 was the fact that the defense always seemed to be reacting to the opposing offense. It was the opposing offenses that dictated the pace of the game to Oakland’s defense, rather than the Raider defense blowing up the plans of the opposing offense.

Chalk it up to the inexperience of former DC Jason Tarver. Oakland’s defense often looked overwhelmed, out of synch, and to be perfectly honest, confused. Tarver rarely put the defense in positions to succeed, and despite being dubbed the “Mad Scientist,” never seemed to formulate a coherent game plan. And his in-game adjustments were nearly non-existent.

More from Golden Gate Sports

• Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
• 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
• Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
• 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
• 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve

It was oftentimes painful to watch.

But with Norton as the DC, along with the guiding hand of Del Rio – who put together some pretty stellar defenses in Denver – the Raider defense is guaranteed to be more aggressive, and more ferocious. They will be attacking the offense, rather than sitting back and waiting to react to whatever is happening.

Del Rio and Norton aren’t sit back and react kind of guys. They’re bold, aggressive, and want their defenses to take it to the offense. They want to harass opposing quarterbacks to within an inch of their lives, and make life miserable on a team’s receivers and running backs.

Those philosophies will be on full display this season and Oakland’s defense, to paraphrase Lawrence Taylor, “will be running around like a bunch of crazed dogs.”

It will be terrific to see Oakland’s defense taking it to an opposing offense for a change.

Next: Experienced, Competent Coaches