Marquel Lee Impressing Raiders New Coaching Staff?

It’s only June and reports this time of year shouldn’t carry too much weight, but good news shouldn’t be kept quiet.

One name that has been flying under the radar for the past few months is Marquel Lee, the Raiders fifth-round draft pick of a year ago.

Lee didn’t particularly stand out last year, but he might be making a case to have a more significant role in his sophomore season under new defensive coordinator Paul Guenther.

“Marquel Lee has surprised Guenther a little bit,” The Athletic’s Vic Tafur wrote last week. “And the second-year linebacker may carve out a role for himself on running downs.

If Lee can be trusted to fill NaVorro Bowman’s role, it would be huge for Guenther’s defense – mainly because the Raiders wouldn’t need to re-sign Bowman (or any other linebacker for that matter).

Jon Gruden brought 35 year-old Derrick Johnson aboard in May, but Johnson is limited as a run defender and unless he can discover the fountain of youth (it’s in Florida, right?) in next couple months, Johnson isn’t going to be a game-changing addition to Guenther’s defense.

For weeks now, the case has been made around here that the Raiders need to get serious about bringing back Bowman, but if Lee can figure into early downs at middle linebacker, maybe Bowman’s presence won’t be necessary this year after all.

Then again, it’s only June. Let’s see where everyone is at when the pads come out in August. Presumably by that time the place where Bowman is at will be on another team, but hopefully with the emergence of Lee, it won’t matter.

twitter: @raidersbeat

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6 thoughts on “Marquel Lee Impressing Raiders New Coaching Staff?

  1. I liked Lee coming out of college.
    I said it before last season started, all you have to do is properly coach and develop the guy. The old coaching staff didn’t do either, with Lee or anyone else for that matter.
    Gunther and co on the other hand, have done a great job developing players throughout their coaching careers, so I am stoked to see what they can do with the young players on the Raiders D.
    Lots of high end talent that the Raiders drafted on both sides of the ball throughout McKenzies tenure. All they needed was the right coaching staff.
    Hey Rod Woodson, that wasn’t you!

    1. I couldn’t agree more with your analysis. Our coaching staff last year was a joke. Easily one of if not worst in the league. So excited to see what a real coaching staff can do with our young talented players.

  2. He needs better technique shedding blocks, which he can learn. Luckily for Lee – every “weakness” he has is absolutely correctable. I think Guenther will get him moving in the right direction.

  3. I couldn’t agree more with your analysis. Our coaching staff last year was a joke. Easily one of if not worst in the league. So excited to see what a real coaching staff can do with our young talented players.

  4. Bring back bowman already. The defense instantly got better as soon as bowman stepped on the field he led the raiders in tackles and didn’t play all 16 games in Oakland. Imagine bowman playing under an actual accomplished defensive coordinator instead ken Norton jrs bullshit. We got the cap room. We will regret not signing bowman before it’s too late

  5. If we bring back bowman, 1 would you keep or cut Johnson, 2 if you keep Johnson would you go 3/4 or keep him to give Bowman a breather?

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