The Raiders have been a more disciplined team from the standpoint of penalties in 2020, but that newfound discipline hasn’t carried over into one of the most important elements of the game…
Tackling.
According to Sportradar, the Raiders are missing about one out of every five attempted tackles this year – good enough (or bad enough) for worst in the league. Pro Football Focus is also down on the Raiders in terms of tackling, but they actually grade one team worse – the Kansas City Chiefs.
Sunday’s game against the Patriots was one of the worst tackling efforts the Raiders have offered in years, which is saying a lot.
Beyond the poor tackling, it’s worth noting that 4 of the top 6 tacklers (total tackles) on the Raider defense are members of the secondary. Cory Littleton (7) and Johnathan Abram (6) are leading the team in missed tackles and Littleton has already surpassed his missed tackle total (5) from all of last year.
In fact, Littleton was statistically one of the most reliable tacklers in the NFL before this year.
When the Buffalo Bills roll into town this weekend, it will be the perfect time for Paul Guenther’s defense to remember how to bring down ball carriers. But the task won’t be easy. The Bills boast the NFL’s no. 4 offense it terms of total yards. The Raiders, on the other hand, have the league’s 27th-ranked defense in the same category.
Sounds like the perfect storm for a rough day on defense, doesn’t it?
twitter: @raidersbeat
Resilient or mushy? Who we gonna see? A win would go a long way towards developing a backbone this week buts it’s hard to feel good about a team with such a dismal run defense allowing 40 or 50 yards every quarter so far this season. Gonna see a lot of increased snaps for subs at about every position this week, too. They better adapt to the attrition real fast or start planning for that #7 pick in the 1st round of next year’s draft.
SCHOULD Have drafted defence in first a rounds wide receivers can be got an running backs in later rounds whats riggs an edwards doing 4 us sitting on bench
Remember there was no preseason games to start with. I understand the defense is supposed to be ahead of the offense. Patience is key here. The Raiders defense used to play man to man. I don’t like the zone defense myself. Patience.
Professional players should not be making pop Warner mistakes. Either 1 of 2 things are going on.
Raiders coaches are either incompetent
Raiders players are making business decisions not to get hurt
Either way the hammer of Thor needs to come crashing down on the Vegas Raiders and a foot to *** diet needs to be served in heavy doses.
Hopefully now that everyone is aware of it, they will make an effort to play the run better against the Bills on Sunday.
Coaching is the issue.
Littleton didn’t miss tackles with the Rams last year. Then you factor in everyone else, it’s a clear reflection on the defensive coordinator. Fire him now while it’s still earlier. Can’t possibly get any worse 🤷♂️
Since the Raiders are loading up on Clemson players why not go for Venables the DC! Wasting another season with this ragtag collection of players ang coaches! How do the Chiefs keep getting it done!!
Marenilli should be waiting in the wings right now. If you don’t see an improvement on defense today, make the change.
I totally agree players aren’t accountable with no discipline fire D coordinator
Since the Raiders are loading up on Clemson players why not go for Venables the DC! Wasting another season with this ragtag collection of players ang coaches! How do the Chiefs keep getting it done!!
Kwiatkowski is supposed to be back now that should help.
The d line needs to get more pressure on the qb. Crosby’s the only one giving 100%
Guenther is garbage. His schemes don’t put players into best positions to make plays. Is it just me or do we rarely ever bring more than 5 guys off the ball? Get rid of PG defense!!!
Bottom line the Raiders play conservative everytime the get the lead they go into some kind of prevent Defense instead of keeping their foot on the gas Delete that prevent defense out of the playbook and get back to some Raider Football
D Cord trash Jon I know that’s your Friend his plays are worst than Ken Norton he doesn’t make his players better need a change asap raiders for life Cool
Littleton as much as said that the coaching is not there.
Joyner is a pro bowl FS playing slot corner. We drafted that kid in the 5th round Armstade or something like that to play the slot. Move Joyner back to FS. Quit playing Clelin Ferrel at DT.Blitz once and awhile. Get Guenther out of there. Players won’t play for him.