The Raiders’ five sacks grabbed the headlines in Sunday’s defensive showing, while their two takeaways helped seal the result against the Dolphins.
Still, the biggest reason for optimism was the way all 11 defenders seemed to operate with a unified understanding.
Players were in the right spots, aware of where their support was coming from and ready to cover for one another. When one phase of the defense needed a little more time to complete a play, another stepped in and provided it.
It had been a while since the Raiders defense looked so connected. In too many previous outings, the group had resembled a collection of individuals rather than a defense playing toward one common goal.
Last season offered perhaps the clearest illustration of that problem.
Head coach Pete Carroll and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham appeared unable to bring their ideas into sync, while the roster’s makeup further exposed the issues. The personnel never quite meshed, the plan lacked a consistent identity and the breakdowns were felt throughout the defense.
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Now, the Raiders seem to be operating with a more defined leadership structure. Offensive-minded head coach Klint Kubiak has established his expectations for the defense, then handed Rob Leonard — the team’s defensive line coach for the past four seasons — the responsibility of shaping that vision on the field. Kubiak sets the direction; Leonard has the power to execute it.
Las Vegas’ 27-13 season-opening win over Miami provided an early sign that Leonard’s approach has taken hold. The Raiders contained the run, created consistent quarterback pressure and played with the kind of collective purpose that allowed their talent to show.
“I love the way our defense played, how they swarmed, how they turned the ball over, how they responded to sudden change,” Kubiak said. “Very proud of them.”
Kwity Paye, added in free agency to boost the Raiders’ edge rush, recognized the direct link between the group’s preparation and its performance.
“I feel like the prep going into the week was amazing,” Paye said.
He credited Leonard and defensive assistants Travis Smith, Steve Ferentz and Kenyon Jackson for getting the front ready.
“We had five sacks tonight. I feel like that’s a testament to their hard work every single day,” Paye said. “Those indy drills kill, but it all paid off today.”
That is a meaningful endorsement for Leonard, whose task goes beyond drawing up ways to attack an offense. He has to get players with different backgrounds and experience levels to understand how their responsibilities fit together. But he is also the tone setter.
Sunday offered evidence of that understanding. As far as embodying the demeanor of their coach, let’s just say the aggressive, attacking style the Raiders played with perfectly reflected their high-energy coach.
Meanwhile, Maxx Crosby had company.
The veteran defensive end remains the centerpiece, the player whose relentless pursuit and ability to wreck a possession give Leonard a foundation most defensive coordinators would gladly accept.
The challenge has been surrounding him with enough help to make opponents pay for the attention he commands.
Paye supplied a sack and a tackle for loss, providing the kind of complementary disruption the Raiders envisioned when they signed him.
“We all played well off each other,” said Crosby.
The benefits of lining up alongside Crosby were apparent, too.
“I got more one-on-ones today, for sure,” Paye said.
That is how this is supposed to work.
When an offense commits extra resources to Crosby, an opportunity opens elsewhere. The Raiders need someone capable of winning that matchup and making the protection decision costly.
Paye helped deliver.
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But some of the most encouraging assistance came from farther away from the line of scrimmage.
At least two of the Raiders’ five sacks were coverage sacks, with defenders taking away the initial answers long enough for the rush to arrive.
Those plays say something about the entire defense. The secondary has to maintain coverage as the play stretches out. The rush has to keep working, trusting that another second of effort can produce a sack.
Sunday, that trust was rewarded.
Rookie defensive back Treydan Stukes understood how much the relationship helped him.
“Oh my gosh, it’s a game changer for us,” Stukes said. “Rushing coverage always is working together, and to have those guys up front that are such relentless pass rushers, we can’t make our plays without them doing that.”
The cooperation works both ways. Coverage can buy the rush another beat. Pressure can force a quarterback to make a decision before he wants to.
For a defense leaning on young defensive backs, that partnership is essential.
Stukes contributed an interception, turning his opportunity into one of the Raiders’ two takeaways.
His thought process as the ball approached was simple.
“Don’t drop it. That’s the first thought,” Stukes said. “Our coaches are always preaching, ‘Make the plays that come to you. When you’re in position and you got a chance to make a big play, go make it.’”
There is value in that clarity. Players who understand their responsibilities can react decisively and trust the work that put them in position.
The Raiders showed similar coordination against the run, handling assignments and getting defenders to the ball. That helped keep Miami from controlling the game on the ground and created opportunities to pressure the quarterback.
Nakobe Dean delivered a consequential third-quarter sack before a missed field goal preserved the Raiders’ 27-13 lead. Later, Jeremy Chinn forced the fumble Quay Walker recovered to help finish the game.
Different players, handling different jobs, making contributions when the Raiders needed them.
“When everybody’s working together, it makes everybody’s individual job easier,” said Dean. “Somebody always has a hard hat on a specific down on the defense, but when everybody’s doing their 1-11, then it makes the defense easier overall.”
That is how a defense begins to become dependable.
It also reflects work that started long before the Dolphins arrived.
“This is probably the hardest offseason I had with a team,” Paye said.
The payoff was a defense that looked prepared to play together, with newcomers contributing alongside its established star.
There were coverage mistakes, and better offenses will test whether Sunday’s coordination holds up against more difficult questions. Leonard has corrections to make. His young defenders have plenty left to learn.
Stukes recognized both the progress and the remaining work.
“I think there’s plenty of stuff to build on, plenty of stuff to correct, but I think overall the mentality and the style of play is there, and we’re excited to keep building on it.”
The Raiders have heard optimistic assessments of fresh starts before. Sustaining this one will require more than an encouraging opener.
But five sacks and two takeaways gave Leonard something concrete to build on.
So did the way his players helped one another produce them.