Derek Carr feels ‘sense of urgency’ from Raiders defense
As much focus as Derek Carr put on leading the Raiders’ offense on the first day of training camp Wednesday, he couldn’t help but notice what was going on across the line of scrimmage.
It starts with new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, who has quickly become a passionate and important voice in the Raiders’ operation. Carr said Bradley’s impact can be felt as he makes his way through the team’s training facility.
Including the practice field.
“The presence that Coach Gus carries to the field, you can feel that,” Carr said. “When he talks, all 11 eyes of that defense are on him. And that’s impressive. When you go to their defensive meeting room, you know who has the attention.”
Said Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby: “Coach Bradley has brought in a different energy. He’s a ball of energy at all times and that’s what you want as a coach.”
The different vibe Carr is picking up on could end up being the dynamic that finally pushes the door open to a legitimate Raiders playoff run.
As good as Carr and the Raiders’ offense was last year, the defense was just as bad. Getting that side of the ball straightened out — or not — will be the key to a successful season or one that ends up as another disappointment.
“The most effective way to win games is to play complementary football,” said Raiders linebacker Nicholas Morrow. “All units have to contribute to a win. Offense, defense, special teams. We have to do our job to win games.”
That simply wasn’t the case last year, though, and the porous defense sabotaged any real hope the Raiders had of a playoff push. One day into camp this year, the Raiders certainly look more talented and versatile on defense thanks to a series of free-agent and draft additions designed to shore up some of the weak points of a group that surrendered 29.9 points per game last year.
Including Bradley, who was hired in January to replace former defensive coordinator Paul Guenther.
A respected defensive leader and one of the architects of the Seattle Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom” defense, Bradley arrives in Las Vegas from Los Angeles, where he oversaw the Chargers defense the last four years. He brought with him trusted assistants Ron Milus (secondary) and Richard Smith (linebackers) while retaining defensive line coach Rod Marinelli.
Bradley’s impact has been felt in everything from free agency to the draft to schematic changes designed to simplify the Raiders’ defensive playbook and take better advantage of players’ individual skill sets.
“He’s a big positive influence in this building,” Crosby said.
Of course, at some point, that influence has to translate into actual production or it’s just a bunch of talk. But even that part of it feels a little bit different to Carr, who senses the Raiders’ defense has about had it with being the cause of two straight collapses over the second half of the season.
“They’re tired of talking about all this stuff, just like I am,” Carr said. “You can definitely feel that urgency and demand that he’s bringing and that they’re taking.”
That extends to a revamped defensive line that, with the addition of Yannick Ngakoue, Solomon Thomas, Quinton Jefferson, Matt Dickerson, Darius Philon and Malcolm Koonce, offers more depth and versatility than any Raiders front over the last four seasons.
On one hand, Crosby said he is “fired up” about a defensive line room that offers “a lot of potential,” but on the other he admits being tired of talking about what could be every year.
“I’m sick of saying that word,” Crosby said of potential. “I hear it every single year. I’m ready to go out there on Sundays and play at a very high level.”
It is early, but from Carr’s vantage point, he thinks the Raiders’ defense is on a path to redemption.
Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on Twitter.
