3/11/2022: News, Notes, & Quotes from Raiders revamped coaching staff
This is an exciting time to be a Las Vegas Raiders fan. A new regime, a new cultural identity, and a renewed sense of optimism.
Yesterday, Raiders beat writers had the opportunity to meet the new coaching staff virtually. If you’re unaware of the changes that were made under new head coach Josh McDaniels don’t fret.
Below is a full list of the new coordinators in town complete with a preview of what’s to be expected moving forward from the silver and black.
DC Patrick Graham
OC Mick Lombardi
STC Tom McMahon
The first of three installments from what I learned from each of the coaches pressers will be a focal point this week--starting with DC PG.
Who is DC Patrick Graham?
2009 Coaching Assistant (Patriots)
2010 Defensive Assistant (Patriots)
2011 Linebackers coach (Patriots)
2012-2013 Defensive line coach (Patriots)
2014-2015 Linebackers coach (Patriots)
2016-2017 Defensive line coach (Giants)
2018 Linebackers coach & run game coordinator (Packers)
2019 Defensive Coordinator (Dolphins)
2020-2021 Assistant head coach & Defensive Coordinator (Giants)
Presser Analysis: From the timeline above, you can see that Graham has a rich history stemming from the Coach Bill Belichick tree. He worked with Coach McDaniels while in New England while also following then Dolphins head coach Brian Flores to Miami & later joining Joe Judge in New York.
The takeaway here is the “Patriot Way,” in “Doing your job.” After watching Coach PG answer beat writer’s questions, I came away with a few points of emphasis that Coach PG will emphasize in building the team from the ground up.
3-4 base defense
Multiple trick-ponies
Amplify player strengths
Tough, physical, smart
As stated in my earlier articles and tweets over twitter, I alluded to the fact that Coach PG will be using the odd-man front 3-4 base defense. In order to play this style of defense you need to have DTs who can two-gap at the POA.
What’s the difference between a one-gap scheme vs two-gap scheme?
In layman’s terms, in order to play a one-gap scheme, the defensive lineman are only responsible for one-gap. So if they are playing a 3T (between guard & tackle) their job is to penetrate that B gap as quickly as possible.
From the EDGE, if they are playing a 5T (outside shoulder of the offensive tackle), their main responsibility is to get upfield while holding outside contain.
In a two-gap scheme, the defensive lineman are responsible for two-gaps, hence two-gap scheme. So if the interior NT in a 3-4 base is lined up at the 0T or 1, or 1i alignment, their job is to take on both A gaps on either side.
From a DT position in a 34 base, if they are playing a 4T (lined up heads up over the tackle), they are also responsible for a two-gap assignment, B & C.
Now there are certainly different concepts to run a read-and-react 3-4 base defense, but this is a snapshot of what a typical 3-4 alignment calls upon. A hybrid defense comes to mind, made famous by Coach Buddy Ryan in the 46 defense, which I broke down in an earlier article on how to stop the 49ers ZBS scheme.
Coach PG kept it 100, saying that under his scheme, the interior defensive lineman must win their one-on-one battles. This is where the transition from a 4-3 base vs 3-4 odd man front come into play in terms of having the “personnel.”
During my time as a beat writer for the San Francisco 49ers, then head coach Chip Kelly tried to transition to a 3-4 base defense but didn’t have the personnel. As a result the team finished 2-14 and Kelly was fired at season’s end.
Coach Kelly tried to convert DT Ronald Blair, DE Tank Carradine, and other 4-3 defensive lineman into a 3-4 OLB, it didn’t work. Here’s some twitter videos I posted during practice sessions below, as that storyline was a point of emphasis for me during that bleak season.
Coach Andre Carter did an exceptional job, coaching the art of fundamentals. He taught proper hand placement, leverage (pad-level), winning 1/2 man game, etc. Unfortunately, it takes time to master the art like Coach Carter did during his tenure in the NFL, and one-year body of work just wasn’t enough time to get the players up to speed as growth for evaluation in my eyes comes from a two-year outlook.
Fortunately for the Raiders, they have the personnel for a somewhat seamless transition. OLB Maxx Crosby and OLB Yannick Ngakoue are penciled to be the 3-4 OLBs while ILB Denzel Perryman locks down the Mike. That leaves only the “Jack” position open.
Sitting at No. 22, the Raiders could strike gold and land ILB Nakobe Dean. A prediction I made in an earlier article (see above) once the team released ILB Cory Littleton.
However, it all starts up front with space-eaters who can two-gap. The team could also roll with Georgia teammate NT Jordan Davis (see article above). The drawback is that he’s likely a two-down run-stuffer and despite a fan-hyped combine, is he worth the valuation vs evaluation if other three-down players are available?
Cultural Identity
Coach McDaniels wants to make these three parameters a POE (point of emphasis). Tough, physical, smart football team.
By tough, I mean players who will play hurt, play fast, and play with a controlled violence.
By physical, I mean players who will hit you in the mouth, outwork you, and out-hustle you. Its the same HITS concept that GM Ryan Poles brought to him in Chicago under new DC Alan Williams.
Hustle
Intensity
Takeaways
Smarts
By smart, I mean players who will display discipline (penalties) while understanding situational football both inside/out.
Coach PG was only around for roughly 15 minutes, but as you can see he provided some great insight into what the defense will look like if you can read between the lines.
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