What We Know About the Oakland Raiders Through Five Weeks
By Segun Giwa
2. The defense is bad, but improving
The first two weeks of the season, the Raiders couldn’t stop a nose bleed.
Sean Smith — Oakland’s prized free agent signing in the secondary — looked like another Raider offseason overpay. The Raiders’ pass rush was non-existent. There were even rumblings about Ken Norton Jr.’s job security.
Fast forward to Week 6 — the defense is still bad and ranked last in yards allowed, but improving.
Khalil Mack and the rest of the Oakland pass rush have been getting more pressure on the quarterback. Smith has had back to back decent weeks. D.J. Hayden doesn’t look as terrible guarding slot receivers.
In my opinion, the Raiders defense will be fine. I mean, they can’t get any worse right?
There are a lot of new puzzle pieces on the defensive side that the coaching staff is trying to fit together. Karl Joseph has looked good with extended playing time, including his first interception last week. The front seven has reinforcements coming, with Mario Edwards Jr. and Aldon Smith both eligible to come back in November.
Let’s just hope somebody in the Raiders’ organization took Aldon’s stash away.