Las Vegas Raiders: 3 Assistant coaches who have the most to prove in 2020
By Matt Holder
Paul Guenther
Ever since his days in Cincinnati, Paul Guenther has employed a “bend but don’t break” defensive philosophy. In four years as the Bengals’ coordinator, his defenses ranked 22nd, 11th, 17th, and 18th in yards allowed, yet 12th, 2nd, 8th, and 16th in points surrendered per game. However, the coach’s units in Oakland did a lot more breaking.
Under Guenther’s tutelage, the Raiders’ defense allowed 29.2 points per game in 2018 and 26.2 last season. Those marks ranked dead-last and 24th in the NFL, respectively. Of course, this doesn’t all fall on the play caller’s shoulders as who’s on the field is a big factor in this equation, and the team was certainly lacking talent on that side of the ball the last couple of years.
In each the last two seasons, the organization has allocated the second-fewest amount of cap space on defense, and they traded away former All-Pro Khalil Mack without having an immediate replacement for him. Just about any coordinator would struggle under those circumstances. However, the tide has turned and this is no longer the case heading into 2020.
Las Vegas opened up the checkbook this offseason by signing players like Nick Kwiatkoski, Cory Littleton and Carl Nassib, bumping up the team’s spending on defense above the league average to 14th overall. That includes four potential starters who were first- or second-round picks and are still on their rookie contracts. The organization’s investment on defense this offseason needs to be coupled with results and the lack of talent excuse is no longer on the table.
Given that the Raiders added former Cowboys’ defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli to the coaching staff in February, Guenther will likely be on a short leash this season.