Could Gus Bradley emerge as the Las Vegas Raiders new defensive coordinator?

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden recently said the team would move fast to fill its defensive coordinator vacancy. Could Gus Bradley emerge as the new hire?

After a disastrous season on the defensive side of the ball, the Las Vegas Raiders parted ways with defensive coordinator Paul Guenther late in the season. Unfortunately, it was too little too late, as the team was spiraling downward by then.

Rod Marinelli, who was doing a disappointing job with the defensive line, was given the interim mantle after Guenther’s dismissal. While the defense appeared to be giving a more spirited effort, the 2020 season as a whole had already collapsed.

Now that Raiders brass and their team is home for the playoffs, they’re moving quickly to find Guenther’s permanent replacement.

Would Gus Bradley be an improvement for the Raiders?

Earlier today, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Bradley’s potential candidacy.

"The Raiders are expected to ask the Los Angeles Chargers for permission to interview Gus Bradley for the defensive coordinator job, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed."

So far, Bradley is one of the strongest possibilities for a defensive coordinator just looking at his track record. In Seattle, he was one of the architects of the dominant defense that help the Seahawks become a perennial contender. Coming to the Raiders, Bradley would have promising players such as Trayvon Mullen, Johnathan Abram, and Clelin Ferrell to mold in a similar fashion.

His most recent run with the Los Angeles Chargers has been more of a mixed bag compared to his Seattle run. The ‘Bolts’ had problems in points allowed in 2020, which is not surprising when you look at their roster. The team ranked 23rd giving up 26.6 points a game, though it’s still better than the nearly 30 points that the Raiders were giving up per Pro Football Reference.

Bradley’s candidacy will be an interesting development,t as the Silver and Black are in fact, moving quickly. The question is, what are your thoughts, Raider Nation? Do you think Bradley would be an upgrade at this point?

Las Vegas does have some young talent, and Bradley does have a proven track record in terms of the defensive backfield. This is an organization that has struggled mightily back there for years now, and if they are going to be competitive in the AFC West, they need more talent and better coaching going against Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert twice a season.