Predicting the Las Vegas Raiders 2021 defensive coaching staff

Defensive Coordinator – Gus Bradley

Already linked to the vacant defensive coordinator job, Gus Bradley was once thought of as a fast-riser in the coaching world. Everyone who has worked with Bradley has given glowing references about his leadership and ability to keep professional athletes accountable.

The biggest draw with Bradley is his experience within the AFC West, and most notably Patrick Mahomes. Bradley has been able to hold Mahomes to a lower completion percentage than his average in every gave but one in 2018, which ironically ended in a Chargers win.

Bradley has also schemed up defensive efforts that resulted in some of Mahomes lowest yards-per-attempt and QB Rating each season.

Bradley got his start coaching in the NFL in 2006 as a defensive assistant under Jon Gruden in Tampa Bay. Bradley made a precipitous rise through the coaching ranks, becoming the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks only three seasons later. Bradley would continue coaching for in Seattle when Pete Carroll arrived and helped orchestrate the famed Legion of Boom defense.

Many fans have panned the potential hiring of Bradley due to his penchant for running a relatively simple scheme by NFL standards. Ironically, the complex scheme of Guenther that left little time for defenders to hone to the nuance of their game turned out to be the Achilles heel for the defense the last three years. If you want the Raiders defense simplified, playing fast, with better attention to the finer details of the game then Bradley would be the best bet.

Honorable Mention: Raheem Morris