Las Vegas Raiders: Defensive Tackles who fit Gus Bradley’s scheme
By BD Williams
After new Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Gus Bradley left Seattle for the Head Coaching gig in Jacksonville, he seemed to have undergone a philosophical shift in the type of athlete he wants to play on the defensive interior. Bradley’s defenses over the past eight seasons have highlighted interior defensive linemen who weigh less than the NFL average, but who also specialize in getting penetration into the backfield.
While the Head Coach in Jacksonville and the Defensive Coordinator in Los Angeles, here are the heights and weights of the interior defensive linemen drafted for Bradley’s scheme:
- Michael Bennet – Ohio State – 6’2 287
- Sheldon Day – Notre Dame – 6’1 293
- Isaac Rochelle – Notre Dame – 6’4 280
- Justin Jones – NC State – 6’3 309
- Jerry Tillery – Notre Dame – 6’6 295
- Cortez Broughton – Cinncinnati – 6’2 290
The average size of the defensive tackle taken to fit Bradley’s scheme is 6’2.5 292lbs. That is half an inch shorter and almost 15 pounds lighter than the average defensive tackle drafted since 2011 according to Mockdraftable.com
Bradley’s introductory press conference emphasized the need for defensive tackles who can penetrate into the backfield as a hallmark of his scheme. Something that ties him philosophically to Rod Marinelli, unlike Paul Guenther who preferred defensive linemen to control the line of scrimmage. Finding smaller, lighter, gap-shooting defensive tackles will be an off-season emphasis for the Raiders’ front office.
Although incumbent DT Maurice Hurst already fits this mold, players like Johnathan Hankins (FA), Daniel Ross, and Maliek Collins are the type of defensive tackles who take on double teams.
Let us take a look at the NFL draft and Free Agency for potential scheme fits for Bradley’s defense.