3 Takeaways from the Las Vegas Raiders first scrimmage with the Rams

3 Takeaways from the Las Vegas Raiders first scrimmage with the Rams

The Raiders defense has made notable improvements

The biggest weakness for the Raiders in the past couple of years has been the defense, and not just one part of the defense, but the entirety of it. The pass rush has been non-existent, the defensive backs have not been able to cover, and the entire unit has struggled to make tackles.

Raiders fans should not overreact and get their hopes up too much, but based on the scrimmage and the first preseason game, it looks like Gus Bradley may have turned the defense around.

Obviously, it is just practice, but the Raiders were able to give Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford fits, picking him off three times, as well as another dropped interception from Damon Arnette. From the sounds of it, the Raiders defense owned the day against an offense that consists of Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Robert Woods, and players such as Tre’Von Moehrig, Rasul Douglas, and Johnathan Abram stepped up with big plays in coverage.

Again, it is just practice, but there were multiple reports that the Raiders defense looks much more different and prepared than previous seasons, and Matthew Stafford even stated that the Raiders defense gave him different looks than he has seen in camp, and that is coming from someone who is competing against one of the best defenses in the NFL every day.