Brian Flores would turn Raiders into a defensive powerhouse

Brian Flores would turn Raiders into a defensive powerhouse

A proven and impressive track record speaks volumes for Flores

The work that Flores did with the Dolphins was impressive, but it’s their defensive style that would lend itself to the Raiders. We all know that Bradley’s preferences led to very little blitzing. He relied on pressure being created by his front four. In fact, the Raiders blitzed just 94 times this past season. By comparison, Flores’ defense blitzed a whopping 512 times. The sack differential between the two squads is noticeable. The Raiders totaled 35 sacks while the Dolphins had 47.

What’s interesting is that the Raiders currently have players that would thrive under Flores. We know about the havoc that Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue cause off the edges. However, Flores could make use of players such as Johnathan Abram, for example, in blitzing situations. No doubt, this would lead to more sacks. Abram currently flourishes in the box, near the line of scrimmage. He’d become an asset under Flores just as Brandon Jones did in Miami.

Flores ran a lot of Cover 0 in Miami, so the Raiders would naturally have to run a lot of man-to-man coverage. The Raiders right now have corners such as Casey Hayward, Nate Hobbs, and Trayvon Mullen that can handle receivers alone. In turn, Abram and the other safeties, such as Trevon Moehrig, could be used in blitz packages.

This wouldn’t be without its risks, but a more aggressive defense could yield better team results. We saw what it did in Miami. Flores could turn the Raiders’ defense into a truly ferocious unit.

One thing’s for sure, Raider Nation wouldn’t see any “prevent” defense from Flores.