New Linebacker Is Key To Raiders Ongoing Renaissance

The Las Vegas Raiders paid big money to sign linebacker Quay Walker in free agency, and he’s been a key figure in the Raiders’ return to prominence. Walker told his story in a piece on Raiders.com, and it’s well worth a review to get a feel for his background and talents along with what he brings to the table. 

Walker is from Georgia, and he played his college ball for the Bulldogs. According to Amber Theoharis of Raiders.com, the player he admired the most there was linebacker Alec Ogletree, who offered the kind of unique athleticism that Walker himself brings to the table these days. Ogletree could rush off the edge, drop back in coverage and play off the ball, and Walker was inspired by Ogletree’s performance.

Walker brings all of those talents to the current Raiders defense, but it’s been an up-and-down journey so far. The linebacker said the Raiders are trying to get back to the style of play they showed in their first three games, which was about keeping the ball in front of them, rallying to the ball when there were tackles to be made and containing the quarterback.  

That goes hand-in-hand with helping the offense get going, the linebacker added. He knows that adversity is part of the season with a process like this, and Walker is a strong believer that the Raiders will snap out of their current funk. 

The linebacker also knows that big plays have to be contained, and to do that the communication and recognition have to get better to allow the defense to play faster. The Raiders have been there before, and Walker indicated that it’s going to take contributions from everyone to get back to that. 

Walker is a big believer in the attacking approach of defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, which is designed to help produce turnovers. It started back in OTAs, and Walker said it’s no accident that those turnovers happened right away initially. It’s a mindset the Raiders are bringing to both practice and watching film, even though the Raiders have had just one turnover in the last two games. 

The linebacker also discussed the challenges that come with playing Josh Allen, which can be especially formidable for someone who plays his position. The decision to drop back into coverage or step upt to try to contain Allen is a puzzle that can lead to big plays, as the Raiders try and end their two-game losing streak and turn things around.