The Las Vegas Raiders have been surprisingly strong on defense, and so far it's all about their pass rush.
The Las Vegas Raiders are 2-0, and they’re definitely one of the most surprising teams in the NFL. ESPN did a piece on early surprises for every team in the league, and Ryan McFadden’s choice was the Raiders’ total of eight sacks so far, which is tied for the most in the NFL.
McFadden thinks this is real, not a mirage. New defensive coordinator Rob Leonard said he wanted an aggressive defense, and he’s being true to his word so far.
The numbers back this up. Per McFadden, the Raiders are also fifth in pressures with 41 and first in pressure rate at 50 percent. Those numbers get even better when you factor in that the Raiders are 23rd in blitz rate at 25 percent.
According to the writer, the Raiders have the potential to maintain their success because of the talent at hand. He cited Maxx Crosby and Nakobe Dean as players who can rush the passer, which in turn allows Leonard to be creative with his play calls.
McFadden is right about some of this, but let’s dial it back and do a reality check here. The Raiders have played the Miami Dolphins and the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Dolphins will be lucky to win five games based on what we’ve seen so far.
As for the Chargers, they’re a mess. Left tackle Joe Alt had three penalties against the Raiders, and there’s a good chance that new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is going to get fired soon. It’s great that the Raiders have found an early defensive formula that works, but it’s way too soon to assume that this is real.
The acid test is coming. The New Orleans Saints are playing good football, and the Raiders get them on the road this week, which will provide more valuable information about this pass rush.
After that the Raiders run a fierce gauntlet, as they’re home against the Kansas City Chiefs, on the road vs. the New England Patriots, then back home against the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills. Going 2-2 in those four games would be a serious achievement, and if the Raiders are still posting similar sack-related numbers, it will be time to pay attention.
Until then, enjoy the fireworks on both sides of the ball. The Raiders played competent football last September as well, and after that they tanked badly. Let’s hope their success continues, but at the moment we really know next to nothing.
