The Las Vegas Raiders elected to promote from within to fill their defensive coordinator position, elevating run game coordinator/defensive line coach Rob Leonard to that role, according to a story written by Ryan McFadden via Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The news was somewhat surprising given that new coach Klint Kubiak has been raiding his old Seattle Seahawks coaching staff for potential interview candidates, and the Raiders have also been casting a wider net that extended to the likes of DC Jim Schwartz of the Cleveland Browns.
The Raiders will also be retaining Joe Woods as defensive pass game coordinator, which was less surprising given that Woods has a history with Kubiak dating back to their time together in different roles with the Minnesota Vikings.
It’s safe to assume that part of the reason for the internal promotion was Leonard’s history working with star defensive end Maxx Crosby, whose relationship with the Raiders deteriorated badly over the course of the season.
Crosby was furious when he was shut down for the last couple of games of the season due to medical reasons, and he swore to minority owner Tom Brady that he would never don a Raiders uniform again, but his stance seems to be softening a little after conversations with Kubiak and owner Mark Davis.
As for Leonard, he’s young for the job at 38, but then again so is Kubiak. The Raiders are going in the opposite direction after the coaching hire of Pete Carroll failed badly, bringing in a wave of young coaching talent to try and energize a team that’s become something of a running joke around the NFL.
Leonard’s prior stops include the Miami Dolphins, where he was linebackers and assistant defensives line coach, and the Baltimore Ravens where he was an outside linebackers coach in 2022.
He’ll have his work cut out for him taking charge of this defense. The Raiders tried to marry the defensive approach of Patrick Graham, who’s now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and that of Carroll, and Las Vegas ended up25th in points allowed at 25.4, with opponents converting 46.3 percent of their third-down attempts, according to McFadden.
The unit was good against the run, however, The Raiders finished fourth in the league against the run game in yards per carry with a final average of 3.9, and Crosby had ten sacks and 26 run stuffs despite missing the last couple of games. McFadden also identified defensive tacklesJonah Laulu and Tonga Hemingway as lineman who flashed occasionally.
There are other pieces in place, but plenty of important decisions to make, although it is impressive that Kubiak is putting together what seems to be a sound staff in place quickly and efficiently.