Jon Gruden On Improving Defense in Las Vegas
Jon Gruden is determined to get the Raiders’ pass rushing game up and running for the first time since 2018.
It’s been a weakness in their game since Khalil Mack was traded away to the Chicago Bears.Â
In that time, the Raiders have 66 sacks, ranked last in the NFL. Their 28.4 points per game are also last since 2018.
The Raiders’ defense was 30th in the NFL in scoring and 29th in sacks (21) a season ago. Jon Gruden says new signing Yannick Ngakoue and Maxx Crosby will be crucial in rectifying this.
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“If we can improve up front, I think this defense will be much-improved,” Jon Gruden said.
“I think what’s gonna make this defense go is how we rush the passer,” Gruden added. “How it goes up front. And Yannick is a difference maker. I feel him every time I see him on the grass. And Maxx is on the rise.”
Las Vegas also has Carl Nassib and Clelin Ferrell in the defense end depth chart. Nassib’s first season as a Raider was a drop off, with 2.5 sacks and 28 tackles in 14 games. In two years in Tampa Bay, he had 6.5 and 6 sacks per year, albeit with more starts.
2019 No.4 overall pick Ferrell has failed to live up to expectations with just 2 sacks and 27 tackles in 11 starts last year.Â
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“Ferrell, he’s a good player,” Gruden said. “He’s unique because he can play right end, he can play left end, he’s a good run defender. I think his best pass rush might be inside — and you saw that against the Jets when we allowed him to do that last year. But certainly, he’s going to be competing, he and Carl Nassib, who had a really good spring. They’re going to have to earn their snaps, and if you know Cle, you know he will compete. And you probably should count on him being a big part of this.”
