Recent History of Defensive Futility
Skeptics will turn the attention back to quarterback Derek Carr in this discussion. And yes, assuming he’s the starter, the 28-year-old must elevate his level of play going into his third season in Gruden’s system.
Nonetheless, whether it’s Carr or anyone else under center, the Raiders can’t continue to field a bottom-half scoring defense and expect to compete for a title. They have to eventually stop someone. Even the best offenses have off-games and clunkers at some point.
Here’s a history of the Raiders defense over the last 17 seasons. As you’ll see, the unit hasn’t ranked better than 18th in scoring with only two years listing 11th or higher in yards allowed in that stretch. That’s brutal:
| Oakland Raiders Defense Since 2002 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Points Allowed | Yards Allowed |
| 2003 | 25th | 30th |
| 2004 | 31st | 30th |
| 2005 | 25th | 27th |
| 2006 | 18th | 3rd |
| 2007 | 26th | 22nd |
| 2008 | 24th | 27th |
| 2009 | 23rd | 26th |
| 2010 | 20th | 11th |
| 2011 | 29th | 29th |
| 2012 | 28th | 18th |
| 2013 | 29th | 22nd |
| 2014 | 32nd | 21st |
| 2015 | 22nd | 22nd |
| 2016 | 20th | 26th |
| 2017 | 20th | 23rd |
| 2018 | 32nd | 26th |
| 2019 | 24th | 19th |
Once and for all, Mayock and Gruden have to face the franchise’s defensive woes head-on, investing a little more cash in the non-glamorous parts of the roster.
For Raiders fans, it’s difficult to do this but look at the two Super Bowl teams. Yes, the Chiefs have Mahomes and a high-octane offense, but they rank seventh in points allowed with two pass-rushing closers in Frank Clark and Chris Jones. The San Francisco 49ers field an elite defensive line that’s embodied their physical identity. They’re eighth in scoring defense while surrendering the second-fewest yards.
The Raiders have the cap room and young promising talent to field a respectable defense. The unit doesn’t have to be top five in points and yards allowed, but a solid group that can take away the ball would suffice in a push for a playoff spot, especially if the offense pulls its weight. Mayock and Gruden will probably add some spark to the aerial attack, acquiring wide receiver help via free agency and the draft.
Yet, legitimate title contenders need a little grit, toughness or as players call it, “dawg” in its fabric to overcome obstacles and adversity. The offensive line and running back Josh Jacobs already have that quality. Now, the Raiders need a few more high-production defensive players with a similar mentality.