Analysis: Raiders’ defense has been a revelation through first six practices

By Case Keefer (contact)

Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023 | 2 a.m.

The Raiders’ offense had just given the fans gathered Tuesday morning at the team’s Henderson practice facility for the first padded practice of training camp plenty to cheer about during one-on-one and seven-on-seven drills. Those in the bleachers were hollering for more catches from the likes of superstar receiver Davante Adams and rookie tight end Michael Mayer when the Raiders then transitioned into an 11-on-11 period for the first time.  

Maxx Crosby had other plans. The Pro Bowl edge rusher foiled two of the offense’s initial three plays for losses.

He first burst through the line to stop running back Brittain Brown and, then on the next play, planted Mayer before getting to getting to Jimmy Garoppolo for what would have been a sure sack if he was allowed to hit the quarterback.

“That’s every day with Maxx,” defensive tackle Bilal Nichols said after practice. “He’s that type of guy. He inspires others with his work, his work ethic. He’s going to bring it every day. As a teammate, it forces you to match his energy.”

And at least early in training camp, Crosby’s defensive teammates have appeared to hold their own in matching his energy. Crosby has set such a high standard through four years in the NFL that his daily impact has come to be expected, but the improved play from those around him recently has provided a reason for optimism going into this season.   

The Raiders’ offense hasn’t looked all that crisp through a week — though it did pass the ball better throughout a turnover-free practice on Tuesday — but a lot of their troubles have stemmed from the defense.

Raider fans’ hopes have been dashed before considering the team has fielded the NFL’s worst collective defense over the last 20 years, but this could be the season the unit turns around.

“Defense is coming together in terms of communication, effort, discipline, the things we really want to focus and improve on in the offseason,” linebacker Robert Spillane said. “We’ve just got to keep holding each other accountable and good things will happen.”

Spillane was in his element with the pads coming on Tuesday for the start of what he and Nichols call “real football” as a tough, hard-hitting veteran who spent the last four years with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham asks a lot out of his linebackers, needing versatile performers who can excel both in coverage and against the run game, and so far, likely starters Spillane and Divine Deablo look up to the task.

Deablo, a third-round pick out of Virginia Tech in 2020, missed the second half of last season after breaking his arm early in a loss to the Jaguars. But he’s quite literally come back stronger this training camp after packing on more than 10 pounds of muscle.

And the bigger frame doesn’t appear to have slowed him down as he’s run stride-for-stride with running backs and receivers and even broken up a couple passes through a week of practices.

“He’s really taken great steps and he’s a great football player,” Spillane said of Deablo. “At the end of the day, you want to surround yourself on defense with hungry players who will do anything to get that ball, so I love playing with him.”

Not all the key defenders have bulked up seeking better results. Edge rusher Chandler Jones has in fact slimmed down, recently declining to share his exact weight but looking noticeably more svelte than he was in his first season with the Raiders a year ago.

He’s also looked harder to block, as at least before Tuesday’s practice, he was getting through the line with as much frequency as Crosby on the opposite side.  

“Being disruptive is just having a presence,” Jones said. “If everyone on the defense could have that mentality, being disruptive, not just trying to make a play, everyone just staying in their gap, then we’ll be fine.”

Creating more turnovers is an emphasis for the defense this year after the Raiders ranked last in the league with 13 takeaways a season ago. It’s one reason they signed veteran All Pro cornerback Marcus Peters — who has 32 career interceptions, 11 career forced fumbles 10 career fumble recoveries — right before training camp.

Peters and Nate Hobbs seem all but assured of taking up two of the starting corner spots, outside and in the slot, respectively. The final starting role, and the rest of the rotation, may come down to who can most consistently force offenses into mistakes through training camp and the preseason. 

Las Vegas has no shortage of options. Free-agent acquisition Brandon Facyson, who played well for the Raiders in 2021 before leaving to go to the Colts, might have been in line for a large share of snaps before being carted off with an undisclosed injury Tuesday.

That could open up more playing time for former Viking Duke Shelley and former Ram Tyler Hall, both of whom have flashed in training camp along with Facyson. Jakorian Bennett, a rookie fourth-round pick out of Maryland, meanwhile has excited fans and coaches alike with blistering speed.

And fourth-year veteran Amik Robertson was perhaps the most capable Raiders’ defensive back in causing turnovers last year with two interceptions, a forced fumble and fumble recovery for a touchdown.

Robertson came over to celebrate with Crosby on the sidelines Tuesday after the latter was subbed out following his tear. Crosby then pumped up the crowd so much that a security official had to come over and direct them to calm down.

The fans might have arrived rooting for the Raiders’ offense, but they wound up won over by the defense.

“You can definitely feel the energy,” Nichols said when asked about where the defense is now compared to a year ago. “Guys are having a lot more fun out there. Guys are flying around. Guys are doing whatever they have to do.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or