Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said Monday afternoon that tackling, or lack thereof, is among the problems plaguing the NFL’s worst rushing defense through seven weeks. Can the Raiders practice tackling despite the wear of an 18-week season?
“You can work on it without bringing guys to the ground. We’re working on it,” Kubiak said.
We’ll see Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
Stopping opposing rushing offenses would help the Raiders stop the four-game losing skid they bring into their Week 8 matchup with the New York Jets in East Rutherford, New Jersey. No team allows more yards per carry (5) than the Raiders, having also allowed the second-most yards (1,005) and fourth-most touchdowns (nine).
Because Las Vegas isn’t slowing down rushers, opponents are dictating tempo and pace.
“Everybody says fundamentals, technique, but you’ve got to fit things consistently,” defensive coordinator Rob Leonard said, asked Thursday about tackling. “You can’t go one-for-one with the front. You’ve got to pin the hip on the edge with the DBs and be in position to make tackles. You have to funnel the ball correctly. But it’s fundamentals. It’s fundamentals one-on-one.”
Kubiak noted the struggles are rooted in “all phases” Monday in addition to tackling, also affirming the coaching staff can provide the Raiders with better plans. Their last six opponents had no issue topping 100 rushing yards apiece with four of the last five totaling at least 148 yards.
The Los Angeles Rams in their Week 7 matchup gashed Las Vegas with 199 rushing yards — 202 before yard-losing kneel-downs on the final three plays from scrimmage — the most allowed this season by the Raiders. Heavy personnel overwhelmed them and kept their offense on the sideline in a physical, technical domination.
“We have to defeat blocks. It’s simple as that,” defensive end Maxx Crosby said. “We’ve got to win your one-on-ones. Everybody’s got to know your responsibility and that takes all of us. We’ve all got to be better. I know we’re focused on it. I know the coaches are super detailed on it. When it comes down to it, run defense comes down to attitude and energy.”
And scheme.
And execution.
And tackling.
“The expectation one-on-one is to win.” Leonard explained. “So, it’s block release, pad level, hand placement and … whooping the guy in front of you. To me, we try to train the process of doing that. We obviously have got to do a better job. When you play like that, that starts with me. When you have missed (run) fits, missed tackles and different angles to the ball, that is 100 percent on me. I have to be better there.”
Contact Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on X.
