Raiders Defense Has Veteran Leadership at Every Level

The Las Vegas Raiders have veteran leadership and youthful talent at every level of their defense. It has paid off handsomely so far this season.

The turnaround of the Las Vegas Raiders' defense has had its ups and downs this season, but overall, they have performed well, as the Silver and Black rank eighth in the league against the pass and near the top half in a few other categories.

Part of the key to their success this season has been the addition of multiple veterans. 

"Obviously, you have defensive end Maxx [Crosby], you have linebacker Robert Spillane, you have [Marcus] Epps, but then you have guys beyond that," Interim Coach Antonio Pierce said. 

"A guy who a lot of guys look up to is Marcus Peters, and he's done an outstanding job. It hasn't always been pretty; he knows that; we've had great conversations about it. 

"But the mind and the purpose is there. And this is a pro; this is a guy who has done it at a high level for a long time. He makes our group better. So, just doing that on both sides of the ball, we just talked about our specialists. We have a good team here; we just have to keep playing and playing well." 

The Las Vegas Raiders have veteran leadership across every level of their defense / © Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Not only did the Raiders add veterans, but they were intentional in their search for players who possessed the toughness that epitomized the Raiders' brand of football with players like Peters and Spillane.

"Listen, [Spillane] called me right away after [Spillane's hand surgery] happened," Pierce said. "He was a little drowsy, and then he called me back and asked me if it was real. I said: 'It was real.' And he said: 'I'll be there tomorrow,' and then he showed up on Sunday.

"So those are kind of guys you've got -- if you get men like that, I'm not going to say every guy is going be built that way, but if you have enough of them, and they have that mindset, now he can start to use his tentacles and use that on other people and spread that message and spread really that that physical toughness and that mindset that he had. And he's a lunch pail guy, look where he's come from -- the bottom, and he's one of the leaders and captains of our team, and he's a great one." 

The Raiders might not have done everything right, but one of the positives from the previous coaching staff was the addition of veteran leadership, youth, and talent to the defense. Adding tough, hard-nosed veterans has turned their defense around and kept their season afloat.

The Silver and Black will remain at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to take on the New York Jets on Sunday, Nov. 12, at 8:20 p.m. EST/5:20 p.m. PST.

Please tell us your thoughts when you like our Facebook Page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.