Del Rio had grown tired of defense’s sluggishness
Head coach Jack Del Rio said Wednesday that his decision to fire defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. 10 games into the season stemmed from watching a Raiders defense that “couldn’t continue doing what we’ve been doing to this point.”
“What I’m looking for at the end of the day for us is to play fast on defense,” Del Rio said. “And we weren’t playing fast enough, weren’t playing confident enough. So that decision was made.”
Norton was fired Tuesday in his third season as the Raiders’ defensive coordinator. Oakland ranks 26th in the NFL in yards allowed this season and is last or tied for last in opponents’ passer rating, sacks and interceptions.
Del Rio pointed specifically
to two statistics Wednesday as indicators of his team’s struggles on defense. One is a minus-9 turnover differential. Oakland’s defense has six takeaways, fewest in the NFL, and is the first in league history with no interceptions through its first 10 games of the season. Del Rio pointed out that the Raiders had a plus-10 turnover margin at this point last year.
The second statistic: The Raiders have allowed opponents to convert 46 percent of their third-down opportunities, the second-highest rate in the league. Opponents have been able to sustain drives — one reason Oakland’s offense ranks 31st in plays run per game.
“We’re not getting enough opportunities offensively due to ineffectiveness defensively,” said Del Rio. “We’ve got to get the ball back for the offense — we’ve got to force turnovers, get off the field on third down. That’s what it is. That’s our charge. And we’ve got to get it done.”
John Pagano, whom the Raiders hired before the season as assistant head coachdefense, will take over defensive signal-calling duties. With Pagano as their defensive coordinator last year, the Chargers ranked 16th in total defense and tied for the NFL lead with 18 interceptions.
Oakland, however, hired Pagano to improve its secondary play and defensive communication — areas where the Raiders have struggled. Del Rio said responsibility for improving the defense is “shared.”
“It’s always shared,” Del Rio said. “A change was made obviously, but we all share in it. All of us, starting with me. We all share in it.”
Asked how shifting to Pagano might help the defense play faster, Del Rio said the Raiders intend to put more emphasis on the “process” of recovery and preparation before games.
“How are we bringing to life the things we’re doing — the detail, the detail in the meetings, the detail on the practice field, the accountability, the principles that we believe in?” Del Rio said. “Those are the things you have to fight for. And when you do those things and build your confidence, you play fast.”
Asked if he views Pagano as potentially the Raiders’ defensive coordinator beyond this season, Del Rio answered: “Yeah, I do.” Del Rio signed a four-year contract extension with the Raiders in February.
The decision to fire Norton did not go over well with some players. Linebacker Bruce Irvin, who played under Norton in Seattle, tweeted a one-word expletive Tuesday afternoon just after the news of Norton’s firing broke. Del Rio said he was aware of those reactions.
“I think the biggest thing is to understand the relationship, respect that, give him a little space,” Del Rio said. “And then at the end of the day, we’re going to get on with our work. But I’m human. Wasn’t easy for me either.”
Del Rio and Norton were teammates as players in Dallas and arrived in Oakland together before the 2015 season. He said firing Norton “was very difficult to do.” But Del Rio also made clear his frustration with the Raiders’ 4-6 record when asked if the change might help spark the team.
“Nobody should feel comfortable,” Del Rio said. “Because what I’ve been watching is not good enough. So, nobody should feel comfortable.”