Whitehead tabbed by Guenther to be signal caller on defense
In the wake of linebacker Vontaze Burfict’s suspension, defensive coordinator Paul Guenther doled out new responsibilities ahead of Sunday’s game in London against the Chicago Bears.
WHITEHEAD TAKES OVER DEFENSE » It’s not as if Guenther is turning his defense over to a stranger. Tahir Whitehead, in his eighth NFL season and second with the Raiders, was the defensive signal caller in 2018 before Vontaze Burfict arrived to play in the middle.
“Tahir’s capable of handling all that,” Guenther said Thursday. “He was doing it a year ago, he was doing some of it already when Vontaze got ejected from the game. Tahir went in and handled it seamlessly. He’ll be the head role in that thing and I think he’ll do a real good job for us.”
Burfict will find out next week whether his season is truly over when his appeal of a season-long suspension for another illegal hit is heard on Tuesday. Burfict won’t play Sunday in London, but the fate of the rest of his season lies in the hands of Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks, the appeals officer appointed by the league and the players’ association to adjudicate the appeal.
Whitehead and Nicholas Morrow handled virtually all of the duties at linebacker following Burfict’s ejection. Because of the various packages employed by Guenther, Whitehead said it essentially entailed knowing five different positions.
“Wherever you put me, I’m going to do what I do,” Whitehead said. “Versatility is the name of the game. I think that’s what’s allowed me to stick around. I’ve played every linebacker position in the 4-3 defense and I can do it all. I take pride in that and being able to understand the scheme and go out there and play any position that coach puts you in.”
At 6-foot-1, 241 pounds, Whitehead isn’t as stout as Burfict but more dynamic in terms of range.
“From my vantage point it gives me the ability to flow to both sides of the field, sideline to sideline, which is my strength, versus playing on the outside where you’re pretty much cut off from certain plays because you have a longer way to travel,” Whitehead said.
Guenther, who lobbied the Raiders to bring in Burfict based on their relationship forged with the Cincinnati Bengals, was disappointed by the severity of the suspension and has his fingers crossed it will be reduced on appeal.
“I know Vontaze has been warned on some of the stuff, I just hope it’s not a bunch of cops looking for this only guy (going) 38 mph in a 30 mph zone,” Guenther said. “To be fair to the kid, he’s done everything we’ve asked of him, he’s been a great teammate, he was voted unanimously as a captain and I just hope that the league is fair to him.”
THE MAYOWA MYSTERY » Defensive end Benson Mayowa leads the Raiders in sacks with 3½ but was inactive against the Indianapolis Colts. Despite the sack totals, Mayowa’s snap counts became fewer in each of the first three games. He showed up on the injury report a week ago as “limited” with a knee injury, yet was a full practice participant the Friday heading into the game.
Nonetheless, Guenther said the knee was an issue — as well as to get an extra interior defender on the field.
“He was feeling a little something with his knee, he had a bone bruise on his knee, so he didn’t practice throughout the course of the week and we decided instead of going with nine D-linemen we brought (Corey Liuget up to see what he could do,” Guenther said. “And Liuget did a really good job for us. It’s just a matter of getting him rest and making sure he was ready to go.”
With Clelin Ferrell out again and in concussion protocol, Mayowa could be active against Chicago. One thing appears certain — rookie fourth-round pick Maxx Crosby will see his reps increase if he keeps performing as he did in Indianapolis.
JACOBS AVOIDING THE HYPE » Running back Josh Jacobs leads all NFL rookies in rushing with 307 yards — a Raiders record for the first four games of a season — and is being touted as an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate. Not that he’s paying much attention.
“I mean, it’s good to finally feel like you’re getting recognition,” Jacobs said. “But it doesn’t really make me feel any different. I feel there’s a lot more I could have done. I feel like there are a lot of plays and a lot of yards I left on the field. I’m not really satisfied with what I’ve done so far.”
Asked by a UK reporter about the music which plays during practice, Jacobs said he enjoys it until game day. Then he prefers silence.
“It’s important for practice, gets everybody energized,” Jacobs said. “But before the game I don’t listen to music. I don’t study plays, or anything. I just like to be at peace, the calm before the storm.”
Gruden, talking to the media Wednesday, said he’s letting Jacobs call the shots.
“I don’t advise him, he advises me,” Gruden said.