Littleton, Collins need to step up
Raiders’ defensive additions were put in difficult situation and it shows
The NFL isn’t all that different than any other sport in that it comes down to getting star quality performances from your stars.
The Raiders spent a lot of money in the offseason adding more talented personnel to their defense, with the cornerstones being linebacker Cory Littleton and defensive tackle Maliek Collins. Littleton received a three-year contract worth up to $36 million as the Raiders big-ticket item in free agency. Collins cost $6 million for one season but was called the key to the defense by both coach Jon Gruden and defensive coordinator Paul Guenther.
And while there are extenuating circumstances in that there was no offseason for a head start on getting with the program, Littleton and Collins through three games have yet to deliver the goods.
Littleton has rarely left the field but unofficially has nine tackles and six assists in three games with one tackle for loss. He arrived with the reputation of being one of the best pass- defending linebackers in the NFL and that hasn’t shown itself either. Collins, who as a threetechnique tackle was brought in to split double teams and apply pressure, has just two tackles.
The Raiders are giving up a whopping 6.4 yards per play and are faced with their two biggest challenges as a defense in back-to-back weeks, facing Buffalo on Sunday at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium and then the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs the following week
end at Arrowhead Stadium. Neither the Bills nor the Chiefs care much that Littleton and Collins are part of a defense that had just 12 training camp practices and that they’re still to a certain extent learning their responsibilities on the fly.
“We’re just another team that has to go through it,” Guenther said. “We have more (new players) than normal. We’ve got to get those guys caught up to speed.”
Littleton (6-foot-2, 245 pounds) comes from a 3- 4 defense with the Los Angeles Rams to a 4-3 alignment with the Raiders, although much of the time he’s one of two linebackers on the field when the Raiders go with five defensive backs. In a video interview Wednesday, Littleton conceded some rough spots but didn’t seem overly concerned.
“It’s just progression with time, you know?” Littleton said.
Guenther called Littleton’s first three games “hot and cold” and with the added challenge of having his responsibilities change each week based on the opponent while at the same time being in the early stages of a new defense.
“Something in our system may present something different for him to do based on the opponent,” Guenther said.
Littleton, who according to the website Sportradar had five missed tackles all last season but has seven in three games with the Raiders, said he’s a willing listener.
“The only thing I can do is what is coached to me,” Littleton said. “So far it hasn’t been that great, but hey, that’s football. There are upswings and downswings. Hopefully I can get back on track and be the player I want to be.”
The situation is less complex for Collins, whose job is to beat the man in front of him with quickness and power, thereby creating a ripple effect along the front seven. Is Collins playing with the added weight of responsibility heaped upon him by his head coach and coordinator?
Both Gruden and Guenther sought out Collins this week to figure out what was up. Neither believes the problem is lack of effort.
“I think Maliek’s pressing a little bit too much,” Guenther said. “What I’m trying to get Maliek to do is take what he’s shown us on the practice field and carry it over to Sunday. One-on- one rushing in practice, the guy really stands out. He’s got to go out there, do his job, let things come to him when they present themselves. He’s got to play at a high level for us to be successful.”
THE KWIATKOSKI FACTOR >> Middle linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski, recovering from a pectoral injury in the opener, was limited in practice for the second straight day and appears on track to return to the starting lineup.
Although Kwiatkoski, like Collins and Littleton, is new to the defense after signing as a free agent from the Chicago Bears, his grasp of the system was immediate, according to Guenther.
“It’s almost like he’s been in our system three or four years. He’s a vocal leader. He sees a lot on the field, as far as how we’re set up, getting in and out of calls. He’s a very stout run defender. He’s good in the pass game. So he’ll be a big part of our defense if he’s able to go this week. I look forward to getting him back.”
THE PICKLESS WONDER
>> Raiders teammates and coaches love the way Nevin Lawson will get into an opponent and compete. But being a ball hawk is not part of his game.
In his seventh season with 76 games and 59 starts for the Detroit Lions and the Raiders, Lawson is still awaiting his first interception. His streak of 3,321 snaps without an interception is the longest since 2004.
Asked what he does to deal with that reality, Lawson said, “Nothing, really. Just being ready for the next game. Hopefully when the opportunity comes I’ll capitalize on it.”
Although limited in practice with an ankle injury, Lawson is expected to start at corner in place of Damon Arnette, who posted what looked like a post-surgical photo on his Instagram account and is expected to be placed on injured reserve before the Buffalo game. According to an NFL Network report, Arnette is expected to be out six to eight weeks. INJURY UPDATE >> Looks like right tackle Trent Brown will miss his third game — meaning the Raiders wasted a roster spot for three weeks hoping he’d return from a calf injury. Brown didn’t practice again.
Others who didn’t practice were Arnette, receivers Bryan Edwards, Henry Ruggs III and Rico Gafford and defensive tackle Daniel Ross.