Raiders put faith in Bradley to fix leaky defense
Many have tried and failed, but it’s up to Gus Bradley to solve the long-standing defensive issues of the Raiders.
Bradley was hired by coach Jon Gruden on Tuesday as the new defensive coordinator, the Raiders announced.
The defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers for the last four years, Bradley succeeds interim coordinator Rod Marinelli, who took over when Paul Guenther was fired with three games remaining in the 2020 season.
“I know things have moved pretty fast since the end of the season,” Bradley told reporters in a video conference. “Had some really great visits with many people from the Raider organization, including coach Gruden and many of the staff. I’m excited about the future and what it brings.”
Guenther was Gruden’s hand-picked choice as defensive coordinator when he returned to coaching in 2018. The Raiders were at the bottom of NFL defensive rankings all season, with Gruden firing Guenther after a 44-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts when both teams were playoff contenders.
Bradley and former Seattle defensive coordinator Kris Richard were the only known candidates to be interviewed. It’s up to Bradley to upgrade a Raiders defense that has been poor for the better part of the last quarter century with only a few exceptions. Marinelli will remain on staff as a defensive line coach.
Bradley, 50, got his first NFL job on Gruden’s staff with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2006 as a quality control coach under defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. Bradley had served as the defensive coordinator at North Dakota State.
He moved up to linebackers coach but lost his job when Gruden and the staff were swept out a month after a 31-24 loss to the Raiders to close out the 2008 season.
On Kiffin’s recommendation, Bradley got an interview with first-year Seattle coach Jim Mora, who was impressed enough to hire him as defensive coordinator.
Although Bradley had no experience as an NFL coordinator, Mora hired him. When Mora was fired after one season, Bradley retained the position under Pete Carroll and assisted with revamping the defensive scheme in concept , a unit which became known as the “Legion of Boom.”
With the Seahawks from 2009-12, Bradley, under Carroll’s guidance, molded a defense that included young talent such as Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, K. J. Wright and Bobby Wagner. Seattle led the NFL in scoring defense (15.3 points per game) in 2012 and went from 7-9 to 11-5.
Bradley was then spent four seasons as the head coach with Jacksonville, going 14- 48, before being fired. He then joined Anthony Lynn as the Chargers defensive coordinator. He described his approach as rooted in the Seattle “Cover 3” scheme but with multiple in terms of looks.
There are myriad ways to statistically rank a defense, with two of the most basic points allowed and yards allowed.
The Raiders were 30th in points allowed in 2020 and haven’t been under No. 20 since 2006, when they were No. 18. They’ve pretty consistently ranked in the 20s in terms of yardage, with the outlier being a No. 11 ranking under John Marshall in 2010.
Defensive coordinators since the Raiders last won a playoff game in 2002 have been Chuck Bresnahan, Rob Ryan, Marshall, Jason Tarver, Ken Norton Jr., John Pagano (interim), Guenther and Marinelli (interim).
With the Chargers, Bradley’s defenses over the past four years ranked 23rd, 14th, eighth and third in terms of points allowed and 10th, sixth, ninth and 15th in terms of yardage.
Bradley has the following players under contract for 2021, ranked by salary cap number: linebacker Cory Littleton ($13.7 million), slot corner Lamarcus Joyner ($11.2 million), defensive end Carl Nassib ($9.5 million), defensive end Clelin Ferrell ($8.5 million), linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski ($7 million).
Other young players under their draftpick contracts who will likely be foundation pieces for 2021 include safety Johnathan Abram ($3.1 million), cornerback Damon Arnette ($3 million), cornerback Trayvon Mullen ($1.9 million) and defensive end Maxx Crosby ($1 million).
“To give you a fair assessment I’d really like to have a chance to watch the film because sometimes in a system they’re going to play differently,” Bradley said. “We’ll evaluate everybody, but I’m excited. I know there’s a hungry group of guys and they want to get better.”