Defensive coordinator Rob Leonard said his confidence has not wavered despite the Raiders defense allowing at least 30 points in six straight games, a modern NFL record. With a public vote of confidence from coach Klint Kubiak, who declared Monday the coaching staff will not change this season, Leonard is focused on finding solutions before Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks at Allegiant Stadium.
Leonard acknowledged the weight of the offense ranking eighth in scoring at 26.4 points per game while his unit ranks last in scoring defense at 29.8 points allowed. "There's a weight that you feel that you carry, especially when the offense is scoring, that we need to do our part," Leonard said. "That doesn't feel great for me personally, and I know collectively as a defense."
The Raiders have allowed an NFL-worst 1,361 rushing yards at 5 yards per carry, tied for the league's worst mark. Opposing quarterbacks have thrown for 2,238 yards with a league-high 20 touchdowns and a 103.6 passer rating, the fourth-best in the NFL. Leonard pointed to fatigue as a factor disrupting consistency, saying, "When you're on the field a long time, mistakes tend to happen more often."
Defensive end Maxx Crosby echoed the need for accountability. "We've had really good spurts of football. We've also had some really low moments and recently we haven't played good football," Crosby said. "There's no more talking. I can't sit here and say, 'We're going to go out there and do this.' We have to go do it."
Leonard said Kubiak's endorsement means a lot. "Not too many people in this profession do things like that," he said. Leonard added he wants his players to play fast and keep their confidence extremely high, noting the defense has shown flashes of "really, really good football" in stretches this season.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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