The Raiders’ defense has gone from encouraging to alarming in a hurry, and Rob Leonard is taking the brunt of it.
After the early weeks of the season hinted at real progress, Las Vegas has unraveled on that side of the ball. Over the last five games, the Raiders have been torched for 35.2 points per game while going 1-4, and the problems are bigger than the scoreboard. The unit has looked unprepared on Sundays, has repeatedly made basic mistakes, and has shown no real sign of cleaning them up.
Week 8 against the New York Jets was the low point. Leonard earned an “F” for the performance, his first true failing grade of the season, and it’s hard to argue with it after what happened in that game.
New York put up 33 points and 439 yards, and the Jets scored on their first six drives for the first time since 2008. That kind of start left Las Vegas buried early, even if the second half turned into a strange one when New York inexplicably moved away from the run, which had been working.
The Jets still did plenty of damage on the ground, rolling up 166 rushing yards and a touchdown at 6.1 yards per carry. Geno Smith also had his way through the air, throwing for 290 yards and two touchdowns. The Raiders managed only 11 pressures and two sacks, and Smith’s interception came on the final play in desperation.
There was at least a small late correction from Leonard’s group. In the final quarter and a half, the Raiders allowed just one field goal and forced two three-and-outs, then finished with the takeaway at the end.
That deserves credit. But it doesn’t erase the bigger picture.
This was a Jets offense averaging 19.6 points per game before facing Las Vegas. It had not scored more than 25 in any game, and its previous high for total yards was 377.
Against the Raiders, it posted season-best marks in both points and yardage, plus a season high on the ground. That’s the part that makes the outing so hard to defend.
Leonard’s situation was never a clean one to begin with. He wasn’t a priority hire, and he wasn’t brought in by Kubiak from Seattle.
He was the best defensive coach left from the previous staff when Kubiak was filling out his team late in the process. There was familiarity through the Mike Macdonald connection, and Leonard has worked with respected defensive minds, but this wasn’t a case of Kubiak targeting him as a must-have.
Now the results are putting Leonard on the spot. The Raiders invested heavily in the defense during the offseason, yet the unit is clearly the weak link and moving in the wrong direction. If that doesn’t change, the coaching staff on that side of the ball is going to have to answer for it.
If Leonard can’t get more out of this group, the Raiders would have every reason to look elsewhere. The offense is good enough that they can’t afford to waste it, and the “lack of talent” excuse only goes so far.
There will be options available next offseason, including Jim Shwartz and Sean McDermott. Todd Bowles, Aaron Glenn or Dan Quinn could also be in play if they become available, and there may be a young coach on the rise as well.
For now, though, the eight-game sample is becoming the story. If this is what defines Rob Leonard’s first year, it’s going to be difficult for Las Vegas to justify keeping him around. The Raiders are moving ahead of schedule in their rebuild, and Leonard can’t be the one holding them back.
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