Raiders’ Loss Highlights Coaching Stagnation, Rookie Promise, and a Breakout in the Trenches
Another week, another tough loss for the Las Vegas Raiders. The scoreboard didn’t offer much to celebrate, but if you looked past the final numbers, there were a few signs of life-particularly from the team’s youngest contributors. But before we get to the silver linings, let’s address the elephant on the sideline.
The Defensive Philosophy Is Stuck in the Past
At this point, it’s not an overreaction to say the Raiders’ defensive approach is outdated-it’s just the truth. Pete Carroll, who’s long been revered for his defensive mind, continues to lean on concepts that once defined his success but no longer match the rhythm of today’s NFL.
The Cover 3 scheme that helped build the Legion of Boom was a smart counterpunch in an era when quarterbacks were routinely flirting with 5,000-yard seasons. But that era is over.
The league has shifted toward more efficient, timing-based offenses rooted in West Coast principles. It’s no longer about sheer volume-it’s about precision, matchups, and exploiting space.
Yet Carroll hasn’t adapted. His continued preference for bigger, more traditional linebackers and safeties is increasingly out of sync with the modern game.
Today’s tight ends and slot receivers are bigger, faster, and more integral to offensive game plans than ever before. If your defense can’t match up with those hybrid threats, you’re going to get exposed-and that’s exactly what’s happening in Vegas.
This resistance to evolve is capping what should be a promising defense. Patrick Graham’s unit had shown encouraging growth in recent seasons, but now it feels like it’s hit a wall. The scheme and personnel choices simply don’t reflect the way offenses operate in 2025.
The Rookies Are Starting to Shine
If there’s a reason for optimism in Las Vegas, it’s the youth movement. The Raiders’ rookie class is starting to make its presence felt, and while the wins haven’t followed yet, the foundation is beginning to take shape.
Let’s start with wide receiver Jack Bech. After weeks of being on the periphery, he finally saw meaningful targets-and made the most of them.
There’s real upside here. With a full offseason and some stability at quarterback, Bech could become a key piece in the passing game.
On the defensive side, cornerback Darien Porter continues to show growth, even if it’s come under less-than-ideal circumstances. Early in the game, he struggled in coverage against Courtland Sutton and was benched in favor of Kyu Blu Kelly. But when Kelly went down with a serious injury, Porter got another shot-and this time, he responded.
He settled in, competed, and made one of the game’s biggest defensive plays with a crucial pass breakup on Sutton. That’s the kind of resilience you want to see from a young corner.
Letting rookies play through mistakes isn’t always pretty, but it’s how you develop long-term contributors. Porter showed he’s learning on the fly, and that’s a good sign.
Caleb Rogers: The Lone Bright Spot on the Offensive Line
If there was one performance that stood out above the rest, it came from rookie offensive lineman Caleb Rogers. Finally given the chance to play without constantly looking over his shoulder, Rogers delivered his best game yet-and looked like the Raiders’ most reliable lineman in the process.
He’s still refining his technique, but his poise under pressure is hard to miss. Rogers plays with a calm that belies his experience, and when he does get beat, his athleticism gives him a chance to recover-something the rest of the line has struggled with all season.
That kind of performance doesn’t just stand out-it gives the coaching staff something to build around. Pair Rogers with Jackson Powers-Johnson at center and Kolton Miller on the left side, and suddenly you’ve got the makings of a solid offensive line core.
And if the staff is paying attention, it might be time to give rookie Charles Grant a shot at tackle. At this point, continuing to roll with Stone Forsythe feels like choosing pain. Grant represents the clearest path to ending the weekly breakdowns in pass protection.
Final Thoughts
The Raiders may not be stacking wins, but they’re starting to stack building blocks. The coaching staff has some tough questions to answer-especially on defense-but the talent is there.
The rookies are showing they belong. Now it’s on the organization to create an environment where they can grow, develop, and eventually lead this team out of its current funk.
The losses sting. But if you’re looking closely, you can see the beginning of something real.