The last time I was optimistic about this football team, it crushed my soul. So I’ve had to be positive, but also have in the back of my mind that the worst can happen. I was happy with Antonio Pierce, but was not going to run victory laps. However, with this new regime in place, it feels like a home run.

The Raiders hired John Spytek to be the Manager and Pete Carroll as the new head coach. They had to hit a home run and I believe that they did. In addition, they are coming to terms on a new deal with defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. He originally was taking interviews and seeking employment elsewhere, but returns to the franchise to keep building on what he started. 

Graham Continues What He Built

All I ever wanted to see was the Raiders field a top 15 defense. For years, the Raiders couldn’t stop a nosebleed even if they tried. Under Graham the last two seasons, the Raiders defense has been a legitimate defense and has more often than not kept the team in games.

During the 2023 season, the Raiders finished with the ninth ranked defense. They had five players finish with extremely high grades. Maxx Crosby had over 14 sacks. Malcolm Koonce was a wrecking ball. Moehrig took the next steps in his development and Jack Jones was one heck of a snag. The Spillane Train aka Robert Spillane was a phenomenal anchor in the middle of the defense. In 2024, they took a slight step back, but they finished with the 15th ranked defense. Injuries derailed this team, but they were a unit that could play.

When you watched the Raiders defense they did things they used to never do. They managed to keep the Raiders in games on numerous occasions and if the defense was poor, the Raiders may have lost a few more games and they only won four. This unit played well, played physical, and you saw growth out of its players. They played together and for one another and it truly was a unit that you could depend on. As someone who loves defenses, this was a delight to see.

The defense doesn’t have a big crop of stars, but it is led by Maxx Crosby. Crosby has to be thankful that Graham remains in the fold, as there won’t be turnover with this defense.

This Move Pleases Crosby

It is and will always be about its star player. The biggest question around the Raiders was around its star pass rusher. He was questioning the future of the organization, given the amount of turnover that’s happened since 2021.

The moves got the approval of Maxx Crosby, who had questions about his future with the franchise. He is absolutely thrilled that the Raiders brought in Pete Carroll.

“It’s exciting,” Crosby told Jim Gray on Sirius XM Radio. “The No. 1 thing you look at is just energy. We talked about it a few times. Competition as well. As a competitor, as somebody who brings energy all the time and lives off that and expects it from others, I love somebody with that type of mentality.”

Crosby added: “He’s a winner. He’s done it his whole career. And it’s just exciting to see what’s going to come soon.”

Carroll has already told Crosby he isn’t wasting any time and that this team is going to get rolling.

That is music to Crosby’s ears as well as the rest of Raider Nation.