Talk isn’t cheap for Raiders defense

Communication is crucial for Patrick Graham’s unit in Las Vegas

Talk isn’t cheap for Patrick Graham. When it comes to his Las Vegas Raiders defense, it’s vital.

The Silver & Black’s defensive coordinator wants his unit talking frequently especially considering defensive-minded Pete Carroll is now the head coach and general manager John Spytek infused the roster with players to suit the new head honcho’s wants and needs.

And it was no surprise to hear Graham drop communication (and variations of the word) frequently during his media availability this past Sunday after the Raiders’ training camp session.

By The Numbers
Raiders Defense

• 2024: Points allowed 434 (25th out of 32 teams); Yards allowed 5,663 (15th); Takeaways 13 (29th); Passing Touchdowns allowed 29 (26th); Rushing Touchdowns allowed 14 (15th); Third Down Conversion Rate 39.8 percent (17th); Fourth Down Conversion Rate 76.9 percent (31st); Red Zone Percentage 60.3 percent (21st)
• 2024 Leaders: Tackles, Robert Spillane (158 total); Tackles for loss, Maxx Crosby 17; Sacks, Maxx Crosby (7.5); Interceptions, Jack Jones (3); Pass deflections, Jack Jones (16); Forced fumbles, Isaiah Pola-Mao (2); Fumble recoveries, Tre’Von Moehrig (2)

Not only did the defensive boss expand on why talking is crucial, Graham said communication is a must in practices and during the game.

“I’m sure Coach (Pete Carroll) talked about we’re in a relationship-based business, and so with those relationships that we build off the field, on the field, it makes it easier to communicate. Just straight, right between the eyes, communication,” Graham said. “Whether something’s right or wrong, between the players to players, coaches to players, the players to coaches, and then on the field order to play defense, there’s a lot of grass throughout the defender.

“If we can communicate effectively, be a noisy defense and kind of cut down the variables by seeing a cut split, seeing where the quarterback is under a under or in guns, and cut down the variables that puts it back in our favor a little bit, because they have a play called, and we’re reacting to the play.”

Effective communication is a lost art when it comes to the Silver & Black. Far too often, the team doesn’t look like a cohesive group where down the line, all 11 defenders know what they’re doing and are willing to talk and get each other in proper spots.

Carroll’s arrival is slated to alleviate this. With a strong history of coaching along with being an exemplary teacher — on the field and in the classroom — the Raiders head coach is renowned for relating to his players and building relationships at the granular level. Graham is witness to it during the offseason and currently as Las Vegas is knee-deep in training camp.

And general manager John Spytek built a roster to help both Carroll and Graham get the Raiders defense trending in the right direction. Take the safety position, for example.

Las Vegas extended promising young undrafted free agent Isaiah Pola-Mao (two-year, $7.45 million deal) to keep the USC product in the fold and signed free agent Jeremy Chinn (two-year, $16.258 million contract) to bolster the Raiders secondary. The duo gives the Silver & Black serious height with Pola-Mao listed at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds and Chinn at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds.

And to no surprise, when Graham was asked what Chinn brings to the table, the “C” word was said twice.

“He’s big, he’s fast, he’s physical, ball skills. It’s wonderful having him as a weapon out there, and then on top of that, the communication and him being able to communicate what he’s seeing out there,” the Raiders defensive coordinator said about the newest safety. “Not keeping it a secret, helping his fellow players out there. That’s the more we could be a noisy defense pre snap and be a physical defense post snap, we’re trending in the right way.”

Ditto for Pola-Mao.

“Just him continue to mature as a leader. More and more confident. The success he’s had is building his confidence. And as a communicator, he’s going to be a main part of that in the middle of the defense, one of the main people communicating,” Graham said when asked what he wants to see out of the 26-year-old safety. “The position calls for it, but he has to take it to another level there with the communication, and that’s what I’m looking forward to the most.”

Graham’s quest to have his defense nosy and boisterous will be an interesting watch. If the defenders can rely on one another and get in sync, Las Vegas has a good opportunity to finally become a team that exemplifies Carroll’s “see ball, get ball” approach.

Takeaways — forcing turnovers — isn’t a big Raiders trait. You can go back 25 seasons and see the Silver & Black have been in the Top 5 in that category exactly once: 2016, when the team racked up 30 takeaways to finish second overall. In 2011 the team forced 26 turnovers (good for 13th) and in 2015 the Raiders generated 25 takeaways (12th). Since then, it’s been paltry.

The 2024 Raiders netted 13 takeaways (29th). In fact, the highest amount of forced turnovers Graham’s defenses in Las Vegas has produced is 22 in 2023 (19th). It was twin paltry unlucky 13s in 2022 and 2024.

Thus, more communicating is indeed vital.

And it’s not just relegated to the Raiders’ defense. While offensive guard Alex Cappa was speaking about the offensive line rotation, his thoughts on talking being important for the next man up mantra hits nail on head.

“Yeah, it’s just communication. So if you got a different guy in there, you got to make sure you’re talking,” Cappa said when asked about the rotations the big uglies up front are engaging in during training camp. “Somebody you maybe haven’t gotten as many reps yet. It’s just talking, making sure you’re on the same page. And then for me, because I’m new, that’s really everybody, even DJ (Glaze), who I’ve been working with all the time, we still got to talk and make sure we’re on the same page for everything. So that really is the key when you have moving parts.”