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Raiders DB Coach Woodson Aims to Correct Secondary Issues
The Oakland Raiders need help and they need it fast. According to stats from NFL.com the Raiders Defense ranked 26th when it came to passing yards allowed per game in 2016. At times during the 2016 season the secondary more closely resembled Swiss cheese than an actual NFL defense. Time and again Raiders QB Derek Carr and the offense had to come from behind and win the game in the 4th quarter. While this made for great ratings it is not a recipe for sustained success in the NFL. Where will the help come from? General Manager Reggie McKenzie spent his first two 2017 draft picks in Gareon Conley and Obi Melifonwu to help patch up the back end of the defense; however you can’t expect a rookie to be your savior. The Raiders savior is a former Raider defensive back himself, Hall of Famer Rod Woodson.
Earlier this offseason Raiders Head Coach Jack Del Rio promoted Woodson from assistant DBs coach to Cornerbacks Coach after the firing of former DBs coach Marcus Roberson. Woodson has 17 seasons of NFL experience as a player and 2017 will mark his fourth year as a coach. While Defensive Coordinator Ken Norton Jr. will deservedly be on the hot seat in 2017, equally important will be the performance of Coach Woodson. The Oakland Raiders ultimate goal is to end the season hoisting the Lombardi trophy, in order to do that they have to go through the New England Patriots in the AFC. For this to happen the Raiders need a markedly improved secondary and that is the responsibility of Coach Woodson. How does he shore up the Raiders back end? Here are a few expectations he faces.
Solve Communication Problems
It’s one thing to lose to an opponent because they simply made an amazing play over great coverage; it’s another thing entirely to lose by letting your opponent run down the field unhampered to the end zone because of a lack of communication. More than once in the 2016 season opposing wide receivers ran down the field wide open due to communication issues. That is unacceptable. Woodson’s first expectation is to put his players in position to succeed.
Integrate Young Guns with Wise Veterans
When you look at the Raiders secondary it ranges in age from 21 to 33 years of age. It will be Woodson’s responsibility to decipher how to blend the old with the new so to speak. Veteran leadership for Conley, Melifonwu and second year safety Karl Joseph is priceless. At the same time, though, Woodson needs to trust the rookies enough to let them gain experience through reps.
Limit Big Plays
According to teamrankings.com, the Raiders tied for dead last in the NFL in yards per play defense at a whopping 6 yards per play allowed. This won’t fall squarely on Woodson’s shoulders but his secondary cannot give up big passing plays that can swing momentum. Limiting big plays will help this defense improve tremendously in 2017.
Solidify the Back End to Cement Contender Status
On paper there aren’t many teams in the NFL with more talent right now than the Oakland Raiders. Nevertheless for Oakland to have any hope of competing with the Patriots and other contenders they must improve defensively. It would be unfair to expect Woodson to create the best secondary in the league, but somewhere in the top half will be crucial to the team’s success. The secondary doesn’t have to be spectacular; it just needs to be solid. Ultimately, Woodson’s success and experience as a Hall of Fame player will help the Raiders secondary 2017.
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