Pete Carroll can’t contain his excitement while letting everyone know that one player is going to upset a lot of people
Defense has not been an issue for the Las Vegas Raiders the last few years. In the past, when Jon Gruden was the head coach and even others, the Raiders had some of the worst defenses they have ever had.That was always a big reason why the team never was good enough to make the […]
Defense has not been an issue for the Las Vegas Raiders the last few years. In the past, when Jon Gruden was the head coach and even others, the Raiders had some of the worst defenses they have ever had.
That was always a big reason why the team never was good enough to make the playoffs. This team won’t have that issue with that side of the ball — most Pete Carroll coached teams are good on defense. This team surely won’t have an issue on that side of the ball.
Coming into the season, there are several position groups on that side of the ball that were a bit underwhelming. Of course, with the Christian Wilkins release, you can kind of add the defensive tackle position to that list, but there are some guys like Jonah Laulu, who have massively stepped up.
The cornerback spot was a position of emphasis, as it’s a ton of going guys, and not a real No. 1 CB who has played a full season. Jakorian Bennett will be that guy for the Raiders, but we haven’t seen him do it yet. The guys behind him, for the most part, are all young, but super talented.
Then there is the linebacker spot, which was mixed up with the additions of Germaine Pratt, Jalon Smith, Elandon Roberts, and of course, Devin White. The initial thoughts about this room was that, it would be great if it were 2020, when all of these players were in their prime. Fans got real excited about the White signing, because he’s a former Super Bowl champion.
But, the last few years he hasn’t been great. He’s opened up about some of his mental health struggles he’s dealt with, some injuries that have hit him, and other things along the way. White feels great. He feels like his old self, and Pete Carroll can’t help but notice it, too.
Pete Carroll is happy to have the old Devin White back
“Yeah, this is a good group for us now. We have totally changed this position group from what you’ve seen in the past, and these guys all bring background and experience and toughness and a hard-nosed attitude physicality to them, it’s pretty exciting,” Pete Carroll said at training camp.
“And we’re seeing that also out of Devin [White]; that was a great play made today now. But had probably two or three of the best plays on practice yesterday as well. He’s back, he was on top of the world a few years ago, and then things kind of just didn’t work out one reason or another. And he’s back in action now. And he came up to me and said, ‘I’m all in now.’ And he was dead serious in how he said it. And you can see it.“
Pete Carroll saying “He’s back,” about Devin White is something that should make fans extremely excited, because if he’s his old self, he’s one hell of a player. As John Spytek mentioned when they signed White — Devin White had one of the best playoff runs he thinks he’s ever seen, he and Von Miller with the Denver Broncos.
If the Raiders are getting that version of White back, who was one of the best linebackers in the league, then the defense is going to be just fine. If they are getting the version we have seen the last few years, one that has struggled to even get on the field, then the Raiders defense is going to have some issues, instead of causing issues.
But, Carroll seems to think that Las Vegas is getting the best version of White.
