Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby compares Christian Wilkins to 2021 teammate
The Las Vegas Raiders have not had the defense they have needed to make the playoffs in the last 20 years. It takes both sides of the ball, and rarely do teams make the postseason when they are very bad on one side of the ball and average or below average on the other side. […]
The Las Vegas Raiders have not had the defense they have needed to make the playoffs in the last 20 years. It takes both sides of the ball, and rarely do teams make the postseason when they are very bad on one side of the ball and average or below average on the other side. That has been the story of the Raiders since their last playoff win, two decades ago.
It's always one or the other for the Raiders, and in the last 10 years or so, it has mainly been the offense that performs better. Last year was the same exact story, only the script of the story was flipped. The offense was horrid and the defense was one of the best in the league.
Of course, a lot of that can be attributed to having the best defensive player in the league in Maxx Crosby, but also the switch that then-interim head coach Antonio Pierce flipped as well.
The defense didn't have many big names on it other than Crosby. A lot of it was guys just working their tails off and bringing that blue-collar mentality to work every day.
In 2024 that same mentality will be in place, but also they are adding one of the best defensive tackles in the league in Christian Wilkins. The defense is only going to get better, especially with a guy like Wilkins in place, who is very similar to Crosby.
In fact, Crosby hasn't had a teammate like Wilkins since 2021.
"Yeah, we're flying around you. When you talk about constantly improving and having competition, those are the types of guys you want around," Crosby said at the mandatory minicamp. "He works his ass off, it's the guy that works. I feel like I haven't had a guy like that since Yannick [Ngakoue]. I feel like Yannick was constantly trying to compete with me and go at it.
"We were competing at everything and Christian kind of reminds me of him in that way. He's a worker, so I love having guys that are like-minded around. So, it's been a hell of a start so far. We have a lot of work to do. But yeah, we're just getting off each other's energy; we love football and that's really all that matters."
Wilkins being on the Raiders will not only help the defense during games but the players during practices as well. If he is pushing guys like Crosby to be better, what do you think he is doing for guys who aren't on the same level as Crosby?
These two will get along just fine, and with Malcolm Koonce and Tyree Wilson being disruptors as well, the opposing team's quarterbacks and offensive line will have nightmares the night before.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby already has a plan for his and Christian Wilkins’ offseason
They are going to go at it.
