The Raiders have some problems on defense. They’re the first team since the merger in 1970 to allow more than 500 yards in the first two games of the season, according to Pro Football Talk.
Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. says it’s on him.
“I’m accountable for it,” Norton told the East Bay Times. “We’ve got to work harder, work better and we expect to come out of this.”
Head coach Jack Del Rio, himself a former defensive coordinator, took over the play-calling late in the Raiders’ 35-28 home loss to the Falcons Sunday. If it weren’t for Del Rio’s daring decision to go for two in New Orleans, the Raiders would be in an 0-2 hole.
The Raiders have faced two top-10 offenses so far this season. The Saints are eighth in the NFL with 397.5 yards per game and the Falcons are second with 451.
Perhaps playing at Tennessee Sunday will help. The Titans are 21st in offensive yardage and Marcus Mariota is 24th in the NFL with 6.88 yards per pass attempt.
Norton was the Seahawks’ linebackers coach from 2010 to 2014, so he’s had success in his coaching career. If he doesn’t get the Raiders’ defense fixed, however, he’ll probably be a linebackers coach again.
