There weren’t many positive takeaways from the defense on Sunday for the Raiders. They recorded just one pressure on Philip Rivers and allowed the Colts to run for over 200 yards. They played so poorly that head coach Jon Gruden had no choice but to fire Paul Guenther after the game.
However, it wasn’t all bad for the Raiders on Sunday. They did get some great play (once again) from linebacker Nicholas Morrow. According to Pro Football Focus, he graded out as the team’s best defender (79.6) as he totaled five stops on 54 snaps. He also allowed only 18 receiving yards on seven targets, excelling in coverage.
On the season, Morrow is currently graded as the No. 26 off-the-ball linebacker in the NFL by PFF. While that might not seem great, it’s a significant improvement over what the teams have had over the last decade. Together, he and Nick Kwiatkoski have been an effective pairing.
While free-agent prize Cory Littleton continues to be a disappointment, Morrow’s play over the last month has been incredibly encouraging. Morrow is set to hit free agency this offseason, but you can bet the Raiders will make him a priority given how much trouble that position has given them in the past.
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