For years, the Raiders’ linebackers have been a punching bag for opponents — it’s as if the franchise completely ignored the position at times.
So Las Vegas signed two high-profile free agents at LB this season, and all seemed well. The campaign’s first three weeks, however, have been like old times as opponents take advantage of the second tier of the defense.
Middle linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski was injured early in the Raiders’ Week 1 win and has unfortunately not yet returned. Cory Littleton, the second free-agent LB, hasn’t fared well. As he’s attempted to lead the defense, Littleton has been the unit’s worst-graded defender.
At least he’s self-aware. When told that defensive coordinator Paul Guenther described his play as “hot and cold,” Littleton was frank about his lackluster play through three weeks.
“The only thing I can do is do what is coached to me and try to put on the best performance I can. So far, it hasn’t been that great,” Littleton told reporters on Thursday.
Besides his honesty about his performance and comment about the coaching staff, Littleton was optimistic. “That’s football. There’s upswings and there’s downswings,” he said. “Hopefully [I can] get back on track and be the player I want to be.”
Littleton is taking some heat for his play, and rightfully so. But he’s not the only one struggling on the Raiders defense. The unit has missed nearly 20 percent of its tackles, according to the Associated Press, which is the worst rate in the league.
Sure, Littleton has the most missed tackles on the team with seven. But LB Nicholas Morrow, who has started in Kwiatkoski’s place, has missed five.
Kwiatkoski returned to practice this week, and if he’s active against the Bills on Sunday, he’d be a huge help for Littleton and the defense. Kwiatkoski is more suited to stop the run, so he pairs well with Littleton, who specializes in coverage.
That was the idea when the Raiders signed the two. So while the plan hasn’t paid dividends just yet, as the defense ranks near the bottom of the league, Las Vegas hasn’t seen their two prized signings play together for an extended period.
The Raiders defense can use all the help it can get. And if Kwiatkoski’s return also helps Littleton specifically, that’s even better. Anything to help him be the player he wants to be, which is the player Las Vegas needs.
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