The Raiders defense struggled to remain consistent throughout the 2016 season. Expectations were high after big offseason acquisitions in the secondary with Reggie Nelson and Sean Smith, re-signing David Amerson and adding outside linebacker Bruce Irvin, but Oakland struggled to meet expectations throughout its 12-5 season.
While offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave was dismissed after creating one of the league’s best attacks, Raiders defensive coordinator Ken Norton, Jr. will remain in his position after an up-and-down year, which leads some to question whether this is the right move for a unit trying to build a championship-caliber defense.
Bay Area News Group’s Courtney Cronin and Jimmy Durkin discuss where the Raiders can remedy their defensive mistakes, how Oakland can establish a more consistent pass rush in 2017, limit explosive plays and where general manager Reggie McKenzie will look to draft 24th overall in April.