Oakland Raiders: 5 burning questions in 2018

3. Will the defense finally put it together?

Khalil Mack, Bruce Irvin, Karl Joseph…what could go wrong? Well, everything actually. Atrocious would be the most accurate word for describing the Raiders defense in the last couple of season. To be that bad, in spite of having a Defensive Player of the Year winner in Khalil Mack, is impressive in it’s own right. Some big names have come to the bay in recent years including Sean Smith and Bruce Irvin, but the unit still struggled.

Expectations are higher for 2018 with a new defensive coordinator in town. Jon Gruden lured former Bengals coach Paul Guenther out of Cincinnati, and has given him some more pieces to work with. Cutting some dead weight (Smith and David Amerson) and adding some promising players has the new look defense looking much better.

The Raiders drafted Gareon Conley and Obi Melifonwu last season, but both were injured for the majority of the season. Fans and coaches will be getting their first real looks at that tandem this year. More recently, the team brought in multiple defensive draft picks and several free agents. Guys like Tahir Whitehead, Rashaan Melvin, Arden Key, and Maurice Hurst will all help improve, but will it be enough?

A new system and many new faces may take a while to mesh together, but really the defense cannot be worse than it was in the last few years. The offense will (hopefully) be back to its high-octane ways, but if the defense has as many holes as Swiss cheese, it will all be for nothing. A successful season will hinge on the defense being better. Is it up to snuff?