Raiders defense prioritizes ball possession at season start
Rob Leonard, the Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive coordinator, told reporters on Oct. 1 that his unit will treat the football as its own and hunt for extra possessions, a mantra that has already produced a league‑high nine takeaways in the first three games.
The approach emphasizes pressure on the quarterback, finishing tackles and stripping the ball, a philosophy Leonard summed up with “Pressure the quarterback. Finish the tackle. Strip the football.” The Raiders have combined that aggression with discipline, ranking fifth‑fewest penalties and the fewest penalty yards in the NFL.
Through three wins, the Raiders lead the league in takeaways, sit tied for fourth with ten sacks, and rank 11th in total defense, allowing 316.7 yards per game while surrendering only 18 points per contest, the seventh‑fewest in the league.
Leonard, a first‑time NFL defensive coordinator, brings experience from stints with the Giants, the Miami Dolphins under Brian Flores, and Baltimore’s linebackers. He echoed head coach Klint Kubiak’s message, urging players to “just focus on doing things the right way.”
Players have embraced the directive. Linebacker Nakobe Dean said the group aims to “go every week and see how many takeaways we can get.” Defensive end Maxx Crosby added, “It starts with Robbie … we emphasize taking the ball away.” Cornerback Eric Stokes noted, “If the ball is in the air, it’s my ball. And if the running back’s got it, the first person hits him; the second person is punching.”
The strategy paid dividends in the recent win over the New Orleans Saints. The Raiders forced turnovers on the Saints’ final four possessions, erasing an 11‑point deficit to secure a 35‑27 victory. Those four takeaways exemplify Leonard’s “ball‑away” mindset.
With a turnover differential of plus‑five—the best in the league—the Raiders have reversed last season’s minus‑nine differential. They are already more than halfway to matching the 16 takeaways they recorded in 2025, with fourteen games remaining.
The defense’s next test comes as the Raiders host the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium, where Leonard hopes the aggression and discipline will continue to dictate games and keep the ball in Raiders’ hands.
