Rob Leonard

Not a little better.

And Rob Leonard, the first-year coordinator there on the defensive side of the ball, is going to be under the microscope until it is, folks.

I mean, that's just the fact of the matter.

So we'll see... what this Raiders defense can do but that running game the offensive line is going to be a work in progress right that's not going to get fixed in one week certain things can get fixed in one week but not that one after the break by the way we're going to get to the Fernando Mendoza question we talked about it earlier in the week where I've kind of changed my mind and said that the timetable for Fernando Mendoza needs to get earlier we heard earlier in the week Clint Kubiak again Verifying that Kirk Cousins is a starting quarterback tomorrow in New Jersey against the New York Jets.

So you look at that, and by the way, that tied a franchise record for points allowed over that time frame.

So this is historic, right? So the defense, and listen, I want to say this up front.

Rob Leonard, I'm going to talk about him.

He's a first-year coordinator.

And for all the talent on offensive line, for some reason, And they've just been really getting after Geno.

And so I think from a Raiders standpoint, this is the game where you feel like Rob Leonard has really dialed in.

Like, hey, how do we get home with four? This is a game where you're like Max Crosby, Malcolm Koontz, Quitty.

Like, let's make them feel the pressure and make Geno go through a crowded zone, mainly zone progression to find his guys.

Because as we saw when Geno Smith was quarterback of the Raiders, if you get him in predictable passing situations is when you can really, especially with the way the offensive line has given up sacks, if you can put him in pressure, he will throw the ball in the harm's way.

And so that to me is the game plan of shutting down the run early.

Sometimes Rob Leonard will get creative, but I think you should do it kind of not in base, but with just very vanilla technique being very fundamentally sound and keep kind of containing this run game.

And then you get Gino kind of in just predictable second along third and long opportunities.

That was something Clint Kubiak was asked about today.

I know Robbie Leonard was asked yesterday.

That's got to be a point of emphasis for them.

When we talked about the bite size areas of detail that you need to clean up, that's obviously one of them.

Brought to you by Meineke, doing car care right.

We've been talking about keys to victory.

Well, Robbie Leonard's talking about fundamentals on defense.

That's going to be a key to victory, right? What will it take for the Raiders to get a win on Sunday? Your biggest key to success, how do they stop the bleeding? Who will have the biggest impact? I highlighted the offensive line earlier in the show in the first hour.

I'm just going to take it for what it's worth that there was something.

I know he walked across the indoor facility when, when the media was getting ready for all the, you know, all the, like the, the, the podium time with Andrew Janoko and Robbie Leonard.

So there's that.

So there could have been, you know, something going on.

And the Raiders' biggest weakness right now is stopping the run.

Robbie Leonard's got to get those big fellas up front to understand how to shed the block and make the tackle.

Make the tackle and don't be chasing.

Don't make the tackle six, seven, eight yards down the field.

The Jets game has now become a must win with the Seahawks and 49ers on the horizon.

And Rob Leonard, you are on a hot seat, my friend.

There's enough talent to work with.

So you need to get your head in the game ASAP or you'll be toast at the bye week.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I think Paul said Rob Leonard is close to being on the hot seat.

Oh, bro, if we get punked by the freaking Jets, if Gino Smith picks us apart, put that motherfucker firmly on the hot seat.

They need to get more production.

They got Rob Leonard as the defensive coordinator.

He needs to figure out how they can get some stops in the second half of games so not every game turns into a shootout.

Not every game has to go down to overtime.

And for them to be real legit Super Bowl contenders, they need to start playing their best football now.

You're coming out of a bye, you're fresh.

What can we do to get this defensive back end to respond? And what kind of position can Rob Leonard put them in to have success? Because if they keep playing like this, it doesn't matter how many points you score on offense.

If the defense keeps giving up points and keeps giving up, in critical points and fourth down in overtime.

Let those guys mature as well and see where this team is really at next year with much better coaching at the helm with Clint Kubiak.

Even Rob Leonard, too.

We'll see if he comes back.

I know some of you guys are asking for him to be booted after a year.