Henderson, Nev. – The Las Vegas Raiders will have their decisive Thursday night home game against the Los Angeles Chargers without making four defensive starts, less than the start of new interim defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli.
Riders’ finalists Klein Farrell (shoulder), linebacker Nicholas Morrow (excitement), Cornback’s Damon Arnett (excitement) and safety Jonathan Abrams (excitement) will all sit down, Riders coach John Gruden announced on Wednesday.
With Russian receiver Henry Rugs on the reserve / COVID-19 list, four of the Raiders’ five first-round picks in the last two years will not be available for Las Vegas (7-6) as he tries to keep his flag playoff hopes alive against the Chargers (4-). 9). The fifth first-rounder, running back Josh Jacobs, deals with an injured right ankle.
“We’ve just set foot in the boys,” Gruden said. “Carl Naseeb will be in the lineup again. [at defensive end]. I’m sure he will play well. We are anxious to see [safety] Dalin Levitt game. [Defensive back] Daryl Worley’s back; It’s a quick study.
“So, that’s the next mindset. I know you’ve heard a lot from me and the coaches in this league, but it’s true.”
Gruden said the recently signed defensive end opportunity McKinley will not be promoted to the Chargers game. Gruden hopes to activate it for the Raiders game against the Miami Dolphins on December 26th.
Marinelli, who replaces sacked Paul Guenther, said Tuesday he wants to see “discipline” from his defense.
“Knowing exactly what we’re doing,” Marinelli said. “… I want to see great energy and great confrontation. And to face the gang. The guys are rocking the ball, and I think when you see it, they enjoy it. And I want to see that part of it – That we really enjoy the game. And you can’t enjoy it, just one or two people; it will be team defense.
“And it’s about the defense team – fast fast and physical. Fast, fast and physical. That’s what I’m preaching, and we’ll see.”
In Sunday’s Indianapolis Colts-2 44-4 loss, the Raiders defense was the only QB hit – no sack – dealing with a turf toe on the Philip Rivers.
Chargers rookie quarterback Justin Herbert’s passing against and keeping him in his pocket is paramount for the riders. Herbert passed for 326 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 24 yards against the Raiders in a 31-26 win over Las Vegas in Inglewood, California on November 8, 8.
“Everyone responds well to the road,” Gruden said of Marinelli, who was promoted from defensive line coach. “They have the first one. It’s not like a new guy comes here. He gets the right response, gets a lot of respect. I think people trust him. He’ll do a good job. It’s an order of magnitude for them. There will be, naturally, in our defense, but I know we are waiting for the challenge.We have got a lot of respect for the Chargers.
“We won’t go into the tank. We’ll stay mentally strong here, and we’ll stay better and better and better and do the best we can at all times.”
Marinelli, 71, cleared up questions about his age and if he wanted to get a job as a defensive coordinator in Las Vegas this season.
He said, “I’m working right now.” “I’m coaching, people bring this age forward. … I step them in my shoes and see my interest, right? And I love it, so I never see it back there. I just go one right now. Do a good job, and our job is to help these men. That’s my job. That’s what we link in and go to. “
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