The Raiders have fired defensive coordinator Paul Guenther. In his place, defensive line coach Rod Marinelli will serve as the team’s interim DC what’s left of the 2020 season. 
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The decision came on the heels of an ugly Sunday night loss to the Colts. The 44-27 loss saw the Raiders surrender 456 total yards, including 212 yards on the ground. With no real chance of reaching the postseason, the Raiders got a jump on their spring cleaning.
The Raiders did not register a single sack against Philip Rivers, emblematic of their front seven so far this year. They entered Sunday near the bottom of the league in sacks, and that’s where they remain with a few games to go in 2020. On the whole, the Raiders performed as the 22nd ranked D in the league under Guenther’s guidance. And, over the last two-years-and-change, they’ve been dead last in points allowed with 28.4.
Of course, the Raiders’ struggles went beyond the veteran DC. The Raiders’ recent blowout loss to the Falcons, for example, could be largely blamed on the team’s six offensive turnovers. Regardless, the Raiders want to move their high-priced defense in a different direction, starting right now.
Why do the raiders not have a real chance of making the playoffs? They still play the phins plus broncos & chargers, if they win out would they not make it? (Would have head to head against MIA)
Genuinely curious …
Yeah, I find that a bit preemptive as well. Obviously the chances would be dramatically lower after yesterday’s drubbing, but a victory over Miami keeps them alive. Of course, they would also need Baltimore to implode, but it’s not quite over yet.
Baltimore is imploding IMO
Sure, but they’ve been playing playoff-caliber teams. After Cleveland, their remaining schedule consists of the Giants, Jags, and Bengals. They would have to really fall off a cliff to drop those games
Zach Links – needs an eval. Fake news. Very poor reporting. “High-priced defense” “no real chance of playoffs” – c’mon man.
Raiders are in the bottom half in total team salary and top 2 players of the cap is on offense. For defense they probably bottom 5… and sure the loss hurts but Cleveland has a real shot at winning on MNF and Raiders can control their own destiny by winning out – esp vs MIA.
Whoops – I will retract my overall team salary statement. I was organizing to available cap. Let’s thank the heavens – I’m not the reporter lol. I apologize to Mr Links. I’m just a tilted fan of the no real playoff comment.
I’m still a believer in Gruden but it’s time for him to hire someone who’s not his buddy. He hasn’t proven himself good enough of an evaluator or overall modern coach to not have someone who can push back.
The Raiders have no pass rush and Aldon Smith is now scoring TDs for the Cowboys. I love the irony.
It’s ironic that their win last week was the cause of their opponent’s DC getting canned, then their loss this week is the cause of their own DC getting the axe.
Nice to see Rod Marinelli still around. I really feel he got shafted in Detroit.
Everyone gets the shaft when they come to Detroit, not named sanders or Megatron. He is not alone…
It’s a little to count them out. It’s complicated, and I’d love to have someone straighten up my calcs, but (assuming the Raiders win out):
CL needs to lose to both the Giants & PT & we beat the Browns.
Miami could not finish and better than 10-6, and we’d have beaten them.
The Ravens would need to lose to the NYG, Jags, or or Bengals to go 10-6.
The Titans would need to lose two against GB, Detroit, or Texans.
Past that, it is too complicated for me, but it feels like it can be done. Assuming the Raiders defense stops posing for pictures and actually show up for the game.
Guenther had to go, but Marinelli might join him if we have one more loss. Outside of Crosby, the team has 9 sacks, and 4 of those came from non-linemen. And it is not like they have stopped the run either.