Raiders' Patrick Graham Expects More Progress Week 2

The Las Vegas Raiders started the season with a big victory in Denver, over a divisional opponent. The Raiders' defense went into halftime, made the proper adjustments and completely shut down the Broncos' offense in the second half.

"The group as a whole, I thought the front did a solid job in terms of trying to minimize the run and trying to contain the pass rusher," said Raiders Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham.

As seen across the league, the first game of the season is usually filled with mistakes, as players are getting back up to game speed. For Graham, that is no excuse. He still expects his players to fine-tune their fundamentals.

“The start of the season comes down to fundamentals defensively in terms of tackling, getting off blocks, defending the deep part of the field, win our leverage in coverage," Graham said.

"The early part of the season, we're just trying to improve our fundamentals in terms of the running game and the passing game. Not to single any one player out but as a group, including myself, we have a ways to get where we want to get to.”

The defensive coordinator's main focus is seeing his defense make progress every week. Heading into Buffalo, wrapping up and completing tackles is one of the main areas Graham is looking for improvement in.

"We're just looking for improvement from week to week," Graham said. "It's the first time playing as a group and we got to do a good job of tackling; that includes the wrap, the approach, everything there."

"The first game of the season across the league is where you see the teams that tackle the best usually are the teams that are playing the better defense to start the season. We're in the process of trying to improve that as much as possible.”

Graham shared that the experience the defense had last week in Denver only helped the defense get better, especially the younger players.

“Experience is a great teacher for all the young players," Graham said. "Get a chance to play in the NFL for the first time, get a chance to work the match-ups, work the coverages, the tackling."

"The thing that you're looking for, for those young players, is to see the improvement there. And it comes from getting experience. The speed of the game, the physicality of the game, that’s the best teaching and the best learning that they'll get is actually to do it.”

While a win is a win, the Raiders' defense will have to clean up some things, as they head to play a Bills team desperate to avoid an 0-2 start to their season. Not to mention the Bills have what could be one of the best offenses in the NFL.

"There's some stuff that we need to work on as we move forward, especially as our focus is shifted to the Buffalo Bills," Graham said. "You're dealing with a dynamic quarterback, both passing the ball and also having the ability to run the ball. The skill players they have offensively, the running backs, the receivers."

"So, as we start to work forward on that everybody's working hard as a group to improve."

The Raiders have the opportunity to start 2-0 which would be the perfect start to year two of the Coach Josh McDaniels era. It would also be a major stepping stone for the rebuild McDaniels looks to complete.

The Silver and Black remain on the road this week as they travel to play he Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Sept. 17, at 1:05 p.m. EDT/10:05 a.m. PDT.

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