The idea of “next man up” is nothing new for Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll—we’ve seen that philosophy at play during his time in Seattle and at USC. With Christian Wilkins suddenly out, he’s going to be leaning on his young group of players to replace him in the aggregate.
With Wilkins no longer with the Silver and Black, Las Vegas is entering a new era on the defensive line—and Carroll remains calm. True to Carroll’s style, the new leader in Sin City is embracing one of his fundamental philosophies: competition.
Raiders HC Pete Carroll leans into the competition…
“This place is about competition—it always has been,” Carroll said when asked about filling the Wilkins-sized void this week. “It’s just wide open.”
Carroll isn’t rushing to select a replacement; instead, he’s letting the process play out on the practice field. At this point, what other options does he have? A player of Wilkins’ magnitude can’t be replaced via free agency, and general manager John Spytel is certainly not going to start overpaying now. Rotations are always changing, and everyone, from first-round picks to late-round rookies, has a chance to show what they can do.
“We’re giving everybody a chance,” he explained. “Mixing guys with the ones and the twos just to gather a bunch of information.” Carroll’s been diving into film cutups from the early practices, watching each player’s reps with a coach’s eye, taking notes, and, in his words, “putting the information in the vault.”
While Wilkins departs, leaving a substantial presence behind, Carroll appears invigorated by the chance to cultivate a young and gritty group. “We have a good, young, spunky group of guys now,” he stated. “The young guys that came in this past draft are part of that competition too, so it’s exciting.”
While the Raiders’ defensive identity may be evolving, it remains undeniable that hunger, hustle, and healthy competition will build this unit.
Related: Can Tyree Wilson Have A Breakout Year Under Carroll?
*Top Photo: Getty Images