What are some of the latest updates on the Las Vegas Raiders‘ defensive line? Zach Carter recently shared some insight in the midst of preseason.
The Raiders’ defensive line has been a focal point of training camp. That said, Carter is seeing encouraging signs as the group prepares for the regular season. Coming off a year in which the unit demonstrated moments of promise, Carter emphasizes that the key difference now is the strong bond both on and off the field.
What’s going on with the Raiders’ defensive line?
“We were close as a group last year, but I feel like this year we’ve taken it even further,” Carter said during preseason media availability. “We got some new rookies in, brought them in, and welcomed them into the family.” It’s not all on the rookies either; Carter added that even the team’s offseason additions are building rapport. “We also added some new faces this offseason, and everybody’s been gelling. What you build off the field carries over on the field, and that continuity has been great all camp,” Carter stated.
Carter has also stepped into more of a leadership role, particularly in the defensive tackle room. He’s made a point to mentor every newcomer, from draft picks to undrafted signings. “Tonka [Hemingway], JJ [Pegues], Trev [Treven Ma’ae], Big Tank [Anthony Booker]—those guys have been great,” Carter said. “They come in every day, keep their heads down, work hard, and ask a lot of questions. They’ve been great for us.”
Part of the unit’s preparation has been refining the fundamentals, including tackling—an area that can be shaky early in the preseason across the league. Carter explained that the team has been running frequent “tackling circuits” to sharpen technique before game day.
No cause for concern…
“That first game, you see a lot of missed tackles from teams. It’s just the first live hitting,” Carter said. “We’ve been focusing on padding up and wrapping in practice so that when we play on Saturday, tackling feels like second nature.”
For Carter, the strategy is clear: foster camaraderie, develop the rookies, and practice the fundamentals until they become second nature. With a stronger bond and a more focused approach, the Raiders’ defensive line appears ready to assert itself when the games begin to matter.
If this cohesion continues, Carter and his teammates could transform the defensive front into one of the team’s most reliable assets by 2025.
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*Top Photo: Sports Illustrated