Another week brought another loss for the Las Vegas Raiders, and it was not a good one. Still, there were signs worth noting beneath the final score. Those will come later.
For now, it is time to overreact.
The Raiders head coach is out of touch…
Not sure this qualifies as an overreaction anymore. It is simply the reality. Pete Carroll has shown little willingness to adapt his defensive philosophy beyond the Legion of Boom era, even as the league has moved on. What once worked as a counter to pass-happy offenses no longer fits the modern NFL.
Cover 3 was a logical response when quarterbacks routinely pushed toward 5,000-yard seasons. That era has passed. No quarterback has reached that mark since 2022, and offensive trends have shifted. Spread concepts have given way to a resurgence of West Coast principles built on timing, matchups and efficiency over volume.
The problem is not limited to the scheme. It extends to personnel preferences. Carroll continues to favor bigger linebackers and safeties, a profile increasingly mismatched against today’s tight ends and oversized slot receivers. Those players are now central to offensive game plans, and defenses that cannot match their speed and versatility are left exposed.
That resistance to change has placed a ceiling on Patrick Graham’s defense. After showing steady improvement in recent seasons, the unit has stalled, constrained by principles that no longer reflect how offenses operate.
At least, changes elsewhere have finally arrived.
The rookies are here to stay…
Caleb Rogers is the biggest story and will be addressed in greater detail later, but the broader youth movement is equally encouraging. A legitimate core is beginning to take shape, giving Las Vegas something to build on. Jack Bech finally saw meaningful targets and flashed real upside. With a full offseason and improved quarterback play, his role should only expand.
Another day-two pick also stood out. Cornerback Darien Porter continues to make tangible progress, even if it has come in spite of the coaching staff rather than because of it. Porter struggled early while matched up with Courtland Sutton and was benched—again—in favor of Kyu Blu Kelly. That plan changed only after Kelly suffered a severe injury, forcing Porter back into the lineup.
The rookie responded the way developing players are supposed to. He settled in, competed and finished strong, including a key pass breakup on Sutton later in the game.
It is striking how different things look when rookies are allowed to play through mistakes. Speaking of which…
Caleb Rogers is by far the Raiders’ best (healthy) offensive lineman…
Once he was finally allowed to play without the constant threat of being benched, Caleb Rogers delivered a breakout performance. He stood out as the lone bright spot on an otherwise overmatched Raiders offensive line.
Rogers remains a work in progress, particularly with his technique, but his composure has been striking. He is the only Las Vegas lineman who consistently looks comfortable, even when challenged. When he does lose a rep, his athleticism allows him to recover, a contrast to the repeated breakdowns seen elsewhere along the line.
Looking ahead, a unit built around Rogers, Jackson Powers-Johnson at center and Kolton Miller has the potential to be formidable. If that progress continues, it may finally push the coaching staff to give fellow rookie Charles Grant an opportunity at tackle. At this point, he represents the clearest path toward ending the weekly struggle of watching Stone Forsythe in the lineup.
*Top Photo: Getty Images