Ways Reggie McKenzie Must Improve the Oakland Raiders Defense in 2012

Reggie McKenzie has ushered in a new era of Oakland Raiders football, firing head coach Hue Jackson.

He was asked many questions about his plans to improve the Raiders at the press conference in which he was introduced.

But to me, the first place McKenzie needs to start with is the defensive side of the ball. As an inside linebacker for the Raiders in the '80s, defense is something McKenzie knows quite a bit about.

But as I always do, I have to put my two cents in on what the Raiders need to do to improve the defense. I believe that McKenzie will do a lot of what I say should be done with the team on defense.

Turn the page to get a look.   

Head Coach

McKenzie was grilled at his press conference about why he let Jackson go and he said, "I want to bring in my own guy." While everyone wonders who that guy is, I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's Winston Moss.

What's not to like?

He's also a former Raider that was with McKenzie in Green Bay as the assistant head coach and linebackers coach. A defensive-minded coach is probably what's best for a team that struggles on defense.

And "my guy" usually means someone that he already knows, not someone that has yet to be interviewed. The Packers franchise is the model that McKenzie is trying to replicate and Moss is the assistant head coach there.

McKenzie moves from director of personnel to GM and he gives Moss a move from assistant head coach to head coach. What makes it sweeter is that they both played for the Raiders back in the day.

It's a solid move to me though.    

Defensive Coordinator

Defensive backs coach Darren Perry is and probably should be the next guy to make a move up to defensive coordinator. What I like about Perry is he is a Dom Capers disciple (3-4) that likes to bring pressure.

And with that pressure, he likes man-to-man, bump-and-run coverage to disrupt the timing of receivers. He also knows the tradition of the Raiders corners, having been a defensive backs coach in Oakland from 2007-2008.

Perry will help bring the Raiders back to who they are.  

Paul Soliai

With the Raiders now running the 3-4, it's important for the McKenzie to go out and get a big, nasty nose tackle. Soliai can't get the franchise tag again, so McKenzie should go ahead and bring him in.  

Richard Seymour and Tommy Kelly are both 3-4 ends by nature, playing very well at the position. Kamerion Wimbley and Aaron Curry are good edge rushers while Rolando McClain was a beast as an inside linebacker at Alabama.

Travis Goethel can come back healthy or the Raiders can find another inside backer to pair with McClain. The addition of Soliai would make this a dominant 3-4 defense to me.  

Stanford Routt Back on Top

Under Perry and the coverage schemes he runs, Stanford Routt will get back on top in 2012. He had a good burn percentage in 2011 just like he did in 2010, but gave up too many touchdowns in 2011.

A lot of those touchdowns he gave up came with the Raiders in zone coverage this year. Routt just seemed like a fish out of water, as did the rest of the Raiders secondary when the Raiders were in zone.

Perry will be a big help to him.

Let Michael Huff Play Corner

With Perry at defensive coordinator, he needs to allow Jackson's last move to stay permanent. Jackson made his best move of the season by moving safety Michael Huff to corner.

Where was that when the season was going?

I believe Huff will give Routt a run for his money for the Raiders' No. 1 corner in 2012. Man coverage has always been what he's done best and his experience jamming tight ends will make him rough on receivers.  

His 40-inch vertical leap will help him against height too.

Tyvon Branch Free

Tyvon Branch is a great football player that needs to be put in better position to make plays. He has excellent speed and range and tackles very well as the last line of defense.

The part where he struggles is in man coverage—he has improved there but he still doesn't cover tight ends well. Everything I just described to you are the characteristics of a good free safety, not strong safety.

Branch will become a big-time playmaker at free safety.

Mike Mitchell on the Field

Watching Mike Mitchell play this year, he looks like the best strong safety the Raiders have. At 6'1", 220 pounds, he's a good fit to play in the box and despite getting torched by Antonio Gates in the season finale, Mitchell does a great job covering tight ends.

You gotta love the way he separates the ball from receivers catching the ball over the middle too. Hitters like Mitchell don't need to be on the bench, especially when they cover well too.

With Branch now at free safety, Mitchell goes to strong safety and gives the Raiders the hardest hitting safeties in the NFL.  

Overview

I truly believe that Moss is McKenzie's guy, as they are both former Raiders that were in Green Bay together. Perry would get a nice bump-up himself as the defensive coordinator, already having experience with the Raiders.

The Raiders' front-seven screams for a 3-4 every other hour and my prediction is that's where they're going. The bump-and-run took a year off in Raider Nation, but I'm betting that it will be back under Perry.

In 2012, the Raiders are going to be...the Raiders again.

Just win baby!