Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders' Young Secondary Has Shined in 2023

Originally posted on Las Vegas Raiders on SI
By Carter Landis | Last updated Dec 18, 2023 8:00 AM ET

The Las Vegas Raiders were not a very good defensive team in 2022.

They ranked 28th in total defense, 29th in pass defense, 19th in run defense, and 26th in scoring defense. They also had just 27 sacks, the fewest in the AFC. The Raiders could not stay competitive in games because they could not stop anybody.

In 2023, it has been a completely different story. The Raiders are 17th in total defense, 11th in passing defense, 24th in run defense, and ninth in scoring defense. Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham has done an excellent job turning this defense around in his second season in the Silver and Black.

While the Raiders are just 6-8 and find themselves outside the AFC playoff race, their defense has kept them competitive in games. The fact that several of their players are young, especially in the secondary, is promising.

Graham and the Raiders are building a foundation in the secondary, and their play on the field has been encouraging. The Raiders have forced 19 takeaways – 11 being interceptions – this season. They had just six interceptions in 2022, tied with the New York Giants for last in the NFL.

Creating more turnovers was a focus for the Raiders in 2023, and it has paid off. For players in their secondary who are in a make-or-break season, like cornerback Amik Robertson and safety Tre’von Moehrig, their performances this season have been incredibly valuable for Graham’s defense.

Moehrig has shown flashes of play more reminiscent of his excellent rookie season, improving on a rough 2022 campaign. He has a career-high 74 total tackles, a tackle for loss, five passes defended, two interceptions, and two sacks. He has played like a long-term option at free safety.

Cornerback Nate Hobbs has still dealt with injuries, but he has been one of the best players on the Raiders’ defense this season with 65 total tackles, a career-high five tackles for loss, six passes defended, and an interception.

The free-agent addition of Marcus Epps at safety has also been a massive boost for the Raiders’ young secondary. Epps is a cerebral, calculated player who has been a stabilizing presence from a communicative standpoint.

Jack Jones has also been a pleasant surprise at cornerback after joining the team in November, recording a pick-six against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Bounce-back seasons from young players who struggled in 2022 and veteran presences have helped turn the Raiders’ secondary around in 2023. The Raiders are trying to build a competitive defense, and the youth in their secondary has shown encouraging signs that a foundation is there.

The Silver and Black will return to action versus their AFC West rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, on Christmas Day in Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Don't miss it on Monday, December 25, at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST.

This article first appeared on Las Vegas Raiders on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: