The ball belongs to the Raiders.
asserted
ball → belong → Raiders
At least that is how Rob Leonard wants his defense to see it.
asserted
defense → want → it
Exposed for a split second as a receiver turns upfield.
asserted
receiver → expose → second
Every snap presents another opportunity to take possession of something the opposing offense is merely borrowing.
asserted
offense → present → something
And the Raiders are playing as if they want it back.
asserted
they → play → it
That mentality is helping define a defense whose energy, physicality and relentless pursuit of turnovers have been instrumental in a 3-0 start as they welcome the Chiefs to Allegiant Stadium.
asserted
they → help → Stadium
Through three games, the Raiders lead the NFL with nine takeaways and are tied for fourth with 10 sacks.
asserted
Raiders → lead → sacks
They rank 11th in total defense, allowing 316.7 yards per game, but are surrendering the seventh-fewest points per game at 18.
asserted
They → rank → 18
The aggression is producing the extra possessions and the quarterback disruption Leonard is demanding.
asserted
Leonard → produce → possessions
Ask Maxx Crosby where the Raiders’ takeaway mentality begins and he points directly to Leonard.
asserted
he → ask → Leonard
“It starts with Robbie.
asserted
It → start → Robbie
He trusts us as a group.
asserted
He → trust → group
We emphasize every day in the building about taking the ball away.
asserted
We → emphasize → ball
We continue to do that.
asserted
We → continue → that
I think we had four in the second half.
asserted
we → think → half
You continue to do that and you have a lot better chance of winning.”
asserted
you → continue → chance
The numbers support him.
asserted
numbers → support → him
The Raiders own an NFL-best plus-five turnover differential.
asserted
Raiders → own → differential
Last season, they managed 16 takeaways and finished minus-nine.
asserted
they → manage → takeaways
They are already more than halfway to that takeaway total, with 14 games remaining.
asserted
games → remain → total
But the clearest illustration of Leonard’s influence came Sunday in New Orleans, where a defense that had struggled much of the afternoon to corral the Saints seized control of the outcome.
asserted
that → come → outcome
The Raiders forced turnovers on the Saints’ final four possessions, helping turn an 11-point second-half deficit into a 35-27 victory.
asserted
Raiders → force → victory
Four times the Raiders took the ball.
asserted
Raiders → take → ball
That is the standard Leonard is trying to establish.
asserted
Leonard → try → ?
And the way his players describe it, the pursuit begins long before anyone needs a fourth-quarter rescue.
asserted
anyone → describe → rescue
He broke into the league with the Giants in 2013, spent three seasons on Brian Flores’ staff in Miami and coached Baltimore’s outside linebackers under defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald in 2022.
asserted
He → break → 2022
He joined the Raiders in 2023, coaching the defensive line under Patrick Graham and later adding defensive run game coordinator duties before earning the promotion this year.
asserted
He → join → promotion
Now, after years helping other coaches implement their plans, he is putting his own stamp on the entire defense.
asserted
he → help → defense
And it’s clear that being disruptive is a big part of that stamp.
asserted
being → ’ → stamp
“You get what you emphasize.
asserted
you → get → what
You choose what to focus on,” Leonard said.
asserted
Leonard → choose → what
So, it can’t just be empty words, and I think these guys have taken it to heart.”
asserted
guys → think → heart
Message received.
asserted
Message → receive → ?
“Our style of play is taking the ball away,” linebacker Nakobe Dean said.
asserted
Dean → take → ball
“We have to go every week and see how many takeaways we can get.”
asserted
we → have → takeaways
Dean talks about takeaways as an assignment.
asserted
Dean → talk → assignment
Cornerback Eric Stokes offered an even more vivid description of the ball awareness Leonard is emphasizing.
asserted
Leonard → offer → awareness
“If the ball is in the air, it’s my ball.
asserted
it → ’ → air
It ain’t no 50/50 ball,” Stokes said.
asserted
Stokes → ai → ?
“And even if the running back’s got it, the first person hits him; the second person is punching.”
asserted
person → get → him
…and 30 more, not listed.
The Aporia
