The Raiders have a new defensive coordinator — but what kind of defense will Rob Leonard actually run?

In this episode of the Silver & Black Sports Network Podcast, Jesse Merrick is joined by Cody Alexander of MatchQuarters.com to break down Leonard’s defensive background, coaching influences, and what Raiders fans should realistically expect.

Leonard has never called plays at the NFL level — so we dive deep into:

• His background as an assistant coach and run game coordinator — and why that matters

• What he likely learned under Patrick Graham, Brian Flores, Mike Macdonald, and Steve Spagnuolo

• The current NFL coordinator Cody compares Leonard to

• Which Raiders players fit this system — and who might not

• What positions must be addressed in free agency and the draft

• How this defense could stack up in the AFC West

Deep dive on Cody's DC comp for Rob Leonard:

👉 https://www.matchquarters.com/p/jaguars-defense-campanile-fangio-flores

👇 QUESTION OF THE DAY 👇

Do you like the hire of Rob Leonard as defensive coordinator?

What excites you — or worries you — most?

Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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00:00 The Raiders' Decision on Rob Leonard

05:00 Understanding Defensive Roles: The Run Game Coordinator's Impact

07:58 Coaching Tree Influence: Rob Leonard's Background and Schematic Approach

11:04 Defensive Strategies: Chaos Agents vs. Passive Pressure

13:56 Why Rob's Defense will be Different from Patrick Graham

16:53 Nickel Defense Trends: Adapting to Modern NFL Offenses

20:03 Drafting for Defense: Finding the Right Fit for the Raiders

29:11 Defensive Strategies and Player Roles

32:09 Free Agency and Key Player Acquisitions

37:06 Adapting to AFC West Offenses

42:03 Coaching Innovations and Future Outlook

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