Raiders defense: Key contributions are coming from undrafted free agents

Defensive tackle Adam Butler, defensive end Charles Snowden, safety Isaiah Pola-Mao bolster defense in Las Vegas’ 20-16 win

“What are you willing to do for your brothers?”

A simple question posed by veteran defensive tackle Adam Butler to his Las Vegas Raiders teammates last Thursday as the team prepped for the Week 4 home matchup with the Cleveland Browns.

That inquiry set the tone for the Silver & Black and provided some much-needed focus for a team looking to rebound from a disconcerting face plant inside Allegiant Stadium in Week 3.

“We just talked about playing one play at a time, playing for one year. Adam Butler spoke to the team, did an hell of a job with that and got us going throughout the weekend,” Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said after his team’s 20-16 victory over the Browns.

Butler initiated the Raiders resolve with his speech to the team and defensive end Charles Snowden and new starting strong safety Isaiah Pola-Mao — along with Butler — used it for big-time performances as the trio provided key contributions for the Las Vegas’ defense against Cleveland.

A football team isn’t built just from draft picks, but also free agency. ‘

And the trio of Butler, Snowden, and Pola-Mao performed well in the Week 4 win highlighting the key contributions the Raiders are getting from undrafted free agents.

Butler finished with six total tackles (four solo), one tackle for loss, and one quarterback hit while Snowden racked up three total tackles (two solo) the game-sealing sack, one tackle for loss, and a trio of quarterback hits (which tied for the team lead with defensive tackle Christian Wilkins). Pola-Mao showed up in all phases as a pass rusher (one sack), coverage (a key pass break up), and as a tackler (six total, four solo, and a stop for loss).

Thus, it’s no surprise to see Butler, Snowden, and Pola-Mao on Matt Holder’s Week 4 winners list.

Pierce spoke glowingly of Snowden after the Week 4 win noting the 26-year-old’s journey from offseason standout, to being axed during cut day, then being brought back to the practice squad and now a game day contributor, in our review the Raiders’ win over the Browns.

But’s perhaps Wilkins, who summed up Snowden’s standout performance best.

“I don’t know if y’all noticed, it’s the Fall in Las Vegas, but it was snowing up in Allegiant last night. Snowman (Snowden) did his thing, obviously closing the game out. That was awesome to see,” Wilkins said. “And it’s a great moment for him because he puts in a lot of work, and he’s a guy who has had a crazy story and a crazy journey, so I’m glad he was able to get a moment like that last night. So, yeah, it was cool to see that, not just him, but just a lot of guys and everybody kind of stepped up and played well and did what it took to win.”

Las Vegas head coach also talked about Pola-Mao’s ascension from backup safety and core special teamer to starting strong safety.

“Isaiah, I mentioned earlier in the week, played over 250 snaps on defense and primary special teams, as we know,” Pierce began. “We were waiting to get him out there, and the opportunity came with Marcus Epps going down, and I thought he did an outstanding job all week, spending more time in the classroom, Gerald Alexander spending time with him, and then really Tre’von, it’s difficult when all of the sudden you have a new guy next to you, communicating. There is continuity that goes into that as well, but he came up huge and big.”

Undrafted free agent contributions weren’t just limited to defense, of course. Las Vegas wide receiver and special teamer DJ Turner scored an 18-yard touchdown on a designed run against Cleveland. And punter AJ Cole III continues to be one of the game’s premier boot specialists as he pinned the Browns deep in their own territory with field-flipping kicks.

For the Raiders to continue winning and maintaining the forward momentum they’ve built with last week’s win and getting back to 2-2, they’ll need undrafted free agents like Butler, Snowden, Pola-Mao, Turner, Cole, and others to continue contributing. Especially considering the the team’s best defender — defensive end Maxx Crosby — ailing and the situation with its best offensive player — wide receiver Davante Adams — unresolved and lingering.

For one game, Las Vegas overcame the absences of both. Can they continue to do so without that elite duo?

We’ll find out soon enough as the Raiders head to Colorado this Sunday for an AFC West matchup with the Denver Broncos who are also 2-2. While Crosby is going to do everything in his power to suit up and play this Sunday, things are more uncertain with Adams.

Regardless, Las Vegas needs the the undrafted trio mentioned above can stack another solid performance in back-to-back weeks.

Pola-Mao was one of three Raiders to play 100 percent of the defensive snaps (59, linebacker Robert Spillane and Moehrig were the other two to have same snap count). Butler had 50 snaps (85 percent) while Snowden earned 29 snaps (49 percent) as he rotated with K’Lavon Chaisson (41 snaps, 69 percent), and Tyree Wilson (42 snaps, 71 percent) at edge rusher.