Raiders defense: Marcus Robertson, John Glenn have heavy lifting to do

Pete Carroll’s defensive backs and linebackers coach are going to be key assistants in Las Vegas

While the offseason focus for general manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll should be building the Las Vegas Raiders in the trenches, one can’t forget the rest of the components.

This holds for both offense and defense, but let’s focus on Patrick Graham’s side of the ball here. A disruptive and dominant defensive is integral to what the defensive coordinator, Carroll, and Spytek want to accomplish.

Yet, the linebackers and secondary are going to be vital, too. It’s all about complementary football for the Raiders — something the team has lacked, severely at times.

Which means, defensive backs coach Marcus Robertson and linebackers coach John Glenn have some heavy lifting to do, too.

It’ll take a collective and consistent performance from defensive line, linebackers, and secondary for Las Vegas to rise from the AFC West cellar and compete in 2025 and beyond.

The duo are having reunions of sorts by joining Carroll’s staff and the pair of assistant coaches. This will be Robertson’s second tour of duty with the Raiders as he served as the defensive backs boss from 2014-16. Glenn, on the other hand, is back on Carroll’s coaching staff after serving as the new Raiders boss’s linebackers coach from 2019-23.

To start, let’s take an at-a-glance historical look at both coaches:

Marcus Robertson’s Raiders Secondary: By The Numbers

• 2014: 8 interceptions – led by Charles Woodson (4)
• 2015: 13 interceptions – led by Charles Woodson (4); David Amerson (4)
• 2016: 14 interceptions – led by Reggie Nelson (5)

John Glenn’s Seahawks Linebackers: By The Numbers

• 2019: Bobby Wagner – 159 total tackles, 3 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 6 pass deflections; K.J. Wright – 132 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 11 pass deflections
• 2020: Bobby Wagner – 138 total tackles, 3 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, 8 pass deflections; K.J. Wright – 86 total tackles, 2 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 8 pass deflections
• 2021: Jordyn Brooks – 184 total tackles, 1 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 5 pass deflections; Bobby Wagner – 170 total tackles, 1 sack, 3 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 5 pass deflections
• 2022: Jordyn Brooks – 161 total tackles, 1 sack, 3 tackles for loss, 5 pass deflections; Cody Barton – 136 total tackles, 2 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 6 pass deflections
• 2023: Bobby Wagner – 183 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 3 pass deflections; Jordyn Brooks – 111 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, 8 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 4 pass deflections

Photo by Christopher Mast/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

This past season in Las Vegas, there were a bevy of mitigating circumstances for an up-and-down defensive performance — namely long-term injuries that eroded the roster — but no matter how legitimate, the rankings are what they are: A 25th overall ranking in points allowed (25.5 points per game); 29th in takeaways (13); 15th in air yards allowed (3,676); 13th in ground yards allowed (1,987).

Robertson takes over defensive backs group that snared a meager seven interceptions (led by cornerback Jack Jones with 3 interceptions; 10 total by the team). Jones remains under contract, but slot cornerback Nate Hobbs is slated to hit unrestricted free agency next month. Jakorian Bennett, who displayed shutdown attributes in his second season in the league, was shelved with injury after a strong initial 10 games, while 2024 NFL Draft pick Decamerion Richardson was thrown into the fire as a fourth-round pick and (not surprisingly) struggled mightily.

Robertson, who most recently served as the New Orleans Saints secondary coach, is at the forefront of the development of the entire group but namely youngsters Bennett and Richardson. Robertson won’t have to do this alone. He has Joe Woods (pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach) on staff to provide vast knowledge. Woods was the Saints defensive coordinator, most recently, and coached the Raiders secondary in 2014, too. Woods along with Robertson have the experience and skillset to build a consistent, if not difference making, secondary.

Flipping over to Glenn, the veteran assumes the mantle over a linebacker crew paced by Robert Spillane (158 total tackles, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 7 pass deflections) and Divine Deablo (63 total tackles, 1 sack, 2 pass deflections). But both Spillane and Deablo are part of 17 in-house Raiders who are set to hit unrestricted free agency. A return for the top two linebackers last season to Las Vegas isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

There are younger talent at the position group such as 2024 draft pick Tommy Eichenburg, Amari Burney, and Amari Gainer. And free agency and the 2025 draft offer options, too.

Glenn, who joins Las Vegas after a stint as the Washington Commanders assistant special teams coach, had a solid six season with Carroll in Seattle and during that time, the Seahawks boasted productive linebackers who were often leading the team in a number of statistical categories or in the top three. So don’t be surprised if Glenn helps refine veteran talent while developing younger players, too.

How the linebackers and secondary room shape up this offseason will be on the checklist for Spytek and Carroll. But the heavy lifting on developing the talent the Raiders have and add to the roster will fall on Robertson, Woods, Glenn, and Graham.