It’s been a long time since the Raiders have had a dominant defense. Before the 2023 season, the last time the Raiders had a top-10 scoring defense was all the way back in 2002. That was over 20 years ago, but everything seems in place for them to have an elite unit again in 2024.
So far in camp, that has been the case as the defense is way ahead of the offense. In a recent article by Tashan Reed of The Athletic, he wrote about how dominant the defense has been early on in training camp. They’ve routinely handled the offense and it hasn’t been close.
One reason why has been the improved play of the depth players on the defense, including Isaiah Pola-Mao, a third-year safety from USC. Here is a snippet of what Reed had to say about Pola-Mao so far during training camp:
Whether he’s lined up deep or as a slot defender, Pola-Mao has been effective as the third safety. His size and length help him deal with larger receiving threats, but he also has the foot speed to stick with quicker targets.
The Raiders have a very good starting unit on defense, but their depth is significantly better this year than in previous seasons. Pola-Mao is a perfect example of that, as he has been in Patrick Graham’s defense for multiple seasons now and is primed for a breakout year.
With the Raiders using at least five defensive backs on every play, Pola-Mao should be able to find a role on the defense. If he continues to make plays in camp, it’s possible that he could eventually work his way into the starting lineup. Keep an eye on the third-year safety from USC, as he could be a key part of the defense this season.