National Football League

Raiders' D shows improvement, but still needs work

Published Oct. 1, 2010 4:57 a.m. ET

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The Oakland Raiders spent much of this offseason trying to bolster a defense that struggled to stop the opposition too often last season.

The Raiders used their first two draft picks on middle linebacker Rolando McClain and defensive end Lamarr Houston, as well as bringing in veterans like Kamerion Wimbley, Quentin Groves and John Henderson in a near-total overhaul of the starting front seven.

Three weeks into the season, the Raiders are allowing more than 100 yards fewer per game than they did a year ago. That's a sign of some progress even if there's plenty still to fix on that side of the ball.

''It's down, but what's the end result?'' defensive tackle Tommy Kelly asked. ''You're still walking off the field with your head between your legs. You're so hurt because you lost. I mean, we're getting better. You all can see that, we can see that. But we got a long way to go before we're a No. 1 defense.''

The Raiders (1-2) are tied for second in the league in yardage allowed, giving up just 260.7 per game. But that hasn't translated into keeping teams off the scoreboard - they've allowed more than 25 points per game heading into Sunday's matchup against Houston.

Oakland gave up 38 points in a season-opening loss to Tennessee and 24 last week at Arizona, although seven came against the special teams following a return for a touchdown on the opening kickoff.

''That has to do with the red zone - giving up touchdowns in the red zone instead of field goals - and big plays,'' cornerback Stanford Routt said. ''I think that's indicative of this game, that you can play 60 plays real good, but if you have one mental lapse, that can wind up being seven points and that can be the game. So, I think that the moral to the story is you've got to be focused and ready every play.''

The Raiders have been the worst team defensively at stopping opponents near the end zone. Opponents have gotten inside the Raiders 20-yard line eight times this season and come away with touchdowns on seven of those trips.

The pass coverage has been particularly susceptible on that part of the field, allowing five touchdowns on just seven throws from inside the 20, including two last week by Arizona's Derek Anderson.

''For three years we've been one of the very best red-zone defenses in football,'' coach Tom Cable said. ''The other day, it was the simple fact of looking up a receiver in zone at a linebacker spot. Just a very fundamental thing down there.''

The Raiders need to fix those mistakes quickly with the high-powered Texans coming into Oakland on Sunday. While the Raiders have held St. Louis and Arizona to fewer than 250 yards of offense each of the past two weeks, slowing down Matt Schaub and the Texans will be much more difficult.

With NFL leading rusher Arian Foster complementing a passing game that features All-Pro receiver Andre Johnson, the Texans have gained more than 400 yards per game this season.

''When you talk about Houston, first thing in your mind is No. 80,'' Oakland defensive coordinator John Marshall said. ''He is an outstanding player and God has given him great gifts, and he uses them. But he's not the only wide receiver on that team. Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter, if you watch them, they're big time players. They really are.''

Marshall downplayed his team's defensive ranking so far, pointing to the areas that need to improve like in the red zone, on third downs and in creating turnovers.

If the Raiders can do that this week against an offense like the Texans, then they might start being impressed.

''If we slow these boys down it'll be a little more indication of how we are as a defense,'' Kelly said. ''This is a big opportunity. You say you're the No. 2, No. 3 defense in the league, let's see it on Sunday.''