Charting the Raiders defense through week 5

Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty ImagesThrough the first five weeks of the 2019 NFL season, the Raiders defense has improved each game. By week five, Defensive Coordinator Paul Guenther’s unit hardly resembles the one that ranked dead last in sacks and gave up 2249 yards rushing in 2018. Let’s take a deep dive into how the defense is being implemented in year 2 of Guenther’s tenure.

82% nickel would have been good for the second highest amount in the NFL last season. One reason for this uptick in the usage of 5 defensive backs is the addition of slot corner LaMarcus Joyner this off-season. Joyner signed a 4-year, $42 million deal this spring and it makes sense to keep a player making that money on…