Raiders safeties setting tone for improved defensive play

Denver Broncos receiver Tim Patrick had a step on his cover man, and Case Keenum tried to exploit it with long shot downfield. It was a smidge overthrown, but Karl Joseph wasn’t taking any chances.

The third-year safety came in hot, delivering a fierce blow aimed to dislodge the ball had it been caught. It wasn’t, and officials took exception with the hit. He was flagged for unnecessary roughness, but that didn’t deter him or the Raiders secondary from setting an aggressive tone.

There was more shoulder and less helmet/forearm, but the Raiders were playing physical from the start. Marcus Gilchrist and Erik Harris let nothing come easy. Rashaan Melvin was playing aggressive against the run in…