Oakland Raiders: Competition Could Lead to New Faces on Defense

At first glance, the 2009 Oakland Raiders' defense looks nearly identical to the one that finished 2008.

Oakland’s defensive roster remains virtually unchanged, a surprising development for a team that finished 27th in the NFL in overall defense.

But the unit that takes the field this season could look remarkably different, thanks to the environment of competition instilled this offseason. A defense plagued by missed tackles and open holes along the line is expected to be more aggressive this season, both on and off of the field.

While the Raiders didn’t bring in many new faces in response to last year’s poor defensive performance, returning players are feeling pressured just the same. John Marshall has replaced Rob Ryan as the defensive coordinato...

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