Why Raiders’ Christian Wilkins signing is ‘blessing’ to Antonio Pierce

The Raiders head coach is fired up about signing Christian Wilkins.

Christian Wilkins, who played five seasons for the Miami Dolphins, signed a four-year, $110 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders last month, adding a

huge piece to their defense. One of the NFL’s top defensive tackles, Wilkins is

anticipated to have an instant effect for the Raiders.

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce noted that Wilkins’ contagious energy would be crucial in maximizing the performance

of the Las Vegas attack in addition to the pressure he’ll put on opposing offenses.

“I’ll tell you what, having Wilkins here makes our lives as coaches easier,” Pierce remarked. “Having good players makes things easier. But what it does adds a lot of depth to that D-line area, along with the two lads we brought back, Adam Butler and John Jenkins. That will be our team’s strongest point. One to ten, we had a great time with those men.

“But Christian, the man, the charisma, the love of the game, the energy.” Additionally, we now have a front-runner [to match] Maxx Crosby. full-out effort for half an hour. That’s precisely what we’re searching for. It will be a blessing for Raider Nation, in my opinion, to have a guy of his caliber and the way he has performed over the last, truly his entire career.

Afte all, Pierce is a former linebacker himself and prides himself in making sure the Raiders have a top-notch defense. They showed well after he took over last season, going 5-4 thanks to their ability to slow down opponents.

Raiders’ defensive line looking strong

While Wilkins’ signing is significant, Las Vegas also re-signed Tyree Wilson, Adam Butler, and John Jenkins. Malcolm Koonce was also back. While Wilson, a second-year DE, came into his own in the second half of the season, Koonce had a breakout season in 23′. Pierce feels great about his D-line because of that: Yes, Pierce responded, “it makes life easier for me.” “Because [offenders] are now concerned with stopping those four guys rather than me, which lets me run.” And Robert Spillane will experience the same thing. Maxx Crosby, Malcolm Koonce, and, of course, Christian will be your problems.

Now that you’re focusing on Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo, it ought to provide them even more room to maneuver and produce better on the opposing side of the ball.

36.5 of the Raiders’ 46 sacks from the previous season came from their defensive ends and defensive tackles, according to ESPN Stats & Info. It is evident how significant this group is.

Christian Wilkins had 65 total tackles and a career-best nine sacks last season, which is a sign of better things to come. Not only does he bring talent to the table but Wilkins is experienced and he’s hoping to use that to help Wilson, a guy who was also a first-round pick like him

and took time to get accustomed to the league.

“I’m definitely going to make it a goal of mine to help him out as much as I can, be

there for him in any way he needs me because I know how difficult it can be —

the pressures and all that other stuff, the expectations and all that,” said Wilkins,

who, like Wilson, was a high draft pick who did not have immediate success.