Oakland Raiders: Paul Guenther wants NaVorro Bowman, needs more help
Oakland Raiders defensive coordinator spoke highly of middle linebacker NaVorro Bowman, but the front office needs another playmaker at the position.
NaVorro Bowman left the San Francisco 49ers as a 29-year old middle linebacker with lingering questions about what’s left of his playing career. He put on an Oakland Raiders jersey and became a tackling machine.
Bowman racked up 58 tackles between Weeks 7 and 17 — that’s 19 more than his next teammate, cornerback T.J. Carrie, in the category. The seventh-year pro played as if he wanted to prove a point to his former club that decided to give him the boot.
Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther bought into Bowman’s ability to play the game at a high level. He shared his thoughts on the three-time Pro Bowler with local reporters on a conference call, per San Jose Mercury News reporter Matt Schneidman:
"The thing that impressed me most with NaVorro is that they got him here midseason and by the end of the year, it appeared to me that he was kind of the leader of the unit, making a lot of calls. You can see that on tape.It looks like he is a smart guy that understands the game. I love smart guys that love playing football. Hopefully, we can get him back in the fold and keep him a Raider."
When looking at the game tapes, there’s no doubt Bowman can still defend the run, align the defense and provide on-field leadership. He played next Patrick Willis on a top-10 unit in points and yards allowed in three consecutive seasons with the 49ers. He missed the 2014 campaign while recovering from a torn ACL and MCL.
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Nonetheless, if anyone knows what a top-tier defense looks like on the practice field and on game day, it’s Bowman. Thanks to general manager Reggie McKenzie’s cap-space maneuvers over the past few years, Oakland shouldn’t have an issue re-signing the veteran middle linebacker to a short-term deal.
On the flip side, Raiders brass shouldn’t stop their linebacker search with Bowman. At best, he’s a two-year Band-Aid on a position that needs versatile talent.
McKenzie drafted Marquel Lee in the fifth round during the past offseason, but the previous coaching staff opted to take him off the field on passing downs, which limited his growth in coverage situations.
He played 52 snaps as a pass defender, per Pro Football Focus Elite. Unless Guenther and his assistants unlock a hidden quality in his game, the front office will need to add more assets through the draft.
As Silver and Black Pride writer Levi Damien notes, Guenther doesn’t mind coaching up an under-the-radar prospect at linebacker. Nonetheless, there’s much buzz surrounding Georgia product Roquan Smith. Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans should also cross the Raiders’ draft radar. In either case, Bowman would serve as an ideal example for either prospect.
Guenther would have flexibility in mixing and matching his personnel on different downs and scenarios. Bowman would likely come off the field in obvious passing situations in favor of a more agile defender in the middle of the field. Against the run, he’d still have enough to bring the hammer while chasing ball-carriers.
At a position that features a player in the latter part of his career with an injury history, it’s smart to keep an NFL-ready asset not too far behind on the depth chart.
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Unlike Perry Riley Jr. in the previous year, someone on the coaching staff voiced the desire to re-sign a veteran middle linebacker in order to fill the roster void. McKenzie won’t have to break the bank for Bowman.
Nonetheless, it’s inexcusable to heavily rely on him as a three-down defender for a full season. To those enamored with Smith, keep your eye on Evans in the early rounds of April’s draft.