Klint Kubiak Backs Rob Leonard After Raiders Allow 30-Plus Points In Six Straight Games

Klint Kubiak Backs Rob Leonard Amid Raiders’ Defensive Slide© Instagram

Klint Kubiak is sticking with Rob Leonard after another Sunday spent watching the Raiders struggle to get off the field. Las Vegas lost 38-17 at San Francisco, extending its run of games allowing at least 30 points to six.

On Monday, Kubiak said he did not anticipate changes on defense. His backing covered Leonard, the assistants and the players, with the first-year head coach arguing that the staff needed time to develop the group.

The Raiders are 4-5 after opening 3-0. Five losses in six games have erased that early cushion.

Kubiak Stands Behind His Defensive Staff

“I stand behind Rob. I stand behind our defensive staff. I stand behind our players,” Kubiak said during his Monday news conference.

He pushed back against calls for someone to lose their job whenever results turn, saying the organization had hired people to build something over the long haul. He also expressed confidence in the scheme and Leonard's ability to call it.

September had supplied reasons for that confidence. Through three games, Las Vegas allowed 18 points per game, collected 10 sacks and forced nine turnovers. Leonard's first season as an NFL defensive coordinator was off to a promising start.

Since Week 4, opponents have averaged 35.7 points and 168.7 rushing yards, both the worst marks in the league over that stretch. The Raiders have managed nine sacks and five takeaways across those six games.

The win over the Jets did little to ease those concerns. New York scored on its first six possessions and finished with 33 points, even as Las Vegas pulled out the victory.

San Francisco Controls The Game On The Ground

The 49ers rushed for 94 yards in the first quarter Sunday and finished with 190. Their first three touchdown drives lasted 12, 13 and 12 plays, keeping Leonard's defense on the field for long stretches.

Brock Purdy added 232 passing yards and two touchdowns. San Francisco held possession for 38 minutes and 18 seconds and accumulated 414 yards.

Kubiak's offense made the afternoon harder, too. Kirk Cousins threw three interceptions, including one that Jaden Dugger returned 35 yards for a touchdown on the opening play of the second half. That score contributed to San Francisco's total without Leonard's defense being on the field.

Kubiak pointed to stretches when he felt the defense had worked. His complaint was its inability to sustain that level across an entire game, regardless of the opponent.