Why the Raiders Are Betting on Kubiak — and What Comes Next

THE SCHEME THAT WILL DEFINE THE RAIDERS’ FUTURE

With Klint Kubiak on track to become the Raiders’ next head coach, it’s time to go under the hood and really understand what his offense could look like in Vegas. In the episode embedded above, I’m joined by Cody Alexander to break down the true fundamentals of Klint Kubiak’s offense. We dive into why this system could be a perfect fit for Fernando Mendoza, why Ashton Jeanty is a dream match for his rushing attack, how Brock Bowers can be used as a true chess piece, and how the scheme can help elevate the offensive line. If you want a real scheme-based breakdown of how this offense could redefine the Raiders’ identity, this one’s worth the watch.

HOW WILL KLINT BUILD OUT HIS STAFF IN VEGAS?

Once the Raiders officially hire Klint Kubiak after the Super Bowl, the next big question becomes how he would build out his staff in Las Vegas. And based on Kubiak’s history, there are some very clear patterns worth paying attention to.

On the offensive side of the ball, it all starts up front with offensive line coach John Benton. Benton feels like as close to a lock as you’ll find to follow Kubiak to Vegas. Not only did Klint bring him to Seattle from New Orleans, but Benton was also Gary Kubiak’s offensive line coach for his entire tenure as the head coach of the Houston Texans. There are even Colorado State ties between Benton and Klint, too. The connection is as strong as it gets — and the résumé backs it up. Since 2004, eight of the NFL offensive lines Benton has coached have finished in the top 10 in rushing yards per game, and he’s developed Pro Bowl players at a high clip, with many of them making their first Pro Bowl under his tutelage. After the season the Raiders just had up front, that should sound pretty good to Raider Nation.

Sticking with the offense, Seattle quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko is another name to watch closely. Janocko has deep ties to Kubiak dating back to Minnesota from 2019–2021, and when Kubiak took OC jobs in both New Orleans and Seattle, Janocko followed him. When Kubiak lands in Vegas, it would be no surprise to see Janocko come with him — potentially even in a larger role, like offensive coordinator.

Then there’s Rick Dennison, a longtime NFL assistant who served as Gary Kubiak’s offensive coordinator from 2010–2013 in Houston and has crossed paths with Klint in Minnesota, New Orleans, and now Seattle. Dennison is currently the Seahawks’ run game coordinator and senior offensive advisor, and given that history, it’s hard to imagine Kubiak not finding a role for him as well. Add in Justin Outten and Michael Byrne — two more “Kubiak guys” — and you start to see how heavily the offensive staff could lean toward familiar faces.

SLEEPER CANDIDATE FOR DC?

Defensive coordinator, though, is the other massive piece of this puzzle. Early on, Aden Durde was the name everyone circled, but the more you dig into it, the less likely that feels. Durde is the defensive coordinator in Seattle, but he doesn’t currently call plays, and even if Kubiak wanted to give him those duties in Vegas, Seattle could still block a lateral move unless the title changed significantly, like naming him the assistant head coach. He’s also much more of a Mike Macdonald guy than a Kubiak guy, and at this point, it feels unlikely he’s the one.

That’s where a sleeper candidate enters the conversation: Karl Scott. Scott is Seattle’s defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach, and Cody Alexander made a compelling case that he’s ready to call plays at the NFL level in our last podcast. When Macdonald took over in Seattle, Scott was the one coach he retained from the previous regime — and Scott helped guide the secondary’s transition away from Pete Carroll’s heavy Cover-3 approach to a more modern system that clearly worked in Seattle.

Scott’s résumé is pretty impressive. He’s coached and developed players like Tariq Woolen, Devon Witherspoon, Nick Emmanwori, Trevon Diggs, and Patrick Surtain. He’s also worked under Nick Saban at Alabama and served as the Vikings’ DBs coach in 2021 — another direct tie to Kubiak from their Minnesota days. It’s not crazy to think Scott could be a dark-horse defensive coordinator candidate when Kubiak is calling the shots.

If that were to happen, it could also open the door for additional assistants from the defensive side of Seattle’s staff to come to Vegas, helping the Raiders mirror a defensive structure that’s been on the cutting edge in the league recently.

Of course, not everyone would have to be new. The Raiders could still retain coaches like Rob Leonard, Joe Woods, and Marcus Robertson. Leonard doesn’t have ties to Kubiak, but he’s a very respected assistant coach around the league. While he would be new to Kubiak, Woods and Robertson have both crossed paths with Kubiak in the past, so they could definitely be in play. Tight ends coach Luke Steckel is another name to watch; he’s done excellent work with Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer and is respected around the league, as well.

That’s the early read on how this could come together. Once the Super Bowl is over and a deal is finalized, things will move fast. And when Kubiak starts building his staff, we’ll be here to break down every move as it happens.

MORE MAXX CROSBY TRADE RUMORS

Maxx Crosby’s name is back in the news, again. This week on Media Row in the Bay Area, Jay Glazer said he believes Crosby’s time with the Raiders could be coming to an end. I know, you’re probably tired of hearing this. It feels like an annual conversation, and it’s only gotten louder since the team shut Maxx down at the end of the season.

I get why the speculation exists. He was clearly frustrated at the time, and his contract is very trade-friendly. The Raiders would take on just a $5.1 million cap hit while saving roughly $30 million in 2026. Glazer also floated the idea that Crosby could command a return bigger than what the Dallas Cowboys got for Micah Parsons. That package included two first-round picks and Kenny Clark, a three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle. That kind of haul would be hard to ignore if you’re the Raiders.

That said, I just don’t see it happening. The Raiders have landed a respected coach, are on the verge of securing their franchise quarterback, currently have the second-most cap space in the league to build around Mendoza on offense and Maxx on defense, and a GM who’s helped turn over a roster quickly in the past, too. For the first time in a long time, there’s a real path forward here. Will it take another year or two? Probably. But I don’t see Maxx pulling the ripcord now.

And it’s worth repeating: whenever his name has popped up in trade rumors over the years, Maxx has made it clear — if it doesn’t come from him, don’t buy it. Until that changes, I’ll believe it when I see it. For now, I still think Maxx Crosby is a Raider next season.

REQUIRED READING

You’ve seen Cody Alexander on the podcast plenty this year, so you already know he knows ball at a level few do. If you’re looking for the most in-depth Super Bowl preview out there, check out his deep dive breaking down how the two teams match up. Cody told me it took him a week and a half to put together, and it shows.

If you’ve only listened to Cody on the podcast and haven’t checked out MatchQuarters yet, you really should. This isn’t an ad, and he didn’t ask me to say this. I was a fan of his work long before SBSN launched, and I follow it even more closely now. I think you should, too.

MISS ANYTHING?

Catch up on some of our recent stories:

COULD KUBIAK USE BROCK LIKE JSN?

With Klint Kubiak calling the shots, Jackson Smith-Njigba had a breakout season — and watching him throughout the playoffs, it was hard not to imagine Brock Bowers being used in a similar way. In the YouTube breakdown linked here, Kurt Warner walks through how Kubiak consistently moved JSN around the formation to manufacture favorable matchups. Seattle used motion on 62.6% of its offensive snaps this season, and if Kubiak brings that same approach to Vegas, this video offers a pretty clear glimpse of how he could move Brock Bowers all over the formation to keep defenses guessing.

RAIDERS ROUNDERS

Each week, I team up with betting analyst Matt Perrault (The Bostonian vs The Book, The Daily Juice) to spotlight the best Raiders bets of the week and a few smart plays from around the NFL. Think of it as the perfect mix of insider football talk and betting insight, giving you a sharper look at how Vegas views the Silver & Black — from player props to game lines — and where the edges might be heading into Sunday.

Obviously the Raiders aren’t in the Super Bowl, but Raiders Rounders rolls on this week with a look at the big game, here’s what Matt likes this weekend:

• Patriots +4.5 — He says there is a ton of value taking the dog this weekend. He also thinks if Seattle wins the game, they win by three points. Along those same lines, if you go moneyline, he says the Pats are the value play there, too.

• He said if you like Seattle to win the game, don’t lay the juice, bet Darnold or JSN to win MVP along with it.

• If you’re interested in betting the total (45.5), Matt says take the over. He thinks we’re going to see special teams get involved and impact the scores a bit. Seattle’s gotten a lot from their special teams this year, so that’s a good take.

PROP BETS

• Milton Williams or Christian Barmore to have a sack in this game. While Seattle’s offensive line has played pretty well as a whole, Matt noted the center and both guards are some of the worst in the NFL in defensive tackle pressures allowed.

• UNDER 1.5 yards for the shortest touchdown in the game. Matt said he bets this every year as soon as it comes out. How many times have we seen a pentalty inside the five yard line put the ball on the goaline? I think this is another good bet.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Raiders Rounders is all about sharing our perspective on the game. These aren’t betting recommendations — any wagers you place are 100% your responsibility. Bet responsibly.

FANSHOTZ FRIDAY

“FanShotz Friday”

By now, you have seen the phenomenal photos we’ve been using in many of our newsletters. They’re some of the best shots you’ll find of your favorite team, captured through the lens of our friend Arnie Bazemore of Fanshotz.com. Every Friday, we’ll feature Arnie’s favorite Raiders shot of the week that he captures at practice or on game day.

This week, we’re featuring a shot Arnie snagged Ashton Jeanty and Maxx Crosby this season. You saw the quote from Jeanty at the top of the newsletter, so this one felt fitting today. Jeanty is at the Super Bowl representing a couple of brands, Applebee’s being one of them. When Kay Adams joked with him about the possibility of Maxx leaving the Raiders, Jeanty said he would give Crosby 100,000 boneless Applebee’s wings to stay with the Raiders. I told you guys above, I don’t think he’s going anywhere, but maybe, just maybe that offer will sway him if he’s on the fence.

Check out Arnie’s work at his site linked above and reach out if you’re interested in working with him. He’s a great guy and has been so supportive of me over the years when I was at NBC here in Vegas, and he’s come along for the ride with Silver & Black Sports Network, too.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Super Bowl Sunday! Enjoy the game, guys. I think it’s a hell of a matchup.

As for us here at SBSN, let’s plan on getting together on Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. PST for a live show breaking down what we saw from Kubiak in the Super Bowl against the Patriots defense. It’s our last look at what he can bring to the table on the big stage this season. So, we’ll have plenty to talk about. I’ve really enjoyed doing the live shows with you guys, too. So get your questions ready and let’s chat before they officially introduce the Silver and Black’s new head honcho.

Catch ya next time,