The Oakland Raiders are Nnamdi Asomugha-less, and Brandon Marshall wishes it wasn't so.
Marshall was asked Wednesday what the Raiders lost the most in the departure of Asomugha. "Leadership," Marshall said.
"I always loved playing against Nnamdi. It was always…I loved the competition," Marshall told the media Wednesday of his time in Denver facing Asomugha twice a year. "I loved the big game. I was never afraid of Oakland when Nnamdi was there. I actually loved the matchup. What he brings to a team, their secondary or any team just his character, his professionalism is first class. I would say definitely his leadership.
The Raiders haven't been great against the pass this season in terms of yardage, but they're only allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete passes at a 52.3 percent rate.
Marshall said that while he's familiar with Oakland's personnel, its defensive scheme has changed.
“Before they just lined up man-to-man and you knew where they were going to be, you knew what they were going to throw at you," Marshall said. "Now they do a great job mixing it up a little bit. I think that’s where they’re getting some their success.”
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