Robert Spillane has transformed into the 'bell cow' of the Raiders defense

Oct 10, 2024 at 05:27 PM

Levi Edwards

Digital Team Reporter

With each rep, defensive stop and momentum shifting play, Robert Spillane has broken through the glass ceiling placed over him when he first arrived at the Raiders.

In his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers, coincidentally the team he'll face this Sunday, Spillane had moments to flash but in limited capacity due to his assigned duties and allotted snap count. He was used as a rotational linebacker on run situations, playing under 50 percent of defensive snaps in his four seasons there.

"Leaving there has only grown the chip on my shoulder," Spillane said. "At the end of the day, they had a chance to bring me back in free agency, but I'm here now and I'm so thankful to be a Raider and I look forward to bringing it to them on Sunday."

Spillane signed with the Raiders in the 2023 offseason, already having made an impression on defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and Antonio Pierce, the linebackers coach at the time. Even while not being in a feature role within the Steelers defense, Spillane jumped out to them on film and they envisioned him being their starting linebacker before he walked in the building.

"You could tell he played with a chip on his shoulder," Graham said. "You can see the energy. You can see the ability to communicate. So when he got here, that's why we wanted him. We wanted him. Whoever the other free agents were, we wanted him, and then he got here and he quickly established that, and then we started to grow our relationship through communication, through disagreements. ... But it's just a great relationship. We're able to talk ball. That's why I love it. We're able to sit there, talk ball."

Spillane saw his opportunity with the Raiders as a chance to prove what he can provide as a linebacker. He played in 97 percent of defensive snaps last season and has not missed a down of football in 2024. His ballhawk abilities and sideline to sideline instincts also began to shine through in the Silver and Black, totaling four interceptions and six pass deflections over the past two seasons.

He's currently tied for first in the league in total tackles (54) and is second among all linebackers in tackles for loss (five). He additionally has an 84.7 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus, the eighth best among his position group.

"[H]e's our bell cow," Pierce said. "If Maxx [Crosby] is our super superhero, I mean, [Spillane] is the next thing we've got to it. He's been there every snap, has not missed one snap. ... Makes all the calls, makes all the checks. When you see him after the game, you see a guy that played balls to the wall. And nothing is more of a pleasure for me as a former linebacker to watch that from our middle linebacker.

"A guy who came here with a chip on his shoulder, and I think he's proven to everybody, you don't do what he's done four weeks in a row and say that's a fluke. He's one of the better linebackers in the National Football League, and I'm glad he's on our team."

The individual accomplishments are something Spillane holds pride in considering his journey as a undrafted free agent. Nevertheless, his main focus will always be what he can do to make the teammates around him better.

"I'm getting older in my career. Guys trust me, guys, look to me for advice and for mentorship and for and I'm happy to be able to provide that," Spillane said. "I always say a great leader is somebody who can train your replacement. So, for me to be able to train the guys that are going to be taking my spot eventually here is how I look at it."

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