Raiders defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. expects to call the plays on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans but said it’s always a collective effort that includes coach Jack Del Rio, Jimmy Durkin of the Bayareanewsgroup reports.
“The whole staff, we sit in there and we go over the game plan, over the plays, we have a good idea of what plays should be called at certain times,” Norton said Thursday. “It’s a collective effort, but I do call them on game day.”
Norton came under some fire after the Raiders allowed 528 yards to the Atlanta Falcons in Sunday’s loss, which followed up the New Orleans Saints pounding them for 507 yards in a season-opening win.
Del Rio hinted after the Falcons loss that he had taken over some of the play-calling later in the game.
“He’s the head coach. He can do what he wants to do. That’s up to him,” Norton said when asked about Del Rio taking over.
“He’s very involved, on the offense, on the defense,” Norton said of Del Rio’s role. “He’s a very detailed person. He has his hands in it.”
Norton said it’s ultimately his responsibility to get this defense playing up to its capabilities.
“I’m accountable for it,” Norton said. “We’ve got to work harder, work better and we expect to come out of this.