Raiders’ fans have plenty of confidence in Gus Bradley

I often conduct Las Vegas Raiders’ fan polls to help get the community involved and give folks a chance to have their voices heard.

Only occasionally, however, do I write follow-up posts on poll posts. I only do so when the results are truly fascinating. This is one of those times.

Last week, I asked readers to vote for their top Raiders’ offseason addition this season. I gave fans seven choices: Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, wide receiver John Brown, running back Kenyan Drake, tackle Alex Leatherwood, safety Tre’von Moehrig and cornerback Casey Hayward.

Bradley was an overwhelming winner with 71 percent of the vote. Ngakoue was second at 16 percent.

What a landslide victory. Wow.

I truly thought Ngakoue — who instantly became the Raiders’ best pass rusher after he signed a two-year, $26 million deal in March — to win. It’s rare for a coach to be the runaway choice for a team’s best addition in an offseason.

I think all the support for Bradley is threefold:

1. He has a track record of success, especially as the leader of the Seattle Seahawks’ legion of Boom defense early last decade.
2. He has a history with Raiders coach Jon Gruden and he has the full support of Gruden and the Raiders’ players.
3. He’s not Paul Guenther, who was a villain in the eyes of the Raiders’ fan base toward the end of his three-year stint as defensive coordinator last year.

Will Bradley be the difference maker fans expect him to be? Time will tell, but there is, no doubt, the Raider Nation is fully behind him.