Raiders DB Michael Huff says the Raiders need to start picking off balls. They have yet to get their first interception. (US Presswire)

Four games down, zero interceptions. That's not exactly what veteran defensive back Michael Huff expected when the Raiders entered the season with high hopes and an exciting new scheme, featuring multiple fronts, coverages and blitzes.

"I wouldn't have believed it," Huff said. "Even based on preseason, you could just see, it was a great defense when we play our defense. And for us not to have any picks and only a few sacks just boggles (the mind)."

The Raiders and Detroit Lions are the only teams in the NFL without an interception. The Raiders are tied for last with Detroit in takeaways with just three, all fumble recoveries. With just three sacks, they're tied with Jacksonville for last in the league.

The Raiders should at least have plenty of chances to end their interception drought Sunday on the road against 5-0 Atlanta. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has thrown 199 passes -- third most in the NFL-- and is coming off a 52-attempt game against Washington. Ryan has only three interceptions, but one of those came last week when Washington linebacker Ryan Kerrigan returned a pick 28 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.

"We definitely got to get some interceptions," Raiders strong safety Tyvon Branch said. "Once we start getting interceptions, that will help our pass rush. Everything works hand in hand, man. So we got to start covering better and pass rush will start getting some sacks.

"We're getting them to throw the ball where we want them to throw it. We want them to throw checkdowns. We just got to tackle better and then once we start tackling better, they got to start making high-risk throws in order to accomplish what they want to accomplish. So, football's crazy. Once they start coming, they're going to come in bunches."

Raiders defensive end Lamarr Houston said the line needs to give the secondary some help.

"I think as a D-line we need to apply more pressure to the quarterback, and we need to make more of an impact in the games. That's basically what I was really focusing on (during the bye week) because we've been pretty good in the run game. And we also need to improve on third downs. That's a part of rushing the passer."

Raiders coach Dennis Allen played safety at Texas A&M, was Denver's defensive coordinator last year and coached defense his entire career before being hired this year by the Raiders. From the moment he was hired, Allen emphasized the importance of takeaways, but something's been lost in translation.

"We call them takeaways, which means that we control them," Allen said. "It's not like the offense gives us the ball. We go out and take it away from them. So, yeah, there's things that we can do. I think really, and I think (defensive coordinator Jason Tarver) hit it the other day a little bit, we got to have 11 people flying around to the football, flying around like their hair's on fire. And that's the way you play defensive football. It's been that way since the beginning of time, and it won't change."

Huff, who started the first two games at free safety and the past two at left cornerback, hasn't had an interception since Nov. 27 against Chicago last season.

"We should have more production, more turnovers, more plays," Huff said. "Most of it is what we did, not playing the right leverage on some things, not getting the right checks on some things."

Follow Raiders reporter Eric Gilmore on Twitter @CBSRaiders.