The Off. Line - Complaints, Fixes, Questions, Draft

[erickench]

Mike Tice once said while coaching for the Raiders: “If you look at the offense like a fancy car, the offensive line is the engine. Even though we might have nice spinners and nice rims and tinted windows and some neat paint job, it doesn’t mean crap without the engine. If the engine’s not working, the car might look like a pretty nice car, but it’s a piece of crap.” And he was 100% right. I wish we had him back. Changes must be made on the O-line. Charles Grant is a very athletic lineman. We should give him some reps at right tackle. Bring back Powers-Johnson as the starter at center. Parham has got to go. Maybe we should consider moving Meredith back to guard. He did so well there last year.

[mranquales]

I still think ita lack of talent. You can only coach up players so much. At some point they either level up or they don't. Im still for giving Rogers & Grant a chance as they haven't had extensive playing time, but JPJ can go as he's injury prone and imo an average, replaceable player and Burford is a reserve at best. I know people on here are clamoring for the sexy wr skill position pick but I would love to see most of our PREMIUM picks used on oline and dline for that matter. We need a talent upgrade in those spots

Because we're 3-1 and our pass blocking is top 5. Sure, you'd like our running to be better, but you have to play with who you have. Not even Kolton Miller is elite as a run blocker, we only have one OL (Lindenbaum) that is solid at run-blocking.

And like him or not, JPJ IS our most talented player when it comes to who of the new crop could end up being elite at run-blocking if they reach their potential. I know you guys love Caleb Rodgers, but he was getting beat quite a bit against the Chiefs.

The Raiders desperately need an X more than any other position, and no it's not just because it's a sexy pick. You'd be surprised how just that little bit more running room can be the difference in Jeanty getting a home run or getting stuffed. An X that strikes fear in the back seven, that slight hesitation during the handoff because the safeties don't want to get beat in case of a pass play, that alone can get someone of Jeanty's level to daylight. The corners playing off instead of press, can be the difference between 5 yards a carry and no-gain.

The Saints ignored Brock, opting instead to focus on Jeanty, and Brock made them pay for it. The Chiefs made Brock the focus, and a one-legged Jeanty averaged 4 yards per carry as a result. If we didn't beat ourselves by fumbling the kick-return, Jeanty gets 5-10 more touches on our way to a win/tie on that final drive. If Jeanty was 100% in general, there's no doubt in my mind we win that game. That's what the Raiders can do with 2 weapons on the field. Imagine if we had our 3rd and final piece?

[erickench]

Burford's PFF is up to 60. That's an improvement.

[Opoponax50]

They could still gel, but the more likely issue is probably that they're not the right type of players for Kubiak's system. It's always one of the issues a new coaching staff has to deal with; square pegs into round holes and all that. The bright side is going into the offseason being able to laser focus on what we know we need instead of needing everything.

[mstrbass2000]

...I think that they 'compress the field' more due to knowing that cousins is no longer comfortable throwing long, as from what I saw, we had our chances in that respect, and they were giving us it due to knowing we were less likely to try and take it, despite it being there.
...I would be interested to see that from an overhead view, as I swear their safeties were often coming forward early, and leaving guys wide open. deep on some of those routes...

every defense compresses coverage to stop the run vs the raiders...defenses dont respect any of our crappy wrs period, capt kirk while not great at the long ball can still toss the ball 55 yds but our wrs suck and threaten no one ...thats why spags stacked the box and had the safeties plying up...anyone think any defense could do that if we had a true wr1 on the field that could score over the top...tyreek fits this in spades even if he has lost a step

[mstrbass2000]

Because we're 3-1 and our pass blocking is top 5. Sure, you'd like our running to be better, but you have to play with who you have. Not even Kolton Miller is elite as a run blocker, we only have one OL (Lindenbaum) that is solid at run-blocking.

And like him or not, JPJ IS our most talented player when it comes to who of the new crop could end up being elite at run-blocking if they reach their potential. I know you guys love Caleb Rodgers, but he was getting beat quite a bit against the Chiefs.

The Raiders desperately need an X more than any other position, and no it's not just because it's a sexy pick. You'd be surprised how just that little bit more running room can be the difference in Jeanty getting a home run or getting stuffed. An X that strikes fear in the back seven, that slight hesitation during the handoff because the safeties don't want to get beat in case of a pass play, that alone can get someone of Jeanty's level to daylight. The corners playing off instead of press, can be the difference between 5 yards a carry and no-gain.

The Saints ignored Brock, opting instead to focus on Jeanty, and Brock made them pay for it. The Chiefs made Brock the focus, and a one-legged Jeanty averaged 4 yards per carry as a result. If we didn't beat ourselves by fumbling the kick-return, Jeanty gets 5-10 more touches on our way to a win/tie on that final drive. If Jeanty was 100% in general, there's no doubt in my mind we win that game. That's what the Raiders can do with 2 weapons on the field. Imagine if we had our 3rd and final piece?

exactly...raiders scuk at teh wr position, no one even bothers to plan for the passing game, just stop our running game and limit the tight ends

[SkullCrusher]

exactly...raiders scuk at teh wr position, no one even bothers to plan for the passing game, just stop our running game and limit the tight ends

Yep, as they get more tape and we improve ourselves things will change here some.
This past week only 365 yards in the air and 2 TD, 11 after 4 games.

[mstrbass2000]

Yep, as they get more tape and we improve ourselves things will change here some.
This past week only 365 yards in the air and 2 TD, 11 after 4 games.

the game planning and scheming by kubiak has been top notch even against a good defense like kc's ...now imagine if we actually had a wr that had to be watched and doubled on the field how good our offense could be (no stacked boxes)

[WNYRAIDER]

every defense compresses coverage to stop the run vs the raiders...defenses dont respect any of our crappy wrs period, capt kirk while not great at the long ball can still toss the ball 55 yds but our wrs suck and threaten no one ...thats why spags stacked the box and had the safeties plying up...anyone think any defense could do that if we had a true wr1 on the field that could score over the top...tyreek fits this in spades even if he has lost a step

spags also compressed the field due to cousins clearly no longer feeling comfortable throwing deep, as his confidence in his arm in now in the short to mid range, and tyreek hill is an obvious trd, and the last thing that this team needs right now, and that would be even if he can play. ....if he can actually play, as far as any league discipline, which may or may not be coming his way, I could seen KC being a possible fit , but not us, and I would bet that kk sees his in the same light, and is not even considering that possibility.

[mranquales]

spags also compressed the field due to cousins clearly no longer feeling comfortable throwing deep, as his confidence in his arm in now in the short to mid range,

Same difference.

It's obvious from Kirk Cousins interviews that he's not comfortable throwing the ball up to anyone but Cody White unless they're screaming wide open.

[RunOverByHubbard]

If and when Mendoza is capable, his legs will be a dynamic that Kirk does not have. If Kirk had Mendoza's younger body he could of ran numerous times for decent yardage including some first downs.

Very good point. There just might be a time later this season where the line is good enough that letting Mendoza play will be a sensible thing. He was great on the move in college.

[WNYRAIDER]

Very good point. There just might be a time later this season where the line is good enough that letting Mendoza play will be a sensible thing. He was great on the move in college.

...the mere fact that they will then have to defend against it will help....

[erickench]

Just read the scouting report on Trey Zuhn. He's considered an elite pass blocker. He should be the heir apparent to K. Miller instead of C. Grant.

[powski]

I just saw an ESPN chart that has Raiders OL #1 in team pass block win rating, at 63%. No idea exactly what it means, but it sounds good. So at least the line has improved a lot there, it seems so far. #2 they had 49ers at 59%.

[GoodTimeCharlie]

I just saw an ESPN chart that has Raiders OL #1 in team pass block win rating, at 63%. No idea exactly what it means, but it sounds good. So at least the line has improved a lot there, it seems so far. #2 they had 49ers at 59%.

Pass blocking we’re killin’ it. Run blocking we’re getting killed.

I know Coach K wants to establish the run, but the attributes that make us so good at pass blocking, being long, athletic, mobile just aren’t cutting it when it comes to moving people and creating lanes. Basing things off footage I’ve been watching, we can create lanes/windows for a moment, but not long enough for the inside runs that seem to be primarily called for Jeanty. There’s also Jeanty’s ankle which has sapped his quickness/bounce and those lanes/windows close before he can get through them.

I think a healthy Jeanty will cure some of the run blocking woes, but we just don’t have the horses at Guard. It’s going to best be fixed by more talent. It’s not just having “sand in the pants”. Linderbaum is “only” 305lbs, but that dude is talented. Burford unfortunately is both shy of talent and only 300lbs, and he’s getting his ass handed to him on runs. Now we’ve got Rogers 312lbs in for JPJ 325. Compare that to our Tackles, Miller 326 and Glaze 331. Coach needs more of them “dancing bears” to really get this thing hummin’.

I’m assuming they just don’t trust Washington enough to give Jeanty the rest his ankle needs. Whether that’s blocking or knowing exactly how to run the play, I’m not sure, but Washington’s biggest play of the season was an inside run. Watching it you can see the lane was closing on him, but he had the speed to escape due to a missed tackle in the scrum.

Hell, I’m just ramblin’ at this point. Get healthy Jeanty, and may at least one big mf’n dancing bear fall into our lap in the 2nd round since our 1st will be spent on Charlie B.

[RunOverByHubbard]

I just saw an ESPN chart that has Raiders OL #1 in team pass block win rating, at 63%. No idea exactly what it means, but it sounds good. So at least the line has improved a lot there, it seems so far. #2 they had 49ers at 59%.

It means that Cousins has only been sacked 5 times in 4 games including zero sacks by the Chiefs (although they hit him hard a few times). Last years, Geno Smith was sacked 55 times or about 3.5 times per game (he played in 16 games). Of our curiosity how many times has Smith been sacked so far this year with the Jets....poor dude has been sacked 12 times already.