Raiderstation

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.

BoKnows81 wrote: Thu May 28, 2026 6:27 am Let's call it like it is. The team did not do enough (from a player standpoint) to address the O line this offseason, as of now. Linderbaum was a big get but that's it. They appear to be really relying on coaching. Let's hope it works out.

This. Its crazy that the OL was not addressed more (especially considering the investments we have made on the offensive side of the ball). I would like to use the Maxx trade not going thru as an excuse (but that was only for a few days). Many dreamed of Ioane. Linderbaum is going to have to help whoever we have at LG (hopefully not Burford who will be a MAJOR dissapointment). Glaze is equally as bad and JPJ is going to have fits playing next to him. Defensive coordinators are going to have a hard on attacking the right side of our line. I still do not believe the FO did not see what us dumb fans have seen. Coaching is only going to do so much (sorry to be repetitive but they can't turn shit into ice cream). Hopefully I am wrong, but I think the OL is going to disappoint for another year.

RI RAIDER wrote: Thu May 28, 2026 8:43 am This. Its crazy that the OL was not addressed more (especially considering the investments we have made on the offensive side of the ball). I would like to use the Maxx trade not going thru as an excuse (but that was only for a few days). Many dreamed of Ioane. Linderbaum is going to have to help whoever we have at LG (hopefully not Burford who will be a MAJOR dissapointment). Glaze is equally as bad and JPJ is going to have fits playing next to him. Defensive coordinators are going to have a hard on attacking the right side of our line. I still do not believe the FO did not see what us dumb fans have seen. Coaching is only going to do so much (sorry to be repetitive but they can't turn shit into ice cream). Hopefully I am wrong, but I think the OL is going to disappoint for another year.

#1 concern here.
Imo we did the absolute minimum and I wanted more, because I rather over do OL then waste a year with a poor line.
There's a chance we can be good, I just wanted a bigger chance of success.
Coaching is two fold, the actual coaching the players and the playcalling, imo if we aren't good you can still mask that with play calling most of the time, you just won't be as dynamic as you want. I want to believe KK will get that.

I get the FO had a tough task fixing so much. The one change I wish they had made was picking Pregnon in the 3rd instead of Crawford. That would have split addressing the needs of the OL with the entire D better.

I think our line will be fine.

I wanted a little more for the O line too, but they know more than we do.

raider_kin wrote: Thu May 28, 2026 3:31 pm I think our line will be fine.

I wanted a little more for the O line too, but they know more than we do.

I think so also. A big splash with Linderbaum, 5th year player Spencer Burford and a rook whos has upside is a great start. The rest can ve worked around.
I hope JPJ makes a jump in his 3rd year and 2nd at RG. That would be massive.

KillerRaider30 wrote: Thu May 28, 2026 4:15 pm I think so also. A big splash with Linderbaum, 5th year player Spencer Burford and a rook whos has upside is a great start. The rest can ve worked around.
I hope JPJ makes a jump in his 3rd year and 2nd at RG. That would be massive.

Burford is garbage

BoKnows81 wrote: Thu May 28, 2026 4:16 pm Burford is garbage

And still hes an upgrade over what we had.
Ill take the small wins as well. Everything doesn't have to be a slam dunk.

KillerRaider30 wrote: Thu May 28, 2026 4:19 pm And still hes an upgrade over what we had.
Ill take the small wins as well. Everything doesn't have to be a slam dunk.

We have no clue if he's an upgrade. And yea, the O line needs to be a slam dunk with a rookie QB.

BoKnows81 wrote: Thu May 28, 2026 4:21 pm We have no clue if he's an upgrade. And yea, the O line needs to be a slam dunk with a rookie QB.

No every position doesn't have to be a slam dunk to work. Kubiak will incorporate play calling away from weaknesses.

We have no clue if Mendoza is going to start.

If Burford starts, it would be very bad (although you can hide him between 2 studs). If Glaze starts, we are f[raiders_icon]cked (not trying to be a dick or pessimist).

With limited resources and everything to fix maybe they gambled on Dennison and Linderbaum minus Brennan Carroll helping significantly, along with a healthy Miller, and faith that at least 1-2 of the young players improving enough to be near average or better(!?).
Rogers and Grant graded an "incomplete" last year with one of the worst coaches (OL) in the history of all coaching, in all sports at every level. I have no hopes for Glaze, but hes also young and looked promising as a rookie. If he plays like his 2025 self prior to this season starting theres no chance he starts at least.

They must really like Zuhn. I dont know much about Burford but hes still young, younger than some players drafted this year. 9ers fans reacting like we did releasing Parham isnt a good sign but whatever.
And that if it doesn't significantly improve Cousins remains as tackling dummy until it does.
Im not rationalizing just trying to figure out "why?"

I really wanted to go after an RT in free agency or high in the draft. I'm going to remain agnostic about them until we see what happens. This FO is unproven atm, but I have reasonable hope they know what they are doing.

I get the pessimism though. The stench of last year was so bad it still lingers. Im just not an absolute pessimist right now.

raider_kin wrote: Thu May 28, 2026 3:31 pm I think our line will be fine.

I wanted a little more for the O line too, but they know more than we do.

....and it would seem that the front office views their pick-ups last year as more glass half full, than the other, and when taking in to consideration that they were all in an unworkable situation last year. ....at least, that would be my own 'glass half full' hope,

Linderbaum was a good get to help solidify the line and communication, which is key. Zuhn was drafted but unproven at this level, however, much upside with his versatility.

Year one fix is in and only so much you can do, even with the resources we had. Who knows what Grant and Rogers true capabilities are but, Dennison is the X factor in coaching them up.

Glazers and Burford are not the answer but there is still time to upgrade with roster cuts coming. My bet is some other teams cuts are better than what we have in them.

Meredith wasn't good at center but he played some real good guard prior to that. (Nobody on the line played well last year, so there's that) Also keep in mind Kolton got rolled up on and missed 14 games. JPJ missed 8 games. Most of the pressures were given up by Glaze himself. The scheme mind f[raiders_icon]cked everyone and they got no coaching. I think with the new oline coach and scheme + Linderbaum and the guys already on roster, the Raiders are going to surprise in a good way. You really couldn't have a better tackle and guard drafted the year prior by a different staff that fits the scheme better than Grant & Rogers. Add Zuhn to that. Already have Miller, Meredith, JPJ. Linderbaum is the best zbs center in the NFL & helps out either guard spot next to him, he's that good. All that together led by Dennison has me confident. Even Glaze to me will bounce back better if he ever has to play RT, & I personally don't think he'll be the starter

The Raiders will be patient with Glaze. I don't think he'll be considered bad enough to actually cut, but maybe won't be a starter. When asked about 2025 Spytek said he let too much talent go. They'll use the entire offseason, training camp and preseason to see how the players progress.