Oakland Raiders: Can ‘Big Guys’ up front steal the show?
The Oakland Raiders are heading into 2017 with star-power, but can the big men up front on offense lead the way in some tough matchups this season?
We have all heard the many previews to the storybook season everyone thinks 2017 will be for the Oakland Raiders. What not a lot of people talk about are the biggest matchups on the field.
Bare with me, as we do some outside-the-box thinking while highlighting some of the biggest matchups few think about throughout the 2017 season.
Jets D-Line vs. Raiders O-line (Week 2)
A game which should be all accounts be a one-sided blowout contains a matchup worth paying attention to. The New York Jets are not good across the board at any position group with the exception of the defensive line.
Sheldon Richardson is a talented defensive lineman, who also happens to be a knucklehead. But if motivated and focused on being the best he can be, then he can be one of the best. Leonard Williams is a problem on the line. Big, powerful, agile, and quick quite the compliment for a 300+ pounder. Capable of fighting off a double team or utilizing speed and finesse to slip into the backfield he collapses pockets with ease.
Saving the best for last Muhammed Wilkerson rounds out the front. Wilkerson is a former First Team All-Pro, coming off a down year in 2016 look for him to try and rebound.
Most notable is Kelechi Osemele and Muhammed Wilkerson paired up to do battle all game long come Week 2. This may very well be the matchup worth the price of admission. For the football purists, let’s not joke around here, this is going to be a showcase of physicality for 60 minutes. The undercard features Rodney Hudson, who draws an equally tall order with Williams, while Gabe Jackson (a.k.a. “Big Smooth”) enjoys the pleasures of Richardson.
Ndamukong Suh vs Gabe Jackson (Week 9)
This is a tremendous matchup. Suh is a player who really teeters over the line of being a dirty player. You couldn’t ask for more in a defensive tackle. Every defensive line coach covets a large surly individual who enjoys imposing his will on others. Suh will bring the wrath of the furies on every play. But he will find Jackson will be ready. To get to Carr, he has to rough up “Big Smooth”. However, Jackson participated in 735 pass plays last season without allowing a single sack.
Snacks vs KO (Week 13)
This is the big boy battle royale with two great big old boys who love to eat. Damon “Snacks” Harrison lives to talk loud and be heard while eating up opposing lineman. Osemele was famously seen walking through the halls of team headquarters eating a sandwich when he first welcomed Beast Mode to the team. The commissioner of the No Fun League should look the other way while both Harrison and Osemele get mic’d up. Being able to hear the back and forth banter between these two might usurp the rest of the game.
Next: NFL Power Rankings 2017: Best players by jersey number
Plenty of wars will be fought in trenches over the course of a season. The Raiders will face numerous elite edge rushers, a matter which will be addressed in the future. With training camp still weeks away, all that can be done is pacing around the television waiting for football to return.