Oakland Raiders: 5 Pressing questions for the 2018 season
Did the Raiders Adequately Address the Middle Linebacker Spot?
After the Raiders waived middle linebacker Rolando McClain in April of 2013, the defense cycled through five one-off primary starters at the position. Nick Roach, Miles Burris, Curtis Lofton, Perry Riley Jr. and NaVorro Bowman have all served as Band-Aids at the heart of the defense.
Whether due to injury, poor play or the decision not to return after a solid season, the Raiders have lacked stability at a priority defensive position. This year, Derrick Johnson, a longtime Kansas City Chief, will attempt to fill the spot for at least a term. He signed a one-year contract in May as the latest stopgap at middle linebacker.
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Oakland also selected sixth-rounder Azeem Victor in April’s draft and signed undrafted free agent Jason Cabinda out of Penn State.
At Washinton, Azeem had a strong sophomore season with 95 total tackles, nine resulting in a loss and six passes defensed. Unfortunately, he broke his leg in the following term and the school suspended him twice — once for an undisclosed reason and another for a DUI, indefinitely.
Cabinda enters the league with leadership skills and fills gaps with urgency. He also broke up 11 passes in three collegiate seasons.
Don’t forget second-year linebacker Marquel Lee. He’s a two-down thumper, but does the Wake Forest product have the coverage skills to stay on the field for all three downs?
The previous coaching staff didn’t think so. According to Pro Football Focus, he took just 52 snaps in coverage last season. It’s worth noting, the 2017 fifth-rounder broke up just two passes and logged zero interceptions through four collegiate seasons.
General manager Reggie McKenzie refuses to invest high draft capital or a significant free-agent market money in a middle linebacker. Nonetheless, there’s hope Paul Guenther finds an unheralded gem among the youngsters while Johnson holds down the position in 2018. The former linebackers coach and defensive coordinator helped develop Vincent Rey and Vontaze Burfict into starters after they went undrafted to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2010 and 2012, respectively.