Oakland Raiders: Defensive line underrated going into 2018 season

The Oakland Raiders made several offseason moves to improve their defensive line. What makes this unit an underrated group going into the 2018 season?

The Oakland Raiders‘ revamped wide receiver corps captured headlines over the offseason, but it’s the defensive line that may see the biggest jump in production via sacks and improved run defense.

NFL.com listed its top eight defensive lines, and the Raiders just missed the cut. Pro Football Focus released their pass-rush rankings; Oakland placed 13th. Both outlets clearly see there’s potential underneath all the hoopla about head coach Jon Gruden’s outdated approach to building a football team.

Let’s take a look at the Raiders offseason moves that strengthen their defensive front.

Moving Bruce Irvin to Defensive End

The changes started with the intention to utilize Bruce Irvin primarily as a bookend defensive end. Gruden sees the seventh-year veteran most effective attacking off the edge, per San Francisco Chronicle reporter Matt Kawahara. “He’s at his best screaming off the edge and as a threat off the edge.”

In 2017, defensive end Khalil Mack rushed the quarterback on 95 percent of passing snaps compared to 76 percent for Irvin, per Pro Football Focus. The decision to further unleash the Raiders’ second-best pass-rusher could help him reach a double-digit sack total for the first time in his career.

Raiders Draft Three Pass-Rushers

Initially, when we think about bolstering the pass rush, quick defenders coming off the edge come to mind. General manager Reggie McKenzie and Gruden decided to add Arden Key to the rotation. The third-rounder will spell Mack and Irvin on the outside, but he’s not a footnote in these acquisitions.

Key logged an 11-sack season in 2016 as one of college football’s top pass-rushers. He underwent offseason shoulder surgery, which cost him two games in the following campaign—a finger injury also likely factored into an underwhelming junior season. His sack total dropped to four, but he still flashed in glimpses.

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As a designated pass-rusher, Key has the potential to become what the previous coaching staff thought Shilique Calhoun could’ve been behind Mack and Irvin off the edge.

Defensive lineman Denico Autry took the field as the team’s best interior pass-rusher last season. He recorded a season-high five sacks lining up alongside Mack up front. The 28-year-old signed with the Indianapolis Colts during free agency, which created a need for an inside penetrator on passing downs. Eddie Vanderdoes and Justin Ellis profile as run-stoppers with little success reaching the quarterback.

P.J. Hall and Maurice Hurst will battle for the 3-technique spot next Ellis on a four-man front. As a complete player with experience against top-flight competition, the Michigan product will likely start Week 1.

If not for a heart condition, Hurst probably would’ve come off the draft board within the first two rounds. As a fifth-rounder, he’s a complete steal with the ability to take down the quarterback as they try to escape Mack and Irvin off the edge.

Guenther won’t just discard Hall in a backup role. The Sam Houston State product racked up 86.5 tackles for a loss and 42 sacks through four collegiate seasons. The second-rounder’s learning curve against tougher competition will determine his snap count for the upcoming season.

Raiders Maintain Run-Stopping Ability, Add Depth

Pass-rushers take the spotlight, but a strong defensive line must stop the run. The Raiders will face the top three rushers from the previous season in Kareem Hunt, Todd Gurley and Le’Veon Bell in 2018. Fortunately, their front features size, quickness, veteran savvy and depth.

Despite his shortcoming as a pass-rusher, Ellis has been a solid run-stopper through four seasons. When healthy, Mario Edwards Jr. can play on run and passing downs. His quickness allows him to penetrate gaps. According to Pro Football Focus, he tied with Autry for the second-most stops among the team’s interior defensive linemen. The 24-year old also logged 3.5 sacks.

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Keep an eye on 12th-year veteran Frostee Rucker, who led the Arizona Cardinals defensive line in stops with 23 last season, per PFF. The 34-year old started all 16 games in the previous campaign, logging 606 snaps. In a role reduced to early downs, he provides value to a four-man front that can show a wide variety of looks.

In two of the last three terms, the Raiders listed 12th and 13th in run defense. This year, with the depth and versatile pass-run defenders available next to Ellis, we could see the front four keep most ground attacks below 100 rushing yards. A top-10 run defense isn’t out of the question.

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