Oakland Raiders: Justin Ellis healthy, looking toward active year

In 2018, Oakland Raiders interior tackle Justin Ellis missed 10 games with a foot injury. Now fully healthy, he’s ready to contribute in the trenches.

Opposing ground attacks shredded the Oakland Raiders run defense last season. The unit gave up 100-plus rushing yards in 12 out of 16 games. P.J. Hall and Maurice Hurst flashed at times, but the front line needed more beef—a massive body to eat up space and devour running backs—someone like 334-pound Justin Ellis.

Ellis sprained multiple ligaments in his foot during the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. The Raiders placed him on injured reserve, and he returned to action in Week 13. Still, the five-year veteran felt discomfort, per Kyle Martin of the team’s official website.

"“This is my first time really [being tested mentally],” Ellis said. “I told my mom and dad when I got home, I was really like, ‘dang, I was really injured this time.’ It tested me cause even when I wanted to come back I couldn’t, my foot was still hurting me; and even when I came back my foot was still hurting me. I focused on it and stayed on top of my weight, and stuff like that.”"

Ellis finished the year with seven total tackles, one for loss, in six contests.

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Coming off his best season, logging a career-high 27 solo tackles, he signed a three-year, $13.5 million contract extension. Head coach Jon Gruden saw the value in a massive interior tackle who can move bodies and thwart the run. Unfortunately, the Louisiana Tech product didn’t have an opportunity to put his skill set on full display.

Here’s a breakdown of Ellis’ rank among Raiders interior defenders in run stops through his first four seasons, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required):

2014: 2nd (15)
2015: 4th (15)
2016: 2nd (16)
2017: 1st (21)

With the foot ailment behind him, Ellis can show a little more with defensive line coach Brentson Buckner developing the group. He talked about the new demand for the big men in the trenches, per Raiders.com:

"“I like Coach Buck. He’s played the game, so I’m excited to see all the stuff he’s going to teach us. He want us moving, that’s one thing he’s talking about. He wants us moving. Every D-line coach has good technique, even [Coach Mike Trgovac] last year, but like I said he just wants us active. Be active, don’t be labeled to one position, like nose guard. We going to play defensive tackle, we going to play three technique, slide to the four.”"

For the most part, Ellis lined up as a nose tackle in previous campaigns, filling holes and stuffing the run. He’s logged a half-sack in five seasons, but pass rushing has never been his forte. The former Bulldog registered just 2.5 sacks on the collegiate level. Nevertheless, we could see more from Ellis in that area with Buckner moving his guys to different spots across the line of scrimmage.

Because of the interior defensive line depth, Hurst’s solid rookie season and the Raiders’ decision to re-sign Johnathan Hankins to a two-year deal, Ellis has become the forgotten man in Oakland. The 28-year old sounds determined to justify the team’s decision to give him a second contract, per Raiders.com.

"“The Raiders, they trusted me, they brought me back with an extension, so I feel like I still have something to prove,” Ellis said. “I have a lot left to get better at…”"

Hall and Hurst could take significant sophomore steps forward. Hankins provides six years of veteran savvy with a burst to break into the backfield and take down the quarterback. Eddie Vanderdoes will battle for snaps after missing the entire 2018 season with a torn ACL. Ellis can’t just blend into the crowd this summer. He should make the 53-man roster, but the 2014 fourth-rounder will compete for snaps.

Based on Ellis’ comments, motivation and competition may bring the best out of him; the Raiders definitely need his run-stopping ability. Defensive coordinators find it difficult to get off the field with a porous front line that’s continuously gashed on first and second downs.

Ellis doesn’t have to become a much-improved pass-rusher to impact the game — crucial stops on early downs force third-and-long situations. At that point, Hurst and Hall or Hankins can take over to add pocket pressure. The Raiders don’t need a one-man band or a hero in the trenches, but the accumulative talent —  with Ellis back in the mix — should rattle some quarterbacks and shrink running lanes.