Oakland Raiders: Chris Long Not The Answer To Pass Rush Questions

The Oakland Raiders, in need of a boost to their pass rush, could potentially be eyeballing former Ram Chris Long – but signing him is not a move the team should make.

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In terms of storybook endings, the Oakland Raiders are in a position to write one of their own. Chris Long – son of Raider legend Howie Long – has been cut loose by the newly minted Los Angeles Rams. While bringing him to the East Bay to perhaps finish out his career in the same jersey his dad wore might make for a terrific Hollywood ending, the sad fact of the matter is that Long is not the player he once was and the Raiders can – and must – find a better solution to their pass rush needs.

There was a time not all that long ago when Long was a dominant pass rusher. Over the course of four seasons between 2010-2013, Long notched 41.5 sacks and was a force of nature along the then St. Louis Rams’ defensive line.

Unfortunately, time and injuries brought about by the constant beating Long took over his eight season career for his physical style of play have taken their toll and he’s no longer the same player he once was. Over the past two seasons, Long has been limited to 18 total appearances – with just 11 starts – and has accumulated just 24 tackles and a woeful four sacks.

As nice of a story as it would be to see Long play in Oakland – and perhaps even don his father’s iconic number 75 just to put a nice shiny bow on this fairy tale – the reality is that the Raiders will need to get more production out of whoever they sign to help upgrade their defensive line.

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With Justin Tuck retiring and the status of Mario Edwards Jr. still up in the air as he – hopefully – recovers from a neck injury sustained last season, the Raiders find themselves in a position of need along their defensive line. They need a fierce pass rusher to complement – as well as take pressure off – standout and defensive force of nature Khalil Mack.

With Mack’s breakout year last season, he is likely going to draw even more attention than he did as a rookie. Notching 15 sacks on the year, being named an All Pro at two different positions, and being one of the most dominant defenders in the game will do that to you. Which makes it imperative that the Raiders find somebody to help ease the burden on Mack to allow him to continue his Tasmanian Devil style of play.

The Raiders desperately need somebody else who can get to the quarterback with regularity who opposing offenses will have to account for so they can’t shut down Oakland’s pass rush simply by keying on Mack. With Aldon Smith not eligible to even apply for reinstatement until mid-September and the likelihood that he won’t be allowed to return to football until November, the Raiders need to handle their business now and have that defensive machine up and running long before Smith is eligible to return.

This is assuming of course, that Smith will want to return to the Raiders once his suspension is over. The feeling at the time the league handed down Smith’s year long ban was that the Raiders wanted Smith back and Smith wanted to play for nobody but the Raiders once he was allowed to return. A lot can change over the course of a year, but it seems very possible that a reunion between Smith and the Raiders could be very possible, if not likely.

Which will help the Raiders defense once it happens. Until then though, the Raiders need to move forward and find somebody, be it in free agency or through the draft, who can bridge that gap and help establish the Raiders’ pass rush.

After a dismal 2014 season when the Raiders got to the quarterback with as much frequency as Southern California sees rain, they took some big steps forward last season. With 38 sacks on the year, Oakland was in the middle of the pack – up from being one of the very worst teams in the league the season before. But they still need to do better.

GM Reggie McKenzie seems committed to filling the roster with young, impactful players. And while he will bring in veterans who are high character guys who still have something left in the tank and can contribute to the team. Chris Long was an impact player for a time. But given that we’re two years removed from his best seasons as a pro, it doesn’t seem like he’s going to be able to recapture the dominance he had earlier in his career.

As such, he’s not somebody McKenzie and the Raiders can take a flier on. They need to fill the roster with players who can step in and contribute on day one. With the playoffs a very realistic possibility next season, the Raiders can’t affford to bring in players who can’t have an impact on the team right now.

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Unfortunately, as good of a story as it would be to bring in the son of a Raider legend to play for the Silver and Black, it wouldn’t help the team improve as a whole. And with the team gunning for an AFC West title – or at the very least, a Wild Card spot – next season, they’re going to need to get more out of their free agent signings.

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