Oakland Raiders: Five First Round Scenarios That Make Sense
By Kevin Saito
Darron Lee – LB, Ohio State
For all of their upgrades and improvements over this offseason, the Raiders still find themselves in need of an inside linebacker. More specifically, an inside linebacker who can play the pass equally as well as the run.
Last season, Oakland’s linebackers were victimized time and time again by opossing tight ends and slot receivers. The run of tight ends having “career days” against Oakland’s defense was deplorable and exposed a real weakness in DC Ken Norton Jr.’s unit.
Neiron Ball and Ben Heeney did a decent job after Curtis Lofton was demoted, but the linebackers group – specifically in pass coverage – remained a weakness throughout the season. It’s something that the team is going to need to address one way or another.
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And they could potentially address it by adding Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee.
While most are connecting the Raiders to Alabama’s Reggie Ragland, scouts have noted that he struggles in pass coverage, saying, “Hyper-focused run defender and will leave his eyes in the backfield too long at times, causing him to be late in coverage. Needs to widen his vision to protect from cut blocks, pick up crossers and better recognize routes. Out-matched trying to stick with slot receivers down the field in coverage.”
He’s great against the run and suspect against the pass – which is something the Raiders can ill afford from one of their linebackers.
Though Lee’s name has seldom come up in connection with the Raiders, he is very likely to be available when Oakland is on the clock. His numbers may not have been as flashy as Ragland’s, but the Raiders need linebackers who can play run and pass equally as well. And Lee seems to be able to do that a bit better than Ragland, which would seem to make him a better fit.
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