Oakland Raiders: Five reasons they could miss the playoffs in 2018
By Kevin Saito
Pass Rush Fails To Come Alive
For years now, Oakland has had one of the least effective pass rushes in the NFL. As a unit, their ability to put heat on a quarterback was surpassed by – well – basically everybody in the league.
Khalil Mack aside, the Raiders haven’t had a single player on their defensive roster who’s been able to generate consistent pressure on the quarterback – as evidenced by the team languishing at or near the bottom of the league in sacks.
To that end – getting Mack some help – Bruce Irvin is reportedly going to utilized solely as a pass rushing end this year.
It’s a start, but they’re going to need more help. Specifically up the middle, where the Raiders have failed to generate much, if anything, in the way of pressure.
Re-signing Justin Ellis is smart, in terms of bolstering the run defense, but in terms of aiding the pass rush, it’s a big miss, given that he has just half a sack over his four-year career. Last year’s third-found pick Eddie Vanderdoes showed some flashes early, but disappeared when it mattered most – and he’s coming off a blown ACL.
The Raiders also have Darius Latham (sometimes) on the interior of the defensive line, and the most promising of the group, last year’s seventh-round pick Treyvon Hester.
Suffice it to say, it’s not exactly the most dynamic group in the league, and if Oakland is going to get Mack and Irvin some help on the outside – and they really need to – they’re going to have to bolster the middle of that line.
Washington’s Vita Vea, Michigan’s Maurice Hurst, or Alabama’s Daron Payne are all possibilities to add an explosive young body to that interior. Somebody who can collapse the pocket and get the quarterback moving, if not take him down on their own.
Whatever they choose to do, the Raiders are going to need to add some power and explosiveness to the interior of their defensive line. They absolutely must add some help for Mack and Irvin. A solid, fierce pass rush is only going to help the defense as a whole.