The Raiders have done a ton to improve their defense this offseason. From signing veterans such as Cory Littleton and Maliek Collins to drafting defensive backs Damon Arnette and Amik Robertson, the Raiders are hoping it’s enough to take the unit to the next level.
The truth of the matter is that the Raiders’ defense will only be able to take the next step if their defensive line improves. While they have certainly invested enough draft picks into the position, they really need one or two players to rise above the group and become above-average starters for this defense to work.
In a recent article by Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report, he named each team’s biggest red flag heading into the 2020 season. Not surprisingly, the Raiders’ defensive line made an appearance due to their youth. Here is a snippet of Sobleski’s thoughts on the unit entering the season:
The Las Vegas Raiders invested a lot in their defensive front. The team chose Arden Key, P.J. Hall, Maurice Hurst, Clelin Ferrell and Maxx Crosby during the 2018 and ’19 drafts. Yet, this group remains a potential sticking point.
Natural improvement should occur as these individuals develop. However, some concern should still exist about whether any of them, outside of Crosby, will become consistent disruptive forces.
The Raiders are hoping that new defensive line coach Rod Marinelli will be able to help a few of these players take the next step. Luckily, he has quite the knack for developing defensive linemen as he did just that at every stop in his career.
If a few of these players such as Hurst or Ferrell can develop into above-average pass-rushers, then the sky is the limit for this defense. If not, the defensive line could be the team’s Achilles’ heel once again this season.
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