After Maxx Crosby’s surprising success during his rookie campaign a year ago, expectations for the defensive end are sky-high.
And that seems to be okay with Crosby. He’s mentally and physically prepared for a big season, stating he’s yet to approach his full potential.
Crosby led the club with 10 sacks in 2019, but in 2020, he has a simple goal: dominate the opposition.
“I feel like I could dominate every single game and that’s my goal and that’s what I plan on doing,” Crosby said Monday from training camp. “This offseason I put on some good weight. I’m running 275 right now and I feel great. My conditioning is getting to where I need it. I’m just super excited to show everybody that it wasn’t just a fluke rookie year. I want to prove to everyone that I’m going to be here for a long time.”
Crosby is clearly mentally charged for the upcoming season, but he’s also been adding weight to his frame, as coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock said he must do when they drafted Crosby out of Eastern Michigan.
He’s listed on the Raiders’ official roster at 255 pounds, though it’s no secret Crosby added to that total throughout last year’s campaign. He now weighs in at 275, fulfilling the projection of his coach and GM.
As for Crosby’s goal of domination, there was a bit of added nuance in his statement Monday. He also said he wants to improve in every phase of the game including pass-rushing, run defense and being a playmaker. “I feel like I definitely did some good things last year, but I haven’t even touched where I want to be,” he said.
But he’s had a taste of success, and his appetite for more is evident. The Raiders’ defense must improve if the team is to have a prosperous season, and Crosby appears ready to make the campaign easier for his teammates by dominating the edge and disrupting the opponent.