With Rod Marinelli now the Raiders’ defensive line coach, you can expect that the team will be making some changes within the unit. One possible move is making defensive tackle Maurice Hurst the full-time starter as the three-technique.
In Marinelli’s defense, the three-technique is the most important player on defense. The scheme requires that player to be able to get up the field quickly and reach the quarterback. They are often blocked one-on-one and need to win that matchup in order for the defense to work.
If Hurst does win the three-technique job in Las Vegas, he could be primed for a breakout season. According to Pro Football Focus, he was listed as the most likely defensive tackle in the NFL to have a breakout season in 2020:
Hurst had a solid rookie season for Oakland in 2018, posting a 70.4 overall grade on 472 defensive snaps. He was even better this past season, particularly as a pass rusher. Among 61 interior defenders with 250 or more pass-rushing snaps in the 2019 regular season, Hurst ranked sixth in pass-rush win rate (15.1%) and seventh in pressure rate (12.0%). He started to build on some of that dominant pass-rushing ability that we saw at Michigan, and another step forward in his third year could mean big things for his future as one of the top names at the position for seasons to come.
Hurst clearly has the talent and pass-rushing skills to make the next step as a player. And with Marinelli coaching him and a potential full-time starting spot in front of him, there shouldn’t be anything holding Hurst back from setting career highs. Look for the former Michigan defensive tackle to have a huge season in 2020.
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