The Raiders have had a revolving door at the linebacker position for the better part of two decades. It has been a spot that has given them plenty of problems of the years.
However, the Raiders, entering the 2024 season, finally have the linebacker position figured out, with Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo returning as the starters. Both players had fantastic 2023 seasons and should be even better in 2024, especially Deablo.
In a recent article by Tashan Reed of The Athletic, he wrote about Deablo and his performance so far in training camp. One of the most interesting notes regarding Deablo is that he’s cut 15 pounds ahead of the 2024 season and wants to play around 225 pounds this season:
Coming off a 2022 season in which he played just eight games due to injury, Deablo bulked up to 238 pounds last year in an effort to improve his durability. But Deablo said the added weight made him too slow. He only missed two games and had a productive year with 106 tackles, but he said he didn’t believe he played “to expectations” and still dealt with multiple injuries. This year, he has slimmed down to 223 pounds and believes he’ll be faster and better.
Deablo is the perfect weakside linebacker in Patrick Graham’s defense, as he can run from sideline to sideline and has no problem making plays in coverage. His biggest knock is his inability to shed blocks, but the Raiders are hopeful that the addition of Christian Wilkins will keep Spillane and Deablo cleaner this year.
With Deablo adding even more speed this year, he is primed for a massive season in the final year of his rookie contract. Look for the former Virginia Tech star to have his best season yet in 2024.
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