Arguably the greatest strength on the Raiders’ roster is on their offensive line. From 1-5, the team doesn’t really have a weakness as Kolton Miller improved drastically at left tackle last season. The additions of Richie Incognito and Trent Brown proved to be worthwhile as each played like top-five players at their respective positions.
In a recent article by Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus, the site ranked the 25-best interior offensive linemen heading into the season. Not surprisingly, the duo of Rodney Hudson and Richie Incognito finished in the top-10. Hudson finished at No. 6, as the site called him the best pass-protecting center in the NFL:
Over the last five seasons, no center has recorded a single pass-blocking grade higher than Hudson’s worst single-season mark over that stretch. His 1.0% pressure rate allowed over those five seasons is nearly a full percentage point lower than Brandon Linder (1.9%) in second place at the center position.
Pro Football Focus cites the while Hudson could improve in the run game some more, his dominance as a pass protector make him one of the most valuable offensive linemen in the NFL.
As for Incognito, he came in at No. 10 despite taking the entire 2018 season off. After serving his two-game suspension, Incognito returned to the field and was instantly one of the best guards in all of football. Here is a snippet of what Pro Football Focus thinks about the Pro Bowl guard entering the 2020 season:
Incognito’s pass protection has improved as his NFL career has progressed, and he earned a single-season best 88.5 pass-blocking grade this past year. He allowed just nine pressures on 414 pass-blocking snaps all season, good for a pressure rate allowed of 2.2% that trailed only the Canton-bound Marshal Yanda among qualifying guards. With that kind of pass protection next to Hudson, Derek Carr isn’t going to have to worry about facing pressure up the middle all that often.
With Incognito and Hudson solidifying the interior of the offensive line, it’s simply one of the best units in the NFL. And if Gabe Jackson can stay healthy and play at the level that we saw in 2016-2017, there is a chance that all three players could make the Pro Bowl this season. Look for the Raiders’ offensive line to dominate again this year as they are one of the most talented units in all of the NFL.
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