If Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones aren’t the best pass rushing duo in the NFL, they’re very close to it. But for the Raiders, the question was what about behind them? What about when they need a breather or in the event one of them is lost to injury. Who steps in or steps up?
Throughout the preseason, the answer has developed slowly, and as of Friday night’s final preseason game against the Patriots, the answer is clear — it’s Malcolm Koonce and Tashawn Bower. And both of the gave the Raiders every reason to feel pretty good about that.
Bower in particular, had two sacks on the night, which, added to his previous total, gives him four sacks this preseason. I asked him how he felt about the position he put himself in as far as being the next man up after Crosby and Jones.
“I feel like I’ve done a good job, but I’m going to let the coaches decide that,” said Bower. “We have a lot of other good players too who can do great things, so whatever I can do to fit in in my role and have a piece on this defense or on this team, I’m ready to accept it.”
Bower has bounced around some in his career, first signing with the Vikings undrafted free agent out of LSU and then spending a couple seasons with the Patriots as well. In both instances, bouncing back and forth between the practice squad and the active roster.
Koonce is entering his second season after being selected in the third round of the 2021 draft. He has been getting good pressure all preseason and added his second sack Friday night. He also had another play that he got pressure to force his man to draw a holding penalty to keep him from blowing up the play.
It’s important to note, these weren’t the Patriots’ second and third team players they were going against. Bower and Koonce did much of their damage against the Patriots’ first team offense.
“That just shows our depth,” said Koonce. “Everybody plays hard, so it’s great to go against a starting offense and produce.”
What this means for Clelin Ferrel is less certain. The former top pick was injured most of camp and returned last week. In the practices since, and even before that, he was bounced around as the team tries to find a place where he can thrive, At this point it doesn’t look like that position exists.
The team might have held onto him regardless had they not been able to find production from anyone else. And it’s certainly possible they will hold onto Ferrell, if for no other reason than cutting him would come with a sizable amount of dead money left behind.
Most importantly, though, the play of Koonce and Bower could remove the part of the Ferrell dilemma that involves whether they have proper depth at defensive end.