It’s been a while since the Raiders’ offensive line played as poorly as it did on Sunday, and it’s starting to feel like another season of terrible offensive line play might be in the works in Las Vegas.
If it plays out that way, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise considering the only notable offseason addition to the Raiders’ offensive line (aside from a couple of mid-round draft picks) was veteran guard Alex Cappa, who is trying to bounce back from a terrible 2024 season in Cincinatti.
The coaching staff, especially offensive line coach Brennan Carroll has taken a lot of criticism in the first three weeks, but is it possible the Raiders simply don’t have enough talent along the offensive line?
Raider Nation Radio host Q Myers brought up that topic on Monday, and he believes the Raiders’ O-line issue goes beyond the coaching staff and has a lot to do with personnel.
“One of the biggest things that we talked about all summer long, even in training camp, was you got to figure out who you’re starting five is going to be as quickly as possible, so you can build that continuity,” Myers said on the Locked on Raiders podcast.
“We call Lincoln Kennedy, ‘Professor Kennedy’ for a reason. You know, he keeps telling me that it’s reps, reps, reps. That’s what they need and I get that,” Myers continued. “But at the same time, I don’t know how talented this line is. You can have all the reps you want, but do you have any talent? Right now, it doesn’t look like that offensive line is worth it’s salt. I don’t know if this is fixable.”
It took a while for the coaching staff to settle on a starting offensive line in August, but it is definitely concerning that the group isn’t improving.
As bad as the Raiders’ offensive line is playing, the optics would be a little more encouraging if they were trying to figure out the broader issues with Jackson Powers-Johnson in the mix.
For reasons that haven’t been entirely explained, the coaching staff hasn’t been high on Powers-Johnson, but how much worse can he be than the players they put on the field in the last two weeks?
x: @raidersbeat
I can’t understand why “No” focus has been specially directed on the team offensive line.
They have made running back and quarterback moves that cannot bear fruit without a
Improved offensive line.
One guy isn’t going to make a difference on that line. Miller, should never have been paid what he got paid. He’s average at best now and would be the weak link on a good offensive line. How could anyone think that DJ glaze was going to be a starting tackle should be flipping burgers.
Our GM played Russian roulette with the offensive line and hit a hot chamber.
I would have expected them to be a better pass-blocking unit, with questions about the run- blocking, but they’ve been bad all around. And the protections and communication seems to be way off as well.
In many ways, Q’s point can be extended to the roster as a whole. Once again, the organization seems to have overrated the talent on the team, and then misread where they needed to spend their resources. But it’s all tied in to the weird timeline thing, too, because of Carroll isn’t here, I don’t think they take Jeanty at 6.
I don’t want to over react after 3 weeks, but this is very much looking like a team that went 4-13 last year, and then addressed their roster like they were a 9-8 team.
Last year, with JPJ at center we were at top 15 almost top 10 o-line towards the later part of the season..that particular group geled and did some nice work.. what’s the problem now, why all the changes. Why fix what isn’t that broken.. add to it maybe, but the momentum and continum can’t be overstated.. this line or combination of the o-line sucks! If we keep waiting for these guys to Gel, then the majority of the season is gone. We definitely need a reshuffle of the line.. put JPJ back a center..and try and find a replacement for DJ Glaze.. he did alright last year..but this year hes being exposed in primetime…let’s not waste another season and do nothing..make the changes necessary and let’s Go Raiders!!!
By the way, I think of all the “Insiders” type fan coverage around the Raiders, Q tends to be one of the more reasonable and realistic voices. I think he’s pretty solid. The TDL guys from Silver and Black Pride are pretty good, too.
You feel smarter when listening to them than the Hondo and JT types, who probably have more access but do way less with it.
Basically the same line as last year and they weren’t any good then, the only way to improve it is to acquire some new people to play on the offensive line!
It’s not working cause our quarterback sucks.How many times do we have to say this!!!!!!
How many times must we say this .Our quarterback is garbage.Pathetic piece of crap
Thus is what happens when you bring in Pete. His philosophy was always overlook the line. **** shame that Mark listened to Tom and didn’t make an offer to Ben Johnson this year and didn’t make an offer to Harbaugh last year. Instead we get the old Pete Carroll that Seattle told to get out. But at least we wasted 1rd pick on small, slow RB, slow WR in the 2nd, Geno for a 3rd (are you kidding) and a raise, etc,etc. Way to go Mark you’re listening to a guy who barely makes it into work, EVER! At least we’re wasting more $$ with Chip I’ve never did a thing in the NFL Kelly. I’m expecting 2 and done for Pete, Spytek, Geno and probably Maxx! The constant picking the wrong guys to listen to keeps us in purgatory.
It’s not Geno. It’s not Jeanty. This line would have problems with an FCS team. Problem one is Brennan Carrolls experimenting with the line up. Huge goose egg laid there. At this point, bring JPJ back at C. Move Parham back to RG. Start the rookie at LG. Meredith and Cappa are backups at best. This lineup couldn’t be any worse than what we got. BC needs to swallow his pride and realize he’s not his dad.
Last year, with JPJ at center we were at top 15 almost top 10 o-line towards the later part of the season..that particular group geled and did some nice work.. what’s the problem now, why all the changes. Why fix what isn’t that broken.. add to it maybe, but the momentum and continum can’t be overstated.. this line or combination of the o-line sucks! If we keep waiting for these guys to Gel, then the majority of the season is gone. We definitely need a reshuffle of the line.. put JPJ back a center..and try and find a replacement for DJ Glaze.. he did alright last year..but this year hes being exposed in primetime…let’s not waste another season and do nothing..make the changes necessary and let’s Go Raiders!!!