The Raiders are just two games into the season, but one of the encouraging storylines already seems to be the development of second-year left tackle Kolton Miller.
Miller has yet to allow a sack this year despite starting the season with matchups against Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, and Frank Clark – whom he struggled mightily against a year ago in London. Clark had 2.5 sacks against the Raiders last year as a member of the Seahawks, but on Sunday Clark was barely a factor in the Chiefs pass rush. According to Pro Football Focus, Clark had 36 pass rushes this week (mostly against Miller) and finished the game with no sacks, no hits, and no quarterback hurries.
In week one, Miller not only stymied the Denver pass rush, but it was his athleticism on the Raiders final possession that sealed the game against the Broncos. Not many offensive tackles with Miller’s size have the ability to get out on a tunnel screen the way Miller does below.
Dieter Kurtenbach on Twitter
Kolton Miller wins the game: https://t.co/nrbaXDklAt
Aside from injuries, Miller struggled last year with his technique, but also needed to add strength. Derek Carr talked before the season about Kolton being “noticeably stronger” and it’s been obvious through the first two weeks that Miller isn’t as susceptible to the bull rush. Miller ended last year with a 52.7 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus and he is currently at 75.0 this year – just barely behind $66 million teammate Trent Brown (78.2). With Jon Gruden’s tackles playing well, the Raiders can now look forward to getting their interior linemen back in the lineup for what should form one of the best offensive lines in football.
Next up for the Raiders and Miller are the Minnesota Vikings, who are tied for 8th in the NFL in sacks and are always tough to handle on the road. Every week Miller can hold up in pass protection makes his selection in the mid first-round last year a little more excusable – and might give the football universe a bit more confidence in offensive line coach Tom Cable, as well.
twitter: @raidersbeat
There were literally hundreds of so-called Raider fans/GM-wannabe’s, on these Raider blogs, that were crucifying this kid, and ridiculing the Raiders, for drafting him. 99% of these fans have never played the game past the HS level, let alone coached/trained/scouted at the Pro or College levels, yet they feel like they know what the Raiders should do with respect to schemes/play-calling/roster management. Injuries aside, this kid was always going to be fine. His combination of mental make-up, smarts, size, and athletic ability, projected him to be a worth 1st round selection.