There were a lot of disappointments in the Raiders 22-10 loss to the Chargers in week one, but arguably no position group on the roster performed at a lower level than the offensive line.
The Raiders O-line wasn’t a disaster, but their production wasn’t anywhere close to expectations, particularly in terms of run blocking.
Raiders color commentator Lincoln Kennedy played 121 games in a Raider uniform, and he was a part of one of the best offensive lines the team ever assembled. Kennedy talked this week about why he feels the Raiders offensive line struggled in the run game against the Chargers.
Via his podcast, The Morning Grind:
“The offensive line has to be able to open up holes and it was very frustrating, the fact that nothing got done, you know, during the Charger game. Second down and one, third down and one, fourth down and one. They couldn’t pick it up. It’s a little disheartening.
To me, the reflection goes on the fact this offensive line hasn’t played together. Keep in mind, the guys on the other side of the ball get paid, too… it’s not like it’s going to be an easy win all the time. But when you talk about playing together and being together, I think that resonates, because on the lines that I played with and we had success on short yardage, there were a couple of things that were all part of it.
Go back to the days of Zack Crockett. Zack Crockett was familiar with how we blocked 14 Blast, so he knew where to hit the hole. A little bit of a different blocking scheme… than where we are now, but my point is that collectively as an offensive line, we had to play together and this offensive line that started this past weekend against the Chargers has not played collectively together. You’ve had bits and pieces here and there, but they have not played together. That resonates when it comes to being effective.”
As many have pointed out, the Raiders have a lot working against them on offense right now.
Antonio Pierce pointed to the fact that Gardner Minshew has been the team’s starting quarterback for less than a month and a lot of key players on the offensive group, including Davante Adams, missed important reps in training camp and preseason.
That’s not a recipe for success with a brand-new offense and a new offensive coordinator in town.
Unfortunately, the NFL season is only 17 games and there are no mulligans in the first half of the season, especially in the AFC West. The Ravens will be a tough road test for the Raiders in week 2 and if the offensive line doesn’t play better than they did against the Chargers, the Raiders have nearly impossible odds of pulling off the upset.
x: @raidersbeat
This is why todays players are primadonnas
Every starter should play in preseason games so they have the time Linc is referring to
To gel This is the product on the field . First 4 games are like preseason games because EVERY STARTER is out there.
A little disheartening that Powers-Johnson can’t get healthy enough to contribute. The team must get more out of their early draft picks. Why do they continue to invest early draft picks on injured players. Wilson is STILL hurt, now Powers-Johnson. I’m wondering if Bowers was a luxury we just couldn’t afford, I was hoping they drafted an OL at that spot. Without a good OL this team is going nowhere, fast.
I understand what Kennedy is saying, but if this team can’t gain ONE YARD on three consecutive plays, they are simply weak! This has the makings of another sub 500 season. We have an inexperienced HC, weak OL, and second string starters at QB and RB. I’m hoping that they prove me wrong!
Hire the scouting department of the Dallas Cowboys, bc they know how to draft talented OL players.
I am trying to figure out what and when the raiders are going to get a grip on the way it was when we were winning the play calling the not going for it on 4th and 1 wtf
That is a fact if our offense wants to be a contender then the offensive line has to adjust or the team will fail the offense is nothing without a offensive line. They need to step up to the plate and soon after all we only have 17 games to get into the playoffs the coaches need to address this issue immediately