Reggie McKenzie has always been one to trust his gut. But his tenure in Oakland began by deferring to a rookie head coach, allowing a rookie coach to choose his offensive coordinator, and allowing his offensive coordinator to recruit smaller, more agile lineman. That year, the Raiders’ starting offensive line weighed 1,564 pounds – an average weight of 312 pounds.
Since Greg Knapp’s (the aforementioned offensive coordinator) departure, McKenzie has gone back to his gut – figuratively and somewhat literally. Oakland’s lineman are getting bigger. This quote from Andrew Brandt, a former colleague of McKenzie’s, offers insight into Reggie’s mindset when it comes to lineman.
Reggie had his terms of endearment for players. He valued brute strength in linemen, both offensive and defensive, and would slow the film down to watch plays that showed one lineman physically overmatching another. In his Tennessee drawl he’d say, “Look at this big joker…BAM!” When Reggie referred to a player as “country strong,” I knew that was a high compliment.
Depending on who earns the job at right tackle (Watson, Webb, Barnes), the Raiders 2015 starting offensive line will average 324 pounds – and that’s if Menelik Watson, who’s the lightest of the three, starts at right tackle.
Raiders offensive line coach, Mike Tice, says the group is the biggest he’s ever been around, but also the most athletic. “I’m pretty excited about the group I have to work with,” Tice told Sirius XM Radio. “First of all, it’s the biggest – I was telling my wife and some friends the other day – it’s the biggest, most athletic group of guys I’ve worked with before.”
As it relates to the entire group, the Raiders have the second-heaviest roster of offensive linemen in the league.
- Giants – 322.4
- Raiders – 320.6
- Chargers – 320.4
- Titans – 319.9
- Vikings – 319.2
- Panthers – 318.6
- Bills – 319
- Colts – 316
- Rams – 315.2
- Lions – 313.6
- Jets – 313.1
- Cowboys – 312.9
- Dolphins – 312.9
- Cardinals – 312.8
- Buccaneers – 312.6
- Packers – 312.2
- Chiefs – 312
- Bears – 311.9
- Ravens – 311.7
- Redskins – 311.6
- 49ers – 310.9
- Patriots – 310.8
- Saints – 310.6
- Bengals – 310.6
- Texans – 310.4
- Browns – 310.2
- Broncos – 308.4
- Eagles – 308.1
- Seahawks – 307
- Jaguars – 306.8
- Falcons – 305.5
- Steelers – 304
He may not have paid by the pound, but McKenzie still has more invested in his offensive line than any team other than the Jets. Ironically, the Jets were the third-best running team in 2014 – Oakland was the worst.
If the Raiders are indeed on the upswing, they’ll need a better return on their investments up front. Some of the guys, as they say, will have to start carrying their weight.
