The Raiders have been searching for answers on the interior of their offensive line, and even Tyler Linderbaum hasn’t been able to avoid criticism in recent weeks.
Going into week 6, Spencer Burford and Jackson Powers-Johnson both seemed to be at risk of heading to the bunch, and it ended up being Powers-Johnson who was replaced by Caleb Rogers against the Rams.
Aside from a consequential missed block at the goal line, Rogers probably played well enough to hold onto the job at right guard for another week, but even more encouraging was the effort Burford turned in on Sunday.
After disappointing games in two of the last three weeks, Burford was arguably the Raiders’ best offensive lineman against the Bills on Sunday.
Raiders’ top O-lineman on Sunday was Burford
According to Pro Football Focus analytics, didn’t give up a single pressure on 47 pass plays in week 6. His 85.6 pass block grade was highest pass blocking grade Pro Football Focus has given a Raiders’ offensive lineman all year.
Going into the week, Burford had given up more quarterback pressures (18) than any guard in the league and received a pass-blocking grade from PFF in week 5 of zero.
For Burford to bounce back the way he did against the Bills is no small story.
The Raiders desperately need interior lineman to get on the same page in Klint Kubiak’s offense, because the process is taking longer than expected.
Prior to the season, Kubiak called his offensive line in Las Vegas the strength of the team, and through the first six weeks of the season, that hasn’t been the case.
Each week a player like Burford turns in a performance like he did on Sunday, the offensive line is closer to getting the situation figured out in the trenches.
And on a side note… the coaching staff deserves credit to staying with Burford another week.
There was a case to be made that Burford should have been the player benched for Rogers, but it seems like Kubiak and company made the right decision keeping Burford in the lineup.
x: @raidersbeat
