Spencer Burford could be headed to the bench
The Raiders are dealing with serious issues along their offensive line and Spencer Burford has arguably been the unit’s weakest link.
According to Pro Football Focus analytics, Burford has given up most quarterback pressures by a guard in the league (18), and the fifth-year veteran received a pass-blocking grade of zero from PFF in week five.
Jackson Powers-Johnson hasn’t been much better of late, but Raider Nation Radio host Q Myers questioned this week whether Burford will be in the starting lineup much longer.
“Zone blocking scheme has always been a challenge for the Raiders,” Myers said on the Las Vegas Raiders Squad Show.
“Every time they try to implement it, it’s very difficult. I remember asking Klint Kubiak about it day one when he was introduced about it, and what was it going to take to master it? Because it’s never been something that’s been easy for the Raiders to do. And [he said] it’s just reps. It’s just reps. And unfortunately, they’re not there yet and they may have to make a decision. They may have to decide to make a move from Spencer Burford because he just hasn’t been good.”
“[Burford] wasn’t great with the 49ers. But… he did know the system, which helps kind of everyone else around him learn the system as well and start to work as one cohesive unit. It’s not always the five best players on the offensive line. It’s the guys who work the best together. So, you know, they penciled him in there at that left guard very early on. I don’t know if there’s a scenario where you can slide Caleb Rogers to that left guard. I don’t know how much he’s been cross training there.”
Raiders desperately need answers in the trenches
As Myers pointed out, the Raiders have a rich history of struggling to implement zone blocking schemes, but with the addition of Klint Kubiak and offensive line coach Rick Dennison, expectations were high going into the season.
Against the Dolphins in week one, the offensive line was able to create running lanes but room to run for Ashton Jeanty has all but disappeared in the weeks since.
Even Tyler Linderbaum, who became the highest-paid center in NFL history in the offseason, isn’t off to a great start to the season.
Of the NFL’s centers with at least 100 snaps this year, Linderbaum is currently ranked no. 17 by Pro Football Focus.
Safe to say, four of the Raiders’ five offensive linemen have been a disappointment (to different degrees) through the first five weeks of the season, with the lone exception being D.J. Glaze.
Glaze entered the season with arguably weakest job security of anyone along the Raiders’ offensive line but has been solid as a run blocker and has been credited with only 7 quarterback pressures (PFF) in five games, despite not getting a lot of help in protection.
x: @raidersbeat
Worst O lineman on the team ainec.