![]() ![]() Thomas played for Jason Tarver at Stanford, but lacks athleticism and was brought in after he was waived by the Saints. The Raiders have made the following cuts since Saturday to clear room for other additions: Joselio Hanson, CB (Released from injured reserve).Mack's influence across a young defensive line could help Ken Norton Jr.'s group rise through the ranks as the season progresses.Īdvanced statistics provided by Pro Football Focus unless otherwise noted.The Raiders announced their roster cuts via press release nearly three hours after the NFL's deadline. Despite the plot to slow him down, he lists third on the team with 40 tackles.Īs a unit, Oakland's defense ranks No. When opposing offensive-line coaches and coordinators game-plan for the Raiders, there's a special focus on neutralizing the No. He's also accountable for chasing running backs or quarterbacks back toward a crowded middle for easier takedowns. His ability to set the edge helps the defense contain agile ball-carriers who would prefer bouncing outside. Mack leads the defense with 19 stops and only one missed tackle on 167 run snaps. For those digging deeper to find his individual impact, the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year demands a double- or triple-team that still fails on occasion. ![]() Who else deserves the top spot more than Mack? You can look at the obvious: his team-leading 4.5 sacks. When looking at the film, you can typically spot Hudson blocking for running backs and wide receivers 10 yards downfield. The Pro Bowl center stands as a constant barrier protecting the A-gap in the trenches. Opposing defenses have found success pushing through the B-gaps to rattle the Raiders signal-caller, which amounted to more pressure on guards Kelechi Osemele and Gabe Jackson. If the Oakland center falters in pass protection, it would directly affect Carr, who struggles like most quarterbacks under pressure. Nonetheless, Hudson remains consistent minus a few quarterback-center snap snafus. The running lanes have closed earlier than expected. Three offensive linemen have accounted for multiple sacks allowed. Center Rodney Hudson allowed his first quarterback hurry against the Chiefs.ĭespite Carr holding on to the ball too long on occasion, the front line deserves criticism for shaky pass protection in comparison to the previous year. When it does, Oakland should consider shifting its 2016 first-rounder to center field for coverage duties.Īs a unit, the Raiders offensive line has surrendered 11 sacks and 34 hurries. Reggie Nelson has faltered at the spot, but as a team leader, he's likely cemented at the position until his contract expires at the end of the season, per Spotrac. ![]() Yet the coaching staff has yet to unlock Joseph's coverage skills as a deep safety. The Raiders have a safety who can play downhill and sideline-to-sideline for the foreseeable future. ![]() He's also registered six stops within eight yards of the line of scrimmage. Overall, Joseph leads the team with 44 tackles. He possesses the instinct to play closer to the line of scrimmage as an asset to the run defense or as a disguised missile headed toward the pocket. This year, the defensive coaching staff added the safety blitz, which resulted in quarterback hurries, fumbles and a sack for Joseph. Pro Football Focus rated him the second-most efficient in that category in 2016. When looking at his rookie tape, safety Karl Joseph flashes as a reliable tackler. Aside from kick returns, he lacks volume production but serves as a versatile asset who can affect field position as well as the scoreboard in several ways. Patterson has become a reliable asset in various roles. He's also logged three tackles with the kick-coverage unit. The fifth-year product out of Tennessee has accumulated 70 kick-return yards in two contests, scored rushing touchdowns in two games and caught all six of his pass targets when wideout Michael Crabtree sat out with a chest injury against the Denver Broncos. Offensive coordinator Todd Downing has decided to accentuate the 26-year-old's qualities as a running back-something we haven't seen since his rookie season. Patterson spent four years with the Minnesota Vikings, primarily as a wide receiver and kick returner. He slightly edges tight end Jared Cook as the most significant free-agent addition from the previous offseason. The box score won't show you the full story of wideout Cordarrelle Patterson's contributions to this team. ![]()
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