Oakland Raiders Have the Best D-Line in the AFC West, ESPN Says So

by Rich Langford on May 17, 2011 7:45 AM PDT

Yesterday we discussed some of the distinguished analysts at ESPN using Nnamdi Asomugha's free agency as a chance to bash the Oakland Raiders. Well, it's not all ignorance at ESPN. Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson is ranking the position groups of the AFC West. In the above linked edition they discuss the defensive lines.

Williamson says what we already know, the Raiders have the best defensive line in the AFC West. Williamson plays up the versatility of the defensive line and mentions he wouldn't be surprised to see them tinker with the 3-4. I am not sold on this, but his reasoning is sound.

It is when he starts talking about LaMarr Houston that he gets excited, and that makes me excited. Check it:

LaMarr Houston could not be in a better situation, because he gets to learn his craft from Seymour. Houston is going to be great -- maybe as soon as this season. His athletic ability and upside are off the charts. He played very well as a rookie against the pass and run but might be elite in both categories by this time next year. He can be that good.

Williamson brings up something that I don't think gets mentioned enough. It's not just LaMarr Houston, but the entire 2010 Raiders rookie class that is prepared to make a big jump in their second year.

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Williamson says, "Oakland was an exceptional defense versus the run last season ..."

If he was limiting his appraisal it to the DL, then he’s right, otherwise, he not doing his homework.

S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.
"I did the (2010) draft. ... I made a trade for Seymour. Gave up the first-rounder this year. I could tell you why. You may not think it was a good trade. I thought it was a great trade. Still do. [Al Davis 1/1911]

by Sons-of-Blanda on May 17, 2011 9:29 AM PDT reply actions

D.L. Best in AFC West

Williamson is partly right . The Raiders have the talent to be one of the Best all around Defense’s in the NFL and not only in the AFC West. Last year , they lost their concentration for six or seven plays that allowed the other teams to score on long runs, and complete a couple of passes for TD’s. Improve on that, and we will be the best Defense in the NFL Period !!!!

by Christos A. on May 17, 2011 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm sure that's what he meant

He was after all, rating D-lines and ours was at or near the top in a couple of categories- yards per carry and carries for loss, it was only when the other RB made it past them that the trouble started.

"Now I know what your thinking, did he fire six shots or only five. Ive forgotten myself in all this excitement, but being that this is the 44 magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world and could blow your head clean off, you have to ask your question. Do I feel lucky? Well do ya punk!"
Dirty Harry Callahan

by rambis64 on May 17, 2011 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Now,

all we need is to be able to prove it , by being allowed to play.
If and when that happens , I’m looking forward to it.

by Wyoraider on May 17, 2011 10:07 AM PDT reply actions

Let's Make This Simple As Possible !!!

We got the Best D-Line In the AFC West !!! We all agree on that. ESPN even says so, Like we needed their fucking approval !!! We got 2 of the BEST Corners in the League, If Nnamdi decides to stay !!! Huff, as much as he takes bad angles and miss’s Tackles at the most critical of times, still made Honerable Mention(3rd Team, or was it 2nd, All PRO) . 98 tacles I believe, not bad !!! Now, that leaves the problem areas, IMO !!! Coaching, WLB, SLB, and SS !!! Since McClain did a good job in the middle as a rookie, He gets a pass !!!! Now is it the players we currently have at these spots the problem, or was it a design flaw in the scheme. We’ve discusse this before, and far as I can see, this is where we are still !!! Marshall turned out to be Nilla Vanilla, when it came to calling the defense !!! That’s been taking care of . IMO, Branch is a Hit, or a miss at SS. Mitchell is a 2nd round Bust, whether you like it or not. No Missile, just a little firecracker, The current LB’s in question will have to step it up, and Goethel has to stay healthy !!! Are we getting a WHOLE NEW DEFENSIVE SCHEME, with Chuckie 2.0 as the new DC, ( IMO, Al blew this one, there was better out there) Let’s just hope he expands on the Marshall plan, vs coming up with his own . We need to find a FS if Huff doesn’t come back, and if he does, I’m praying the Raiders Sign Manu Silva, FS from Hawaii which will allow huff to move back to SS, or WHAT should be done, put T. Howard at the SS spot !!! This is just to obvious, and I think the D will be ranked either 1 or 2 when the season ends !!!

by papabegood on May 17, 2011 6:12 PM PDT reply actions

Several Points Of Question...

Marshal’s “D” scheme or game time failures…

I see the basic scheme as working but what didn’t work many times was his game time decisions…Seems he was always guessing wrong at the wrong time or second guessing himself and putting the players in awkward positions repeatedly…If it was run he guessed pass..Pass he guessed run and so forth…

Coaching:

The return of Mike as “DC” was hugely beneficial…"LB"s may not have been coached as well as should be but I’m sure Biekert will have something to say about that…"DB"s was the real area of concern to me and now with Woodson n Ross I believe that issue to be settled… Bresnihan did well when with the Raiders in our scheme…#3 against the rush “02” when the passing game was working so well that teams needed to pass to keep up….That’s a key to our “D” Scheme is the “O” production…Always has been…

“OLB”…

The need seems to be only one and that may yet be addressed in “FA”…Coaching n Maturity will prolley settle most matters here…

“FS”…

We have players on this team that may yet develop if Huff vacates so I wouldn’t worry too much here…Ross n Woodson will prolley have an effect in that regards…

“MM”….

I don’t think he’s a bust at all…I think he has been lost in the shuffle a little but should emerge this season…

Howard “SS”…

At 6’3" 240 what is his speed n coverage skill against "WR"s/"TE"s/"RB"s/"FB"s….Has to do much more than just play the run and I didn’t see him play the run so well from his “OLB” position…

by PantyRaider on May 17, 2011 11:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Mike as "DL" Coach

by PantyRaider on May 17, 2011 11:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Mitchell hasn't even got enough time on the field

Come on man, Mitchell hasn’t even gotten enough time on the field to be called a bust. I’m sure you’re one of the guys who said McFadden was a bust after two years. You need to watch some more games. Mitchell made plays when he was in the ball game. Watch that Denver game again and see how this young player is always around the ball. He played Gates, one of the best TE in football pretty well.
Coaching as a problem? That’s still to be determined, but as an Offensive Coordinator last year, Hue Jackson was a smashing hit. I think he’ll take it to a new level as a HC.
Huff is as good as gone. Get use to seeing Branch and Mitchell.

by anhdazman on May 17, 2011 9:57 PM PDT reply actions

I agree about Mitchell being near the ball and nice in man coverage on TEs

but I also think Branch and Mitchell as the FS and SS would be a disaster. Branch is horrible at play dissection and Mitchell is always hunting for the big play. QBs would feast with one of those guys playing single high.

I promise; I will never die.

by Rich Langford on May 17, 2011 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Look For Woodson -n- Ross To Have A Very Positive Effect Here...

by PantyRaider on May 17, 2011 11:10 PM PDT up reply actions

This, unfortunately, is true. Tyvon makes it on physicality and heart but is slow on the updake of what's unfolding before him

by Sons-of-Blanda on May 18, 2011 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions

i like MM starting from here on out

the only game i havnt liked from him is the jax game but in his defense, no one was covering marcedes that day if it wasnt nnam. i still like stevie brown even though we havnt seen a ton of him, when he was in he played well. also, perhaps putting CJ back there at FS?? plays a lot better in space then in man and does have a knack for makin picks. deff doesnt hit as hard as mike huff does though. then at the other corner spot let CC and Ware battle it out if nnam leaves

by frank7da2tank on May 18, 2011 1:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Sorry,

we can tap ourselves on the back all we want, claim to be best DL all we want BUT when we can’t stop teams from bitch slapping us while running all over us, we don’t deserve jack. D simply wasn’t consistent and lacked dominance; if we can’t stop the run, we can’t be best in any defensive department.

by raiders4liffe on May 18, 2011 8:21 AM PDT reply actions

Yes, but that had more to do with OLB play

than the play of the D- line. You ask for complete dominance by the D-line, that’s not realistic, even the best defensive lines get blocked sometimes and it’s up to the linebackers to fill those gaps, and they didn’t, after them it’s left to the DB’s who mostly have their backs turned in coverage and will then have to tackle a RB one on one in the open field… not an easy task. So you have what we’ve seen for the last few years, a shitty run “D”.
Hopefully a healthy Travis Goethel will help with that problem, but I’d still like to see us bring in a F/A OLB to compete for the other job.

by rambis64 on May 18, 2011 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions