Seeking more sacks from deeper rotation
It might be too early to pinpoint who will be responsible if the Raiders improve this season on their NFLworst 13 sacks in 2018.
But they believe they’ll at least have more options.
The Raiders drafted three defensive ends and signed several others in free agency to address what coordinator Paul Guenther described Monday as a lack of depth in their pass rush last season.
“Last year, we had a base (defense) line and a nickel (formation) line, and they were the same guys,” Guenther said. “So you get guys who can roll off the bench and come in fresh for 25 or 30 snaps a game and give you heat when they’re not playing first, second and third down.”
The Raiders have stated an intent to use Arden
Key, who played the most snaps among their defensive linemen last season, as more of a situational pass rusher this year. Early in camp, No. 4 overall pick
Clelin Ferrell and freeagent signee Josh Mauro have lined up as base defensive ends, with fourthround pick Maxx Crosby and Benson Mayowa also new to the group.
Mauro was a good run defender last year with the Giants but has only three sacks in five seasons. At one point in drills Monday, Mauro lined up alongside Ferrell and rushed from an interior position.
“He can slide inside,” Guenther said. “He’s played base end on first and second down, moved inside as a rusher. If we end up with four ends on the field on third down, that might happen.”
The interior rotation includes secondyear players Maurice Hurst (who had a teamhigh four sacks last year) and P.J. Hall. Guenther said Justin Ellis and Johnathan Hankins each looks “like a different guy” this camp.
“I think we have a legitimate twodeep (rotation) right now,” Hurst said. “I think we’re all developing and I think we’re all going to play a big role in that.” Big man: New 6foot8 right tackle Trent Brown has been a visible presence early in camp.
Brown delivered perhaps the biggest blow of Monday’s first padded practice going against Hall in oneonone drills. Brown later made an impression running toward new middle linebacker Vontaze Burfict in a scrimmage period.
“He’s a big wall, I’ll tell you that,” Burfict said. “I lost vision of the running back because he was so big … He moves pretty fast to be that big.” Injury report: Rookie cornerback Trayvon Mullen missed practice because he “banged his wrist up,” Guenther said. Defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes was absent with a concussion. Receiver Antonio Brown, who was removed from the nonfootballinjury list Sunday, did not practice but was doing light work on an exercise machine.