Defensive stars link Rams, Raiders
OAKLAND, Calif. – The Los Angeles Rams and Oakland Raiders spent most of the lead-up to the season in the same predicament, with their Defensive Players of the Year holding out while seeking new contracts.
When the teams open the season against each other Monday night in Oakland, that will have changed. The Rams will have last year’s winner of the league’s top defensive award on the field anchoring the middle in Aaron Donald. The Raiders will be without 2016 winner Khalil Mack, who was traded to Chicago.
The Raiders dealt Mack for a package including two first-round draft picks a day after Donald signed a sixyear, $135 million deal, with $87 million guaranteed. Oakland was unwilling to pay that price for Mack, forcing defensive coordinator Paul Guenther to shelve plans he made after getting hired on how to use Mack, and proceed the way he approached training camp with an overhauled defense.
“I think I saw the guy in a restaurant in March one time,” Guenther said. “My kids pointed it out to me, ‘Hey, its Khalil Mack. He’s got the new Jordans on.’ You know, I wouldn’t know. With as many new players we brought in, new coaching staff we just kind of got use to him not being here and operating with what we got, so we are going to move along that way.”
The Raiders spent much of the offseason trying to improve their pass rush by moving Bruce Irvin to a fulltime defensive end position, and drafting P.J. Hall, Arden Key and Maurice Hurst. That group helped generate 12 sacks in the preseason and will have plenty of pressure starting Monday night to fill Mack’s void.
“It’s an opportunity for me and the rest of the guys on the D-line,” Key said. “That’s just another opportunity. Khalil Mack is gone. We can’t dwell on it. We have to move forward and somebody has to step up in his spot.”
The Rams said they weren’t exactly Monday, 6:10 p.m., ESPN Lions by 6
They need to manage expectations for rookie QB
They must make early defensive stops and not fall behind to prevent Darnold from having to do too much.
They must prove the dismal preseason performance under new head coach was an aberration. DE and LB
need to develop a pass rush to keep Darnold from getting comfortable.
The Lions have the more proven passing attack and the playmakers in the defense who can make Darnold’s debut a rough one. upset to see Mack traded, considering he has averaged more than 12 sacks and 60 quarterback pressures over the last three seasons. But they noted they have to face Mack in Week 14 and that the Raiders’ other rushers present enough of a challenge this week.
“He’s a great player, and he’s not going to be on the team we’re playing this week, but they’ve got plenty of good players, and they’ve got a great defense and a great team that we’re preparing for,” quarterback Jared Goff said. “We’re not thinking very much about Khalil right now.” Line:
Line: Jets’ keys: Time, TV: Lions’ keys: Matt Patricia Ezekiel Ansah Devon Kennard Monday, 9:20 p.m., ESPN Rams by 4
Rams’ keys: RB is significantly faster than the Raiders linebackers, so look for the Rams to get him in space often. Raiders’ keys: If RB can find success against one of the worst run defenses in 2017, the Raiders should be able to keep the Rams pass rushers on their heels. The Rams offensive line is too strong for the new-look Raiders.