ALAMEDA – The Raiders have a problem rushing the passer. The defensive line can’t seem to get home, creating issues in the passing game defensive backs can’t solve.
The real question, it seems, is how it can get better with the roster as currently constructed. Head coach Jon Gruden is counting on linebacker Bruce Irvin and a bunch of talented, yet green rookies to generate pressure up front.
It isn’t working well, and it’s clear the Raiders miss ol’ you-know-who.
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The Silver and Black had five pressures in last week’s loss to the L.A. Rams. That was a league low, per analytics site Pro Football Focus. They had just 12 in Sunday’s 20-19 loss at Denver, by PFF’s early count -- the number could change upon review -- and were unable to secure victory despite having a two-score lead late in the third quarter.
The Raiders have two sacks through two games. That isn’t good enough.
“We have to make improvements there,” Gruden said in a Monday press conference. “Across the board, we have to make improvements. That was pretty obvious.”
It was. Finding a solution this season is the tough part.
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[BAIR: Raiders Report Card]
The Raiders seemed to have a stout pass rush on paper this summer, with Irvin off one edge, Khalil Mack firing off the other and young interior pass rushers creating havoc up the middle.
Losing Mack changed everything. Trading him to Chicago for future draft picks gave the 2018 Raiders zero in return. He made produced despite significant attention, allowing Irvin to work in favorable conditions.
Without Mack, everyone struggles. That doesn’t mean, however, Gruden is having second thoughts.
“It doesn’t make me regret it. We made the trade,” Gruden said. “There is going to be hindsight and all that stuff. We would loved to have had him here. I’m not going to keep rehashing this. I would have loved to have coached him. I would have loved to have had him here, but he’s not here.
“Somebody has to step up. We have to keep building our football team. That’s what we’re going to do. Hopefully we see more from Arden Key. Hopefully we see more from PJ Hall when he gets healthy. Hopefully we prove that, in the long term, we did the right thing.”
Mack’s absence certainly hurts in the short term. It has made life tougher on Irvin to be sure. Outside his strip sack in Week 1, the edge rusher hasn’t been a dominant presence early on.
“We need to get more out of our captain,” Gruden said. “He’s been put in some tough spots, certainly. He’s a good player and has played some good snaps. We need more and more from him. I know he’s giving us everything he has. It’s tough on him because we have a lot of new guys around him up front, but we’re happy he’s here.”
Key, the rookie edge rusher, is a supreme talent still learning the ropes. He can be excitable on the field and get fooled by opposing scheme. Coaches are working to develop Key’s game, but it’s unrealistic and a smidge unfair to expect greatness out the gate.
Hall is rehabbing an ankle sprain and should miss one more game at least. Hurst had a sack against Denver but, like Key, is playing more than the Raiders would like at such an early stage. Unrest at defensive tackle isn’t helping matters much, with newcomers Brian Price, Clinton McDonald and Johnathan Hankins playing a lot right away.
The Raiders have started well twice but lost second-half leads in as many games, which has led to frustration but not outright pessimism.
“We’re disappointed in the outcome,” Gruden said. “We’re going to continue to see the glass half full. But, at the same time, I’m going to put my head down and keep digging and scratching and looking for ways to build the foundation of this football team.”
