Oakland Raiders Front Seven is Another Team Strength

Aug 15, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Khalil Mack (52) is congratulated by outside linebacker Sio Moore (55) after recording a sack against the Detroit Lions in the third quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Lions 27-26. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

In rebuilding the Oakland Raiders, G.M. Reggie McKenzie did the right thing and started up front. There is no scheme in the NFL that will win ball games if your team is getting pushed around up front. Now, it’s up to the skill position players on the Raiders offense to score because we all know the offensive line is a team strength.

But as deceased owner Al Davis used to say, “The quarterback must go down and he must go down hard.” So throughout Raiders history, Davis had ferocious front sevens to make that happen and stop the run. With that in the past, the Raiders’ more recent history isn’t so pretty as they’ve been among the leagues worst units.

So this offseason, G.M. Reggie McKenzie spent big money in free agency and their first-round pick on the Raiders’ defensive front seven. And now, just like the offensive line, the defensive front seven McKenzie has put together is a team strength. If the Raiders defense doesn’t do well this year as a whole, it won’t be because the front seven didn’t do their part. Turn the page for a closer look.