Preview and Prediction: Oakland Raiders at Baltimore Ravens
By Austin Gayle
Ravens’ Linebacking Corps to Stun Raiders’ Rushing Attack
After finishing the 2015 season with the 28th ranked rushing offense, the Raiders are off to a hot start with Latavius Murray and company, as Oakland’s new-look backfield currently holds the No. 2 spot behind the New England Patriots in total rushing yards, per NFL.com.
Oakland’s high-powered rushing attack will face their first true test of the season against a Ravens defense that is allowing less than four yards per carry (3.8) and just 86 yards per game on the ground.
Led by 2014 second-round pick Timmy Jernigan, Baltimore’s defensive line has flashed at times, but if the Raiders are going to tip their hat to one group on the Ravens’ defense, it will be to their linebackers.
Former first-round pick C.J. Mosley anchors the group as the Ravens’ top-tier inside linebacker alongside Zachary Orr, an undrafted inside linebacker out of North Texas in 2014.
Mosley plays to his strengths as a versatile, athletic linebacker, for the Alabama product is similar to Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly in the fact that he too is both stout against the run and capable of making plays in coverage.
Mosley has graded out as the ninth overall linebacker through three weeks, per PFF.com.
Orr, on the other hand, hasn’t received a lot of recognition because of his poor efforts in coverage, but he has excelled when asked to defend the run inside the box, now currently leading the team with 24 combined tackles.
Outside of Mosley and Orr, veteran outside linebacker Terrell Suggs has performed as expected, but opposite of the future Hall of Famer, fellow edge linebacker Albert McLellan hasn’t followed suit.
Fortunately for the Ravens, McLellan won’t have to play in Suggs’ shadow on Sunday, as longtime Denver Broncos outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil is expected to make his 2016 debut after undergoing successful foot surgery over the offseason.
In 16 games with Baltimore in 2015, Dumervil accumulated 48 combined tackles and six sacks.
With Dumervil and Suggs paired up again and Mosley and Orr continuing to hold down the middle, the Raiders’ offense could become one-dimensional if their three-headed monster — Murray, DeAndre Washington, and Jalen Richard — is unable to outplay Baltimore’s second level.