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Oakland Raiders 2018 depth chart review: Linebackers

By Jordan Alexis

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 31: Brett Hundley #7 of the Green Bay Packers is wrapped up by Tahir Whitehead #59 of the Detroit Lions during the first quarter at Ford Field on December 31, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 31: Brett Hundley #7 of the Green Bay Packers is wrapped up by Tahir Whitehead #59 of the Detroit Lions during the first quarter at Ford Field on December 31, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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FOXBORO, MA – SEPTEMBER 07: Derrick Johnson #56 of the Kansas City Chiefs tackles James White #28 of the New England Patriots during the first quarter of their game at Gillette Stadium on September 7, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA – SEPTEMBER 07: Derrick Johnson #56 of the Kansas City Chiefs tackles James White #28 of the New England Patriots during the first quarter of their game at Gillette Stadium on September 7, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Starters

Tahir Whitehead 

One of many new additions to the roster, Tahir Whitehead should be a reliable starter for the Raiders this season. He will bring some much need physicality to the Raiders run defense. Along with some positional versatility. Though he appears to be most comfortable on the outside where he a react with a little less clutter around him.

However, the issues that plague Whitehead are the same issues Oakland struggled with last season which is coverage. In 2017, Whitehead scored a 45.5 (out of 100) in coverage according to Pro Football Focus. Beat writers from his former team the Detroit Lions were also wary about Whitehead’s coverage, so it appears the film supports the stats.

Outside of the that Jeremy Reisman of SB Nation Lion’s blog, Pride of Detroit calls him a “jack of all trades but a master at none type player. Which could be a significant upgrade for Raiders considering they were not really good at anything.

Whitehead has also improved every year he’s been in the league, and at age 28 he is in the middle of his prime years.

Derrick Johnson 

After 13 seasons with the rival Kansas City Chiefs, Derrick Johnson will now be wearing the silver and black in 2018. And all signs point towards him starting at middle linebacker.

If healthy, Johnson will bring an almost polar opposite skill set compared to Whitehead. Johnson was good in coverage last season and if he can replicate that in 2018 it will be great for Oakland. He definitely isn’t the rangy, athletic freak he used to be, but the can still win with his intelligence.

Johnson’s issues are in the run game where he has honestly become a liability. Without his usual quickness, he isn’t powerful enough to hold up against strong interior lineman anymore. He will need to rely heavily on the interior defensive line to keep him as clean as possible.

He is not the centerpiece of a defense anymore, but he is for sure adequate and will bring a strong veteran presence to the linebacker room.

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