The Las Vegas Raiders added an elite edge rusher in Yannick Ngakoue, and that will have a ripple effect on the rest of the defensive line.
The Raiders lone Free Agent signing Monday was none other than the fantastic speed rusher Yannick Ngakoue. Ngakoue started his career in Jacksonville when now-Raiders defensive coordinator Gus Bradley was the Head Coach.
Bradley’s defenses have always favored the smaller speed rushing types of player; Bruce Irvin in Seattle, Ngakoue in Jacksonville, and Melvin Ingram in Los Angeles. Each of those players is around 6’2 250 and there was a clear absence of that body type from the Raiders edge rushers currently under contract.
Ngakoue will be paid $13 million a season, and players who make that much money, signed on Day 1 of free agency are starters, period. So who gets the start across from Ngakoue?
Vinny Bonsignore from the Las Vegas Review-journal started a social media firestorm when he suggested that Maxx Crosby would “come off the bench” now that Ngakoue is in the fold.
Crsoby most likely moves to a pass-rush specialist off bench. Good for him and the team. Cle is an anchor on the other side. https://t.co/HiHgKJZQ81
— Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) March 15, 2021
Strictly speaking from the perspective of the depth chart, it’s not inconceivable that Crosby gets slotted in behind Ngakoue in writing. Of course, if this was 2011 instead of 2021, base personnel would be the grouping of players who saw the most action.
Players who weren’t number 1 on the depth chart in base personnel would “come off the bench.”
Fast forward to modern times, and base personnel is used less than ever. In fact, by this writer’s charting, the Raiders were in base personnel (4 defensive linemen, 3 linebackers) less than 15% of the time in 2020. Gus Bradley’s defenses over time also have used fewer and fewer base personnel packages.
It’s not uncommon for teams to go entire games without getting into base personnel, especially when playing high-flying passing attacks like the Chiefs, or the Bills.
Does the Raiders star edge rusher come off the bench?
So the idea that Maxx Crosby will come off the bench is a little misleading. In fact, it will be the defensive linemen who play the run better than rush the passer who will see fewer snaps when it’s all said and done.
Lets clear some things up regarding Crosby's fit in this defense. Pass rushers are starters in todays NFL. Run players are the specialists, not the other way around. This Nickel pass rush front (and other variations) will be used 20x more often than base 4-3 Under in 2021. https://t.co/35h4MdNmXz pic.twitter.com/FYRQywdB7R
— BD Williams (@BDWilliams18) March 16, 2021
Take a look at this example from Bradley’s defense in 2020. Technically speaking there are no true defensive tackles in this heavily used nickel pass rush front. Number 99, Jerry Tillery, is listed as a DE on the official roster even though he plays primarily inside.
Meanwhile, Number 42, Uchenna Nwoso, is listed as a linebacker, even though he primarily rushes off the edge.
This pass rush-focused front will be used with much more frequency than say a base 4-3 Under front. So in that sense, Maxx Crosby should certainly see more time on the field than say, Clelin Ferrell, who will likely rotate inside with the rest of the defensive line.
Maxx Crosby’s snap count will likely go down in 2021 compared to 2020, but that’s okay. He will be in a better position to do what he does best and get more rest during the game than he did last season.