Las Vegas Raiders: Can the new-look defensive line get pressure in 2021?
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders have revamped their defensive line heading into 2021, but can they actually get some pressure this season.
During the 2020 NFL season, and really since Khalil Mack was traded away, the Las Vegas Raiders have struggled mightily to get after the quarterback. In fact, it has been a big reason why the defense has had a ton of issues, as quarterbacks can sit back in the pocket and pick apart the defensive backfield.
With a new defensive coordinator coming in, as Gus Bradley takes over for Paul Guenther, there is reason to believe the Silver and Black will improve in a big way in 2021 on defense. Bradley has a proven track record as a defensive coordinator in this league, and with all the new faces on defense, you have to believe he can get this group headed in the right direction.
Raiders with only 21 sacks in 2020
Last season, the Silver and Black defense were non-existent when it came to sacking the quarterback, racking up only 21 as a team. Of course, seven of those came from Maxx Crosby, who has become one of the better young edge rushers in the NFL since coming into the league.
Clelin Ferrell improved in Year 2, and with Yannick Ngakoue signing with the team as a free agent, they have more talent on the edge than they have had in years. Also, they have changed the interior of their defensive line with guys like Quinton Jefferson and Solomon Thomas, two players they are counting on to improve in 2021.
In terms of depth, the Raiders are as strong up front on defense as they have been in quite some time, but they get a big test right out of the gate in Week 1. The Silver and Black will look to try and get after Lamar Jackson, an electric signal-caller for the Baltimore Ravens, so we will see right away if all the moves have made any difference.
There is a lot of reasons to believe that the Raiders will be much better at getting after the quarterback in 2021, but sacks are not created on paper. Ngakoue, Ferrell, and Crosby have to lead the way, and if Solomon Thomas and Quinton Jefferson can bolster the interior along with Hankins, Bradley’s scheme should have a big impact on getting pressure this season.