John Spytek left no stone unturned this offseason to upgrade the Las Vegas Raiders' league-worst offensive line. That came in the form of hiring Klint Kubiak, and by extension, legendary offensive line coach Rick Dennison, as well as a historic investment in Tyler Linderbaum and other key additions.
The Raiders' offensive line staff is working wonders already in Las Vegas, as the unit looked great this preseason. At least the first team did. The second group was a bit concerning at times during the exhibition slate, both in terms of protecting the quarterback and paving rushing lanes.
But the Silver and Black's offensive line being referred to as "thin" is quite a misnomer. As with every team, there is a solid falloff between the first and second units, but the proverbial next men up in Las Vegas can certainly get the job done. The last three games didn't necessarily paint that picture well.
Raiders' first-team OL took needed leap during preseason
It was obvious to anyone watching the broadcast, and even clearer to folks watching the film back, that the Raiders' big boys up front were giving Kirk Cousins time to operate in the pocket. The veteran quarterback wasn't sacked during the preseason and was rarely under duress.
Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington Jr. both had easy lanes to sprint through in the run game as well, and Kubiak is already getting creative with traps and pulls to keep defenses on their toes when defending complex run schemes and concepts against Las Vegas.
Linderbaum's impact jumps off the screen, as the unit practically missed zero assignments and had no leakage when he was out there. And Kubiak didn't hesitate a bit to run right off his tail when the team needed to convert in a short-yardage situation. What a weapon to have in the trenches.
Having a healthy Kolton Miller back also made a big difference, as he was rock solid on the left side, and even DJ Glaze looks like he's taken a big step as the other bookend, even if he struggled to begin camp. Spencer Burford has been as solid as they come as well after being an underrated pickup.
And the team can't go wrong picking between Jackson Powers-Johnson and Caleb Rogers in the battle for the starting right guard spot. Should something happen to a first-stringer at either guard position, the loser between Powers-Johnson and Rogers should be able to step in with no issues.
That is a solid top six to have on the offensive line, and the rest of the pieces are promising, too, even if the sum of the parts didn't look too encouraging this preseason.
Raiders' OL depth struggles didn't paint an accurate picture in preseason
As obvious as it was that the Raiders' first-team offensive line enjoyed a fairly dominant preseason, it was just as clear that Las Vegas' second group took their share of tumbles. Fernando Mendoza had to run for his life, and Washington Jr. and the rest of the backs had to improvise with little room to run.
Miscommunications and guys getting flat-out beat were not uncommon, as the interior failed to hand off stunts and pick up blitzes or pressure properly. When isolated, players didn't always hold up their end of the bargain.
Here's a key thing to remember, though: Barring a disaster, the entire second-team offensive line isn't going to be out there at one time. Charles Grant won't be next to Atonio Mafi if something happens to Miller; he'll be next to Burford. Trey Zuhn III won't be next to Meredith; he'll be beside JPJ or Rogers.
Grant did enough this preseason, especially as a run-blocker, for Raiders fans to have confidence in him to at least help keep the offense afloat if he's next to a solid veteran who can assist him in pass protection if called upon.
Zuhn III bounced back and forth between right tackle and center this preseason, and if he's next to or sandwiched between two veterans, he showed plenty of promise that he can be an asset up front if Glaze or Linderbaum go down. And again, there's always the loser of the JPJ-Rogers battle.
It is easy to look at the second-team offensive line struggling next to each other and think that every individual piece is doomed. But that's just not the case; Las Vegas has several intriguing depth pieces that proved they are capable of playing a role if needed.
Obviously, there is no replacing guys like Miller or Linderbaum. It is foolish to assume that there won't be a drop-off when the backups come in, as that is the reality for every NFL team at every position. But unlike last year, this group won't be absolutely sunk if a key piece or two misses time.
Call it the Linderbaum effect or the result of Dennison and Co.'s coaching. Maybe it's the environment cultivated by Kubiak. But the Raiders' starting offensive line is leaps and bounds better than it was last year, and the depth isn't as scary, either, even if the preseason was worrisome at times.
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