Despite a bright spot or two, the Las Vegas Raiders‘ offensive line continues to be near the bottom of the league as far as Pro Football Focus is concerned.
When it comes to how the Raiders’ offense has played thus far, there are many factors at play. The run game has been an issue; Zamir White is not the running back that many fans had hoped he’d be. Tight end Michael Mayer has been a non-factor and is likely to remain so, in addition to the ongoing issue of Davante Adams’ “injury.” For his part, starting quarterback Gardner Minshew can only do so much, though he often finds himself running for his life (or taking the sack).
At the heart of all this? Well, it’s the offensive line.
Most Raiders fans could care less about what PFF has to say about their squad. Nonetheless, the publication isn’t holding back when it comes to the O-line; the unit remains near the bottom, though it did recognize some positives, albeit while placing the group as a whole at No. 29.
“Dylan Parham, the Raiders’ highest-graded offensive lineman in their Week 4 win, exited the game with an injury in the fourth quarter. Backup guards Cody Whitehair and Andrus Peat both handled snaps in Parham’s place. Rookie guard Jackson Powers-Johnson made his first start and immediately led the Raiders’ offensive linemen with his 79.6 PFF pass-blocking grade after not letting up a single pressure against the Browns.”
Parham, the Raiders’ prized 2022 third-round pick, has largely excelled this season. In fact, his 80.0 grade by PFF ranks him sixth among all guards. We can only hope that Parham’s injury isn’t too big of a concern moving forward. The pieces are there to build around; did we mention Powers-Johnson?
Did the Raiders hit a home run with Jackson Powers-Johnson?
Is it a coincidence that as soon as Powers-Johnson became a full-fledged starter, the run game took off? In fact, the Silver and Black had one of its best outings on the ground—the 152 total yards rushing certainly backs up the statement regarding JPJ. So, now what?
If we’re looking at the long-term shape of the offensive line, it’s quite possible that the Raiders hit a home run (or rather, general manager Tom Telesco did so). All of this is expected since Telesco builds from within the trenches. More than just a one-trick pony, Powers-Johnson also impacted the passing game; giving up zero pressures on 29 pass blocking snaps is indicative of that (though it’s a small sample, yes).
Oh, and apparently, he plays too rough, according to NFL referees. The kid was born to be a Raider.
*Top Photo: Associated Press
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