Amid the annual Sack Summit, Las Vegas Raiders star pass rusher Maxx Crosby weighed in on the evolution of an NFL defensive end. In addition, he mentioned general manager John Spytek in relation to his future in the Silver and Black.
The summit, which is held over a few days in June, sees a collection of the NFL’s elite pass rushers. It serves as a small training ground at UNLV where these players can work on some of their skills. Like the saying goes, iron sharpens iron. For Crosby, he’s seen himself evolve from a hungry upstart to one of the summit’s premier talents.
Raiders DE Maxx Crosby makes the most of being around the best…
“It’s about elevating and linking and learning. Von says it a million times but it is so true, I have learned so much over the years by having guys like Cam Jordan and Von Miller in my corner, ” said Crosby while speaking at the summit. Just as Crosby benefitted from having mentors, it’s obvious that the perennial Pro Bowler is looking to do the same now.
“I feel like there is always something you can learn. That is what this whole thing is about. Obviously we are on different teams but this weekend, we are on the same team together. It is really cool. The pass rush community is a tight knit one,” Crosby added. With that being said, it’s not all about teaching the up-and-comers.
Crosby reaps the benefits of being around the best pass rushers that the league has to offer. “You learn from the best and seeing those guys and what they do to win. For me, it is just about taking as much as I possibly can and trying to apply it to my game,” Crosby concluded.
How has the NFL defensive end changed?
It doesn’t take a genius to point out that the quarterback position is the most important one. To the NFL, to individual teams, even to the fans; without one, your organization is doomed. Just ask the Raiders, look at what happened last season when the position wasn’t properly addressed. Still, right below the signal-caller, a team must possess a vaunted pass rush. Without that, your defense lacks a critical component that has a profound effect on the rest of your unit. At the heart of all of this, the defensive end.
Crosby, better than most, understands the value but also how much things have changed. Having a disruptive force that affects the opponent’s offense is just as important as a quarterback itself. “At the end of the day, the quarterbacks are the highest-paid for a reason. Quarterbacks are a super important part of the game. We are the ones who are supposed to mess up the rhythm and timing, get after him,” Crosby emphasized.
It seems that the team’s new brass spearheaded by Spytek also agrees with No. 98. Don’t forget, as soon as this new regime was in place, they made it clear that Crosby was a priority and elected to keep him around for the foreseeable future with a new contract.
*Top Photo: Getty Images