Oakland Raiders: 5 Bold Predictions for the 2018 NFL Season

Raiders Pass Rush Will Establish Themselves as One of the Best in the League

For the last three seasons, the pass rush for the Oakland Raiders has relied on the coattails of Khalil Mack. It was only until the team brought on Bruce Irvin two seasons ago that he started getting a bit of help. Still, one player is not enough to be considered real help for Mack. The same can be said for the Raiders pass rush in general. One player, as in Mack, cannot be your entire pass rush. The defense essentially lives and dies off the performance of Khalil, which is too much to put on Mack’s shoulders, even if he can handle it.

This upcoming season we will see a dramatic change in the pass rushing department. The change will be a huge leap that will see the Raiders’ pass rush establish itself as one of the best in the league. It all starts with the reinforcements the team added via the draft. Rookies PJ Hall, Arden Key, and Maurice Hurst are just the right ingredients to cook up an elite pass rush. Opposing offenses will be too concerned with scheming around Mack and Irvin. That’ll create a plethora of opportunities for the three rookies.

They’re all talented enough to win one on ones or make an impact on a play. It’ll just be on them to take advantage of the great scenario they’re in. Don’t forget that the Raiders finally have a competent defensive coordinator in Paul Guenther who’ll be able to put his players in the right position to make a play. Bruce Irvin will now be a full-time pass rusher off the edge in Guenther’s defense, unlike before where he would sometimes drop back into coverage. Guenther is not stubborn nor naïve.

Like Gruden, he knows his players and will use them the right way, which was hardly seen last season with this team. It’s not just the talent the Raiders have in their front four, but in the secondary as well. This is easily the most talented secondary the Raiders have had in years. They’ll be able to stay in coverage much longer than in prior seasons, thus giving the edge rushers more time to get to the quarterback. The Raiders’ pass rushing department will reach the top in hurries and sacks. This, in turn, will also create plenty of interceptions for the secondary. There is a lot to be excited about with this Raider team and not just because of the return of Jon Gruden.