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Raiders Mailbag: Is Spencer Burford offensive line’s biggest problem?
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- Raiders Mailbag: Is Spencer Burford offensive line’s biggest problem?
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It's funny how two weeks can dramatically change the tune of an entire season. The Las Vegas Raiders have gone from a feel-good story as one of the biggest surprises in the NFL to feeling like the sky is falling. Back-to-back losses, including an embarrassing blowout in New England last week, will do that.
Part of the reason is the Raiders' offensive line continues to be an issue, as it's a major point of emphasis in this week's mailbag (again) heading into Week 6 against the Buffalo Bills .
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A: When it comes to pass protection versus run blocking at guard, I tend to lean toward the running game . Of course, both are requirements of the position. However, in my opinion, pass protection is easiest at guard — compared to the other two offensive line positions — since they (typically) aren't responsible for setting the protection and doing the thinking for a group like a center is. Also, guards have help on both sides with a center and a tackle to their left and right, and interior pass-rushers don't have as much space to operate, unlike blocking on the edge.
So while it's ideal to have a guard who can do both at a high level, personally, I'll sacrifice some pass-pro issues for a high-level run blocker. Burford is decent in the running game and has had a couple of good outings in that department. For some context, Pro Football Focus gave him a 73.9 run-blocking grade against the Saints and an 81.0 against the Chiefs. One of those two is the game Marcus referenced. However, Burford has a 56.6 mark for the season.
To be clear, I'm not trying to say PFF grades are the end-all, be-all; I'm just using them to contextualize the level of "good" versus "bad" and Burford's performance.
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The problem is, and this is true pretty much regardless of what website or metric you're using, he's given up the most pressures ( 18 ) of any guard in the league and has the fourth-lowest pass protection grade (26.6). To me, just being decent or slightly above-average as a run blocker isn't worth the liability he's been when protecting the quarterback, even given my preference for the position.
Also, as you mentioned, Mendoza is going to take over at some point. Having a young quarterback shifts the goalposts because putting the future of the franchise behind bad pass protection is organizational malpractice. That's where even I would say it makes more sense to give a guy like Zuhn, who doesn't bring much as a run blocker but was good in pass protection at tackle in college, so the rookie signal-caller doesn't get killed.
I think the narrative that Burford was getting less help was true during the first three weeks of the season. However, in the last two games, he's been getting a lot more help from Kolton Miller in pass protection. When the Raiders want to push the ball down the field, Miller has been staying closer to the line of scrimmage a little longer so that he can help slow the defensive tackle down. More on this in the next question; that's also part of the left tackle's issues.
At the end of the day, both guards have left something to be desired. Jackson Powers-Johnson continues to be inconsistent, especially as a run blocker, but he's at least been solid in pass protection. So, he and Burford both could get replaced, and it wouldn't surprise me if Klint Kubiak does that soon. But, in my opinion, Kubiak at least has to give someone else a shot at left guard.
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The thing to keep in mind about Burford is that the only reason he started games during his last two years in San Francisco was because of injuries. On top of that, Ben Bartch was the 49ers' starting left guard in Weeks 1 and 2 before getting injured, and they turned to Connor Colby before Burford after Bartch went down last season.
I get the "scheme fit" and "familiarity with the system" line of thinking, but Burford didn't have the track record to be unchallenged for the starting spot in training camp. If you ask me, it's time for Kubiak to try someone else at that spot.
A: I got this question last week and defended Miller, saying he only had one bad game at the time. Then, he went out and had another bad game. (Thanks for having my back, Kolton, LOL!).
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So, I definitely think left tackle is something to monitor for the rest of the year, especially as we creep closer to the offseason and start thinking about team needs. The 31-year-old likely doesn't have that many years left, after all, and he certainly needs to play better.
However, picking up where I left off above, I don't think it's a coincidence that Miller's struggles began the week after Burford gave up a season-high six pressures and posted a 4.0 PFF pass-blocking grade against the Saints. As previously mentioned, the left tackle has been giving the guard more help in pass protection, and the clip Marcus posted below is a good example.
The endzone view (which starts around the 20-second mark) gives you a good look at what I'm talking about when I say Miller has to stay closer to the line of scrimmage at first. Notice how he doesn't get much depth on his pass set initially and extends his inside arm. That's to give the defensive tackle (No. 97) less space to operate and potentially get another hand on the DT to help slow his momentum down for Burford.
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Compare Miller's pass set to DJ Glaze's on the other side. Since the center is turning to the right and able to help JPJ, Glaze doesn't have to worry about assisting the guard and can get depth immediately. Whereas Miller has to hang tight for a second and then rush to get depth, throwing his footwork and the whole process out of whack because the process has to be sped up.
On top of that, Burford loses on the high side of the rush, forcing Kirk Cousins to step up in the pocket. As a result, the edge rusher works back inside and Miller, who can't see where the quarterback is, gives up a sack. Don't get me wrong, Miller has to do a better job of staying engaged on the block and staying in front of inside moves is part of playing tackle. But the point I'm making here is that his assignment is more difficult because the guy next to him isn't getting the job done.
So, both guards are getting help in this example. However, one of them was brought in to be a reliable veteran who knows the system, and the other had to fight to retain his starting spot during training camp. Again, a case could be made for both guys to get replaced, but I don't know how anyone can justify Burford's level of play this season.
And when it comes to Miller, he definitely needs to pick it up, too. But I'd like to see how he plays with someone else next to him.
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Q: I like outside zone running, but maybe the line, which we thought was suited for it, really isn't. Why not move JPJ to left guard, where he had played better in the past, and try Evan Neal at right guard and run more power/gap? We need some beef on the O-line!
A: The Raiders' rushing attack has been pretty balanced this season, with 60 zone runs to 57 gap runs, according to Sumer Sports . Also, every starting offensive lineman has a better PFF run-blocking grade in zone than gap. Based on that data, the latter is the bigger problem.
But to your point about moving Powers-Johnson to the left side, I think that should be on the table, too. He played well there as a rookie, and Caleb Rogers can slide in at right guard since that's where Rogers has been getting reps. I have my doubts that Neal is the answer, but I'll take just about anyone other than Burford at this point.
At the end of the day, a change just has to be made because the Raiders can't continue to have such a lackluster rushing attack.
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Q: Are the OL issues because of mismatched players/scheme fits, that haven't played together long enough, or coaching that isn't resonating with the players? At times they look lost out there.
A: I've touched on most of this already, but the chemistry piece is a factor, too. The interior three have never worked together before this season, and while JPJ and Glaze were in the same draft class, they've hardly been next to each other. Powers-Johnson played left guard and center as a rookie, and then missed over half of last season.
So, there is some validity to the argument that the line needs more time to gel together, especially since zone runs require more cohesion up front. But the clock is also ticking…
Q: Can JJ Pegues improve the Raiders' pass rush? Should they be looking at practice squad DTs and free agents? Their practice squad DTs have potential as NTs but offer limited pass rush upside. I guess it really depends on how low the bar has been set by Jonah Laulu, Thomas Booker IV and Adam Butler.
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A: For some context here, I posted on X/Twitter earlier this week that Booker has the highest pass-rush win rate of any Raiders defensive tackle so far this season at 8.5%, according to PFF. The problem is he's recorded the second-fewest pass-rush snaps (63) of the team's defensive tackles who have played in at least four games, and that rate ranks 48th among defensive tackles league-wide.
In other words, the defense is getting almost no pressure from its interior pass-rushers, and Booker isn't winning frequently enough to simply just play him more.
The bigger problem is that Pegues, or any of the other reserve defensive tackles, aren't going to solve this problem. He's more of a run defender, as are Brandon Cleveland and Tim Keenan III, as you mentioned. The interior pass-rusher who needs to step up the most is Tonka Hemingway. He has the skill set and has shown a few flashes but isn't consistent enough right now.
Maybe John Spytek and Co. can find a diamond in the rough from another team's practice squad or a street free agent, but the odds are pretty low. Ultimately, I think this is something that will leak into the offseason, and Spytek needs to do a much better job of prioritizing the position than he has in the past.
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A: I know some people are getting frustrated with Crosby getting pressures but only having two sacks this season, and I think that comes down to a misunderstanding of what the stats show. Sacks happen when pressure is paired with good coverage. It's no coincidence that the Broncos led the NFL in sacks during each of the last two seasons while having a two-time All-Pro corner in Patrick Surtain II.
So, numbers like pressures and pass-rush win rate are used to isolate how the player is performing outside of the supporting cast. In other words, those figures help answer the question of: "Is Maxx Crosby (or whatever pass-rusher) doing his job?"
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PFF has Crosby tied for fourth among edge rushers with 30 pressures and fourth outright in win rate (20.9%), while having the second-highest double team rate . He is doing his job while opposing offenses are making it more difficult via chip blocks and sliding the protection to him. That's on top of the coverage being shaky over the last two weeks, allowing the quarterbacks to find quick answers in the passing game.
Also, sacks from edge rushers can come when the defensive tackles force the quarterback to step up in or bail out of the pocket. The clip above that I broke down with Burford and Miller is a good example of that. As I mentioned in my previous answer, that's not happening in Vegas, either.
I get it, a sack is the best stat a pass-rusher can have, and people want to see Crosby at the top of the charts. But there's a lot more that goes into it than just his performance. As far as a trade goes, it'd still have to be more than just a first-round pick for me to get on board with that.
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A: I think a big part of it is the passing game. Washington wasn't a good receiver or pass protector at Arkansas, and that has carried over into the NFL. Hence why Dylan Laube got more playing time last week.
Also, Washington had a bad game against the Chiefs (Marcus mentioned on TDL that he had a missed or bad read that would have resulted in a touchdown), and I think Kubiak might have overreacted to that in New England. Additionally, being down 28-7 after the first position in the third quarter means the offense doesn't have enough time left to run the ball much in the second half.
The rookie running back's workload will be something to keep tabs on this Sunday to see if Kubiak makes an adjustment
Q: While I know the wide receivers have been a disappointment for not separating in their routes, doesn't some of the blame go on Kubiak for not being able to "scheme" them open? He seems to be able to scheme Bowers open, and he doesn't need his help. Other great offensive minds seem able to scheme their guys open all the time. Kubiak has done it a couple of times this year but not very often.
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A: Kubiak definitely seems to focus on scheming his top offensive weapon open rather than the supporting cast. For example, Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the Seahawks' leading receiver last year with 119 catches and 1,793 yards, while no other pass-catcher even reached 55 catches and 600 yards during the regular season. So, that seems like one of the play-caller's shortcomings.
But I will say that there have been a decent number of plays where a wide receiver (primarily Tre Tucker) has gotten open, and Kirk Cousins either didn't have enough time or was staring down Bowers too long. Cousins also has a reputation for checking the ball down quickly, and that's another factor that can make the wideouts look worse.
Now, I will 100% acknowledge that the Raiders have a talent problem at wide receiver, which will likely be another offseason need. But there are external factors like Kubiak and Cousins that have contributed to the lack of production from the position group. We know the current quarterback is a temporary situation, so the bigger factor moving forward is the play caller making some adjustments.
Q: Kwity Paye began the season with a great game against Miami (6 tackles and 2 sacks), but it's been downhill ever since. He had pedestrian performances against the Chargers (2 tackles) and the Saints (3 tackles). His last two games have been abysmal performances against the Chiefs (0 tackles) and the Patriots (1 tackle). I'm interested in your take on Kwity's weaknesses and what he needs to do to be the impact player that Spytek and Rob Leonard thought he'd be?
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A: At the end of the day, Paye is a complementary piece rather than a playmaker. He has enough skill and a good motor to clean things up on the defensive line — that's primarily what he did in the season opener — but isn't someone who will be consistently productive without contributions from the defense's main characters. The problem is that type of player isn't worth $16 million a year.
For comparison, Paye is making one million less than Chase Young and Alex Highsmith . Young is the primary pass-rusher in New Orleans and can be productive on his own. Highsmith plays second fiddle to T.J. Watt in Pittsburgh, but he can also win one-on-one matchups and be productive, fitting the second edge-rusher mold perfectly.
Now, I mentioned last week that I'll give Paye some grace since we aren't even at the halfway point of the season yet. But as the weeks go by and he continues to be underwhelming, that signing continues to get closer and closer to being a bust.
Q: Am I wrong for believing John Spytek is part of the problem? His 2025 draft class is looking like a complete bust, and 2026's draft is looking shaky now. He's failed to improve the WR room, and his free-agent signings have been suspect at best.
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A: Someone else asked: What are Spytek's best and worst moves in the draft and free agency, and what grade would I give him so far?
I think a C is a fair assessment for Spytek. Pete Carroll had way too much influence and control over last year's roster, so I don't think it's fair to judge the general manager off the 2025 campaign. On top of that, building a quality roster that is sustainable for the long haul takes several years and draft classes to build, and we haven't even seen two full seasons during his tenure in Las Vegas.
That being said, Spytek has made plenty of Day 2 picks who aren't seeing the field right now, and free-agent signings like Paye and Jalen Nailor have underwhelming production so far. With that in mind, I'm not going to pound the table and say Spytek has done anything more than an average job, landing on a 'C' grade.
I know people aren't going to want to hear this, but I also think Raider Nation needs to be more patient with Spytek.
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To me, it seems like he wanted to tear the roster down and start the rebuild last year, only to have that plan get blocked by Carroll, forcing him to delay the process by a year. He wasn't going to fix all the problems and patch all of the holes in one offseason. Remember, expectations were pretty low heading into the season given the lack of talent on the roster. The 3-0 start changed things, but this is still a team that is in year one of a two-year rebuild.
As far as best and worst moves: Nakobe Dean has been Spytek's best free agent signing, and worst was Alex Cappa. Draft picks: I'll go with Darien Porter for best (Treydan Stukes is a close second), and Charles Grant for worst. Granted, the sample size is the smallest, but I think Porter has been the best corner on the roster this season, and Grant isn't seeing the field. I'm still a believer in the William & Mary product, but only having 59 snaps from a Top 100 pick is a bad investment so far.
A: I still think the move is to roll with Cousins for now. However, if the Raiders lose this week, which I think they will, then the conversation really heats up. The problem is that the Rams are the next team up, and throwing Mendoza behind an offensive line that has been shaky recently against that pass rush probably isn't a good idea. Plus, at 3-3, the coaching staff can convince themselves that the team is still in playoff contention.
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So, I think the sweet spot is going to be Week 8 against the Jets, especially if the Raiders drop the next two games. At 3-4 with four straight losses, that would mean Cousins isn't keeping the playoff hopes alive, so Kubiak would have even more reason to make the change. That would, at least temporarily, help reignite the team's postseason chances while simultaneously giving the No. 1 about half a season's worth of starts to build on and grow from moving forward.
That'll do it for this week's mailbag. Thank you all for submitting questions and, as your weekly reminder, if you'd like to have your questions answered in a future column, tweet them at me, @MHolder95 , email them to SBPQuestions1@gmail.com or look for our weekly call for questions on the site. The latter will continue to publish on Thursdays.
