Football Outsiders ‘loves’ Raiders DT PJ Hall as a reliable run stuffer , pass rusher

This week, the good Gabe Jackson Jersey folks from Football Outsiders have been answering several questions posed to them from we here at Silver and Black Pride. The first three questions dealt with the coaching staff and receiver group, but this question is about the defensive line.The final question answered by Football Outsiders will be posted tomorrow night.S&BP: Oakland has put a lot of emphasis on their defensive line this year. They added PJ Hall, Arden Key, and Maurice Hurst to a line that already has Bruce Irvin and, as soon as his new contract gets done, Khalil Mack. How do you feel their pass rush will perform this year in relation to top units like Philadelphia, the Rams and Denver?It’s natural to be skeptical of huge production estimates for rookie players, but that’s exactly what we’re getting from Denver Cheap Derek Carr Jersey , with Bradley Chubb expected to be a key contributor. Why shouldn’t we expect the same from the Raiders’ pair of rookie defensive tackles, especially considering the reason we only got 31 sacks was a total lack of interior pressure?Arden Key fell in the draft because of those very concerns about returning to the game from a rehab stint and lessened production as a senior. Time will tell if he is ready and mature enough to be a true professional and conduct himself in the way that is expected of him. Early reports are good, but the nature of addiction problems is that they come back. Hopefully Key will prove the Raiders wise in drafting him.The talent level disparity between these Raiders, who have had a dominant defensive line in the preseason, and the top lines in the league isn’t huge as long as Khalil Mack is on that line. If he isn’t, the line is middle of the road, but still a step up from what the Raiders fielded last year based on the upgrades to the interior.Football Outsiders are right in that Mack is the key to all the Raiders’ hopes of having an elite defensive line, but they do like the players we picked up, as do we all. Hopefully that deal for Mack can get done soon so that the Raiders can be one of the most feared lines in football.Raiders preseason week three snap counts vs Packers: Doug Martin finally gets extended work with not great results It was a surprise last week when Doug Martin was among those who didn’t dress against the Rams. Some thought he was in a competition for a roster spot. There was plenty of evidence to suggest his roster spot was secure Rodney Hudson Jersey , and sitting out that game with Marshawn Lynch was arguably the most glaring proof of that.Last week offensive coordinator Greg Olson said Martin and Lynch would get ‘a couple thuds’ in the game and then be pulled. Lynch ended up getting no ‘thuds’ while Martin got 6 of them on 16 snaps.Prior to these 16 snaps, Martin had seen a total of four snaps this preseason. Four. With just one carry for three yards. That’s right at his yard per carry average the past two seasons. How that earns starter treatment is a bit of a mystery. But Gruden is convinced.“He’s showed us a lot,” Gruden said of Martin. “We think he’s a really good back.”What he’s shown Gruden has been all in practice. When defenders aren’t allowed to tackle to the ground. What he showed in his 20 preseason snaps hasn’t quite as convincing.Martin has run the ball 7 times for 27 yards (3.8 ypc). He broke out left untouched in the game Friday night for a 16-yard gain. His carries between the tackles left you a bit concerned. They went for 3, 3, 0, 0, 3, and 2 yards (1.8 yards per carry). We are going to need to see more. Even if Gruden doesn’t.Snap counts:Preseason week three snap countsOffenseDefenseSpecial Tms (select)OffenseDefenseSpecial Tms (select)Notes:Derek Carr and the first team offensive skill position players saw one series before exiting the game.The first team offensive line stayed on the field when Connor Cook entered for the second series. They played into the second quarter as Gruden said they would.Seth Roberts had missed the first two preseason games with an undisclosed injury. Presumably to make up for lost time, Roberts led all Raiders players on either side of the ball in snaps (51) playing 73% of the offensive snaps. Despite his extended playing time http://www.raiderscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-tahir-whitehead-jersey , Roberts saw just one target and it fell incomplete. It was a shot at the end zone from short yardage that EJ Manuel overthrew. Two other targets were nullified by penalties.Shilique Calhoun led all Raiders players in total snaps with 48 on defense (63%) and 13 on special teams (50%). In that time, he had one sack, 2 tackles for loss, and 2 QB hits.Johnny Holton played 17 snaps on special teams (74%), but didn’t see a snap on offense.Donald Penn played 20 snaps (29%) in his debut at right tackle. See a breakdown of rough outing here.Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was signed this week and played nine snaps in the game (12%).Follow @LeviDamien