Raiders DC Paul Guenther: More 4-3, more blitzes
Posted: Wed Feb 7, 2018 9:24 pm
https://www.silverandblackpride.com/2018/1/11/16835046/what-addition-of-paul-guenther-should-do-for-the-raiders-defense
Remember that this is a disciple of Mike Zimmer, and the rumor is he left CIN because he felt held back by Marvin Lewis' aversion to blitzing. There are 2 reasons why both of these facts are significant:
1) ILB and DT depth. We drafted Eddie Vanderdoes last year, and Jelly Ellis is a FA this offseason. Outside of Latham.. that's our entire depth chart at DT currently. That makes it extremely likely that we draft a DT early this year. On the flip side, we have typically not invested much in ILB, especially as it comes to the draft. I would expect Navorro Bowman to be back in the silver & black next year.
2) Khalil Mack's sack dropoff. Mack has dropped from 15 sacks, to 11 sacks, to 10.5 sacks the past 3 years. This is quite possibly the best pass rusher in the league.. those numbers mean he's been doubled too much and we've been too predictable with how we use him. He and Bruce Irvin (should he be kept) will benefit tremendously from Guenther's addition, because of how he likes to overload one side and overwhelm a QB. Mario Edwards, Denico Autry (if brought back), and maybe James Cowser should benefit as well. If we bring Autry back, I wouldnt expect that we add anyone in terms of DE or SLB. WLB (Nick Morrow) might be a position we upgrade though
Remember that this is a disciple of Mike Zimmer, and the rumor is he left CIN because he felt held back by Marvin Lewis' aversion to blitzing. There are 2 reasons why both of these facts are significant:
1) ILB and DT depth. We drafted Eddie Vanderdoes last year, and Jelly Ellis is a FA this offseason. Outside of Latham.. that's our entire depth chart at DT currently. That makes it extremely likely that we draft a DT early this year. On the flip side, we have typically not invested much in ILB, especially as it comes to the draft. I would expect Navorro Bowman to be back in the silver & black next year.
2) Khalil Mack's sack dropoff. Mack has dropped from 15 sacks, to 11 sacks, to 10.5 sacks the past 3 years. This is quite possibly the best pass rusher in the league.. those numbers mean he's been doubled too much and we've been too predictable with how we use him. He and Bruce Irvin (should he be kept) will benefit tremendously from Guenther's addition, because of how he likes to overload one side and overwhelm a QB. Mario Edwards, Denico Autry (if brought back), and maybe James Cowser should benefit as well. If we bring Autry back, I wouldnt expect that we add anyone in terms of DE or SLB. WLB (Nick Morrow) might be a position we upgrade though