Oakland’s line made Dayne’s day

By Darrell Laurant  |   Wednesday, November 07, 2007  |  Comments( 37 )

Oakland Raiders
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On his Web site, "QB Killa," Warren Sapp has a feature titled: "Check Out the Stats."

By all means, check them out, So far this season, in eight games, Sapp has 20 tackles and two sacks. Meanwhile, Gerard Warren is on the sidelines with a nagging quadricep injury. And Ron Dayne came back from the dead last Sunday to bust through Oakland's first line of defense as if it were a beaded curtain, gaining 122 yards.

Dayne has rushed for over 100 yards three times in the last two years -- twice against the Raiders. On Sunday, Sapp, Terdell Sands, Jay Richardson, Derrick Burgess and company made him look like he was still back at Wisconsin, racking up yards against Purdue.

Oakland's top four tacklers against Houston were either linebackers or defensive backs, which meant that the Texans were getting beyond the D-line with regularity. Sands wound up with four stops, Sapp and Richardson three, Burgess two.

Injuries have been part of the problem, to be fair. Warren has played in only four games, and Tommy Kelly -- at one point the D-line's leading tackler -- is on injured reserve. The 6-foot-2, 320-pound Sapp is now in his 13th year, and questions are beginning to arise as to how much he has in the tank. His 10-sack season in 2006 reversed a period of slow decline, but maybe it was just an aberration.

Perhaps the most telling statistic as far as the defensive line is concerned is that Raider opponents have converted every one of their fourth-down opportunities (5 of 5). Fortunately, perhaps, they haven't had many fourth downs.

Burgess has been a fearsome pass rusher at times during his career, but he can't do it alone, especially not when he gets double-teamed because his fellow linemen don't seem to pose a threat.

The thing about football is that it all works -- or doesn't work -- together. When the D-line doesn't provide a pass rush, the defensive backs have to stay with the opposing wide receivers longer. When the linebackers have to spend more time than usual dealing with the run, it opens up more areas for short passes.

Right now, there isn't much that can be done about any of this. Lane Kiffin and his staff have to play with the cards they've been dealt, or have dealt themselves. But during free agency and the draft next year, it would behoove them to keep a close eye on defensive line talent.
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