Alright, Raiders just put their Week 1 win over the Dolphins behind them because it’s already Week 2 and they’re staring down the familiar AFC West foe, the Los Angeles Chargers. The big question hitting the mailbag is whether defensive coordinator Rob Leonard is gonna crank up the pressure this week, especially going after that Chargers’ interior offensive line. Are we looking at an over/under 45 percent blitz rate for this matchup?
Blitzes Coming, But Maybe Not How You Think
Honestly, I’m taking the under on that 45 percent blitz rate. Look, only two teams were above that mark in Week 1: the Vikings, with Brian Flores going absolutely wild at over 80 percent, and the Commanders at 50.9 percent. The Jets (44.9%), Ravens (43.4%), and Lions (43.0%) were close, sure, but the Raiders themselves only blitzed 24.0 percent of the time against Miami. That ranked them 18th across the whole league. Could Leonard dial up the heat more in Los Angeles? Yeah, he definitely could. The Chargers’ interior offensive line is their weakest spot, no doubt about it. But a straight-up blitz-heavy assault might not be his primary move.
Chargers’ IOL: A Real Weak Spot
Here’s the real crux of the matter: the Chargers are without free-agent signing Tyler Biadasz for the entire year, leaving them with a rookie center, Jake Slaughter, who’s making only his second NFL start. The center position is usually the guy setting the protection, right? And while Justin Herbert is a veteran quarterback who can help, the Shanahan coaching tree, which L.A.’s new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel comes from, typically wants the center handling those protection calls to take it off the QB’s plate. Jim Harbaugh confirmed this week to Kris Rhim at ESPN that Herbert *is* calling protections now, which is an adjustment due to Biadasz’s injury. But it’s still a new offense, and they don’t have that veteran center safety net if things go sideways. Not having that experienced voice up front can really hurt a team when communications start breaking down.
Leonard’s Plan? Keep ‘Em Guessing
Given that glaring weakness up front for the Chargers, it’s a safe bet Leonard will throw a variety of looks at them right from the start, adjusting as the game goes on. But don’t be shocked if the actual blitz rate , rushing five or more defenders , stays pretty consistent. Instead, get ready for a heavy dose of simulated pressures. That’s where the Raiders show a blitz pre-snap, but then an off-ball linebacker, like Quay Walker or Nakobe Dean, rushes the passer while a lineman, maybe Malcolm Koonce, Kwity Paye, or one of the defensive tackles, drops into zone coverage. Or expect some creeper blitzes, which is the same idea: a typical coverage guy rushes and a pass rusher drops, but without the pre-snap blitz look. Leonard used this approach to create pressure in Week 1. It’s brilliant for confusing a young or struggling offensive line, making it super tough for them to figure out where the rush is coming from, leading to missed assignments and free rushers. That’s exactly where a lack of veteran center experience will sting the Chargers the most.
This Week 2 divisional game is going to be a chess match up front. Leonard knows the Chargers’ soft spot, and watching how he exploits it without necessarily going full-throttle blitz will be the key to this matchup. Can the Chargers’ rookie center hold up? That’s the million-dollar question for the Bolts.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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