The 2026 Las Vegas Raiders starting offensive line played so well that we have to ask what went wrong in 2025. It would be too easy to trash and bash the previous offensive line coach while he’s not here to defend himself. However, the truth of the matter is that Brennan Carroll, was simply horrendous at his job. How lost 3/5 of these offensive linemen played last season was malpractice. The fact that a rookie running back had to go to his general manager to watch film and try to better understand
what he needed to do was appalling.
Big time pass protectors
On Sunday, under the leadership of offensive line coach Rick Dennison, Kolton Miller, Spencer Burford, Tyler Linderbaum, Jackson Powers-Johnson and Delmar Glaze absolutely tore the Miami Dolphins defensive line a new one. We must give praise where praise is due. Miller and Glaze were the first and third-highest-graded tackles in pass-block win rate according to ESPN Analytics and NFL Next Gen Stats.
Linderbaum, since signing with the Silver and Black in free agency, has come in and made a huge difference at the point of attack. Proving against the Dolphins to be not only the toughest guy on the line, but also one of the smartest. As the captain of the offensive line, his communication was a key part in ensuring quarterback Kirk Cousins was never sacked and only touched a handful of times.
Not only didn’t the Raiders offensive line surrender a sack but the 29% pressure allowed rate was third least in week 1 across the league. Cousins, enjoyed an average of 2.9 seconds to throw which was 14th in week 1. Miami’s defense may not be world beaters, but to go from being dead last to middle of the pack in your first game is massive immediate improvement.
The maulers and mashers
For years and throughout many different coaching regimes, the words zone blocking scheme were prophecies of dysfunction and doom. Yet somehow Dennison got the best showings we’ve seen out of his two guards, Burford and Powers-Johnson. The holes and lanes they opened up were large and made life easy for the ball carriers. Not to mention the cutback and bouncing lanes were there when the defense managed to clog the intended gap.
Ashton Jeanty ran the ball 23 times for 102 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. His backup, Mike Washington Jr, ran the ball seven times for 41 yards and an average of 5.9 yards per carry. Very admirable numbers for the two workhorses. If this is indeed a sign of things to come, then the Raiders offensive line provided they stay healthy is going to have a huge bounce back year in 2026.
