NFL Oakland Raiders

Michael Sam Could Help Oakland Raiders’ Anemic Pass Rush

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By @Kevin_Saito

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Tuck and LaMarr Woodley were brought to the Oakland Raiders this offseason to inject some life into a pass rush that had become as threatening as a box full of kittens. They were brought in specifically to upgrade a pass rush that has ranked in the bottom half of the league for quite a while. Six games into the season, Tuck and Woodley have combined for a whopping total of one sack. And with today’s news that Woodley will likely miss the rest of the season with a torn bicep, the defensive news is looking somewhat bleak in Oakland at the moment. However, there is a potential solution who was recently made available still floating around out there — Michael Sam.

After not making it to the St. Louis Rams‘ 53-man roster, the former SEC co-Defensive Player of the Year was signed to the Dallas Cowboys‘ practice squad. However, according to Dallas HC Jason Garrett, the depth the team has on the defensive line made Sam expendable and prompted his release, which is the same reason the Rams say they cut him following a very productive preseason.

Sitting at a dismal record of 0-6 and stuck in a 12-game losing streak that dates back to last November, the Raiders are in bad shape. They have yet to be able to generate any sort of pass rush this season, and as a result, have had their defense absolutely carved up by the likes of Geno Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Tannehill and Carson Palmer — not exactly a murderer’s row. But when a quarterback at this level is given a nearly unlimited amount of time in the pocket — which most of the quarterbacks facing Oakland have had this season — bad things tend to happen. Which, as the Raiders can assure you, is absolutely the case.

Given their shortcomings on defense thus far this season, GM Reggie McKenzie, interim HC Tony Sparano and DC Jason Tarver — why he’s still the DC is anybody’s guess at this point — are left scrambling for answers. With an upcoming stretch of games in which they’ll face the likes of Peyton Manning, Russell Wilson, Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick, Oakland desperately needs to find ways to generate some heat on the QB or they’ll find themselves getting blown out week after week after week.

While it is true that the team has played better and harder since Sparano took over for the fired Dennis Allen, the defense still has yet to generate a consistent pass rush. And the loss of Woodley isn’t going to make that task any easier.

Which is exactly why the Raiders need to take a flier on Michael Sam. Some have speculated about this already and have determined that he would not be a good schematic fit with Oakland. However, scheme would probably not be the issue. The Raiders run a base 4-3 defense, just as the Rams do. And over the course of the preseason in St. Louis, Sam showed that he can absolutely play in the NFL. He showed explosiveness off the line, extreme quickness in pursuit, terrific hand and foot work, great instincts, an ability to finish a play and bury a quarterback — just ask Johnny Manziel. In terms of stats, in the 77 preseason snaps that Sam played, he registered three sacks, two QB hits and four QB hurries.

It sounds like exactly the sort of production the Raiders need out of their pass rushers.

At this point in the season, with the team trying to get better and stay competitive, it behooves McKenzie and Sparano to do whatever is within their power to improve an absolutely toothless pass rush. They need to do something, anything, to put the team in the best position possible to win a ballgame, including bringing in players who can help.

With safety Usama Young and now Woodley lost for the season, they have open spots on the roster to fill. Why not fill one of those spots with a high motor guy who has demonstrated his ability to play on the NFL level by helping to put some teeth into a defensive pass rush.

The Raiders are building a good core of solid young players on defense in Khalil Mack, Sio Moore and TJ Carrie among others. Adding somebody like Sam who is a young, athletic playmaker can’t do anything but help. McKenzie must bring Sam in to see what he can do.

Kevin Saito is a fiction writer, sports junkie, history nerd, and NFL contributor to www.RantSports.com  Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, or on Google

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