Raiders offensive line finally taking shape, showing promise

It has taken far longer than the Raiders had hoped, but they finally seem to have settled on their offensive line.

The starting group that takes the field Sunday at Tampa Bay will be the same five players for the fourth straight week. That ties a season high for carryover from one week to the next.

The difference is that this group includes Jackson Powers-Johnson at center and Jordan Meredith at left guard. Combined with Kolton Miller at left tackle, Dylan Parham at right guard and DJ Glaze at right tackle, it’s been the most effective starting group of the season.

That’s reflected in the improved run game in the past two weeks and the better pass protection. The Raiders averaged 4.6 yards per carry in their loss Friday at Kansas City, which is tied for their second-highest average of the season.

The improved pass protection against the Chiefs also helped quarterback Aidan O’Connell complete five of his six longest career completions by air distance.

“You can see it transferring to the tape,” Glaze said. “I’m glad that we can make it to four games in a row and continue to build.”

O’Connell’s long balls against the Chiefs included a 58-yard touchdown throw to wide receiver Tre Tucker, which traveled 50.4 yards in the air. As O’Connell said Wednesday, connecting on long throws requires sufficient time for the wide receiver to run his route and the quarterback to drop back, set up and throw the football.

He got that against the Chiefs.

“It makes me think about how good the protection was,” O’Connell said. “And how awesome our offensive line did in keeping me upright and giving me time to make plays down the field.”

Is a box being checked off?

Five weeks ago, when the Raiders were struggling to run the ball and protect their quarterbacks, improving the offensive line was expected to be a point of emphasis in the offseason. But as Miller, Meredith, Powers-Johnson, Parham and Glaze settle in and Thayer Munford shows promise in a reserve role, that position seems far less urgent.

Powers-Johnson, a rookie from Oregon, has provided a lift over veteran Andre James. The second-round pick obviously still has a lot to learn, but all signs point to him being an above average center and an anchor to the offensive line for years to come.

Meredith, whose first two seasons with the Raiders were mostly spent on the practice squad and as a reserve, has flourished since getting his opportunity to start in Week 7. Glaze, a third-round rookie out of Maryland, took over as an injury replacement for Munford in Week 3.

Miller, who missed the spring and summer rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery, bounced back from a rough start in the first four games to deliver his typically steady play in the past eight games.

The group has eliminated the communication issues that plagued the offensive line earlier in the season and adapted to the changes under new offensive line coach Joe Philbin.

“Continuity and chemistry,” is how coach Antonio Pierce put it. “I’ve been saying that since training camp with this group. You see it starting to jell. You see that in the running game, you see that in protection, you see the communication throughout the game and not having these mental errors.”

As Powers-Johnson explained, the more this group plays together, the more comfortable and effective they become.

“Cohesion is very important in any aspect of football,” Powers-Johnson said. “You have the same guys practicing together, getting the feel and knowing how to play together.”

New thought process

Philbin took over the line when the Raiders fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and offensive line coach James Cregg after their Week 9 loss to the Bengals. His first order of business was to focus on what was effective and get back to fundamentals.

If the more direct approach also meant simplified schemes and blocking assignments, so be it.

“I think he’s really dialed back,” Pierce said. “He talks a lot about technique and fundamentals with that group.”

That has been especially beneficial for rookies Powers-Johnson and Glaze.

“For sure when you first go in, a lot is going on,” Glaze said. “But the more I’ve played, things have slowed down. Now I’m kind of settling in and taking things slow and as they come.”

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X