How the Raiders’ new blocking blend can unleash Ashton Jeanty – and frustrate Khalil Mack and Nik Bonitto

The Las Vegas Raiders didn’t hand three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum an $81 million contract and give Klint Kubiak the keys to their offense simply to improve the optics of a weak offensive line. They did it to build a blocking identity that combines Kubiak’s outside‑zone roots with timely gap‑power concepts. That hybrid approach is designed to unlock second‑year running back Ashton Jeanty and force elite AFC West pass rushers like Khalil Mack and Nik Bonitto to think instead of teeing off. The casual take sees a rookie runner who averaged 2.7 yards per carry and a line that surrendered a league‑high number of sacks. Raider Threadline readers know the fix isn’t just more talent – it’s chemistry, scheme versatility and coaching accountability.

The lazy narrative says the 2025 Raiders had the worst offensive line in football and that Jeanty was a disappointment. National media chatter focuses on 2025 film of left guard Dylan Parham and right guard Alex Cappa getting driven into the backfield and notes that the unit ranked last in rushing yards (1,317) and touchdowns (five) while averaging 3.6 yards per carry. Box‑score scouts will point out that Jeanty averaged only 3.7 yards per carry on 266 attempts and that he had just five rushing touchdowns. On paper, facing Hall of Famer Mack twice and emerging star Bonitto twice in the division doesn’t look promising. Casual fans see an overmatched line and a rookie back destined for the next bust list.

Kubiak’s background comes from the Shanahan tree. The outside‑zone scheme he learned from his father and Gary Kubiak asks linemen to flow laterally together, creating double‑teams before climbing to the second level and giving the back three options – bounce, bang or bend. It relies on athletic linemen and precise footwork. The Raiders hired veteran line coach Rick Dennison, a four‑time Super Bowl winner who served as Seattle’s run‑game coordinator in 2025, to teach those details. But Kubiak’s system isn’t one-dimensional. His Seahawks offense mixed zone with power/gap plays using a true fullback and heavy tight‑end sets, helping Seattle finish 10th in rushing yards and ninth in rushing touchdowns. Gap runs use down‑blocking and a pulling lineman to create a numbers advantage; they allow backs to get downhill faster and can slow down aggressive edge rushers.

Las Vegas overhauled the interior. In free agency the team added guard Spencer Burford, a 6’ 4", 300‑pound former 49er who has 38 career starts and logged nine at left guard in 2025. They then broke the bank for Linderbaum, signing him to a three‑year, $81 million deal with $60 million guaranteed. Linderbaum, coming off three straight Pro Bowls, is an athletic pivot who missed just two games in four years but allowed a 5.9 percent pressure rate in 2025 — a reminder that even elite centers must refine their pass protection. The Raiders also drafted versatile rookie Trey Zuhn III and still have Jackson Powers‑Johnson, who allowed only two sacks and ten pressures across 354 snaps in 2025 after a stellar 2024 season where he helped produce 4.9 yards per carry as a lead blocker. This influx of talent allowed Las Vegas to move on from Parham (six sacks, 28 pressures) and Cappa (five sacks, 23 pressures).

The guard battle is still open. Burford improved as a run blocker in 2025, paving 4.4 yards per carry while giving up two sacks and 31 pressures in 577 snaps. Powers‑Johnson’s power and versatility make him the favorite at right guard, but his injury history and penalty rate (14 flags in 2024) are concerns. Athletic second‑year guard Caleb Rogers gave up just three sacks and 11 pressures (4 percent rate) in 284 snaps and is a natural fit for a zone system. Swing lineman Jordan Meredith struggled when the Raiders forced him to play center in 2025, but in the wide zone system of 2024 he allowed only nine pressures (1.2 percent) over 574 snaps; he offers experienced depth.

The tackles remain Kolton Miller and DJ Glaze. Miller is a steady anchor who rarely loses an assignment. Glaze is raw but athletically intriguing and must improve pad level and pass‑set technique. Kubiak’s scheme will help by asking them to move rather than absorb bull rushes and by providing tight‑end and fullback support. The projected starting five – Miller, Burford, Linderbaum, Powers‑Johnson and Glaze – got first‑team reps during OTAs, and Miller praised Linderbaum’s seamless fit and leadership. This group is built to run the outside zone yet has enough size to run duo and counter concepts.

Jeanty’s rookie season was better than the box score. Despite six different starting offensive-line combinations and injuries that pushed a career guard to center, Jeanty led all rookies with 975 rushing yards and 1,321 scrimmage yards and tied for the second‑most rookie touchdowns (10 total). Over 57 percent of his rushing yards came after contact, and he broke 24 tackles, third‑most in the league. NFL Research noted that he gained 377 rushing yards after forcing missed tackles, seventh‑most in the NFL, meaning 38.6 percent of his yards came on his own. In the season’s final eight games he averaged four catches per game at 6.6 yards per reception, showing improved patience and receiving ability.

Those numbers illustrate why scheme matters. In zone runs the back reads the flow of the defense and waits for a crease; Jeanty flashed that patience late in the season. Gap runs, especially counter and duo, let him get downhill and use his contact balance. A balanced run menu will reduce the number of unblocked defenders he meets at the line of scrimmage and let him attack edges. With Linderbaum making the blocking calls and Burford/Powers‑Johnson climbing to linebackers, Jeanty should have more yards before contact, letting his burst and elusiveness turn 4‑yard gains into explosive plays.

The Chargers and Broncos bring different edge threats. Khalil Mack, now 35, remains an elite power rusher with 113 career sacks. He missed five games in 2025 yet still led the Chargers in forced fumbles (four). In four seasons with Los Angeles he has 12 sacks and 11 tackles for loss against the Raiders. Nik Bonitto is all about speed and bend; he posted 14 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and 28 quarterback hits in 2025, and his 24 percent pass‑rush win rate was second among edge rushers. He has registered 6.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss in eight games against the Silver and Black.

Zone runs are a natural counter. On outside zone the entire line steps to Mack or Bonitto’s side, forcing them to fight through double‑teams and read the back. If the edge overplays, Jeanty can cut up or bend back. Gap runs also matter: pulling Burford or Powers‑Johnson around to kick out Mack prevents him from crashing inside. Against Bonitto’s speed, running at him with duo or counter forces him to set the edge and tackles him to anchor; misdirection and bootlegs off zone action will slow his first step. Tight ends and backs can chip before releasing, and Linderbaum’s quickness allows the center to help on double‑teams before climbing. The ability to switch between zone and gap prevents Mack and Bonitto from teeing off on obvious pass sets.

Investing in the offensive line changes more than the run game. With Linderbaum making calls and Burford/Powers‑Johnson establishing the interior, Jordan Meredith becomes a swing guard who can provide quality snaps in a pinch. Athletic rookie Trey Zuhn can be eased into guard or tackle duties without being rushed. The return to wide‑zone concepts will also benefit second-year quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, by creating cleaner play-action looks and moving launch points – something Kubiak’s offenses excel at. Using a fullback and 12 personnel not only helps in the run game but also gives Kubiak more variety on third down. On the defensive side, a functional run game helps keep Maxx Crosby and the defense off the field and reduces the burden on new defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. The lineup decisions at guard and how quickly the unit gels during camp will cascade into play-calling options and roster decisions (e.g., whether to trade depth for draft picks in October). A successful run game also makes it easier to manage the snap counts of pass rushers like Mack and Bonitto by forcing them to play the run.

Nothing in football is guaranteed. Linderbaum is being paid like a top tackle but is coming off his worst pass‑pro season (5.9 percent pressure rate). Burford’s 5 percent pressure rate and Powers‑Johnson’s penalty history mean this line will need time to gel. Glaze is still raw, and injuries could force inexperienced players like Rogers or Zuhn into the lineup early. Kubiak’s wide‑zone scheme demands precise footwork and communication; missteps lead to negative plays. If the Raiders struggle to get movement on outside zone runs, opponents will crash down and blow up the play before Jeanty hits the line. Mack’s power and hand usage can wreck duo schemes, while Bonitto’s speed tests the edge discipline of Miller and Glaze. Finally, Jeanty must continue to grow; he admitted that there were plays he wished he could have capitalized on, and now he must refine his vision and ball security in a new system.

Kubiak and the Raiders aren’t just installing a playbook; they’re rethinking the way the line attacks the line of scrimmage. A versatile blocking blend can turn Jeanty from a self‑made yards-after-contact machine into an explosive engine and make Mack and Bonitto chase ghosts instead of quarterbacks. Raider Threadline readers know that the battle in the trenches will determine whether this offense finally catches up to its potential.