The Raiders are the worst rushing defense in the NFL, and it was a huge factor in the team’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts this past Sunday.
Oakland allowed the Colts to run for 222 yards. The Colts ran the ball 40 times – nine more times than Andrew Luck threw the ball (a rarity in the NFL these days) -- for a 5.6-yard average.
That contributed to the fact the Raiders are 33nd in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing 144.7 yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry.
But the 1-6 Raiders may be getting some help for their ravaged defensive line.
Eddie Vanderdoes, a second-year defensive tackle from UCLA who has missed all of this season, is expected to play Thursday night against the 49ers, reports Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. And Justin Ellis could be back from injury in two weeks.
Vanderdoes saw plenty of action in 2017 as a third-round pick and got solid grades as a run-stuffer. He was injured in the 2017 season finale and had offseason knee surgery. Ellis was hurt in the season opener.
Vanderdoes, a 6-foot-4, 305-pounder, started 13 games last season and was in on 18 tackles, including two for losses. Ellis started 14 games last season and was in on 48 tackles. He’s started 42 games since being drafted by Oakland in 2014.
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Raiders head coach Jon Gruden says his team is practicing hard on defense all week long, every week, but it needs to be more physical up front. Vanderdoes and Ellis could help.
“We have to do a better job collectively,” said Gruden. “Getting off blocks, staying in the right gap and making physical tackles and knocking them backward.”
The Raiders and 49ers are scheduled for a 5:20 p.m. kickoff Thursday at Levi’s Stadium.
