Graney: Containing Herbert key to Raiders beating Chargers

Consider a fewer facts astir Chargers backmost Justin Herbert done 3 weeks of the NFL season:

Herbert — according to Next Gen Stats — ranks among the apical 5 players astatine his presumption successful aggressiveness. That metric tracks the fig of passes a backmost throws into choky coverage.

He is besides tied for 4th among regular starters successful longest completed aerial distance. That equals the fig of yards the shot has traveled, from the constituent of merchandise to the constituent of reception.

What it means: Herbert doesn’t person an contented taking chances and often does truthful heavy downfield.

Which could beryllium bully oregon atrocious for the Raiders.

Pressure pocket

The teams conscionable connected “Monday Night Football” astatine SoFi Stadium successful Inglewood, California, an AFC West matchup successful which the Raiders volition beryllium tested defensively much than astatine immoderate clip during their 3-0 start.

They person — for bully crushed — relied heavy connected a antiaircraft beforehand pressuring opposing quarterbacks frankincense far. They did truthful successfully against Lamar Jackson and Ben Roethlisberger and Jacoby Brissett.

The propulsion from those tackles and borderline players — led by 2½ sacks from Solomon Thomas and 2 from Maxx Crosby — has been acold much bully than bad. It needs to beryllium again Monday. That and truly disciplined.

“It takes a batch of america to eat,” Raiders antiaircraft tackle Quinton Jefferson said. “We near a batch of nutrient connected the bony past week. (Herbert) is simply a large athlete. We can’t fto that feline get extracurricular (the pocket). When helium starts looking downfield, that tin pb to immoderate large plays.”

I’m beauteous definite that means the Raiders respect Herbert’s quality to widen plays and that Jefferson is hungry.

First, the Raiders request to incorporate Herbert. Next, they person to scope him. Finally, they indispensable get him to the ground. Not an casual task. He is each spot of 6 foot, 6 inches and 236 pounds.

He besides has 3 interceptions to six touchdowns successful 3 games. He volition springiness second-level and back-end players opportunities to marque plays connected the ball. Will propulsion it up for grabs each present and then.

There is besides this: The Raiders person immoderate superior wrong cognition — contempt the information the Chargers employment a caller coaching unit — connected Herbert’s tendencies.

New antiaircraft coordinator Gus Bradley held the aforesaid presumption with the Chargers past season. His portion went up against Herbert regular during the player’s rookie season.

Included connected that defence was Casey Hayward, present starting astatine 1 cornerback spot for the Raiders. It besides included linebacker Denzel Perryman. He was with the Chargers from 2015-20. A full of 5 existent Raiders were erstwhile with Monday’s opposing side.

But things aren’t the same. Brandon Staley is present manager of the Chargers and Joe Lombardi their violative coordinator.

All astir containment

“Every week we spell into a crippled with a program to impact the quarterback,” Bradley said. “(Herbert) is precise athletic. Very poised. Very assured … But present we’re Raiders, and erstwhile you ticker the tape, the (Chargers) discourtesy is wholly different.”

It’s besides overly hard to defend.

Running backmost Austin Ekeler is an Alvin Kamara-type talent.

Mike Williams astatine receiver has thrived successful his caller “X” presumption successful Lombardi’s system. Keenan Allen, arsenic the different wideout, remains 1 of the apical AFC West threats. The duo has combined for 43 catches implicit 553 yards and 5 scores.

But however things autumn for the Raiders volition undoubtedly measurement heavy toward however Herbert plays.

“He’s truly thing to watch,” Raiders manager Jon Gruden said. “It’ll beryllium a big-time challenge.”

Which is each astir containment.

Fail successful that mode against Herbert, and 4-0 isn’t happening.

Ed Graney is simply a Sigma Delta Chi Award victor for sports file penning and tin beryllium reached astatine egraney@reviewjournal.com oregon 702-383-4618. He tin beryllium heard connected “The Press Box,” ESPN Radio 100.9 FM and 1100 AM, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday done Friday. Follow @edgraney connected Twitter.