Chargers Notebook: Packers review, Shane Steichen, Gus Bradley

How do the Chargers match up to Oakland’s defensive line? Is Oakland’s defensive line any good?

This defensive line has some problems. Maurice Hurst was a steal for Oakland last year and is maybe the lone bright spot in the Raiders’ entire front seven. This defensive front seven is bad. Real bad. It’s surprising they have won as many games as they have with the defense being as bad at rushing the passer as they are.

Arden Key is out, who was a lone bright spot among their edge rush, and with him out it draws more focus to rookie Clelin Ferrell, who is… to put it nicely, he is not a good pass rusher. Especially not for where he was selected. He’s fine but not what the Raiders’ defense needs.

Oakland’s defense is stubborn and will play with passion, but if they get behind it is a true struggle for them to keep up. The offense will be the true problem, as Derek Carr, Darren Waller, and Josh Jacobs will all give the Chargers problems. That said, if the Chargers deploy a similar gameplan against Oakland as they did against Green Bay, I fully expect a similar outcome.

Back on track, you’re looking at a mix of run defenders trying to rush the passer along this Oakland defensive line. They have no juice there, and the playmaker they had is now out for the foreseeable future, so this Chargers offensive line should have zero problem keeping Rivers clean.

The matchup to watch here will be Quessenberry vs. Hurst. If Quessenberry can win that matchup, Oakland’s defensive line won’t even be a slight problem.