Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby is actually sitting out some snaps, and it's paying off so far.
The Las Vegas Raiders have a real pass rush this year, and it’s not all about Maxx Crosby. The star defensive end has been the man when it comes to getting sacks, but now he’s got plenty of company under defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, who was promoted by new coach Klint Kubiak.
Crosby is also playing fewer snaps, which sounds ominous when taken at face value. The defensive end prides himself on his warrior image, and part of that is playing 100 percent of the Raiders’ defensive snaps, according to Paul Gutierrez of Raiders.com.
But Kubiak has sold Crosby on the idea of playing fewer snaps, with part of this being a matter of necessity. Crosby is coming off knee surgery, so this was part of the medical plan from day one coming into the season.
Another part is all about Crosby finally following the rules with his new coach. He’s been notorious for ignoring this sort of thing during his career, and lately it’s been a big reason why the Raiders have struggled with poor performance and a fragmented locker room.
But Crosby also acknowledged that he’s in his eighth season, and his offseason surgery was evidence of the wear and tear, especially given the defensive end’s relentless style of play.
The results are intriguing, however, as Gutierrez noted. Crosby was shut out on the stat sheet for three quarters during the Raiders’ Week 1 win over the Miami Dolphins, but Crosby and edge rusher Kwity Paye combined for three sacks in the final quarter, with Crosby getting credit for 1.5 sacks after he sat out ten snaps in the game.
What Kubiak and Leonard are doing with Crosby is also part of a larger trend in the NFL that’s been in place for some time. Most of the better teams rotate in pass rushers to keep fresh bodies applying pressure, and signing Paye was part of the team’s goal to spread the wealth.
Crosby also sat out ten snaps against New Orleans last Sunday, and the result was a late fumble recovery that helped seal the win for the Raiders. The defensive end also forced a fumble that safety Jeremy Chinn recovered, so he wound up with a solid stat line for the day.
The Raiders host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, so a new challenge awaits. Crosby has spent most of the last decade chasing quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and his success on Sunday will go a long way toward determining the outcome.
