Why Oakland Raiders Defensive End Max Valles Needs Extensive Snaps in 2015

For the Oakland Raiders, generating a pass rush remains a major concern heading into the 2015 season.

How will the Raiders address their lack of ferocity against opposing quarterbacks? Oakland will depend on 32-year-old Justin Tuck and a rookie without a past history of hunting quarterbacks to elevate a nonexistent pass rush that recorded 22 sacks in 2014.

What Does Justin Tuck Have Left?

Maybe Tuck has something left in the tank, but his snap count and sack totals have fluctuated significantly from season to season:

Year	Snap Count	Sack Total
2010	856	11.5
2011	648	5.0
2012	662	4.0
2013	896	11.0
2014	667	5.0

The 11-year veteran has maintained a relatively clean bill of health over the past five seasons, but if he plays closer to 600 snaps rather than 800, someone must fill in the gaps.

Tuck isn’t ready to take a backseat, but he plays a physically demanding position on the defensive line. At this point in his career, 800-plus snaps could do more harm than good in terms of health and production. Tuck needs someone to take a small load off his shoulders so that the team does not expect him to maintain an 800-plus snap count to produce solid numbers.

A rotation of defensive ends would preserve Tuck and give the Raiders a solid incumbent who is ready to play at the position.

Benson Mayowa vs. Max Valles

Sixth-round pick Max Valles is raw, but he’s ready to make an immediate impact. He’s coming into the league with more momentum than defensive end Benson Mayowa. Mayowa hasn't had the opportunity to showcase his skills in his two seasons in the league, serving in a reserve role for the Seattle Seahawks in 2013 and for the Raiders in 2014. As a result, we'll compare collegiate resumes between the two defensive ends.

Mayowa had only two more sacks (10) coming out of college than Mario Edwards Jr. (eight).

Valles recorded 13 sacks in two seasons at Virginia, holding a slight edge over Mayowa in pass-rushing capabilities. Sacks aren’t the only telling statistic that should get Raider Nation excited about the sixth-round pick.

Valles didn’t record a sack in a contest against Louisville but found a way to impact the game with his long arms at the line of scrimmage, batting down four passes:

Mayowa had five passes defensed in four years at Idaho against lesser competition in the Western Athletic Conference.

Valles’ ability to thwart a play behind the line of scrimmage doesn’t get recognition because of his pass-rushing abilities, but he’s an effective front-line defender. He recorded 23 tackles for loss in his two-year stint at Virginia. Mayowa recorded 18 tackles for loss in his collegiate career.

These statistics aren’t detriments to Mayowa's outlook as a pro, but Valles comes into the league as a better talent at the position.

Mario Edwards’ Domino Effect 

Eric Risberg/Associated Press

If you’re a blind follower of what the coaches feed the media in terms of every player as a perfect fit, please cover your eyes.

Edwards is still a baffling second-round choice. His athleticism is a source of optimism, but he doesn’t fulfill the duty of providing quarterback pressure, which is essential for a 4-3 defensive end.

Many would suggest that Edwards can serve as the front man, occupying blockers to allow an easier entrance into the backfield for outside linebacker Khalil Mack. The issue here is that Mack’s area would then become vacant, forcing inside linebacker Curtis Lofton to cover two-thirds of the field from the middle to the strong side while keeping his eyes on the running back.

Yes, one of the safeties can step up, but that’s not a good idea, considering the Raiders safeties are more proven coverage players than their cornerbacks are. Quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers would continually pick the defense apart.

Maybe you don’t agree with that premise because Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller amassed 14 sacks from the outside linebacker position in 2014. Well, he benefits from playing behind DeMarcus Ware, who’s still a prolific pass-rusher and managed to accumulate 10 sacks in 2014. Obviously, Edwards isn’t Ware in any facet of the game yet.

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Placing two high-end pass-rushers on the same side forces the offense to shift the running back over as an extra pass-blocker and simplifies the middle linebacker’s job. Typically, he doesn’t have to worry about the running back catching a pass over the middle or taking a delayed handoff up the middle.

The Raiders don’t have the luxury of consistently relieving Mack of his pass-coverage duties to chase quarterbacks. As a rookie with a limited sack history, Edwards doesn’t demand extra pass protection. Lofton ranked 45th in pass coverage in 2014, per Pro Football Focus. How could you expect him to cover his area and Mack’s third of the field on a consistent basis?

Valles showed early flashes as a pure pass-rusher in two years at the collegiate level. His continued development would become a solid complement to Mack, potentially forming a solid duo for the future, similar to the Broncos' design in 2014. Edwards should move to the left side of the defensive line if Tuck goes elsewhere in the offseason or becomes a part-time starter.

Valles would take over on the right—in front of Mack. Either way, it's in the Raiders' best interest to get him on the field.

There isn't an abundance of pure pass-rushers coming out of the draft every year. Early development could yield a decade of quality production from a position with increasing value. The Raiders must utilize Valles’ talents early to maximum his true value.

Should Max Valles get a significant amount of snaps in 2015? All comments are welcome below. Follow Maurice Moton on Twitter for NFL and Raiders news.

All statistics are provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.