Maxx Crosby on What's Next For the D-Line

The Las Vegas Raiders are going to have to step up in all aspects of their defense this season.

The Las Vegas Raiders lacked significant production on the defensive side of the football last year.

While the club has some elite talent in the trenches with pass rushers Chandler Jones and Maxx Crosby, the defensive line has still been a point of emphasis that Las Vegas has looked to improve this offseason.

In order for the team to take the next step this upcoming season, the D-line will have to improve as well.

For Crosby, it starts with chemistry.

"I feel like I've talked about it many times with Josh [McDaniels], Dave [Ziegler], to everybody," Crosby told the media after Thursday's OTA. "The year before, I felt like that was my best year as far as culture and an environment as far as the D-line came. When we had Quinton Jefferson, those guys, we were all on the same page every single down. Like, I didn't have to say anything to Q [Quinton Jefferson], and he knew what we're doing. And I feel like it took a step back last year just as far as being a group, and it's not easy. You get a bunch of new guys, it’s not easy. It doesn't just happen overnight. And that's what I've been just encouraging everybody, it's like: 'Listen, we've got to do everything together.' And it's like I talked about, it's not only just showing up to practice, working out together. We've got to go out and do things together. 

"Like, I want to know what Matt Butler's kid is doing and what he's up to, you know what I mean? You've got to have those relationships because that's the shit on TV that you see that the normal, regular fan doesn't understand. Like, if you're on the same page, everything is just flowing and that's the real connection that takes guys from being a good group to a great group, and I feel like that's what we're doing right now. We obviously have a lot of work to do, but it's been super encouraging, especially the inside guys. Seeing Jerry Tillery, the work he's putting in right now, Matt Butler, Neil Farrell, all these guys are working like crazy right now and they're super hungry. It's been awesome to see, but it's May right now, we've got a lot of work to do still, and I feel like we're going in the right direction."

The Raiders' offseason workout schedule is as follows:

OTA Offseason workouts: May 22-23, May 25, May 31-June 2, June 12-15

Mandatory Minicamp: June 6-8

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