Film room: Elandon Roberts the human battering ram

Diving into what the linebacker brings to the Raiders’ defense

Losing Robert Spillane in free agency is a blow to the Las Vegas Raiders’ defense as Spillane was one of the league’s best run-stuffing linebackers over the last two seasons. However, the Raiders might have found a suitable replacement for that role by signing Elandon Roberts.

Last season, Roberts ranked third among linebackers with a 90.4 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus while Spillane was sixth at 87.3. Albeit, the latter’s figure came on a much bigger sample size — 426 snaps against the run versus 255. But Roberts still made plenty of impact plays with his opportunities, leading all linebackers with a 1.7-yard average depth of tackle and racking up 19 defensive stops.

While the former Steeler is limited in coverage, he’s carved out a nine-year career as a quality two-down backer and a human battering ram whose game is worth taking a deeper dive into.

The clip above is the best example of how this article got its title. Roberts doesn’t just look to plug his gap against the run, he’s out to destroy blocks and deliver some punishment along the way.

The Chiefs run mid-zone where center Creed Humphrey climbs to block Roberts and running back Kareem Hunt cuts into the A-gap with the 3-technique defensive tackle in the B-gap.

Once Humphrey reaches the second level, Roberts takes on the block with good pad level and tight hand placement and uncorks his hips at the point of contact to put Humphrey on his back. That clogs up the hole for Hunt and allows Cam Heyward to make the tackle short of the goal line from the backside A-gap.

Humphrey is one of the best centers in the league and you’re not going to find many reps, if any, where he gets bent backward like this.

This last clip isn’t as sexy as the last one since Humphrey manages to stay on his feet this time. But it is another good example of how Roberts is a downhill linebacker who seeks out contact and has the power to win at the point of attack.

The Chiefs go with another zone run where Humphrey and Roberts are one-on-one again. Again, the linebacker is physical and has a leverage advantage while taking on the block, stopping the center’s momentum around the line of scrimmage. Roberts also does a good job of taking on half the man here, allowing him to get on an edge and escape the block to be involved in the tackle for a short gain.

Clearly, the veteran knows how to take on and destroy blocks on the second level.

Part of what makes the veteran a good run defender is he has a handful of ways to defeat blocks beyond just running through an offensive lineman’s face.

This time, Roberts is on the backside of a split-zone run and initially starts flowing with the play. Then, he recognizes that the interior gaps are plugged up and the tight end is working up to the second level. So, he makes a subtle move by redirecting laterally to throw off the tight end’s angle and uses a rip move to defeat the block and help make the tackle.

That’s a good job of using his athleticism and football IQ to be a factor against the run, and we’ll see another example of both those elements at play in the next clip.

Roberts’ lateral movement skills are impressive as he has the agility to cover multiple gaps in the run game, and that’s how he ends up getting involved in the tackle on the play above.

Initially, the linebacker starts working to the weakside of the formation. But when Heyward beats Humphry off the snap with a swim move, the running back is forced to cut to the backside. Meanwhile, Roberts sees this and uses his agility to mirror the back and effortlessly go from one side of the hash mark to the other to get involved in the tackle.

Again, that’s impressive recognition and lateral movement to be a factor against the run.

Finally, we’ll wrap-up with on more example Roberts’ instincts and agility.

The Ravens throw some eye candy at the linebacker, having one of the tight ends work across the formation to make the play look like split-zone. However, the tight end is just sealing the backside of the run as Baltimore calls counter trap where the right guard and tackle are pulling.

Initially, Roberts starts flowing with the motion, but he quickly recognizes the pulling guard and tackle. His fast read prevents the other tight end from making the block on Roberts, and allows the linebacker to make another tackle from the backside of the play.

The soon-to-be 31-year-old may not be a complete backer, but he is pretty good executing his role as a run-stuffer.