Tyler Linderbaum Continues to Make Same Mistake, Costing Raiders

The Raiders lined up for a tush push on a fourth and one in the red zone on Sunday. But center Tyler Linderbaum moved before he snapped the ball. He was flagged for a false start and cost the Raiders five yards and the chance at a touchdown. 

It was the third time this season that Linderbaum has been called for a penalty on a tush push. The two previous times he was called for offside as he lined his head ahead of the ball and into the neutral zone. 

“I’ve been called three times already on it. I’ve got to figure it out. Unacceptable to put our team in that position,” Linderbaum said after the game. “Critical moment in the game. Big swing.”

Head coach Klint Kubiak tried to shield his player from the blame.

“It’s happened three times, and it’s killing us,” Kubiak told the media on Sunday. “Absolutely killing us. And I have not fixed it, so shame on me. It’s on me to get it fixed.”

But this isn’t Kubiak’s fault. This is the highest-paid center in the NFL’s problem to fix. 

The Raiders gave Tyler Linderbaum a three-year, $81 million deal in the offseason to lure him away from the Baltimore Ravens. The $27 million per year average dwarfs every other center contract in the NFL. Kansas City’s Creed Humphrey is the second-highest paid center at $18 million. 

Linderbaum was attractive to the Raiders because he has been one of the better centers in the NFL and is just 26 years old. He should be a building block for the organization. But these are the types of mistakes the Raiders can’t afford from their high-paid center. 

This roster is flawed. There are clear weaknesses, notably across the offensive line next to Linderbaum. Those areas are going to cost the Raiders points and games throughout the season. But the Raiders expected Linderbaum to be a positive addition. 

In a game the Raiders lost by three points, Linderbaum’s mistake turned a potential touchdown drive into a field goal.