PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Shell Lauds Defensive Line

Any highlight film of the Raiders’ victory in Denver on Oct. 18 has to include Anthony Smith’s sack of John Elway, the most memorable of the team’s seven sacks that night. Smith, who spent the evening dominating four-time Pro Bowl lineman Gary Zimmerman, grabbed Elway by the jersey and flung him to the ground.

Smith is part of a defensive line that led the league in sacks with 26 heading into last weekend’s bye.

Smith is the Raiders’ sack leader with 10, followed by Greg Townsend with four, Chester McGlockton with two, Howie Long and Nolan Harrison with 1 1/2 each, and Willie Broughton and Aundray Bruce with one apiece. In addition, linebacker Aaron Wallace has two sacks, linebacker Joe Kelly has one and safety Eddie Anderson has one. Another is listed as a team sack.

How good is this Raider defensive line?

“I wouldn’t want to play against them,” Raider Coach Art Shell said. “They are pretty awesome. They have talent, speed and quickness.

“If you double up one guy, somebody is going to get in there. If you keep the pressure on, somebody is going to flush (the quarterback) out to you or you are going to flush him out to somebody else.”