Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Oakland Raiders found a building block for their defense with their first-round pick (fifth overall) in 2014, as linebacker Khalil Mack was an immediate difference maker. His surface stats don’t look particularly outstanding (75 total tackles and four sacks), but Pro Football Focus had Mack as their No. 1 4-3 outside linebacker last season and the site credited him with 54 quarterback pressures and 40 quarterback hurries.
Mack is not battling for a starting job this year, but new Raiders’ defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. has suggested he will be put in a position to get after the quarterback more often. Mack has also reportedly added weight this offseason, so he looks ready for a changing role during his second NFL season.
Training camp and the preseason won’t tell us much about Mack’s talent level, which is already clear after just one season. But it will be worth watching reports about where he lines up during camp practices and how he is used during preseason games, since that should be a signal of how Norton will deploy his young star once the regular season starts. Putting Mack in position to make plays has to be a big priority, and Norton seems intent on doing just that very quickly.
If Mack puts together a good showing during camp and the preseason, in what looks certain to be a multi-faceted role that will have him lining up across the defensive formation, he will be in line for a big season. Purely having better luck, coupled with better instincts with a season under his belt, could turn last season’s volume of pressures and hurries into more sacks for Mack. That is a scary thought for opposing offenses, even if the Raiders aren’t necessarily likely to have one of the top defenses in the league.
Mack is certainly a budding star, and he is line to put up better stats this season and become one of the best all-around linebackers in the league for years to come. Training camp will be a good start to that track, and the biggest key for Mack will be avoiding serious injury ahead of Week 1.
Brad Berreman is a Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter.
