Oakland Raiders’ Foundation is Solid in Training Camp

Sep 24, 2014; Bagshot, UNITED KINGDOM; Oakland Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack (52) participates in individual drills at practice at Pennyhill Park Hotel in advance of the NFL International Series game against the Miami Dolphins. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Khalil Mack

Outside linebacker Khalil Mack was a Top-100 football player and No. 5 in the NFL in quarterback pressures. But he only had 4 sacks, a number of a part-time player because he only rushed the passer part-time last year. This year, Del Rio is making Mack a full-time pass rusher so expect him to have full-time pass-rusher stats.

He put on a few pounds this offseason to deal with tackles in the role of Leo, an OLB/DE hybrid role. And so far in camp, it looks like that move is going to pay off as Donald Penn, a Pro Bowl left tackle, is having problems this year. Damien tweeted that Mack had two sacks of Carr in a three-play span against Penn in ones-vs-ones team drills.

No, this doesn’t mean this doesn’t mean Penn is slipping, he’s still very athletic at his size at 32. Last year, in the Raiders’ joint practices with the Dallas Cowboys, blew past Tyron Smith, the NFL’s best left tackle. And all anyone from the shocked Cowboys’ side could do was talk about how that never happens in camp to Smith.

Mack has always had the ability and will get his opportunities to get more sacks this year.

Next: Bottom Line