Khalil Mack now the NFL’s most dominant defensive player
Dec 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) prepares to sack Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) during the second half at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Raiders won 15-12. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Mack’s jump
When Mack got to the NFL last year, he simply used his burst off the edge to get to the quarterback. And as mentioned in the opening slide, he consisistently got to the quarterback but didn’t sack him. He would get there just in time for the quarterback to barely get the ball off to avoid the sack.
When the quarterback gets the ball out quickly, there isn’t much he can do it as a pass-rusher. But he can do something about getting there quicker so if the QB can’t get it out quick enough, it’s a sure sack. And Mack went back to the lab this offseason to work on some things to get there quicker.
Now, to go with that burst off the edge, Mack has some counter moves to get past an oversetting tackle. The first one is just simply planting his outside foot and going inside with his outside arm under. The second one is a spin-move back inside just like the one Dwight Freeney is known for.
The third one is a straight-up bull-rush he can use to buck a tackle to the turf on the way to the QB. He actually has a little more than that but those are the main three moves he came back with this season. And those three counter moves help him against a tackle that oversets for his speed-rush, making it once again a factor.
He also uses those same three moves to get away from the help when the double-team is coming. Like a young Kobe Bryant in the post, Mack spins away from the double-team but sometimes uses his bull rush like he did Sunday. The biggest thing is he now seems to have better awareness for when the double-team is coming and plans for it.
From all the above, Mack gets there faster and some of his almost-sacks from last year have turned into sacks this year.
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