Las Vegas Raiders

Oakland Raiders to See Return of the Mack Sunday

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Aug 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) watches action from the sideline against the Tennessee Titans in the fourth quarter at Oakland Alameda Coliseum. The Titans defeated the Raiders 27-14. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

A big part of the Oakland Raiders’ struggles on defense this year is edge rusher Khalil Mack’s lack of impact. But this week against the Baltimore Ravens, Mack gets back to his usual self, lifting the defense to win.

Hey Oakland Raiders fans, you do remember Khalil Mack, right?

His picture is on the back of milk cartons everywhere as he has come up missing in 2016. Yeah this is the same guy that was an All-Pro as a defensive end and an outside linebacker in 2015. But this year, he’s not getting to the quarterback the way he usually does.

The 2014 No. 5 overall pick has developed a reputation for harassing opposing quarterbacks. But he also has a reputation for starting his football season off slowly so the milk carton thing isn’t necessary. You can count on him to show up at some point.

Once he does, he sacks, hits, and pressures quarterbacks at a rate opposing teams can’t stand. And from what I can see, Mack will start to show up in Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens. Everything is coming together for him and the Raiders defense for him to play well Sunday.

Turn the page to see what.

Aug 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) attempts to rush past Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) in the second quarter at Oakland Alameda Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Figuring it Out

Last year, he got off to a slow start because he didn’t quite know how to go about his business at first. He openly spoke of working on so many pass-rush moves, he didn’t know when to use each one. Now, he has to figure a whole lot more than that out.

Teams have been doubling Mack with guard and at times, chip-blocking him with running backs. That my friends, is a triple team and there also were times when receivers chip-block him. It’s much harder to see and expect the chip-block from a receiver.

So now, he has to figure out how to beat double and triple-teams like all of the greats. To do that, you have to be able to read when they’re coming and who they’re coming from. Of course, Mack has been studying it on film and should have a feel for it by now.

Head coach Jack Del Rio said on SiriusXM Radio of how the league is playing Mack, “Mack is “like Aaron Donald from the Rams. A couple of dominant players that are getting an awful lot of attention. His effort is great. Everything is great.”

Sep 25, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Oakland Raiders cornerback David Amerson (29) deflects a pass intended for Tennessee Titans wide receiver Rishard Matthews (18) during a NFL football game at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Secondary

A big part of Mack’s slow start this season and last was and is the coverage behind him. Quarterback’s can get rid of the ball quickly when their first reads are open. It would take a completely unblocked rusher to get to them in that case.

But when receivers get open quickly the quarterback doesn’t have to pat the ball too many times. Therefore, there’s very little time to get hits sacks and pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Bump-and-run coverage is designed to get pressure on the quarterback.

Holding receivers up at the line of scrimmage keeps them from getting where they want to be on time. And when they’re not there, the quarterback has to hold the ball, looking for another target. But cornerback Sean Smith lost his eye-discipline, especially on opening day.

If you don’t know what that is, I have an article out on the Raiders secondary that will explain it. Blown coverages, blown assignments and miscommunications figure into the equation as well. The Raiders have cleaned those things up so Mack will have time to get to the quarterback.

Aug 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) is held by Tennessee Titans offensive guard Quinton Spain (67) in the third quarter at Oakland Alameda Coliseum. The Titans defeated the Raiders 27-14. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Holding Calls

Mack he been held like nobody’s business since he first went into the NFL. But like the NBA with fouls, it takes a couple of years to get the calls a player should get. This is Year 3 for Mack and he’s a 2-position All-Pro so he should get those calls now.

However, it is pretty young in the season and the refs might have been a little rusty at the time. The NFL reviews the refs on tape every week so they get feedback on calls they miss. Head coaches and executives hound the league between games too.

Del Rio goes to bat for Mack with the league and media about opposing offensive lineman holding him. In his aforementioned SiriusXM Radio interview, he said, “A couple of times this past game, he’s literally being tackled prior to hitting the quarterback.”

And if you’ve been watching Raiders games from Week 1 to Week 3, you know Del Rio isn’t lying. In Week 3, a Tennessee Titans offensive lineman put him in a full Nelson. Continuously missing calls like doesn’t get you Super Bowl gigs so those calls will start coming.

Aug 20, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Baltimore Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley (79) stands on the sidelines during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Blood in the Water

Just a few days ago, Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley was in a walking boot. He did not practice at all this week and is listed as doubtful to play. James Hurst, who has has been practicing with the first-team offense throughout the week, would start in his place.

Hurst who has started 15 games, including the playoffs, during his three-year career. He is best known in Baltimore as the man who got pushed back into Joe Flacco last season. The result of that was season-ending knee injury for their franchise quarterback.

But Stanley, who never missed a game in college, is a proud warrior that doesn’t mind playing with pain. He missed one day of practice last week with a foot injury, but still suited up in Jacksonville. So his doubtful status on the injury report isn’t worth much.

But Mack either gets a gimpy rookie or a guy that got his quarterback injured, getting bulled back into him. Last time Mack faced a team with injuries to the offensive line, (Denver Broncos) he had five sacks. So you know he smells the blood in the water now.

Sep 1, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) stretches before the game Seattle Seahawks at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Bottom Line

Don’t mistaken this for a prediction that Mack is going to end up sacking the quarterback five times Sunday. He doesn’t have Mario Edwards Jr. isn’t lined up inside of him or Aldon Smith on the other side. But he will get himself going in the pass-rush department.

From the tape I’ve watched, he’s learning how to read and counteract the double and triple-teams. Lining up in the 3-4 and bringing that five the double-A-gap blitz can easily nullify that. Mack would at the get a chip from a running back at the most.

At the quarter-mark of the season, it has to be time to make the proper holding calls. Plus there is fresh blood in the water, no matter how plays left tackle for the Ravens. Stanley wasn’t strong enough for Mack’s bull-rush before he injured himself.

And Hurts isn’t exactly good at anchoring so with his power, Mack will take over the game at some point. The secondary that got off to a disappointing start is on the same page now too. I don’t know how many sacks all this translates too but Mack will look like a dominant player again.