Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders' latest linebacking project might end up as a star

Published Nov. 24, 2015 7:55 p.m. ET

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Ben Heeney couldn't tell a sack from a tackle in his first preseason game.

Two months later, the fifth-round rookie manned the middle of Oakland's defense. And he looked plenty comfortable in a seven-tackle debut.

"It was an effort-filled performance," head coach Jack Del Rio told reporters. "That's what we know about Ben, he's going to be in on plays."

The Kansas product emerged at just the right time. Del Rio had to shift Khalil Mack back to linebacker to replace Aldon Smith. Plus, the team just bid farewell to Ray-Ray Armstrong.

Armstrong was expendable, though, once Heeney burst through the middle and took down Matt Stafford last weekend. He'll be expected to play that way in a larger role, now.

Said Del Rio: "He made a heck of a move to get that sack. I thought for his first extended action he did pretty well."

(h/t CSN Bay Area)

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