Preseason statistics in the NFL certainly have to be taken with a dose of skepticism. Wins and losses don’t mean a thing, and individual and team results often are the result of mismatches involving bottom-of-the-roster players who won’t be around in the regular season.
But as the Oakland Raiders head toward their regular-season opener this Sunday in New Orleans against the Saints, one thing does ring true: this silver-and-black defense – especially the pass rush -- could be much, much better in 2016 than it was in 2015.
In four exhibition games, the Raiders collected seven sacks, and much of that was due to a deep and talented defensive front that now features defensive end/outside linebacker Khalil Mack and veteran outside linebacker Bruce Irvin. Throw in Denico Autry, rookies Shilique Calhoun, Darius Latham and Jihad Ward plus veteran tackles Dan Williams and Justin Ellis, and the front seven could be formidable.
Rookie Calhoun, who came on strong this summer and had a sack in the team’s final exhibition game against the Seahawks, says it’s been great to be a part of a group of linemen and linebackers “coming together for one goal.”
He told a writer for the team's website that it’s a “special group of guys who are willing to do anything for their brothers, and if that’s sacrificing a play or sacrificing this or that play, then that’s what it’ll be.”
Mack, who’s coming off his first All-Pro season, played sparingly in preseason games. He was in on five tackles and had a sack. He can’t wait for the season to start so he and his teammates can show what this defense can do. Mack believes he and Irvin will present a formidable duo for offenses to block in passing situations.
“We’re looking forward to dominating,” Mack told Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. “That’s really both of our mindsets, and that’s one of the thing that brought us close real quick.”
Raiders
Mack isn’t shy about how good he believes this unit can be in 2016, comparing it to the Super Bowl-champion Broncos’ unit of 2015.
“I know that’s one of the best defenses in the history of the game, but we can make the quarterback uncomfortable, just like they did,” he told Tafur. “We have a lot of talent and a ball-hawking secondary. It’s not going to happen overnight, but we can be that good with hard work and with our own little twists.”
