WATFORD, England – Paul Guenther was excited to work with Khalil Mack.
That was a real prospect when he first took over as Raiders defensive coordinator. They even met briefly at a restaurant, but Guenther never got a chance to work with the All-Pro edge rusher.
We all know that business got in the way. Mack never showed up for the offseason program or training camp, and Jon Gruden traded him to Chicago for a big compensation package that included two first-round draft picks.
Guenther slowly is getting more from a defensive front being built through the draft, but Mack is a game wrecker the Raiders simply don't have.
While Guenther is bummed he didn't get a chance to see Mack in his scheme, there's no ill will there. Guenther expressed great respect for the player leading up to Sunday's meeting with him and the Chicago Bears in London.
"It was one of the selling points of taking the job, really," Guenther said Thursday. "Any coach would want to coach that guy, he's a tremendous athlete, he's a hard worker. I watched the practice film when he was here, he worked hard on the practice field. From what I understand, I don't know him really that well, he's really good guy, a really good teammate and I enjoy watching him. It would have been a pleasure to coach him, but it didn't work out that way and know we have to play against him on Sunday. So, a good player, I really admire his work."
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The Raiders will have to find ways to slow Mack down in the pivotal contest, likely using blockers at multiple levels, with tight ends and running backs chipping him regularly.
"He's a tremendous player, but as you know, their entire front seven has been very impressive through their start of the season," offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. "Certainly, we'll have a plan for Khalil Mack, like we have had for the Von Miller's and the Bradley Chubbs and the other players that we've faced thus far. Overall defensively their entire front seven, we'll have to have a plan for all of them."
