Mack helps Raiders’ defense keep foes guessing
Mack helps Raiders’ defense keep foes guessing
The Raiders’ young star said he decides whether he puts his hand in the dirt as a defensive end, or stays upright in more of the outside linebacker role he had last season.
After a dominant preseason and two so-so games, Mack finally broke through in Sunday’s 27-20 win in Cleveland.
Mack and Smith would flank defensive linemen Justin Tuck, Dan Williams and Stacy McGee, with Curtis Lofton and Malcolm Smith the only linebackers.
“Without getting into scheme, we want to have multiple looks,” defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. said.
Aldon is a really good football player, and we want to make him happy.
After being cut by the 49ers after another DUI charge, Smith was on the shelf for five weeks before he signed with the Raiders Sept. 11, two days before the season started.
[...] you know the type of player he is, the level that he plays on, and the best is yet to come.
Norton thinks the secondary is getting better every week, and will help buy the pass rushers time to string up the quarterback piñata.
The more the young guys play they’ll have a better chance of looking at the different offenses and learn a lot, a lot quick.