NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

Oakland Raiders 2016 Player Profile: Khalil Mack

By Michael Davis

Dec 7, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Khalil Mack (52) celebrates behind San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) after a Raiders sack against the 49ers during the second quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Khalil Mack (52) celebrates behind San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) after a Raiders sack against the 49ers during the second quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Oakland Raiders superstar defensive end/outside linebacker, Khalil Mack, had a breakout season in 2015. The 25 year old is entering his third season in the NFL, and after being named All-Pro to two positions (defensive end and outside linebacker), talk of him becoming the next great defensive player have emerged. Can Mack keep up his assault on opposing offenses in 2016?

The Oakland Raiders have an unstoppable force on their defense, and his name is Khalil Mack.

Let’s go back to 2014, and the University of Buffalo and MAC Conference star defensive player Khalil Mack is preparing to be the highest player ever drafted from the University. His numbers and projections are all right in line with a mid-to-late first round pick. Then came the Oakland Raiders who wisely did their research on the stud. Mack was drafted by the Raiders with the fifth overall pick in 2014 pick and neither the Raiders nor Mack have looked back since.

He concluded his rookie campaign third in the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year behind DT Aaron Donald of the St. Louis Rams, and LB C.J. Mosley of the Baltimore Ravens. Mack finished his year with 75 total tackles and four sacks.

Related Story: 30 Greatest Defensive Players of All Time

The defensive end and outside linebacker came into the 2015 campaign having high hopes for his season and the team. The Raiders as a whole finished 7-9 under Jack Del Rio but showed immense progress and hopes for the future. As for Mack as an individual player, the results speak for themselves.

Mack finished his second season unlike many others at his position and officially became a freight train who wanted nothing more than to sack the quarterback over and over. Mack finished the year with 77 total tackles (57 solo) and 15 sacks. Quite a jump for a second year player.

Dec 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) is sacked by Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) during an NFL football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Raiders defeated the Broncos 15-12. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) is sacked by Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) during an NFL football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Raiders defeated the Broncos 15-12. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

After an already unstoppable 2015 campaign, Khalil Mack decided that was not enough during week 14 playing on the road at the eventual Super Bowl Champion, Denver Broncos, at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mack finished the game with five sacks and seven tackles giving the Raiders a much needed 15-12 victory over the Broncos and snapping an eight game losing streak to the fellow AFC West rival. Mack earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week for week 14.

Mack who is entering his third season already holds the Oakland Raiders single season record for sacks in one game with five (5) in week 14 against the Broncos. Along with that impressive stat, Mack finished his 2015 campaign as a First-Team All-Pro for both defensive end and outside linebacker, and a 2015 selection to the Pro Bowl. Mack is the first player in NFL history to be named All-Pro to two different positions in the same year.

Despite Mack’s early success and domination in the NFL, if the Raiders are going to make a push to the playoffs and continue a growth of this already sound defense, Mack and the rest of the defensive unit will have to increase their game even further.

Quarterback, Derek Carr (who is also on the rise for this organization) recently told Adam Schein on his radio show on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio, that: “I think he’s going to sack the quarterback 30 times,” Carr went onto say: “Watch the tape. He’s held every play. He’s like nobody else in the league. He’s talented.”

It’s safe to say the fire is burning in Oakland.

There is no doubt that Mack could sack the quarterback 30 times. The single season record is 22.5 back in 2001 held by Michael Strahan who of course is now soon-to-be  Good Morning America co-host and former great of Live with Kelly and Michael show. All kidding aside, Strahan was one of the best defensive end’s of all time and for Mack to be receiving this praise so early in his career is giving him a no-ceiling-type of edge on the field.

More NFL: 30 Best NFL Draft Picks of All Time

The signing of LB Bruce Irvin for the Raiders is only going to create even more opportunities for Mack to dominate quarterbacks as Irvin brings an immense amount of speed to the linebacker corp. of the Raiders.

If Mack can continue to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks and if what Carr believes what he says about Mack getting the possibility of 30 sacks, then Khalil Mack will be walking home with not only the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, but the MVP trophy as well.

There is no doubt in my mind Mack will win not one, but multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards, it’s all just a matter of time.

Mack and the Raiders get underway Week 1 on September, 11 2016, at the New Orleans Saints.

Home/Las Vegas Raiders