Oakland Raiders: Eddie Vanderdoes picks up steam after prolonged absence

Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes missed time due to academic obligations at UCLA, but he’s turning heads at training camp.

There’s a new training camp standout in Napa, CA, and he missed organized team activities and mandatory minicamp. In fact, Oakland Raiders rookie defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes currently takes reps with the starters, which adds another piece to the rotation across the defensive line.

For those attending Raiders camp, Vanderdoes’ name pops up often as the man to watch going forward. On Friday, he started practice with a would-be sack on quarterback Derek Carr, per Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Michael Gehlken:

Defensive lineman Jihad Ward remains on the physically unable to perform list, and the team will ease Mario Edwards Jr. into action on the field after he missed the first four training camp practices on the NFI list. The absences have created an opportunity for Vanderdoes to step into the starting lineup after a prolonged absence. The UCLA product hasn’t flinched and doesn’t shy away from veteran teammates as he learns the ropes, per Gehlken:

More from Las Vegas Raiders

• 5 NFL teams that will definitely disappoint fans in 2023
• 3 Players the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders gave up on way too early
• 2024 NFL Draft: Who picks at the top of the draft in April?
• NFL Predictions: 5 Teams that will be drafting a quarterback in 2024
• 5 NFL Head Coaches that could be fired by the end of the 2023 season

"I’m not scared to ask (Mack) questions. I know I’m a rookie, but I’m not a shy person. If I feel like I have a question and I see him doing something or teaching something, I’ll say, ‘Hey, can you watch me on this play?’ We’ll just talk about it. He’ll show me how he does it. It should be a crime not to get information from guys like Khalil and Bruce Irvin. They’re obviously doing something right."

Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. sees the third-rounder as a quick study with the ability and the football IQ to absorb a complex game with a deep understanding of the Xs and Os, per ESPN.com reporter Paul Gutierrez:

"He has been a student of the game. I think he understands how to get lined up. He understands the blocking schemes. He understands how to get on edges. Things that we drafted him for, we’re very happy with what we have. He has jumped right in, no problem."

Vanderdoes projects as a fierce run-stopper who can inject some power on the interior at 300 pounds. In the best-case scenario, he would line up alongside Edwards and Autry in a three-man front and slide inside as a 3-technique defensive tackle on a four-man defensive line.

The UCLA product suffered an ACL tear during his junior campaign. He struggled with injuries and an inflated weight level that pushed him to 340 pounds as a senior. The combination dropped his draft stock, but he’s refocused at 300 pounds and healthy coming into Raiders camp.

General manager Reggie McKenzie has steadily added pieces to the trenches on the defensive side of the ball similar to the offensive line. Last year, the Raiders struggled to capitalize on edge-rushers Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin forcing quarterbacks to step into the A- and B-gaps without an interior pass rush.

Next: NFL 2017: Predictions for MVP, every award

Now, you can add Vanderdoes to Edwards, Denico Autry, Darius Latham, Justin Ellis and Ward in a deep defensive line rotation for the 2017 season. As the preseason approaches, the coaching staff will look for interior linemen who can complement the pressure off the edge.