Oakland Raiders Expected To Own Sack Leader In 2016

If the Oakland Raiders are going to seize control of the AFC West like many are hoping and predicting, then it will need a huge boost from their defense.

Suffice to say the unit held them back at times in 2015. Though they were respectable against the run at times, opponents largely did as they pleased against them through the air. Oakland finished the year ranked 26th in the NFL against the pass. That’s the only way to explain how this team wasn’t able to reach the post-season with a Pro Bowl quarterback. Even so, there were definite signs that things were pointed in the right direction.

Way up at the top above everybody else was Khalil Mack. The second-year edge rusher relished his shift to defensive end under the new coaching staff and made the most of it by piling up 15 sacks. At one point he was so unblockable that he dropped Brock Osweiler in Denver five times in one game. It was that performance and others that led to predictions by the experts that he will be even better in 2016.

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So good in fact that Gil Brandt of NFL.com believes he finishes the year with the most sacks in the league, a whopping 19.

"“Mack has great quickness and ability to rush the passer. He’s a competitor who never gives up; he always keeps after his quarry. Even if he’s momentarily run out of the play or turned around, he finds a way to zero in on the quarterback. He didn’t rack up many sacks as rookie — when he was used mostly as a linebacker — but he really came on strong last season, especially from Week 12 to Week 15, when he notched 10 sacks. Mack was unblockable by the end of his second pro campaign. His position coach, Jethro Franklin, is a great teacher, and the Raiders really focus on the pass rush, spending about twice as much time on it as everyone else does.”"

The tricky part to this prediction is the fact that Mack will have to do it without Aldon Smith. It’s important to remember that he had the former 49ers stud pass rusher across from his for nine games last year and that threat allowed Mack to see more favorable opportunities. With respect, Mario Edwards Jr. and Bruce Irvin don’t bring that same presence. So the Mack will have to prove he can do it against offensive line that will be able to devote more blockers his way.

A tall order, but then again if he wants to be a top three pass rusher like many Oakland Raiders fans are ready to proclaim him, then he’ll have to get the job done whether the offenses game plan to stop him or not.

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