The Las Vegas Raiders will face an old friend. Khalil Mack in Los Angeles opens an array of issues.
When Jon Gruden engineered the trade that sent Khalil Mack to the Bears, the collective jaw dropped However, in the ensuing years, the Raiders struggled to replace that level of dominance. Now, Mack returns to the AFC West as a Los Angeles Charger. That, in itself, should captivate at least two regular-season games in 2021.
Different Role
For the entirety of his career with the Raiders, the mantle of pass rush fell squarely on Mack’s shoulders. Imagine a job where the entire success of your co-workers depends on you, and you alone. During his stay in Oakland, Mack tallied 40.5 sacks. That number accounts for over a third of the number of team sacks in that period. Now, in Los Angeles, Joey Bosa provides the best rusher Mack lined up with. Not even close. Now, Mack could face single blocking when most of the attention flows to Bosa. Luckily, the Raiders could actually attempt the inverse. By singling Bosa and doubling Mack, the Raiders would definitely shift the dynamic. Entering the next phase of his career, Mack will feast on most teams who lack a quality pair of tackles.
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Open The Screen
Conventional wisdom would lead the Raiders to ensure Mack doesn’t get free. Yet, the new regime will not go by the past. Instead, the Raiders will probably let Mack jump free. The screen game will lure Mack. When he vacates, the basic screen cures the heavy rush. If properly blocked and executed, the Raiders can nullify Mack as much as they can. With the team set to employ four running backs, Vegas will shuttle in and out of the lineup, keeping running backs fresh.
Brutal Reality
Whether people want to believe this or not, the Chargers will be the Raiders’ toughest test in 2022. The division goes through Los Angeles. Granted, Kansas City brings the best quarterback. However, without their number-one receiver, the Chiefs will need to run the ball more. Meanwhile, the Chargers’ defense, with Khalil Mack, in tow, will stand as the biggest obstacle of the season.
Overview
Khalil Mack isn’t the same player as he was in Oakland. Age catches everyone slipping one day. However, at this point, his value to the Chargers, detriment to Chargers will be as a bookend rusher. The Raiders need to make absolutely sure that they account for him.
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