The Oakland Raiders took linebacker Khalil Mack with the fifth overall selection in this years NFL Draft. They have been putting Mack into a ton of different positions this offseason to see how and where the rookie will be most effective. Playing all around the linebacker spots is a telling sign that Mack will be used a lot in his first year.
According to CSNBayArea.com head coach Dennis Allen said "We've got his head spinning." By all accounts Mack seems to be up to the challenge. “That’s a good thing. We’re going to try to throw as much at him as we can throughout the rest of this offseason and really even into the early part of training camp, and then at some point we’ll settle down to the things that we can execute as a team and execute at a high level.” said Allen.
Mack will admit to being a bit inundated with all of the information that he is taking in right now, but he also says that he doesn’t feel bothered by it at all. According to Mack there are “no more baby steps” once you get to the professional level. He feels that the coaches are working hard to find a formula that will put a winning team on the field.
“It’s a challenge, and I’m open to the challenge. I’m trying to go out there every day and work on something that they want me to work on, and get better at it, and try not to make the same mistakes. That’s my biggest thing, I try to go out there and do what I can to make plays and be in the right position. That’s all they’re trying to do, to put me in the right position to make plays. I’m thankful for that.”
The Raiders hope that the versatile linebacker who played his college career at Buffalo, can come in and make a direct impact on their defense that ranked 29th in points allowed per game in 2013. Mack hopes to help the Raiders return to their past glory, and he is showing a real "Commitment To Excellence."