Ranking the Oakland Raiders Top Five Pass Rushers

Dec 7, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Sio Moore (55) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) during the first quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

3. Sio Moore

According to Williamson, Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Sio Moore is successfully recovering from offseason hip surgery and is on pace to be the starter by the beginning of the regular season.

The former University of Connecticut star has earned 14o combined tackles and 7.5 sacks in his two-year career in the NFL after being drafted by the Raiders in the third round in the 2013 NFL draft. In 2014 Moore registered three sacks and 90 tackles in just 11 games.

Moore has already expressed his opinion of Coach Del Rio and seems to be excited to work with a former NFL linebacker.

“I’ve had a couple conversations with Coach [Del Rio] and it’s easier to talk to him because one, he wore double nickels [No. 55], and two, he played the position,” Moore told Rebecca Corman of Raiders.com. “Playing linebacker, your head and how you look at things is a little bit different. When you can talk to a guy who understands exactly where you are, exactly what you’re trying to do, it helps. When you’re talking to another linebacker, it’s almost like its own fraternity. Guys understand a lot because we have a lot of the same rigors day in and day out.”

With newly acquired coaches like Del Rio, Norton, and linebacker coach Sal Sunseri, Moore is in a position to learn from multiple experienced coaches and will hopefully be better utilized as a pass rusher in 2015.

If Moore can stay healthy Oakland will have a dynamic pass-rusher that can come down from the outside linebacker position and get to the quarterback with great consistency.

Luckily, Moore is preparing for a long season in 2015.

“I’m making sure that my body and my mind is mentally ready to play until February.”

Next: #2: Justin Tuck